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Developing countries suffer from both lack of resources and appropriate solid waste management systems. Therefore, the introduction of alternative options for waste valorisation is imperative. The current research introduces an environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of waste-based briquettes produced with 80 % of non-recyclable cardboard waste from separate collections and 20 % sawdust from sawmills in Bolivia. The aim is to compare the environmental impacts generated within the briquette's life cycle with conventional fuels. Primary data from a development project implemented in La Paz in 2021 were collected for building the inventory. SimaPro9.0 was employed to conduct the analysis, with IMPACT2002+ as the impact assessment method. Results' normalization, contribution evaluation, interval assessment, and sensitivity analysis were carried out, and the results were compared with conventional fossil fuels, namely: coal, methane, and LPG. Results suggest that briquettes' life cycle contributes to seven of fifteen impact indicators, with global warming, use of non-renewable energy, and respiratory inorganics, the most important. The global warming potential ranges from 23.9 to 26.7 gCO 2 -eq. MJ−1, lower than about 485 % compared to coal and 185 % to methane. Considering the avoided impacts from wood and methane substitution, global warming potential can decrease to about 20.0 and 18.9 gCO 2 -eq. MJ−1 respectively. On balance, compared to other fuels for heating and cooking, waste-based briquettes always have better environmental performance transporting the briquettes to about 100–130 km from the production plant. These results suggest that waste-based briquettes can contribute to mitigating environmental impacts and carbon footprint at a global level. • Life cycle assessment of cardboard waste-based briquettes is conducted. • Environmental impacts are lower compared to fossil fuels. • Less than 25 gCO 2 -eq. MJ−1 is generated by the system. • Briquettes made of cardboard waste are recommended to be used in Andean areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid waste management and the increasing energy demand are a global concern. Waste can play the role of alternative fuel, partly reducing the environmental footprint in the waste management sector. Waste briquetting is used as a treatment option for improving waste combustion efficiency, as well as its management and handling. This critical review aims at evaluating the potentialities of this method as a possible solution to introduce alternative fuels in developing countries. Totally, 85 scientific articles available from 1999 to 2021 from international databases were reviewed, and a SWOT analysis has been conducted following the indications underlined in the scientific literature. The outcomes of the review highlight that agricultural waste-based and wood-based briquettes are the most investigated, followed by plastics-based briquettes and paper & cardboard-based briquettes. Waste-based briquettes can be divided into three categories, function of the calorific value: biomass-based (16.22 ± 1.65 MJ kg−1), wood-based (19.03 ± 2.46 MJ kg−1), and plastics and charcoal-based briquettes (24.64 ± 5.29 MJ kg−1). Review findings underline that in-door emissions analysis is lacking, as well as research related to the water boiling test for the valorisation of waste briquetting for cooking and heating systems in developing countries. The current review contributes to highlighting the importance in implementing appropriate technologies for energy production and waste management in developing countries. • A review related to waste briquetting is performed. • Waste briquetting analysis increased of interest in the last five years • Agricultural waste is the most common source of waste for briquettes production. • Waste based briquettes can be used for cooking, heating, and energy production. • Future analysis should be focused on indoor emissions and water boiling tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research assessed waste-based briquettes consumption compared to conventional fuels in the Andes. Laboratory tests were conducted together with on-field analysis in Colquencha (Bolivia). The laboratory study shows that the performances of briquettes are better in terms of PM2.5 (933.4 ± 50.8 mg kg−1) and CO emissions (22.89 ± 2.40 g kg−1) compared to animal dung (6265.7 ± 1273.5 mgPM2.5 kg−1 and 48.10 ± 12.50 gCO kg−1), although the boiling time increased due to the lower fuel consumption rate and firepower compared to shrubs. The social survey organized with 150 Bolivian citizens suggested that low-income households are not able to pay for an alternative fuel: about 40% would pay less than 4 USD per month, while methane use for cooking is positively correlated with the income level (r = 0.244, p < 0.05). On field analysis suggested that local cookstoves are not appropriate for briquettes combustion since indoor air pollution overcomes 30 ppm of CO and 10 mgPM2.5 m-3. On balance, local small manufactures can be the main target for selling waste-based briquettes to reduce shrubs and wood consumption. However, briquettes production costs seem not yet competitive to natural easy-to-obtain fuels (i.e., animal dung). The research encourages the use of cellulosic and biomass waste-based briquettes in the Andean area for cooking, heating, or manufacturing and strongly advises policy-makers to introduce economic incentives for the recovery of secondary raw materials. • Analysis of waste-based briquettes use in Andean areas were conducted. • Laboratory analysis, social surveys, and on field evaluations are the methods. • Briquettes can be employed for reducing about 30% of the conventional fuels. • The research encourages the employment of waste-based briquettes in the Andes. • Incentives to briquettes production and consumption should be introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste-based briquettes can be an alternative option that can foster the reduction of waste inflow into final disposal sites and introduce alternative energy sources for cooking and heating in rural areas. In particular, the assumption of waste-based briquettes in Andean areas can be of higher potential, due to the lack of biomass sources locally available and the low environmental temperature that increases the requirements of heating systems. The current research would provide a contribution to the scientific literature by introducing a combustion analysis at 3300 m above the sea level for comparing the thermal efficiency and emissions of sawdust and cardboard waste-based briquettes with conventional firewood for heating and cooking purposes. Laboratory tests were carried out for estimating five combustion efficiency parameters, as well as CO, CO 2 , and PM2.5 emissions. Results suggested that 80% cardboard and 20% sawdust briquettes increase the boiling time of water by about 30–50% compared to firewood, due to the lower combustion power (−44%). On the other hand, the thermal efficiency increases of about 10–13%, while biomass consumption and energy consumption per minute decrease by about 27% and 44%, respectively. In addition, emissions reduce compared to firewood, from 32.6 g CO kg−1 to 22.9 g CO kg−1 and from 1260 mgPM2.5 kg−1 to 933 mgPM2.5 kg−1. On balance, the research demonstrates that non-recyclable cardboard waste obtained from separate collection and discarded sawdust from sawmills can be employed for briquettes production as alternative fuels for heating systems in Andean rural areas, contributing to reducing waste final disposal and boosting circular systems. • Firewood and cardboard waste-based briquettes combustion evaluations are conducted. • 20% sawdust - 80% cardboard waste briquettes achieved higher thermal efficiency. • PM2.5 emissions are considerably lower for 80% cardboard waste briquettes. • Cardboard based briquettes can be a potential alternative fuel for the Andean area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]