Abstract
Urban organic waste valorization represents a strategic opportunity to integrate renewable energy production within circular-economy frameworks, particularly in decentralized and community-based contexts. This study assesses bioenergy conversion pathways for an urban eco-community in Bogotá, Colombia (ASOFAHIMCO), combining physicochemical substrate characterization with a participatory decision-support framework. A Participatory Action Research (PAR) design was implemented integrating: (i) a participatory diagnostic of organic waste generation, (ii) physicochemical characterization of dominant organic substrates, (iii) multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) for technology prioritization, and (iv) capacity building workshops. The diagnostic identified potato (PP) and plantain/banana (BP) peels as main waste streams. Substrate characterization indicated acidic conditions and high organic content: BP exhibited pH 5.5, C/N = 39, and volatile solids (VS, dry basis) of 86.6%, whereas PP presented pH 5.6, C/N = 31, and VS (dry basis) of 94.2%, indicating suitability for anaerobic co-digestion. The participatory MCDA framework, weighted through community consensus (social acceptance 35%, economic costs 30%, environmental impact 20%, technical feasibility 15%), ranked anaerobic digestion and alcoholic fermentation as the most suitable options. Results demonstrate that integrating technical and participatory evaluation enables socially accepted bioenergy pathways. This approach supports early-stage (TRL 3–4) decentralized bioenergy deployment for urban eco-communities transitioning toward integrated waste-to-energy systems.
