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Phosphorus recovery and recycling from waste: An appraisal based on a French case study

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  • Senthilkumar, Kalimuthu
  • Mollier, Alain
  • Delmas, Magalie
  • Pellerin, Sylvain
  • Nesme, Thomas

Abstract

Phosphate rocks, used for phosphorus (P) fertilizer production, are a non-renewable resource at the human time scale. Their depletion at the global scale may threaten global food and feed security. To prevent this depletion, improved P resource recycling from food chain waste to agricultural soils and to the food and feed industry is often presented as a serious option. However, waste streams are often complex and their recycling efficiency is poorly characterized. The aim of this paper is to estimate the P recovery and recycling potential from waste, considering France as a case study. We assessed the P flows in food processing waste, household wastewater and municipal waste at the country scale using a substance flow analysis for the year 2006. We also quantified the P recycling efficiency as the fraction of P in waste that ultimately reached agricultural soils or was recycled in the food and feed industry. Efforts were made to limit data uncertainty by cross-checking multiple data sources concerning P content in waste materials. Results showed that, in general, P recovery in waste was high but that the overall P recycling efficiency was only 51% at the country scale. In particular, P recycling efficiency was 75% for industrial waste, 43% for household wastewater and 47% for municipal waste. The remaining P was discharged into water bodies or landfilled, causing P-induced environmental problems as well as losses of nutrient resources. Major P losses were through food waste (which amounted to 39% of P in available food) and treated wastewater, and the findings were confirmed through cross-checking with alternative data sources. Options for improving P resource recycling and, thereby, reducing P fertilizer use were quantified but appeared to be less promising than scenarios based on reduced food waste or redesigned agricultural systems.

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  • Senthilkumar, Kalimuthu & Mollier, Alain & Delmas, Magalie & Pellerin, Sylvain & Nesme, Thomas, 2014. "Phosphorus recovery and recycling from waste: An appraisal based on a French case study," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 97-108.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:87:y:2014:i:c:p:97-108
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2014.03.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Theobald, Tim F.H. & Schipper, Mark & Kern, Jürgen, 2016. "Phosphorus flows in Berlin-Brandenburg, a regional flow analysis," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1-14.
    2. Klinglmair, Manfred & Lemming, Camilla & Jensen, Lars Stoumann & Rechberger, Helmut & Astrup, Thomas Fruergaard & Scheutz, Charlotte, 2015. "Phosphorus in Denmark: National and regional anthropogenic flows," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PB), pages 311-324.
    3. Houssini, Khaoula & Geng, Yong & Liu, Jing-Yu & Zeng, Xianlai & Hohl, Simon V., 2023. "Measuring anthropogenic phosphorus cycles to promote resource recovery and circularity in Morocco," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    4. Klinglmair, Manfred & Vadenbo, Carl & Astrup, Thomas Fruergaard & Scheutz, Charlotte, 2017. "An MFA-based optimization model for increased resource efficiency: Phosphorus flows in Denmark," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 1-10.
    5. Jedelhauser, Michael & Binder, Claudia R., 2015. "Losses and efficiencies of phosphorus on a national level – A comparison of European substance flow analyses," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PB), pages 294-310.

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