Designing the Future: An Intelligent System for Zero-Mile Food Production by Upcycling Wastewater

• Main Authors: Fiammetta Costa, Alessandra Amati, Manuela Antonelli, Giacomo Cocetta, Michele Di Mauro, Antonio Ferrante, Klaudia Krasojevic, Raffaella Mangiarotti, Matteo Meraviglia, Attilio Nebuloni, Paolo Perego, Roberto Sironi, Filippo Spanu, Carlo Emilio Standoli, Giorgio Vignati, Paolo Volonté, Maryam Ziyaee, Luciana Migliore
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-11-01
• Series: Proceedings
• Subjects: dishwasher wastewater upcycling; plant growth; User Centered Design
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/2/22/1367

The project deals with the environmental problem of water consumption. The aim of this work is to experiment the recycling of dishwasher wastewater through its reuse in growing edible vegetables or ornamental plants; this can also accomplish the valorization of nutrients present in the wastewater. This new process allows to ensure washing functions coupled with vegetables production and to affect users’ environmental awareness and habits, following a user-centered system design approach to understand the users and involve them actively in the system development. The presented work is also aimed to experiment a multidisciplinary approach in order to face environmental problems.