Circular Economy, Eco-Innovation and a Business Model for the Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Mexico
Carmen García-Castillo,
Erandi Maldonado-Villalpando,
Luis Seguí-Amórtegui,
Hilda Guerrero-García-Rojas
Affiliations
Carmen García-Castillo
Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Morelia, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Carretera Morelia-Salamanca Km 6.5, Morelia 58100, Michoacán, Mexico
Erandi Maldonado-Villalpando
Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Morelia 58190, Michoacán, Mexico
Luis Seguí-Amórtegui
Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Department, EAE Business School, Aragón, 55, 08015 Barcelona, Spain
Hilda Guerrero-García-Rojas
Facultad de Economía, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Av. Francisco J. Mújica S/N Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia 58030, Michoacán, Mexico
Wastewater treatment plants face enormous economic, environmental, technical, and regulatory challenges, including the high energy costs of their operation, waste generation, and the destination of treated water. In this regard, a proposal was made for the operation of municipal WWTPs in Mexico, based on the symbiosis of the circular economy and eco-innovation as strategies for sustainable change in their operation. As a result, it was possible to obtain an updated diagnosis of the situation of the WWTPs, a proposal for their operation was made, and a circular and innovative business model was established for these plants in order to channel decision-making and visualize the path for the transition of these facilities to sustainable operation.
