Our expertise
Organic waste
Our research focus is on the organic waste fractions, including food-, toilet-, and abattoir waste and manure. In many low- and middle-income countries other waste fractions from the household, such as plastics and metals that have a monetary value are collected and sold back into the production chain. Since the organic fraction has little monetary value, there is little incentive to collect it.
Source-seperating sanitation systems
The main nutrients flowing from households come from the toilet. Our research on sanitation systems aims at developing robust and socially acceptable systems that safely and effectively utilise the resources available in our excreta. Closing the cycle with the toilet involves certain risks due to pathogenic microorganisms potentially being circulated. We evaluate and minimise these risks with improved technologies and good management.
Sanitisation
Many of our organic wastes streams, particularly toilet and animal waste, contain nutrients and organic matter – useful for agricultural production. However, they also contain pathogenic micro-organisms (pathogens). Before these resources are returned to the agricultural fields, they need to be sanitised, ie pathogens must be inactivated/killed. Sanitisation is an important step in nutrient recycling to ensure the safety of humans, animals and the environment. To determine the degree to which the material will need to be sanitised, we use quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA).
Socio-technical system analysis
The global movement for sustainability has led to increased interest in resource recovery from waste systems. However, recovering resources increases the complexity of these systems through additional requirements on technical processes and the increasing the number of stakeholders involved. The increased complexity requires a broader understanding of interactions between technology and society. How can resource recovery systems contribute to sustainable development and to achieve environmental goals? What transformations are needed in the way users are involved, technology is developed and organizations are managed? This research attempts to answer these questions using a transdisciplinary approach for analyzing socio-technical systems.
Contact
Person
Björn Vinnerås, Professor in Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering