Life Cycle Assessment of Urban Pruning Management in Brasília (Brazil): Potential for Sustainable Energy Valorization

Urban tree pruning generates significant quantities of lignocellulosic residues that are commonly treated as waste rather than as a renewable bioresource. In Brasília (Brazil), no structured life cycle inventory (LCI) was previously available for this municipal system. This study develops the first waste-to-gate LCI of urban pruning residue management based on primary operational data obtained from public procurement records of Companhia Urbanizadora da Nova Capital do Brasil (NOVACAP). The inventory covers pruning support operations, collection, transportation, shredding, and intermediate storage. Results indicate an annual biomass availability of 72,032 t year–1 and strong dependence on diesel-powered fleets, totaling 6,093,103.95 L year–1 (84.59 L t–1), identifying logistics as the main environmental hotspot. Gasoline-powered handheld equipment accounted for an additional 169,804.80 L year–1 (2.36 L t–1). The dataset provides a transparent basis for future life cycle assessment studies and evaluation of biomass valorization pathways such as torrefaction, gasification, and bioenergy recovery. These findings highlight the importance of integrating urban waste management and circular bioeconomy strategies in growing cities.