Synergistic effects of economic benefits, resource conservation and carbon mitigation of kitchen waste recycling from the perspective of carbon neutrality

Kitchen waste, accounts for 40 %∼60 % of China's municipal solid waste, which recycles not only avoid waste of resources, but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Based on the survey data of Beijing municipal waste treatment plant, this study uses life cycle assessment to evaluate three kinds of kitchen waste treatment modes: aerobic composting, anaerobic digestion and anaerobic synergy. Then we analyze the technical feasibility, economic benefits and mitigation potential of three waste treatment modes. The anaerobic synergy has the highest technical feasibility and economic benefits. The total carbon emissions of different modes, through quantifying its emissions of collection, transportation, disposal and leakage, was aerobic composting > anaerobic digestion > anaerobic synergy. If all kitchen waste were treated with anaerobic synergy, cumulative carbon mitigation per person during 2025∼2060 was expected to 1019.2—1813.2 kg. Thus, recycling kitchen waste has a large mitigation potential to achieve China's carbon neutrality.