Aims
This project is about the environmental impact that the change in waste management strategies from composting to anaerobic digestion will result in. As the need for renewable energy sources becomes greater there is increasing use of anaerobic digestion as a means of waste treatment instead of composting because anaerobic digestion creates biogas which can be used as an energy source. Whilst this method is preferable for reasons of energy security and clean energy there is not yet a definitive answer to what impact this change in technology has on the environment. This project aims to analyse the observed environmental impacts from composting systems and anaerobic digestion systems and to measure and compare the possible impacts observed in laboratory analysis of both compost and anaerobic digestion.
Environmental impact of composting and anaerobic digestion can be measured by a number of outcomes, such as the impact on global warming, the impact on soil fertility and watercourses from leachate.
Environmental impact of composting and anaerobic digestion can be measured by a number of outcomes, such as the impact on global warming, the impact on soil fertility and watercourses from leachate.
Objectives
- The objectives of this thesis are to:
- Complete a literature review of the published research into anaerobic digestion and composting technologies with regard to their environmental impact.
- To conduct an experiment into contaminants released into the environment from composting and anaerobically digesting waste by simulating these processes in a lab.
- To conduct an experiment into contaminants released into the environment from composting and anaerobically digesting waste by analysing a samples of digestate and compost from the deerdykes facility.
- To analyse the results of experiments, and the data gathered in the literature review for environmental impact.
- To propose the impact of changing from composting waste to anaerobic digestion with specific regard to Scotland.