Mapping Out the Territorial Dynamics: The Geography of Recycling and Reuse of Secondary Raw Materials in Industrial Zones
摘要
This paper is aimed at studying the possibilities of implementing circular economical processes and industrial symbiosis in industrial areas, rooting this procedure into the theoretical framework of location theories and applying GIS and spatial analytical techniques. The location model of production activities provided in the standard location theory by Alfred Weber in 1909, can be extended, where the production site also serves as the source of secondary raw materials. The purpose of this paper stems from previous research that examined the concepts of Circular Economy (CE) and Industrial Symbiosis (IS) in relation to the organization of industrial areas. Such concepts are implemented to create a more resilient economic and production system, with the aim of promoting the minimization of waste production and the efficient use of resources. Territorial dynamics have a significant impact in implementing CE processes for recovering and reusing waste, taking into account the qualities and characteristics of secondary raw materials. The methodology is based on a previous project, “MEISAR - Materials for sustainable construction and infrastructure: recycled aggregates”, which focused on recycled aggregates and waste materials as second-source materials for sustainable construction and infrastructure. The model, initially implemented for the case study of the demolition and reconstruction of the Football Stadium of the city of Cagliari, is hereby applied and tested to a different context, as that of the industrial area of Trieste, proximal to port facilities, adopting a multi-scalar approach. In this approach it is crucial to take into account the existing spatial constraints during cluster analysis, where the distance between the plants and the place where secondary raw materials are utilized could not exceed 30 km. In light of this background, this paper aims to apply this methodology to a wider context. The scope is to take into account a specific sector, in this case the construction and demolition’s sectors, with the aim of applying the methodology employed in the MEISAR project in the industrial and port area of Trieste, considering the points that can be reached within 30 km around a given site that could be subjected to demolition and reconstruction interventions, identifying those actors involved. The case study will concentrate on Trieste's industrial area, which is strategically located due to its geographical location near the borders of Slovenia, Austria and Croatia, and the proximity between the city and the port, considered a crucial hub in international trade.