Source separation: Challenges & opportunities for transition in the swedish wastewater sector

Abstract

A paradigm shift to waste reuse has started in the wastewater sector with many experts calling for greater resource recovery, often facilitated by alternative solutions such as source separation. Source separation has been shown to be advantageous for improving treatment capacity, food security, and efficiency; yet these systems are still immature, considered risky by professionals and scarcely implemented. This study attempts to answer the question of why source separation is still marginalized by examining the Swedish experience with source separated wastewater from the perspective of Technology Innovation Systems (TIS) in order to identify obstacles and policy recommendations. Considering that source-separation is still in a development phase, the study found that source separation works moderately well within the on-site niche and that blackwater systems in general perform better than urine diversion. Knowledge development is found to be the weakest function. A major blocking mechanism is the weakness of interchange between knowledge development and entrepreneurial activity. Policy recommendations include: increased R & D; building networks and communication platforms; and establishing guidelines for technologies, legislation interpretation and organizational models. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Innovation; Resource-recovery; Source-separation; Transition; Wastewater

Published in

Resources, Conservation and Recycling
2017, volume: 120, pages: 144-156
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Mcconville, Jennifer

  • Chalmers University of Technology

• Jönsson, Håkan

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG2 Zero hunger
SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
SDG9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG12 Responsible consumption and production

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Management
Other Environmental Engineering

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.12.004

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/85734