Module Information

Module Identifier
BDM1220
Module Title
Waste Resource Management
Academic Year
2024/2025
Co-ordinator
Semester
Distance Learning
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Interactive  1500 Words  40%
Semester Assessment Case Study Report  2500 Words  60%
Supplementary Assessment Interactive  1500 Words  40%
Supplementary Assessment Case Study Report  2500 Words  60%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Explain the current and future challenges associated with waste management in the food supply chain.

2. Appraise opportunities for the implementation of enhanced waste management systems across food supply chains.

3. Evaluate novel approaches for sustainable food waste management solutions.

4. Critically analyse the efficacy of different food waste management systems.

5. Compare and contrast decision making frameworks for optimising waste management.

Brief description

This module is part of the Bioinnovation Wales courses. Students will learn about the latest advances in waste management technology, considering waste management strategies from across the spectrum of business types within food supply chains.
It will cover the benefits of effective waste management, highlight relevant research and include case studies relevant to the food production, processing and retail sectors.

Content

Topics covered in this module will be specific to resource management within the food sector highlighting the latest relevant research within food production, processing and retail. It will cover the following:

1. The importance of effective waste management (resource efficiency, legislation, environmental impacts)
2. Overview of Circular economy; LCA; & prevent/reduce, reuse, recycle, valorize
3. Decision making frameworks for resource management
4. Waste prevention/reduction (surplus resource management, mapping supply to demand) –
Case studies from production, processing and retail e.g. agri-tech solutions - 3Gs mapping yield to demand, Gleaning Network/redistribution,
5. Reusing surplus resources –
Case studies, e.g. deposit schemes, repurposing
6. Recycling - Case studies, e.g. silage wrap
7. Waste stream valorization –
Case studies from production, processing and retail, e.g. carotene, antioxidants, animal feed

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Students will be required to examine and synthesize quantitative data from a range of publications and databases in their assignments and will be expected to explain or show evidence to support claims of financial gains, waste reduction, etc. in the case study.
Communication Students will be expected to be able to express themselves appropriately in their assignments and to discuss relevant topics with each other in the forums.
Improving own Learning and Performance Detailed feedback will be given for assignment work for students to see where improvements could be made before subsequent assignments. A written formative assessment will give an early risk-free opportunity for feedback and there will be 3 successive assessed forums which will be marked and feedback provided in time to aid performance in the next forum. Formative MCQs will enable students to see where they need to concentrate their self-directed study.
Information Technology Students will be required to source information from a variety of scientific publication data bases and to use Blackboard for all aspects of the module
Personal Development and Career planning This module will provide the students with the latest research into waste management needs and technologies to help them provide the most up-to-date information/advice to their colleagues/clients in the bio-based industries; they will be assessed on their understanding of this information but won’t be specifically assessed on personal development and career planning.
Problem solving Online forum posts will be used to help develop and improve students’ problem solving skills, through use of questions that present theoretical problems for the students to solve. The case study will also require students to propose ways to amend and improve existing waste streams.
Research skills Students will be required to undergo directed self-study, so will develop their literature research skills. Feedback from assignments will offer advice on information synthesis.
Subject Specific Skills Importance and methods of effective waste management. Appraisal and evaluation of the different methods.
Team work Online forums will require students to debate among themselves to develop a consensus of opinion.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7