Mexico generated 8.9 Mt of food loss and waste (FLW) at food distribution and retail centers in the year 2022. Traditional management methods in Latin America primarily involve final disposal sites, contributing to national greenhouse gas emissions of 0.22 Mt CO₂ eq y⁻¹. This creates an urgent need for sustainable valorization strategies for FLW to mitigate environmental impacts. This comprehensive study analyzes the geographical distribution of FLW generation and proposes a valorization approach using WtE-AD plants. Geographic information systems were employed for geographical analysis, life cycle assessment was used for environmental evaluation, and circular economy business models were applied for sustainability assessment. The primary objective of this first part of the contribution is to evaluate the technical feasibility of implementing waste-to-energy anaerobic digestion (WtE-AD) plants for FLW management in Mexico considering their geographical locations. The results demonstrate that WtE-AD plants with treatment capacities exceeding 8 t d⁻¹ can achieve positive energy balances and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Specific findings indicate that these plants are viable for large-scale implementation, with larger plants showing resilience to increased transport distances while maintaining energy efficiency. The results highlight the critical influence of methane yields and transport distances on plant energy performance. This study underscores the importance of strategically placing and scaling WtE-AD plants to optimize resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. These findings provide essential insights for policymakers and stakeholders advocating for the transition of Mexico’s food supply chain toward a circular economy. Future parts of this study will explore detailed economic analyses and the policy frameworks necessary for the large-scale implementation of WtE-AD plants in Mexico. Further research should continue to develop innovative strategies to enhance the techno-economic and environmental performance of WtE-AD processes, ensuring sustainable FLW management and energy recovery.

Waste to energy processes from anaerobic digestion (WtE-AD) from cattle manure (CM) have low CH₄ yields due to CM’s structural composition. The search for alternatives to increase the energy yields of these processes must consider the optimization of operating parameters within a framework of mitigating the environmental footprint. The goal of this paper is to provide a statistical optimization strategy based on experimental designs to improve CH₄ yields and reduce the environmental profile of CM valorization through a WtE-AD process. Biochemical methane potential tests were conducted to determine the energetic and environmental effects that alkaline pretreatments, different AD temperatures, and co-digestion formulations with fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) have on the WtE-AD process from CM. The evaluation was conducted following a life cycle assessment approach through energy balances. The results indicate that the highest CH₄ yield (384.3 mL CH₄ g VS⁻¹) and the lowest environmental impact (−0.06 kg CO₂ eq kWh⁻¹ of electricity production) were achieved with the co-digestion of CM with FVW 1:1, pretreatment with 10 g NaOH 100 g⁻¹ of VS of CM, and a temperature of 45 °C. It was found that the CM pretreatment with NaOH substantially increases the energy profile of the WtE-AD process without compromising the environmental impact since greenhouse gas emissions in chemical production are negligible.

This study explores the sequential valorization of orange peel waste (OPW) through photo-fermentation using real dark fermentation effluents (DFE) as substrates for hydrogen production using Rhodobacter capsulatus B10. Three DFE types—differing in prior biocompound extraction method—and their concentrations at three levels (25, 35, and 45%) were evaluated. The highest hydrogen yield (126.5 mL H₂ g⁻¹ VFA) was achieved with DFE derived from essential oil-extracted OPW at a concentration of 25%. The highest DFE concentration reduced the hydrogen yield due to intensified medium opacity and potential substrate inhibition. Kinetic modeling revealed that the Modified Gompertz and T_i-Gompertz models best described hydrogen production dynamics. This study presents the first evidence of hydrogen production via photo-fermentation using real effluents derived from OPW processing, demonstrating a novel route for citrus waste reuse within a biorefinery framework. These findings underscore the innovation and relevance of integrating waste valorization with clean energy production, while also identifying key operational challenges to be addressed.

Mexico generated 8.9 million tons of food loss and waste (FLW) in the year 2022, which was primarily managed through linear economy schemes where final disposal sites are predominant, leading to significant contributions to climate change and economic losses. This study, as a continuation of a prior work (Part 1), aims to evaluate the economic and environmental feasibility of implementing waste-to-energy anaerobic digestion (WtE-AD) plants for FLW management across Mexico, identifying the key factors that influence the competitiveness of these systems compared to conventional waste management practices. Using the outcomes of an energy feasibility analysis (Part 1), alongside life cycle assessment (LCA), geographic information systems, and cost engineering, this research analyzes the eco-efficiency and viability of WtE-AD for FLW valorization throughout the Mexican territory. The results indicate that, with a conventional waste management fee of USD 35.4 t⁻¹, only the largest WtE-AD plant in the State of Mexico (treatment capacity of 2536.8 t FLW d⁻¹) achieved a positive net present value (NPV) of USD 70.1 million, while all the other plants remained economically unviable. Conversely, under an optimistic scenario with a fee of USD 139 t⁻¹, plants processing over 50 t FLW d⁻¹ achieved profitability, with the largest plant reaching an NPV of USD 1.15 billion. The environmental assessment showed that larger plants effectively act as carbon sinks, with the largest plant reducing emissions by up to −89.8 kg CO₂ eq t⁻¹ of FLW. These findings emphasize the need for appropriate waste management fees and governmental incentives to ensure the economic viability of WtE-AD plants. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers, highlighting the potential of WtE-AD technologies to contribute to Mexico’s energy transition and the shift toward a circular economy.