Available online at www.sciencedirect.

com
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
ScienceDirect
ScienceDirect
Transportation
Available Research
online Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000
at www.sciencedirect.com
Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000 www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

ScienceDirect www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

Transportation Research Procedia 39 (2019) 471–479

www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

Green Cities 2018

Green Cities 2018
Green logistics and circular economy
Green logistics and circular economy
Oksana Seroka-Stolka,a,*
a,*
Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubickabb
a
Oksana Seroka-Stolka, Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka
Technical University of Czestochowa, Poland, Armii Krajowej 36b, Częstochowa 42-201, Poland
b
a Technical
Technical University
University of Czestochowa,
of Czestochowa, ArmiiArmii
Poland, Krajowej 36b, 36b,
Krajowej Częstochowa 42-201,
Częstochowa Poland
42-201, Poland
b
Technical University of Czestochowa, Armii Krajowej 36b, Częstochowa 42-201, Poland

Abstract
Abstract
Green logistics (GL) is the main development trend of modern logistics. Green logistics is an inherent condition and a basic
system logistics
Green of the development
(GL) is the of circular
main economytrend
development (CE).ofCircular
moderneconomy
logistics.isGreen
meanslogistics
as a realization of a closed
is an inherent loop and
condition of material
a basic
flows inof the
system the economic
development system. Greeneconomy
of circular logistics (CE).
is theCircular
concepteconomy
which links between
is means resources and
as a realization of a products,
closed loopproducts and
of material
consumers.
flows in theGreen logistics
economic is helpful
system. Greenfor closingisthetheloop
logistics of circular
concept which economy. Greenresources
links between logistics is
andanproducts,
importantproducts
tool for and
the
developmentGreen
consumers. of circular economy.
logistics The for
is helpful firstclosing
section the
of article
loop of explains
circulartheeconomy.
term of green
Greenlogistics
logisticsand
is the
an circular
importanteconomy.
tool for The
the
second part ofofthe
development paper economy.
circular presents the relationship
The between
first section green
of article logistics,
explains the using thegreen
term of concept of circular
logistics and theeconomy
circulardevelopment
economy. The of
the green
second practice
part of the logistics practices
paper presents theon the example
relationship of sludge
between management.
green logistics, using the concept of circular economy development of
the green practice logistics practices on the example of sludge management.
© 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
© 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
©
This is an
2018 open
The accessPublished
Authors. article under the CC BY-NC-ND
by Elsevier B.V. license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
This is
Selectionan open
and access article
peer-review under
under the CC BY-NC-ND
responsibility of the licensecommittee
scientific
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
committee of
of Green
Green Logistics
Logistics for
for Greener
Greener Cities
Cities 2018.
2018.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of Green Logistics for Greener Cities 2018.
Keywords: green logistics, circular economy, green practices.
Keywords: green logistics, circular economy, green practices.

1. Introduction
1. Introduction
A response to the contemporary threats to the natural environment is the circular economy (CE) model, which is
A response
a system to the
solution thatcontemporary threats
aims to mitigate to the natural
the adverse environment
environmental is the
impact circular economy
of production (CE) model,especially
and consumption, which is
ainsystem solution
the context that reduction
of the aims to mitigate the adverse
of greenhouse gas environmental
emissions and impact of production
waste generation. Theand consumption,
importance especially
of the circular
in the context
economy modelofisthe reduction
gaining of greenhouse
importance in view of gasa emissions andvalue
greater added wastefrom
generation.
each unitThe importancecompared
of resources, of the circular
to the
economy
traditionalmodel
linear ismodel.
gaining importance
The CE modelinrelies
viewon of many
a greater added
"old" value
as well as from each
hitherto unit of
"new" resources,
concepts, compared
whose to the
objective is,
traditional
among other linear model.
things, the The CE modelof
minimization relies
the on many "old" impact
environmental as well of
as hitherto "new"ofconcepts,
the activities whose
companies. Theobjective is,
aim of the
among
article isother things,
to set the concept
out the minimization
of greenof the environmental
logistics based on impact of the of
the example activities of companies.
the possibility The aim of the
of the management of
article
sewageissludges
to set in
outa circular
the concept of green
economy system.logistics based on the example of the possibility of the management of
sewage sludges in a circular economy system.

*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +48-34-3250-484,
*
E-mail address:
Corresponding oksanaseroka@gmail.com
author. Tel.: +48-34-3250-484,
E-mail address: oksanaseroka@gmail.com
2352-1465 © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
This is an open
2352-1465 access
© 2018 Thearticle under
Authors. the CC BY-NC-ND
Published license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
by Elsevier B.V.
Selection
This is an and
openpeer-review under
access article responsibility
under of the scientific
the CC BY-NC-ND licensecommittee of Green Logistics for Greener Cities 2018.
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of Green Logistics for Greener Cities 2018.

2352-1465  2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of Green Logistics for Greener Cities 2018.
10.1016/j.trpro.2019.06.049
472 Oksana Seroka-Stolka, et al. / Transportation Research Procedia 39 (2019) 471–479
Oksana Seroka-Stolka, Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka/ Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000

1.1. The terminology of the circular economy concept and green logistics

Circular economy (CE) has gained many definitions (Korhonen et al., 2018, Kirchherr et al., 2017). According to
the European Commission, in CE, the value of products, materials and resources in the economy is maintained as
long as possible, while the generation of wastes is limited to a minimum (the Commission's Communication…,
2015). CE relies on the closing of the circulation cycles of the prolonged life of products and regarding wastes as
valuable recycled materials (Jastrzębska, 2017). CE is an economy model which covers all activities that restrict,
reuse and recycle materials in the processes of production, distribution and consumption (Blomsma & Brennan,
2017). An important link in the circular economy system is the concept of balanced consumption and production.
The closure of the loops of economic systems is expected to contribute to a decrease in the degree of environmental
pollution, a lowering of the level of natural resources consumption, a reduction of the capital- and energy-intensity
of the processes of recycled material winning and processing, and to the respecting of the ZR principle (Mesjasz-
Lech, 2011). For the efficient operation of the whole CE system, CE often requires entire industrial systems to be
redesigned (Deloitte, 2016). In a nutshell, circular economy is a holistic system that serves the waste-free mode of
production, services and consumption to reduce the exploitation of valuable natural resources and energy
consumption. CE is the concept of creating values through the rational use of resources and the minimization of the
adverse environmental impact of manufactured products at all stages of the product life cycle, which enable the
reuse of materials used. In its basic assumptions, the circular economy concept uses both old and new concepts that
promote the mitigation of the adverse environmental impact of products manufactured by companies, and include
the following concepts:

 from cradle to cradle (C2C)

 3R (reduce, reuse, and recycle) and 4R (reduce, reuse, recycle and, repair)
 LCA
 cleaner manufacturing
 industrial ecology
 sustainable supply chain management
 green supply chain.

All of the above-mentioned concepts fit into the realization of the idea of sustainable development. It’s worth
adding here another concept, namely that of green logistics, which is the prerequisite and key element of the
development of circular economy. Green logistics combines the aforementioned concepts and promotes the
sustainable development idea (Seroka-Stolka, 2014). An important aspect of the CE concept is the closed-loop
circulation of matter ("green matter"), which is possible to be used in the development of green logistics. The
semantic meaning of green logistics is wide. At the beginning, it is important to note that there are two strands in
understanding the influence of logistics on the flows of residues in an economic system in the environmentally-
oriented logistics concept, namely: ecologistics or green logistics, which are often understood identically, and
recycle logistics (also known as waste logistics, or reverse logistics).
Ecologistics is regarded as a logistic subsystem, whereby it is oriented to logistic processes, and in particular to
collection, storage and transport, and the object of operation of ecologistics is waste. So, ecologistics is concerned
with the mitigation of the impact of companies' activities on the natural environment, involving, e.g., the reuse of
waste (also waste packagings) (Michniewska, 2016). Ecologistics activities aim at the optimal solutions to the
collection, storage, removal and recycle or environmentally and socially nonburdensome disposal of different types
of waste (Korzeniowski & Skrzypek, 1999). However, some definitions of ecologistics are strictly oriented to the
flows of waste from the point of its origin until its reuse or neutralization. By contrast, reverse logistics was defined
in early studies as the application of logistics to the recycle and disposal of waste and the management of dangerous
waste, while in a broader understanding, logistic activities were pointed out, which aimed at the reduction of
resources utilization, the recycle of substances, the reuse of materials and the disposal of waste (Salema, 2007).
Reverse logistics can therefore be understood in either a narrower or broader sense.
The term "green logistics" is defined as a set of supply chain management practices and strategies that reduce the
ecological and energy footprints of the distribution of goods, which focuses on material handling, waste
 Oksana Seroka-Stolka, et al. / Transportation Research Procedia 39 (2019) 471–479 473
Oksana Seroka-Stolka, Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka / Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000

management, packaging and transport. Lee & Klassen (2008) define green logistics as green supply chain
management by a company (organization), which takes into account environmental issues and integrates them with
supply chain management to change the environmental performance of suppliers and customers (Lee & Klassen,
2008). Green logistic activities encompass the measurement of the environmental impact of different distribution
strategies, the reduction of energy consumption in logistic activities, the reduction of the amount of waste and the
management of its treatment (Sibihi & Eglese, 2009). From the point of view of sustainable development, green
logistics is defined as the production and distribution of goods in sustainable manner, while taking into
consideration environmental and social factors (Sibihi & Eglese, 2009). This broad definition of green logistics is
consistent with the ECED definition (1987) of sustainable development and the definition of corporate responsibility
(Lyon & Maxwell, 2008). The green logistics concept embraces all activities related to the ecologically-efficient
management of the flow of products (push and pull) and information with the aim of creating an added value for
customers and satisfying their needs (Mesjasz-Lech, 2011).
To sum up, "green" logistics is intended to assure that logistic processes are carried out correctly, while
minimizing their adverse impact on the natural environment. Green logistics is a multi-level concept that includes
both "green" logistic activity, as well as social activities in aid of green logistic management, standardization and
control (Zheng & Zhang, 2010). In spite of the fact that green logistics and ecologistics are often regarded as
identical notions, it seems, however, that the notion of green logistics is lightly broader than that of ecologistics, and
much more broader compared to reverse logistics. All the three concepts are closely interrelated and used in circular
economy. Relationships between reverse logistics and ecologistics and green logistics are illustrated in Fig. 1. The
general concept of the circular economy system is depicted in Fig. 2.

Reverse
Ecologistics
logistics

Green logistics

Fig. 1. Relationships between recovery logistics, ecologistics and green logistics

Source: the authors' compilation based on the study by Seroka-Stolka, O. (2014). pp. 302-309.

Fig. 2. The system of circular economy

Source: Mihelcic et al. (2003), p. 5316.
474 Oksana Seroka-Stolka, et al. / Transportation Research Procedia 39 (2019) 471–479
Oksana Seroka-Stolka, Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka/ Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000

1.2. The green logistics system based on circular economy

The definitions of green logistic definitions mentioned in Part One imply that this concept not only serves the
conservation of natural resources, but also provides a bridge between natural resources and products, and products
and consumers, and is a tool for closing the loop in the circular economy system. Green logistics will therefore
determine the efficiency of the economic cycle in circular economy. Important green logistics activities in the
realization of the circular economy concept by companies include the following environmentally-friendly:

 green packaging
 green transport
 storage
 flow of processing.

The above-mentioned activities are supported by reverse logistic and waste logistics. Of key importance for the
effectiveness of the circular economy system is the flow of materials being part of the production activity of industry
and the associated flow of energy in the industrial systems of companies. An inseparable requirement of circular
economy and industrial ecology is to ensure the efficient flow and recycle of materials among companies. The
intention is to streamline the logistic processes in the manufacturing systems of companies involved in the delivery
of products, to rationalize the manufacturing logistics and to efficiently manage the supply chains of companies
participating in the CE system. Nevertheless, the circular economy system and companies participating in it will be
influenced by various factors, including:

 political and legal factors

 market factors
 social and cultural factors
 technical and technological factors
 natural factors.

It is desirable that the above factors support business entities in the reuse and recycle of waste. However,
companies' products that, after being consumed, may become again a valuable material in the economic system, are
favoured and regarded as environmentally friendly. Materials of mineral origin and organic resources often return to
manufacturing systems as recycled materials.

2. The management of municipal sewage sludge in line with the circular economy principles

Circular economy entails not only the concern of the smallest use of the renewable sources, but also the use of
waste as recyclable materials and their recycling without negative external effects. That's why to implement circular
economy is a challenging task, especially for the municipal services sector. To manage the consistently growing
amounts of sewage sludge worldwide will be a matter of priority. This is clearly seen on the example of the change
in approach to issues related to, for instance, water supply and sewage treatment. Sewage and sewage sludge are no
longer waste. Organic matter and energy recovery from sewage and sludge is aimed for. Good sewage sludge
management requires activities allowing for the effective problem solving concerning the treatment processes, and
sludge management and use in accordance with the circular economy principles. The trends in the field in
compliance with the above-mentioned principles in various countries depend on many factors, in particular on:
scientific and technical knowledge, innovation od technological and technical solutions, quality of sewage sludge,
legislation, water, sewage and sedimentary policy and strategy, and the availability of financial resources. Sludge
introduced into the soil is a source of organic matter and nutrients, affecting the improvement of soil quality and
yield of cultivated plants. Thus, the waste is used as a fertilizer which is in line with the principles of circular
economy. Another example of sewage sludge treatment and its use in the aspect of circular economy is based on the
assumption that various wastes with appropriate properties can be combined to obtain a new product such as
aggregate. In the process of thermal treatment of sewage sludge and other waste, a valuable product is created,
which is widely used in construction.
 Oksana Seroka-Stolka, et al. / Transportation Research Procedia 39 (2019) 471–479 475
Oksana Seroka-Stolka, Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka / Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000

The technological progress, the implementation of innovative solutions and the growing environmental
awareness all cause a change in the way in which the sewage treatment process is perceived. The Polish government
also wants to support the circular economy. It pays special attention to the management of sewage sludge. The
Ministry of Investment and Development (MIR) provided in 2018 for public consultations and inter-ministerial
consultations, the so-called road map project to help to use raw materials in circular economy. It is not only about
the management of industrial and municipal waste, but also sewage sludge, which is increasingly difficult for water
and sewage companies. This year, they will have to dispose of over 700.000 tons of dried sludge – in 2007 there
were slightly more than 500.000 tons. From 2016, sludge is forbidden to be stored. MIR plans to promote it as
biomass, which can be used in agriculture, industry and energetics.
Currently, only 5% of biowaste are recycled. It is estimated that if more biowaste were recycled, it could
substitute for up to 30% inorganic fertilizers. The European Union imports currently approx. 6 million tonnes of
phosphates per year, but 30% of this amount could be substituted with sewage sludge extraction products,
biodegradable waste, meat and bone flour or manure. Ash from the sewage sludge incineration may contain similar
amounts of phosphorus as natural phosphate rock ore. In many European countries, e.g. in Germany, advanced
measures have already been taken to recover phosphorus from ashes from the sewage sludge incineration.
The management of sewage sludge is not only necessary for sanitary reasons, but it should also be done through
its utilization and reuse, instead of dumping. Activities undertaken to reuse waste (including sewage waste) must be
consistent with legal requirements for environmental protection. When making a decision on the method of sewage
sludge management, technological, ecological and economic conditions need to be considered. It also essential to
obtain the social acceptance of the location of a project designed for the utilization of sludge and the intended
method of its handling (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Criteria taken into account in the management of sewage sludge

Source: the authors' study

Over the last several years, the management of sewage sludge in the world has been carried out primarily by
their natural use (Fig. 4) or thermal utilization (Rosik-Dulewska, 2000). One of the best sewage sludge recycling
methods is the sludge application in agriculture. Numerous nutrients present in sewage sludge should be reinstated
in the environment, even more so in the soils more and more often displaying deficiency of organic matter and
nutrients. However, a substantial restriction of the agricultural use is the excess heavy metal content and the sewage
sludge sanitary contamination.
476 Oksana Seroka-Stolka,
OksanaAgnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka/
Seroka-Stolka, Transportation
et al. / Transportation Research
Research Procedia
Procedia 39 00 (2018)
(2019) 000–000
471–479

Fig. 4. Natural use of sewage sludge

Source: https://draxe.com/human-sewage-sludge-in-compost/(access: 10.04.2018)

In the case of agricultural utilization, sludge can provide a valuable source of nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon,
organic matter and micro-components essential to the correct growth of plants. In well-stabilized sewage sludge,
organic matter accounts mostly for 50÷60% of dry weight, while in insufficiently stabilized sewage sludge, up to
70%. Whereas, in raw sewage sludge, it accounts for about 85% of dry weight. Long seasoning of sewage sludge
results in a consistent decrease in organic matter content due to occurring mineralization processes. An undoubted
advantage of such a utilization method are relatively low costs. The results of studies by numerous authors inform of
a beneficial effect of sewage sludge on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Sewage sludge
qualifies especially for fertilizing soils that require an improvement in its structure and biological activity,
a supplementation to its nutrients and an enrichment of the sorption complex. The manurial and soil-forming value
of sewage sludge has been confirmed by numerous investigations and highlighted by many authors (Wang et al.,
2008, Marcinkowski, 2001).
It should be noted, however, that there are some major limitations on the agricultural utilization of sewage sludge
(Banerjee, Bunon & Depoe, 1997). Sludge from municipal sewage, in addition to macro- and micronutrients
essential to the correct growth of plants, may also have excessive contents of harmful heavy metals ( e.g. Cd, Pb,
Hg, As ) (Bowszys et al., 2015, Babel & Del Mundo Dacera, 2006, McBride, 2003). It can also be hazardous for
sanitary reasons (Lewis & Gattie, 2002). Moreover, the agricultural utilization of sludge is dependent on the season
and the plant vegetation period. A starting point for the qualification of sewage sludge for manuring soil must be the
full chemical and sanitary analysis of a given sewage soil batch. It should also be assured that sewage sludge be only
introduced to the soil in doses corresponding to the manurial demand of the plants (Wang et al., 2008). The analysis
of sewage sludge quality has found that sewage sludges often do not meet the standards for their agricultural use;
however, in the majority, they qualify for natural utilization for, e.g., land reclamation purposes (Mohammad &
Athamneh, 2004). An important and increasingly preferred solution (besides thermal transformation) becomes the
use of sewage sludge for manuring soil intended for energy plant growing (Fig. 5) to obtain thereby cheap biomass
for the purposes of the renewable power industry.
 Oksana Seroka-Stolka, Agnieszka
Oksana Ociepa-Kubicka
Seroka-Stolka, / Transportation
et al. / Transportation Research
Research Procedia
Procedia 00 (2018)
39 (2019) 000–000
471–479 477

Fig. 5. Schematic diagram showing an example of municipal sewage sludge management in accordance with the circular economy principles
Source: the authors' study

Biomass is the oldest renewable energy source which is most widely used nowadays (Erisson& Nilsson, 2006).
To meet the requirements for the production of biomass, it is necessary to acquire it also from the plantations of
energy plants (such as the giant miscanthus, Virginia fanpetals, reed canary grass, or switchgrass), and these can be
manured exactly using sewage sludge (Berndes, Hoogwijk, & Van den Broek, 2003). Manuring soils with sewage
sludge is not only advantageous from the economic point of view, but also essential for restoring and retaining the
environmental balance, as the use of sewage sludge on energy plantations makes it possible to close the circulation
of nutrients within the entire local ecosystem (Ociepa-Kubicka & Pachura, 2013). The utilization of sewage sludge
for manuring soil for energy plant cultivation is among the safest and most effective methods of its management.
The use of sewage sludge for manuring is naturally justified and should be promoted wherever there are no explicit
contraindications. In her study, Ociepa (2010) has proved that a sewage sludge dose of 40 t/ha is the most
appropriate for manuring energy plants. The application of sewage sludge in this dose yielded a biomass crop 2-3-
times bigger compared to the control. However, besides the sewage sludge dose, consideration should also be given
to the effect of the sewage sludge type and the degree of organic matter decomposition on the plant crop.
Considering the fact that energy plants are not intended for human consumption, the risk of harmful substances
entering the food chain is minimal. Sewage sludge used for manuring energy crops to ensure intensive plant growth
effectively substitutes for mineral fertilizers, which is undoubtedly advantageous for ecological and economical
reasons.
Incineration is more and more often the rational solution to the reduction of the sludge amount and its utilisation,
especially of the dangerous and burdensome one. Thermal transformation is one of the best and preferred solutions,
chiefly due to the fact that it causes the maximal reduction in the volume of sludge and its full hygienization. An
example of municipal sewage sludge management in accordance with the principles of circular economy, is – inter
alia – the installation of sludge energy recovery launched by the Veolia company, with the use of sludge from a
sewage treatment plant operating in Hong Kong for 7.2 million people. It is the biggest sewage sludge thermal
treatment plant. Its operation results in numerous benefits, for example, sludge collection from 11 sludge treatment
plants. It is also autonomous as far as the energy use is concerned. It generates 14 MW of energy.
However, prior to being burned, sludge must be dried, which will generate additional costs (Chu, Lee & Chang,
2005).It is more and more often recommended to incinerate sewage sludge in a rotary cement kiln. Conditions
prevailing in the cement kiln [high temperatures of the gas stream (above 2000°C) and of the material being burned
(approx. 1450°C), turbulence and a relatively long time (7-10 s) of the gas and material flowing through the low
temperature zone (over 1200°C)] cause an almost complete decomposition and burning of the combustible organic
substances fed to the kiln. It should be underlined that the advantage of the rotary cement kiln over the sludge
incinerator or another device is waste-free utilization. The formed combustion product, i.e. ash, is totally absorbed
and permanently bounded in the clinker, thus not posing any threat to the natural environment. Thanks to the sewage
sludge and other substances thermal treatment, lightweight aggregates can be produced. The thermal process of
aggregates fabrication wholly neutralises and stabilises potentially hazardous components of sludge. Integrating the
heavy metal compounds present in the sewage sludge within the silicate crystal structure causes the lack of heavy
478 Oksana Seroka-Stolka, et al. / Transportation Research Procedia 39 (2019) 471–479
Oksana Seroka-Stolka, Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka/ Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000

metal emission from such a structure by means of mechanical or physical methods, i.e. water or acid rains washout,
or their reaction in natural conditions. The product is widely applicable, e.g. as a component of lightweight and
insulating concrete, of substrate in agriculture and horticulture, of living roof substrates, of drainage for road
substructure, and of sewage treatment plants filter media.
It is hard to indicate a single model solution to the management of sewage sludge for all sewage treatment plants.
However, to manage and reuse sewage sludge a requirement nowadays. A selected method should be strictly
adjusted not only to the quality and quantity of generated sewage sludge and the sewage treatment plant's
technological capabilities, but also to the specificity of contractors who collect, use, process or neutralize the sewage
waste.

3. Summary

Education in green logistics and circular economy and promoting this type of economy among entrepreneurs is
of key importance nowadays. The growing amounts of waste is becoming a major problem worldwide.
Implementing circular economy is a challenging task, especially for the municipal services sector. Sewage sludge
has become an inseparable element of human living and economic activities, and with the technological progress, its
variety and properties are changing. Because of the increasing possibilities of developing and modernizing existing
sewage treatment plants or setting up new facilities, a dramatic increase in the stream of sewage sludge will be
observed in the nearest future, both in Poland and in the world, which will be very difficult to manage. Searching for
new pathways for waste (sewage sludge) management is therefore becoming the subject of interest of the
contemporary green logistics. These would embrace all management processes associated with the flows of waste
and information from the locations, where they are generated to their appropriate destinations. Current regulations
increasingly strictly deal with the issue of storing sewage sludge on overloaded municipal waste landfills. The
common natural methods of sewage sludge management are also losing attractiveness due to high contents of
environmentally harmful compounds (heavy metals) in municipal sewage sludges, especially those deriving from
large urban areas. Therefore, it seems that the target trend in waste utilization will be primarily thermal utilization
methods, as the most environmentally safe and economically feasible.

References

Babel, S., & Del Mundo Dacera, D. (2006). Heavy metal removal from contaminated sludge for land application: a review.
Waste Management, 26(9), 988-1004.
Banerjee, M., Bunon, D., & Depoe, S. (1997). Impact of sewage sludge application on soil biological characteristic, Agriculture,
Ecosystems & Environment, 66, 241-249.
Berndes, G., Hoogwijk, M., & Van den Broek, R. (2003). The Contribution of biomass in the future global energy supply a
review of 17 studies. Biomass and Bioenergy, 25, 1-28.
Blomsma, F., & Brennan, G. (2017). The emergence of circular economy: A new framing around prolonging resource
productivity. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21(3), 603-614.
Bowszys, T., Wierzbowska, J., Sternik, P., & Busse, M. K. (2015). Effect of the application of sewage sludge compost on the
content and leaching of zinc and copper from soils under agricultural use. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 16(1), 1-7.
Chu, C.P., Lee, D.J.,& Chang, C.Y. (2005). Energy demand in sludge dewatering, Water Research, 39,1858-1868.
Deloitte Sustainability Consulting Central Europe (2016). Gospodarka o obiegu zamkniętym. Jak wyzwolić potencjał z
planowanych zmian [Circular economy. How to liberate potential from the planned changes], Warsaw, p. 8.
Erisson, K., & Nilsson, L.J. (2006). Assessment of the potential biomass a supply in Europe using a resources focused approach,
Biomass and Bioenergy 30, 1-15.
https://draxe.com/human-sewage-sludge-in-compost/(access: 10.04.2018)
Jastrzębska, E. (2017). Gospodarka o obiegu zamkniętym-nowa idea czy stare podejście? Dobre praktyki społecznie
odpowiedzialnych przedsiębiorstw [Circular economy – A new idea or an old approach? Good social practices of responsible
enterprises]. Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics/Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we
Wrocławiu, 491, p. 220.
Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M. (2017). Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources,
Conservation and Recycling, 127, 221-232.
Korhonen, J., Nuur, C., Feldmann, A., & Birkie, S. E. (2018). Circular economy as an essentially contested concept. Journal of
Cleaner Production, 175, 544-552.
 Oksana Seroka-Stolka, et al. / Transportation Research Procedia 39 (2019) 471–479 479
Oksana Seroka-Stolka, Agnieszka Ociepa-Kubicka / Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2018) 000–000

Korzeniowski, K, Skrzypek, M. (1999). Ekologistyka zużytych opakowań [The logistics of waste packaging], Biblioteka
Logistyka, Poznan,1999.
Lee, Su-Yol, & Klassen, Robert, D. (2008). Drivers and Enablers That Foster Environmental Management Capabilities in Small-
and Medium- Sized Suppliers in Supply Chains. Production and Operations Management Society, Jg. 17, H. 6, 573-586.
http://www.econstor.eu
Lewis, David L.& Gattie, David K. (2002). Pathogen Risks From Applying Sewage Sludge to Land. Environmental Science &
Technology. American Chemical Society, 36 (13), 286A–293A.
Marcinkowski, T. A. (2001). Research on the chemical and biological composition of sludge from the treatment plant in Borek
Strzeliński together with the evaluation of the possibility of utilization in soil. Reports of the Institute of Environmental
Engineering of the Wroclaw University of Technology, Series SPR, 45, 9 Wroclaw.
McBride, M.B. (2003). Toxic metals in sewage sludge amended soil has promotion of beneficial use discounted the risks,
Advances in Environmental Research, 8, pp. 5-19.
Mesjasz-Lech, A. (2011). Efektywność ekonomiczna i sprawność ekologiczna logistyki zwrotnej [The economic effectiveness and
ecological performance of reverse logistics], Czestochowa: Published by Technical University of Czestochowa, pp. 43-46.
Michniewska, K. (2006). Nowe trendy w logistyce: logistyka odzysku, a ekologistyka [New trends in logistics: recovery logistics
and ecologistrics], Logistyka, 1, 30.
Mihelcic, J. R., Crittenden, J. C., Small, M. J., Shonnard, D. R., Hokanson, D. R., Zhang, Q., & Schnoor, J. L. (2003).
Sustainability science and engineering: the emergence of a new metadiscipline. Environmental science & technology, 37(23),
5314-5324.
Mohammad, M. J., & Athamneh, B.M. (2004). Changes in soil fertility and plant uptake of nutrients and heavy metals in
response to sewage sludge application to calcareous soils. Journal of Agronomy, 3, 229-236.
Ociepa, A. (2010). Wpływ nawożenia na właściwości fitoremediacyjne i energetyczne wybranych gatunków roślin [Effect of
fertilization on phytoremediation and energy properties of selected plant species], Rozprawa doktorska[PhD dissertation],
Politechnika Czstochowska, Czestochowa: University of Technology, pp.10-37
Ociepa-Kubicka, A.,& Pachura, P. (2013). The use of sewage sludge and compost in the fertilization of energy plants on the
example of Miscanthus and mallow, Annual Set the Environment Protection, 15, 2267-2278.
Rosik-Dulewska, Cz. (2000). Podstawy zarządzania odpadami [Basics of waste management]. Warsaw: Published by PWN,
pp.45-78
Salema, M. I. G., Barbosa-Povoa, A. P., & Novais, A. Q. (2007). An optimization model for the design of a capacitated multi-
product reverse logistics network with uncertainty. European Journal of Operational Research, 179(3), 1063-1077.
Sbihi, A. & Eglese, R.W. (2009). Combinatorial optimization and Green Logistics. Annals of Operations Research, 175(1), 159-
175.
Seroka-Stolka, O. (2014). The development of green logistics for implementation sustainable development strategy in companies.
Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 151, 302-309.
The Communication of the Commission to the European Parliament, Council, Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of the Regions – The EU Action Plan for Circular Economy, COM(2015) 614 final, Brussels, 2 December, 2015.
Wang, X., Chen, T., Ge, Y., & Jia, Y. (2008). Studies on land application of sewage sludge and its limiting factors. Journal of
Hazardous Materials, 160, 554-558.
Wang, X., Chen, T., Yinghua, G.,& Yongfeng, J. (2008). Studies of land application of sewage sludge and its limiting factors,
Journal of Hazardous Materials, 160, 554-558.
Zheng, L., & Zhang, J. (2010). Research on green logistics system based on circular economy. Asian Social Science, 6(11), 116.