Assessment of solid waste generation and greenhouse gas emission potential in Yangon city, Myanmar

Solid waste prediction is crucial for sustainable solid waste management. Usually, accurate waste generation record is challenge in developing countries which complicates the modelling process. Solid waste generation is related to demographic, economic, and social factors. However, these factors are highly varied due to population and economy growths. The objective of this research is to determine the most influencing demographic and economic factors that affect solid waste generation using systematic approach, and then develop a model to forecast solid waste generation using a modified Adaptive Neural Inference System (MANFIS). The model evaluation was performed using Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and the coefficient of determination (R2). The results show that the best input variables are people age groups 0-14, 15-64, and people above 65 years, and the best model structure is 3 triangular fuzzy membership functions and 27 fuzzy rules. The model has been validated using testing data and the resulted training RMSE, MAE and R2 were 0.2678, 0.045 and 0.99, respectively, while for testing phase RMSE =3.986, MAE = 0.673 and R2 = 0.98.Implications: To date, a few attempts have been made to predict the annual solid waste generation in developing countries. This paper presents modeling of annual solid waste generation using Modified ANFIS, it is a systematic approach to search for the most influencing factors and then modify the ANFIS structure to simplify the model. The proposed method can be used to forecast the waste generation in such developing countries where accurate reliable data is not always available. Moreover, annual solid waste prediction is essential for sustainable planning.

The South Korean government’s renewable energy deployment plan aims to increase the share of electricity generated from renewables to 20% by 2030. To reach this goal, the rate of photovoltaic (PV) installation will accelerate in the coming years. This energy transition creates a new challenge: PV wastes. This study estimates the amount of PV waste generated, the material composition of PV waste, and the amount of recyclable metals in South Korea by 2080 under four different scenarios (combining shape parameters of 5.3759 [regular-loss] and 3.5 [early-loss] with PV module lifespans of 25 and 30 years) using the Weibull distribution function. The annual waste generated will fluctuate over time depending on the scenario, but between 4299 and 5764 thousand tons of PV waste will have been generated by 2080. Under the early-loss/25-year lifespan scenario, annual PV waste generation will increase to exceed 130,000 tons in 2045, then decrease through 2063 before increasing once again. The fluctuation in annual PV waste generation appears stronger under regular-loss scenarios. An appropriate system for the monitoring, collection, and storage of PV waste needs to be arranged even before the volume becomes high enough for recycling to be economically viable. International cooperation could be a way to maintain the PV waste stream at an economically feasible scale. It would also be a good idea if the PV module could be designed in a way that would enable easier recycling or reuse.

Improper treatment and disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) and continuous increase in waste generation in India has increased greenhouse emissions as well as other pollutant emissions. In the present study, we analyse greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from MSW management sector in India. We calculate GHG emissions for different treatment processes and then analyse the GHG emissions for waste management scenarios which reflect recycling, biological treatment and waste-to-energy (WtE). Our results show that annual GHG (CO2-eq) emissions from urban MSW management in India is ~38 million tonnes/year out of which 94% is from open dumping alone. Increasing recycling to 50% from the current rate of 17.5% could reduce the GHG emissions by 17%. Similarly increasing biological treatment process, such as composting and anaerobic digestion, of biodegradable waste to 50% could reduce the GHG emissions by 12%.

Operating room (OR) expenditures and waste generation are a priority, with several professional societies recommending the use of reprocessed or reusable equipment where feasible. The aim of this analysis was to compare single-use pulse oximetry sensor stickers ("single-use stickers") versus reusable pulse oximetry sensor clips ("reusable clips") in terms of annual cost savings and waste generation across all ORs nationally. This study did not involve patient data or research on human subjects. As such, it did not meet the requirements for institutional review board approval. An economic model was used to compare the relative costs and waste generation from using single-use stickers versus reusable clips. This model took into account: (1) the relative prices of single-use stickers and reusable clips, (2) the number of surgeries and ORs nationwide, (3) the workload burden of cleaning the reusable clips, and (4) the costs of capital for single-use stickers and reusable clips. In addition, we also estimated differences in waste production based on the raw weight plus unit packaging of single-use stickers and reusable clips that would be disposed of over the course of the year, without any recycling interventions. Estimated savings were rounded to the nearest $0.1 million. The national net annual savings of transitioning from single-use stickers to reusable clips in all ORs ranged from $510.5 million (conservative state) to $519.3 million (favorable state). Variability in savings estimates is driven by scenario planning for replacement rate of reusable clips, workload burden of cleaning (ranging from an additional expense of $618k versus a cost savings of $309k), and cost of capital-interest gained on investment of capital that is freed up by the monetary savings of a transition to reusable clips contributes between $541k (low-interest rates of 2.85%) and $1.3 million (high-interest rates of 7.08%). The annual waste that could be diverted from landfill by transitioning to reusable clips was found to be between 587 tons (conservative state) up to 589 tons (favorable state). If institutions need to purchase new vendor monitors or cables to make the transition, that may increase the 1-time capital disbursement. Using reusable clips versus single-use stickers across all ORs nationally would result in appreciable annual cost savings and waste generation reduction impact. As both single-use stickers and reusable clips are equally accurate and reliable, this cost and waste savings could be instituted without a compromise in clinical care.

Recent studies indicate that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural drainage ditches can be significant on a per-unit area basis, but spatiotemporal investigations are still limited. Additionally, the impact of dredging - a common management in such environments - on ditch GHG emissions is largely unknown. This study presents year-round GHG emissions from nine ditches on a dairy farm in the center of the Netherlands, where each year, approximately half of the ditches are dredged in alternating cycles. We measured monthly diffusive fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), along with ebullitive CH4 emissions, supplemented by diel flux measurements (i.e., 24-h measurements) conducted in summer and winter. Our findings indicate that while diffusive GHG fluxes exhibited low spatiotemporal variation, ebullitive CH4 emissions were significantly higher during warmer periods and marginally elevated at ditch intersections. CH4 ebullition was the dominant pathway of ditch GHG emissions, accounting for 58% of the total annual emissions, followed by CO2 (39%), and N2O (3%). Approximately 80% of the total CH4 emissions occurred through ebullition during spring and summer. The average CH4 emission factor estimated for our ditches (574kgha-1 year-1) is ∼40% higher than the Tier-1 value suggested by the IPCC for ditches on mineral soils (416kgha-1 year-1). Based on two 24-h measurement campaigns, we concluded that neglecting nighttime diffusive CO2 and CH4 emissions may lead to inaccurate estimates of annual ditch GHG emissions, with ∼12% underestimation in this study. Although dredging led to subtle increases in water-to-atmosphere GHG emissions immediately after the activity, it reduced overall annual GHG emissions by ∼35%. This study highlights the importance of CH4 ebullition and of capturing diel cycles of diffusive emissions to accurately assess ditch GHG emissions and underscores the importance of considering seasonal variations and dredging practices when budgeting ditch GHG emissions.

Estimates of GHG emissions by hydroelectric reservoirs: The Brazilian case

Methane emission from landfills due to unmanaged dumping contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately to climate change. The green house gas emission from the dumping sites depends on various factors like quantity of waste generated, composition of solid waste, and characteristics of solid waste. The quantification and characterization of urban solid waste generation is fundamental for adequate decision making in the management strategy of urban solid waste in a city. The objective of this study is to quantify and characterize the waste generated in the three cities of Himachal Pradesh i.e. Shimla, Solan and Nahan. The chemical characteristics study include pH, Moisture, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Carbon and C/N ration and physical studies includes the composition of different waste categories. The annual waste generation in Shimla, Solan and Nahan calculated in this study 17,426.52, 7,130.70 and 1,608.37 tons (t) respectively for the year (yr) 2012-13. The main fractions were: Food and Carbon waste, paper and plastic waste. The pH of MSW was found slight to highly acidic in nature whereas moisture content was found to be in the range from 42.60 ± 1.95 in Nahan to 60.12 ± 1.39% in Shimla. The N, K, P and C estimated were found maximum 0.81% (Shimla), 0.65% (Nahan), 0.33% (Shimla), and 40.49% (Solan) respectively.

Potential of greenhouse gas emissions from sewage sludge management: a case study of Taiwan

In the 21st century, global warming and climate change are among the greatest environmental challenges and humanitarian crisis. Globally, annual greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions from solid waste disposal sites is estimated to be approximately a quarter of total anthropogenic methane emission. Integrated solid waste management, therefore, provides significant opportunities to control environmental pollution and minimize the negative impacts of global climate change. This chapter illustrates the current status of global GHGs emission in relationship with population growth and solid waste generation. Mathematic models used to quantify GHGs generated from the waste sector as the zero-order model (i.e., SWANA, German EPER and IPCC Default Method) and the first-order model (i.e., TNO, LandGEM, IPCC First-Order Decay; FOD) are explained including application to certain inventory in selected countries. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which involves the cradle-to-grave concept, environmental burden from global warming and selected case studies are described and applied to assess GHGs emissions from various solid waste management options such as recycling, composting, sanitary landfilling, anaerobic digestion, incineration, mechanical biological treatment (MBT), source reduction, and utilization and application of biochar. Existing solid waste management practices and innovative options to achieve GHGs mitigation and community adaptation including resiliency are presented. Lessons learned and best practices in solid waste management from Thailand (i.e., Bangkok Kamphaeng Sean West: Landfill Gas to Electricity Project) and from other countries (i.e., GHGs mitigation project: MBT plant in Gaobeidian, Hebei province, People’s Republic of China; municipal solid waste composting project in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Federal Republic of Nigeria; and gasification, landfill gas and anaerobic digestion in Bali, Indonesia) are further discussed.

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze population statistics and municipal solid waste (MSW) volume in the Douala, Cameroon region. The aim is to develop a methodology for comparing their respective growth rates over the period from 2003 to 2021. To achieve this, the study seeks to: present population and MSW volume as time series; find mathematical models for the trends of these time series; and develop a method to compare their growth rates. The concept of local sustainable development, titled the 4R-VD system, is proposed as a solution to tackle environmental threats. Theoretical Framework: This paper's theoretical framework is implicitly built upon several key concepts and their interrelationships, grounded in principles of environmental science, urban planning, and applied statistics. Essentially, it blends the theory of environmental impact (the relationship between population numbers and waste generation), sustainability principles (emphasizing controllable waste management), and applied statistical methods (time series and correlation analysis). These elements are jointly employed to empirically test and quantify these relationships, forming the basis for informed policy solutions. Method: This paper outlines a method to analyze the relationship between solid waste (SW) generation and population numbers in Douala, Cameroon, from 2003 to 2021. The method involves normalizing SW amounts and population figures to their initial 2003 values, rendering them dimensionless. This technique addresses unit differences, enabling direct comparison of their growth rates. Further research steps include: a. correlation analysis to establish the strength of the relationship between SW amount and population figures; b. time series analysis, including the Partial Autocorrelation Function (PACF) for SW amounts, to understand how the current SW amount is affected by past generation. The PACF reveals that the current amount of SW is predominantly influenced by the amount generated in the preceding year; c. mathematical modeling to describe trends: aa) an exponential model is used for population growth, conveying an accelerating increase, bb) linear models are applied to three distinct SW generation periods (2003-2009, 2009-2019, and 2019-2021) to capture different growth trends; d. growth rate comparison by analyzing the slopes of dimensionless linear models developed to simulate SW generation and population changes in 2009-2019 and 2019-2021. Results and Discussion: The study's results paint a stark picture of increasing solid waste generation in Douala, Cameroon, relative to its population growth from 2003 to 2021. The findings highlight an uncontrolled and dangerous trend in Douala's waste management. The dramatic acceleration of solid waste growth compared to population growth, particularly in the most recent period, provides strong evidence of a severely escalating environmental threat. We argue that this unsustainable situation necessitates the implementation of the proposed 4R-VD system. This system integrates waste management with other sustainable urban management components, such as energy, transportation, and construction management, to foster a better balanced and resource-efficient area. Research Implications: This paper offers several valuable research implications for urban planning, environmental science, and sustainable development, particularly for rapidly urbanizing areas in developing countries. The paper's key methodological contribution lies in normalizing diverse data into dimensionless values for comparative time-series analysis, providing a robust framework for future research. Findings regarding the exponential increase in per capita waste generation, which significantly outperforms population growth, highlight the need for an in-depth investigation into specific factors driving this acceleration. The mathematical models applied to simulate population and waste generation growth serve as a basis for more sophisticated forecasting and scenario planning. Finally, the application of the 4R-VD system opens new avenues for research into integrated, holistic approaches to urban sustainability. Originality/Value: This paper significantly contributes to the existing body of knowledge, particularly in solid waste management and urban development in developing countries. This contribution is through its original methodological approach and the alarming insights it identifies. The paper's originality stems from its innovative analytical methodology, while its value lies in providing critical, data-driven insights into relevant environmental issues within a data-poor context, thereby offering both a warning and a conceptual pathway towards more sustainable urban management.

A two-week field study was conducted in 2019 to investigate the generation of German lightweight packaging (LWP) waste. The study involved 249 selected households throughout the country, and a total of 254,032 g (25,762 items) of LWP were analyzed. Participating households completed a questionnaire providing information on e.g., household and municipality size, as well as the local collection system. The annual LWP waste generation per capita (9.5 kg) was lower than the official German statistical 2019 data (32 kg). Smaller households led to higher waste generation per person. Furthermore, the study revealed a 14% rise in per capita waste generation among participants who did not correctly identify their collection system. A further sample of 207,138 g (21,380 items), taken from the total mass, was analyzed in more detail, revealing a 22.8% (w/w) share of polyolefins and a 29.5% (w/w) share of flexible packaging. In addition, the packaging contained an average of 7.7% (w/w) residual contents and 8.8% (w/w) incorrectly disposed waste. The study results indicate that consumer behavior, as well as external factors such as household size and local collection systems, can directly influence the quantity, weight, and to some extent, the quality (share of incorrectly disposed waste) of LWP waste. These observations reveal possible approaches to achieve higher recycling rates and qualities of plastic packaging in the LWP waste management value chain.

Regulating the fuel consumption of small-scale fishing vessels could help to keep global warming well below 1.5°C and lead to effective management in small-scale fisheries (SSF) of developing countries like India. In this regard, a bottom-up approach was carried out to collect the requisite data to explore the fuel consumption of small-scale fishing vessels along India's southeast coast. Consequently, twenty-four fishing vessels (type A to type X) were grouped into seven categories based on fishing methods. The estimated numerical value of fuel use intensity (FUI) ranging from 0.08 to 0.80 was used to examine the fuel-efficient fishing vessel and engine type. In addition, the estimated revenue on fuel ranging from ₹5625.06/l to ₹218.07/l and annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the Tier 1 method were used to understand the economic efficiency and GHG emission trend, respectively. The total annual GHG emissions from all the fishing vessels at the selected sites were about 1.25E + 08 t CO2-eq year-1. The result shows that longline-cum-gillnetters, seine-netters, longliners and drift-gillnetters largely contributed to 65% of the annual GHG emissions. By recognizing the factors influencing the fuel consumption of fishing vessels in SSF, this sector could be understood, effectively managed, and performed well. Therefore, the possible reasons were extensively discussed through a comparative approach, and potential recommendations for effective management were made.

Municipal solid waste: Generation, composition and GHG emissions in Bangalore, India

In the present study solid waste were collected from households, banks, restaurants, higher institution, open dump and a final disposal site of Nigerian municipality with a view to determining waste generation rate, relative waste compositions and its physicochemical properties. During the course of study average rate of solid waste generation was found to be 0.39Kg/capita/day. A highly negative correlation (R2 = 0.99) was observed between per capita waste generation and household size (n) for n ? 4. The waste collected from households consisted of putriscibles (47%) 11% water proof, 6% plastics, 4% glass, 3% clothes/textiles, 2% diapers and 19% of other unclassified materials. Due to the activities of scavengers, the relative proportion of recyclables such as plastic, glass and metals decreased as waste materials transited from households to the final dumpsite via open dumps, while the other fractions increased. It was found that 79% of the solid waste generated can either be recycled (32%) or composted (47%) however; only 12% is recovered for recycling/reuse while composting is hardly practiced. The three most important factors responsible for relative differences in the composition of solid waste obtained from different sources are scavenging, biodegradation and leaching. The putriscible fractions from households, curb sides and the final disposal site were assessed for their suitability for composting using the clean index (CI) criteria. It was found that the final disposal site with a CI of 3.3 on a scale of 5 was a better source of compost material than freshly generated household waste (CI = 2.9) and curb side waste (CI = 2.4).

Greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation strategies in China's municipal solid waste sector under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic