University EMS Report: Reflection on Waste-to-Energy and Bio-refinery

This report provides a reflection on Environmental Management Systems (EMS) based on the analysis of two articles: 'Strategies on implementation of waste-to-energy (WTE) supply chain for circular economy system: a review' and 'A new concept for enhancing energy recovery from agricultural residues by coupling anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis process'. The report explores the advantages of EMS, such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and revenue generation, particularly through WTE and bio-refinery technologies. It discusses the PDCA cycle and the role of IT in EMS. The report also acknowledges the limitations of EMS, including high initial investment costs for technology and machinery, and the challenges faced by smaller companies in adopting these systems. The author recommends support for small companies to adopt EMS, highlighting its importance in reducing environmental pollution and promoting sustainable practices. References to key articles and figures illustrating waste-to-energy setups and bio-methane gas plants are also included.

Running head: ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Environmental Management System
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1
ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Environmental management system or EMS refers to management of environmental
programmes of the corporate organisations in a documented, systematic and planned manner.
The aim of the EMS by these organisations is to achieve reduction in carbon footprint and other
pollutants and wastes. The aim of this assignment is to reflect on the selected readings. It outlines
my reflection of the two readings, ‘Strategies on implementation of waste-to-energy (WTE)
supply chain for circular economy system: a review’ and ‘A new concept for enhancing energy
recovery from agricultural residues by coupling anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis process’. I
have critically analyzed these two readings and expressed my learning from them.
I have learnt from this aspect that, according to the first article EMS is a process of
monitoring and reduction of wastes and pollutants and involves use of modern technology. I can
point out that the concept has become so important that it is enforced internationally by rating
organisations like International Organisation for Standardisation(ISO) 14001. I have experienced
that the practice of EMS involves using of information technology to gain information about the
environment and taking steps to preserve it(iso.org 2017). This forms the basis of the EMS
Model which emphasises on the ‘Plan-Do-Check-Act’ abbreviated as the PDCA cycle. The
model stresses on planning of environmental management steps and formation of strategies to
preserve the environment and reduction of wastes. The next element of the PDCA model is to
doing the required things to support environmental planning like arranging for finances and
obtaining stakeholders’ participation. The final step is to execute the plans and strategies to
protect the environment. The PDCA model also has provisions to check the laws and policies
pertaining to environment and incorporate them in the organisational EMS model(Zhu, Cordeiro
and Sarkis 2013).

2
ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
I have also learnt from the article ‘Strategies on implementation of waste-to-energy
(WTE) supply chain for circular economy system: a review’ that Environment Management
System or EMS has several advantages to the organisations which adopt and apply them. First
EMA helps the organsiations to reduce their emissions of harmful wastes which contribute to
health of the community. For example, companies can use the Waste to Energy(WTE) method as
shown in the figure below to recycle wastes to reduce greenhouse gas emission and benefit the
community by reducing pollution(Pan et al. 2015). I feel this act of the companies help them to
create a positive image in the market. This enhanced goodwill helps the organisations to attract
new customers and business partners which lead to their business expansion.
Figure 1. Diagram showing waste to energy setup
(Source: Waste-to-Energy: How It Works - Deltaway Energy. 2017)

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ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
I experienced from the article ‘A new concept for enhancing energy recovery from
agricultural residues by coupling anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis process’ that environment
management system that I can state is that it helps in reduction of expenditure and help the
companies to become more sustainable. The companies today can develop their EMS to reduce
their carbon emission and cut down energy expenses. They can install modern machinery which
helps them to recycle wastes to use it to produce energy. For example, companies can install
integrated bio-refinery as shown in the figure below where they can generate bio-methane and
use it as an alternative of non renewable sources of energy like coal and petrol(Monlau et al.
2015). I learnt that the companies can consume this energy to reduce its purchase of energy from
energy distribution companies. They can also sell the surplus energy to other companies and earn
extra revenue. Thus, I can infer from the discussion that EMS can help the companies to reduce
their wastes, become energy efficient and earn extra revenue by selling renewable energy.
Figure 2. Bio methane gas plant
(Source: New Zealand Digital Library. (2017)

4
ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Environment Management System has several advantages to the companies using it but
also has certain limitations. EMS involves installation of modern machinery capable of
recycling wastes. Moreover setting up of energy production facilities require setting up of new
plants(To and Lee 2014). These two factors according to me require huge investments in
technology, machinery and human resources to operate
in the initial phase by the companies. A third challenge faced by EMS is that is a new area of
technological development and requires extensive research and innovations to be adopted by all
the companies. For example, companies in order to recycle wastes companies either require
buying combined recycling plants or have to lease it from waste management companies. Both
these options attract high investments which small companies cannot afford to spend.

5
ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Big companies-can afford Small companies companies-
cannot afford
Acquires advanced
machinery
Recycles wastes to manufacture energy
Consumes energy in own
operations
Sells surplus energy to other firms
Saves energy expenditure Earns revenue
Waste management-heavy expenditure

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ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Figure 3: installation of waste management plants in big and small companies
(Source: Author)
I can reflect that multinational companies in have the financial resources to experiment
with WTE methods but small companies cannot afford t take such risks. I can opine that the
multinational companies have huge financial and technological strengths to acquire these modern
machineries. However, the smaller companies are not able to accumulate such huge capital to
install these machineries. This according to me is led application of EMS mostly in the big
companies(Zhu, Cordeiro and Sarkis 2013).
I can reflect that EMS is important to reduce environmental pollution and should be
accepted by all the companies. The companies can use techniques like Waste to Energy(WTE)
process to recycle wastes to generate energy instead of disposing them and causing
environmental pollution. They can also use integrated bio-refinery technology to produce
biomethane and reduce their expenditure incurred to obtain thermal energy from coal or
petroleum. I can recommend that small companies should be provided with assistance to acquire
machineries and adopt EMS. The reduction in their energy expenditures due production of a
portion of their energy supply would prove the effectiveness of EMS and WTE methods.

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ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
References:
Monlau, F., Sambusiti, C., Antoniou, N., Barakat, A. and Zabaniotou, A., 2015. A new concept
for enhancing energy recovery from agricultural residues by coupling anaerobic digestion
and pyrolysis process. Applied Energy, 148, pp.32-38.
New Zealand Digital Library. (2017). Nzdl.org. Retrieved 31 August 2017, from
http://www.nzdl.org/cgi-bin/library.cgi
Pan, S.Y., Du, M.A., Huang, I.T., Liu, I.H., Chang, E.E. and Chiang, P.C., 2015. Strategies on
implementation of waste-to-energy (WTE) supply chain for circular economy system: a
review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 108, pp.409-421.
To, W.M. and Lee, P.K.C., 2014. Diffusion of ISO 14001 environmental management system:
global, regional and country-level analyses. Journal of cleaner production, 66, pp.489-
498.
Waste-to-Energy: How It Works - Deltaway Energy. (2017). Deltawayenergy.com. Retrieved 31
August 2017, from http://www.deltawayenergy.com/wte-tools/wte-anatomy/
Zhu, Q., Cordeiro, J. and Sarkis, J., 2013. Institutional pressures, dynamic capabilities and
environmental management systems: Investigating the ISO 9000–Environmental
management system implementation linkage. Journal of environmental
management, 114, pp.232-242.