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Transformation of Urban Waste to Renewable Energy: A Sustainable Alternative to Fossil Fuel

Received: 24 February 2025     Accepted: 7 March 2025     Published: 21 March 2025
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Abstract

The rapid accumulation of urban waste poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges. Urban waste in several areas is considered as trash. However, its importance in the production of sustainable energy as well as an alternative to fossil fuel cannot be overemphasized. The concept of transforming urban waste to renewable energy offers dual benefits. It mitigates waste-related issues while maximizing the utilization of urban waste to renewable energy production. Renewable energy has been recognized as a solution to overcome the drawbacks of fossil fuels. This study investigates the transformation of urban waste into renewable energy, exploring the complex interplay between technological, economic, infrastructural, environmental, social, and market factors. A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire to elicit responses from 1000 respondents across six target groups. The results of the regression analysis revealed that technological readiness, economic viability, infrastructure compatibility, environmental impact, community participation, and market demand are significant predictors of successful waste-to-energy transformation. Hence a successful waste-to-energy transformation requires a multifaceted approach. The findings indicate that infrastructure and environmental sustainability are pivotal factors, while technological readiness and economic viability play supportive roles. The study demonstrates that urban waste-to-energy projects can significantly contribute to renewable energy generation, environmental sustainability, and economic growth, providing a valuable framework for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders seeking to unlock the potential of urban waste.

Published in American Journal of Energy Engineering (Volume 13, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajee.20251301.14
Page(s) 32-46
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Urban Waste, Renewable Energy, Technology, Economy, Infrastructure, Market Demand, Environmental Impact

References
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[3] K. Shivaram Krishina, & K Sathish, Kumar (2015); Renewable and sustainable Energy Reviews 52, 907-916.
[4] UNEP (2005) Solid Waste Management (Vol. I) Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania. UNEP (2009) Developing Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan Training Manual: Assessment of Current Waste Management System and Gaps therein. Vol. 2.
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[6] Uwadiegwu, B. O. and. Iyi, E A (2015) Environmental Management and Control Education in Nigeria. European Journal of Business and Innovation Research. 3(2), pp. 44-54.
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[8] Maiyaki M. A et al. (2020). Urban solid waste development; A review of waste Nigeria’s waste management policy. International transactional Journal of Engineering, Management & Applied Sciences and Technologies.
[9] Bruntland, H. (1987). Report on the World commission on Environment and Development: our Common future.
[10] Abila. B, & Kanole. J (2017). Municipal Solid Waste Management Problems in Nigeria. Evolving Knowledge Solution; Paper presented at the proceeding of world academy of science, Engineering and Technology.
[11] Kumar, S. et al. (2017). Challenges and Opportunities Associated with Waste Management in India. Royal Society Open Science, 4, Article ID: 160764.
[12] Michael l, G. A Brodrick, P Uden- (2004). Effects of inhibitor concentration and end-product accumulation on estimates of ruminal in vitro protein degradation journal of dairy science, - Elsevier.
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[15] Cohen, E. B. (1996). Energy from municipal waste: An economic analysis. Journal of Municipal Economic Studies, 639–645.
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[17] Gomez, A., Zubizarreta, J., Rodrigues, M., Dopazo, C., & Fueyo, N. (2010). Potential and cost of electricity generation from human and animal waste in Spain. Renewable Energy, 35, 498–505.
[18] Adeosun, T. A, Amosu, C. O., Omitogun, O. A, Amusa, O. M, & Morenikeji B. A (2023). Renewable Energy for sustainable development in developing countries: Benefits to the environment. Journal of Energy Research and Reviews, 13(3), 1-25.
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  • APA Style

    Obinna, I. R., Odutola, T. O., Johnson, N., Jonathan, A. (2025). Transformation of Urban Waste to Renewable Energy: A Sustainable Alternative to Fossil Fuel. American Journal of Energy Engineering, 13(1), 32-46. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20251301.14

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    ACS Style

    Obinna, I. R.; Odutola, T. O.; Johnson, N.; Jonathan, A. Transformation of Urban Waste to Renewable Energy: A Sustainable Alternative to Fossil Fuel. Am. J. Energy Eng. 2025, 13(1), 32-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ajee.20251301.14

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    AMA Style

    Obinna IR, Odutola TO, Johnson N, Jonathan A. Transformation of Urban Waste to Renewable Energy: A Sustainable Alternative to Fossil Fuel. Am J Energy Eng. 2025;13(1):32-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ajee.20251301.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajee.20251301.14,
      author = {Ibe Raymond Obinna and Toyin Olabisi Odutola and Nnadikwe Johnson and Amechi Jonathan},
      title = {Transformation of Urban Waste to Renewable Energy: A Sustainable Alternative to Fossil Fuel
    },
      journal = {American Journal of Energy Engineering},
      volume = {13},
      number = {1},
      pages = {32-46},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajee.20251301.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20251301.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajee.20251301.14},
      abstract = {The rapid accumulation of urban waste poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges. Urban waste in several areas is considered as trash. However, its importance in the production of sustainable energy as well as an alternative to fossil fuel cannot be overemphasized. The concept of transforming urban waste to renewable energy offers dual benefits. It mitigates waste-related issues while maximizing the utilization of urban waste to renewable energy production. Renewable energy has been recognized as a solution to overcome the drawbacks of fossil fuels. This study investigates the transformation of urban waste into renewable energy, exploring the complex interplay between technological, economic, infrastructural, environmental, social, and market factors. A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire to elicit responses from 1000 respondents across six target groups. The results of the regression analysis revealed that technological readiness, economic viability, infrastructure compatibility, environmental impact, community participation, and market demand are significant predictors of successful waste-to-energy transformation. Hence a successful waste-to-energy transformation requires a multifaceted approach. The findings indicate that infrastructure and environmental sustainability are pivotal factors, while technological readiness and economic viability play supportive roles. The study demonstrates that urban waste-to-energy projects can significantly contribute to renewable energy generation, environmental sustainability, and economic growth, providing a valuable framework for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders seeking to unlock the potential of urban waste.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Transformation of Urban Waste to Renewable Energy: A Sustainable Alternative to Fossil Fuel
    
    AU  - Ibe Raymond Obinna
    AU  - Toyin Olabisi Odutola
    AU  - Nnadikwe Johnson
    AU  - Amechi Jonathan
    Y1  - 2025/03/21
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajee.20251301.14
    T2  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
    SP  - 32
    EP  - 46
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2329-163X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20251301.14
    AB  - The rapid accumulation of urban waste poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges. Urban waste in several areas is considered as trash. However, its importance in the production of sustainable energy as well as an alternative to fossil fuel cannot be overemphasized. The concept of transforming urban waste to renewable energy offers dual benefits. It mitigates waste-related issues while maximizing the utilization of urban waste to renewable energy production. Renewable energy has been recognized as a solution to overcome the drawbacks of fossil fuels. This study investigates the transformation of urban waste into renewable energy, exploring the complex interplay between technological, economic, infrastructural, environmental, social, and market factors. A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire to elicit responses from 1000 respondents across six target groups. The results of the regression analysis revealed that technological readiness, economic viability, infrastructure compatibility, environmental impact, community participation, and market demand are significant predictors of successful waste-to-energy transformation. Hence a successful waste-to-energy transformation requires a multifaceted approach. The findings indicate that infrastructure and environmental sustainability are pivotal factors, while technological readiness and economic viability play supportive roles. The study demonstrates that urban waste-to-energy projects can significantly contribute to renewable energy generation, environmental sustainability, and economic growth, providing a valuable framework for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders seeking to unlock the potential of urban waste.
    
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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