Waste Management Costs Research Articles

OPTIMIZED ROUTING OF TRUCKS FOR INSTITUTIONAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTION IN KUMASI, GHANA

Solid waste collection constitutes 60-80% of the total solid waste management cost. Reduction of solid waste collection cost can be achieved through route optimization in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. The purpose of this study was to generate optimized routes for solid waste collection on Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology campus in Kumasi, Ghana. The study modelled the existing routes for a complete collection cycle using travel time criteria and generated optimized routes for same using an ArcGIS software. Validation of the optimized outcome (travel distance and travel time) was done by subjecting the solid waste collection trucks to the optimized routes. The results from the study showed significant reduction in total travel time from 1,000.75 mins to 855.70 mins for existing and optimized routes respectively, translating into saving of 14.5%. Total travel distance significantly reduced from 367.30 km to 334.20 km for existing and optimized routes respectively, representing saving of 9.0%. Significant savings in travel time and travel distance have implications on reduction of fuel and maintenance cost of institutional solid waste collection trucks. The results indicate that the application of GIS-based route optimization in solid waste collection can provide significant improvement in reduction of operating cost.

Evaluation for sustainability of machining processes in Indian small scale industries

Abstract Machining industries form a major part of small and mediocre scale industries in India. Also, the wastes generated and the resources consumed by these industries are quite significant. Due to the expansion of industries in recent years, there has been an adverse impact on the environment. Renewable resources are getting exhausted at a rate which is greater than the rate of their regeneration, and wastes are being produced at a rate which is far higher than the rate at which current waste management techniques work. In this context, sustainability for a machining industry has become a necessity, rather than just a choice. This work aims at studying some of the existing practices in small-scale Indian machining industries, and comparing the various available alternatives. Critical parameters for sustainability like spindle power, average time period of operation of the machine (hours), amount of waste produced (kg), cost of raw material, cost of tooling, cost of maintenance and cost of waste management were simultaneously considered. The available alternatives were compared using various Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) methods like TOPSIS and AHP. In addition to this, this paper intends to introduce some sustainability solutions with the perspective of cost minimization. The solutions in this work are suggested while considering society, environment and economy simultaneously. This paper suggests the appropriate ways to communicate the obtained results to the decision makers of small-scale industries. This paper gives a scope to small scale industries in improving the sustainability

Solid waste collection optimization using scine-cosine algorithm

In this study, a mathematical model for optimizing the cost of solid waste recycling and management was developed. Sine-Cosine Algorithm (SCA) was used during the optimization process to identify the level of disposed solid wastes and recycled solid wastes. SCA is a recent optimization algorithm, which requires several initial individual random solutions and requires their outward or inward fluctuation towards the best solution with respect to a mathematical relationship that depends on sine and cosine functions. This algorithm also integrated several adaptive and random variables to ensure the exploration and exploitation of the solution space in different optimization tasks. The outcome of this study suggested the effectiveness of the SCA for least distance path allocation while effectively considering all factors.

Islamic Finance and Renewable Energy: A Mini-Review

The purpose of the concerned report has been to explore different works of literature and scholarly evidence to assess the importance of Islamic finance and the contribution of the same on the development of environmental projects, especially emphasizing on renewable sources of energy. This report also sheds light on the different recent practices of Islamic banking and its influence on clean energy. 22 different sources of information have been searched, studied and discussed to build a strong background and understanding about the issue of concern, which were brought from Scopus, Emerald, Research gate and SSRN databases. There are different remarkable insights obtained from the articles and other sources studied in the concerned report. Sustainable financing has increased over the period and there is an upward trend worldwide of which the primary focus is on green energy. Climate change, global warming has dire concerns and different financial practices and investments are being developed in the present period, which is used to increase the investments in different business practices like energy efficiency, waste management, treatment, and lower capital project costs. This has helped in increasing energy efficiency in favoring green energy thereby helping in increasing sustainability holistically.

A Chance-Constrained Vehicle Routing Problem for Wet Waste Collection and Transportation Considering Carbon Emissions.

In order to solve the optimization problem of wet waste collection and transportation in Chinese cities, this paper constructs a chance-constrained low-carbon vehicle routing problem (CCLCVRP) model in waste management system and applies certain algorithms to solve the model. Considering the environmental protection point of view, the CCLCVRP model combines carbon emission costs with traditional waste management costs under the scenario of application of smart bins. Taking into the uncertainty of the waste generation rate, chance-constrained programming is applied to transform the uncertain model to a certain one. The initial optimal solution of this model is obtained by a proposed hybrid algorithm, that is, particle swarm optimization (PSO); and then the further optimized solution is obtained by simulated annealing (SA) algorithm, due to its global optimization capability. The effectiveness of PSOSA algorithm is verified by the classic database in a capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP). What’s more, a case of waste collection and transportation is applied in the model for acquiring reliable conclusions, and the application of the model is tested by setting different waste fill levels (WFLs) and credibility levels. The results show that total costs rise with the increase of credibility level reflecting dispatcher’s risk preference; the WFL value range between 0.65 and 0.75 can obtain the optimal solution under different credibility levels. Finally, according to these results, some constructive proposals are propounded for the government and the logistics organization dealing with waste collection and transportation.

Reducing waste in manufacturing operations: bi-objective scheduling on a single-machine with coupled-tasks

This study addresses a scheduling problem involving a single-machine with coupled-tasks and bi-objective optimisation considering simultaneously inventory and environmental waste. A Mixed Integer Linear Program representing the problem is first developed. Subsequently, a Genetic Algorithm (GA) is presented, followed by numerical experiments on multiple instances. Pareto fronts are determined using the ϵ-constraint and weighted sum methods, and a trade-off point is selected according to a distance criterion. Numerical experiments on both small and large instances show near-optimal results for small instances, and considerably reduced computing times for large ones when using the GA. The results show that a compromise can be found, with a decrease in setup-related waste up to 36% for an increase of inventory of 12%. This will help decision-makers to better consider the environmental aspect when designing schedules, as well as reduce their production environmental impact and waste-management costs.

Financial and temporal costs of patient isolation in Norwegian hospitals

Isolation of patients colonized or infected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is an established infection-control measure taken in Norway. Local reliable data on the costs of this isolation are needed. A micro-costing study from a healthcare perspective was conducted on infectious disease wards in three general acute hospitals, utilising direct observation, staff registration, interviews and survey data. The daily additional cost of isolation was €56.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 42.4-72.7) for non-bedridden patients and €87.5 (95% CI 48.3-129.6) for bedridden patients. Of these sums, labour costs accounted for the largest share (71-72%), followed by the costs of personal protective equipment (21-23%) and waste management (6-8%). Overall, isolation-specific workload amounted to 65 min/day for non-bedridden patients and 95 min/day for bedridden patients, predominantly in the form of extra time used by nurses. Higher isolation costs for bedridden patients were largely attributable to resources used for personal hygiene practices. One-time isolation costs incurred for room cleaning after patient discharge averaged at €14.0 (95% CI 10.7-17.6). Our study provides novel, detailed evidence on resource use attributable to patient isolation in hospitals that can be used to inform future assessments directed toward precautionary hygienic measures. Our results suggest that allocating additional nurse staffing to wards with large numbers of isolated patients should be considered.

A fuzzy optimization approach to the capacitated node-routing problem for municipal solid waste collection with multiple tours: A case study.

In many countries, municipal solid waste management is considered a very important challenge, and the most relevant costs in this field are dedicated to the collection process. Therefore, this study aimed to propose a mathematical model with multiple depots and multiple intermediate facilities to minimize fixed and variable costs of waste collection. Intermediate facilities are used in the developed countries in their waste collection network, because these facilities reduce the long-term costs of waste management and increase the quality of the waste collection process. Also, in reality, the amount of waste generated per day is not deterministic, so, to cope with the issue of uncertainty in the amount of waste, a fuzzy optimization approach was considered. Furthermore, a system where vehicles that could collect the wastes in multiple tours, with a maximum number of tours for each vehicle, was also considered. Due to the high complexity of this model, a genetic algorithm was elaborated. Further, the efficiency of the proposed algorithm was confirmed by comparison with the exact solution in small dimensions. It should be noted that the initial solution of this algorithm was obtained by a proposed heuristic algorithm. Finally, a case study on the vehicle routing of municipal solid waste was conducted in a district of Tehran, Iran. Moreover, the solutions of the model were validated by comparing the results of the proposed model and the current real-life situation. The contractors could improve vehicle routes and reduce costs by implementing the results of the proposed model, without any additional cost.

Systems thinking and CMM for continuous improvement in the construction industry

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a capability maturity model (CMM) developed to implement continuous improvement in small and medium scale construction companies (SMSCC) in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachA multi-strategy approach involving qualitative studies of SMSCC in Nigeria was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposively selected construction experts in Nigeria to identify variables essential for continuous improvement in SMSCC. Data collected were thematically analysed using NVIVO. Subsequently, a system thinking approach is employed to design and develop the CMM for implementing continuous improvement SMSCC, by exploring possible relationships between the variables established.FindingsCMM provided a five-level approach for the inclusion of investigated variables such as team performance; culture; structure; post-project reviews, financial risk management, waste management policy and cost control. These variables are factors leading to continuous improvement in SMSCC, implementable within a six to seven and a half years’ timeline.Practical implicationsThe system thinking model revealed cogent archetypes in the form of reinforcing loops that can be applied in developing the performance of SMSCC. Continuous improvement is feasible. However, it takes time to implement. Further longitudinal studies on the cost of implementing continuous improvement through CMM a knowledge transfer project can be initiated.Originality/valueA methodical strategy for enhancing the effectiveness and operations of SMSCC in developing countries can be extracted from the causal loop diagram and the CMM.

Effect of Oxygenated Functional Groups in Essential Oils on Diesel Engine Performance, Emissions, and Combustion Characteristics

Waste management cost for Australia is increasing every year, and thus, it is important to find alternative ways to use the waste. For example, essential oil has a significant waste stream that can be utilized in vehicles of their producers. However, some of the essential oils contain oxygen which considerably affects engine performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of diesel engines. Thus, this research paper will try to evaluate the essential oils as a replacement of diesel fuel to operate a multicylider diesel engine. For this study, two essential oils are selected which contain different oxygenated functional groups, tea tree oil (5.4% oxygen) and eucalyptus oil (8.4% oxygen), with an aim to evaluate the effect of these functional groups on engine performance and emission parameters. These oils were blended with neat diesel (0% oxygen) to obtain a blend cotaining 2.2% oxygen by weight. The blends produced similar brake power; however, brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) increased for eucalyptus oil blends (2.4–3.7%) and tea tree oil blends (3.9–5.3%). Essential oil–diesel blends resulted in less CO and increased NOX emission, produced similar peak pressure, and indicated mean effective pressure. The results then lead to the conclusion that oxygenated essential oils can have a role to reduce dependency of agricultural sector on diesel in the near future.

Solid Waste Management Cost Function Analysis in Industrialising Cities: Lessons from the Healthcare Sector

Better solid waste management (SWM) is a critical need for many industrialising cities in the world, with institutional and financial issues critical to improving management. Great progress was made from 1970–2000 in estimating the costs for healthcare in industrialising cities, while to date very little progress has been made in improving cost function analyses on SWM. The similarities between the two sectors are strong, and the history of healthcare cost function analysis used to elucidate a pathway to improved cost function analyses for industrialising cities. The following cost function issues are explored: economy of scale, marginal cost analysis, cost function analysis, economies of scope, relationship between size of service provider and costs, accounting for outpatient and informal sector activities, input prices and ownership and control. The recommendation is that future work on SWM cost analysis should prioritise (1) analysis of which variables need to be included or can be excluded in cost function analysis, (2) use of cost functions to analyse questions related to service provision and (3) collection of more and more appropriate data to allow development of cost functions analysis methods specifically suited to SWM in industrialising cities.

Investigating almond seed oil as potential biodiesel-based drilling mud

With increasing strict environmental laws, there is a need for operators to design a benign oil-based muds (OBMs). In this study, oil extracted from non-edible sweet almond seed (SASO) was used as the continuous phase to formulate biodiesel-based drilling mud (BBDM). Different properties of the BBDM including the economic viability were evaluated and compared with those of the diesel OBM to determine the applicability of these properties for drilling fluids and their level of toxicity to the environment. The results indicate that the rheology, filtration properties, electrical stability, thermal stability and shale swelling inhibition performance of the BBDM are comparable with those of the diesel OBM. The biodiesel has a significantly higher flash point of 169 °C than the diesel with 78 °C; demonstrating that it can supply better fire safety than the diesel. The data of the toxicity test indicate SASO to be safer and less harmful compared to diesel #2 type used. After the 28-day period of biodegradation tests, the BBDM and the diesel OBM showed 83% and 25.2% aerobic biodegradation with Penicillium sp., respectively. The low branching degree and absence of aromatic compounds in the BBDM contributes for its higher biodegradation. The economic evaluation of the BBDM indicates low cost of formulation and waste management. The general outcome of the tests illustrates that SASO has the potentials of being one of the technically and environmentally feasible substitutes for the diesel OBM.

Simultaneous stochastic optimisation of an open-pit gold mining complex with waste management

ABSTRACTSimultaneous stochastic optimisation manages risk and capitalises on the unique interactions that occur in a mining complex, where materials are transferred between mines, processors, stockpiles, and waste facilities to achieve a marketable product. Typically, when optimising the production schedule, the primary focus is to deliver valuable products to the market. However, this tends to ignore the environmental and economic impact of simplifying waste management requirements, including the storage and disposal of waste material. Stricter regulations and engineering requirements are transforming past mining practices to develop more sustainable operations. These transformations increase the financial cost of waste management and identify the requirement to integrate waste management into the production schedule. Additionally, misrepresenting the material uncertainty and variability associated with the amount of waste produced can impact, both, the stakeholders and the profitability of a mining complex. In this case study, a simultaneous stochastic optimisation approach is applied in a gold mining complex that integrates waste management into the long-term production schedule. The resulting schedule leads to a 6% increase in the net present value when compared to a conventional approach, while minimising the likelihood of deviating from production targets and ensuring permit constraints are satisfied.

Biomass pellets produced from filler cake as waste to energy in sugar industry

In the sugarcane and sugar industry, there is a waste produced from the manufacturing process called “Filter cake”. It is a black solid sludge with the moisture content of 70-75%. In general, this waste is about 4% of the sugarcane mass input to the process. In every year, there are a large amount of filter cake resulting in high waste management costs. Therefore, the idea of conversion this waste to energy was proposed. The filter cake was dried off to the moisture contents of 40%, 45%, 50%, 55% and 60% and then fed into a pelletizer for the 5 different initial moistures. Then filter cake pellets were dried off by sun drying for 3 days. Dried pellets from different initial moistures were analyzed for physical properties. It was found that the pellet with initial moisture content of 40% has the best physical properties at the diameter of 4.0 mm and 68.4% of pellets felt into 30-40 mm of length. In addition, it has the highest bulk density, highest durability and lowest dust content of 222.03 kg/m3, 96.13% and 0.54% respectively. The proximate analysis and heating value were also determined for the dried pellets. The results showed that dried pellets contained 5.33% moisture, 35.67% ash, 51.33% volatile matter, 7.67% fixed carbon and the heating value of 11.71 MJ/kg. These properties were compared to other pellets and standard and it was suggested that the filter cake pellets can be used together with bagasse as fuel for a boiler in a sugarcane industry.

Applying lean tools and principles to reduce cost of waste management: an empirical research in Vietnam

Applying lean tools and principles to reduce cost of waste management: an empirical research in Vietnam

Municipal charges on communal waste: do they compete with the immovable property tax?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to give a recommendation to the municipalities what local tax/taxes sensu largo (a waste charge or an immovable property tax increased by a local coefficient) are to be collected to achieve expected and necessary incomes and limit the administrative costs.Design/methodology/approachTo reach the aim, it was necessary to analyze the number of municipalities increasing the property tax by the local coefficient and abolishing the charge on communal waste to save money for the waste charges administration. The evidence of municipalities applying the local coefficient was used as a basis for the research. To get the information on charges on communal waste collected in these municipalities with the local coefficient within the past at least five taxable periods, the information from Monitor was used. If there was any such a significant change, then it was necessary to use the bylaws and to do thorough analysis of the reasons.FindingsThe hypothesis that a high number of municipalities in the Czech Republic are replacing the charge on communal waste with the local coefficient applicable for the immovable property tax was rejected. In the opinion of the author, the ideal approach is to have just one local tax – immovable property tax. This tax is administered by the state tax office and the revenue should cover the cost of waste management. Adopting only the property tax increased by the local coefficient, it is necessary to explain the benefits to the taxpayers, that is, locals and voters.Originality/valueThe research on the given topic was never done in the Czech Republic, as there is no evidence of local charges collected in individual municipalities.

Effect of Molasses and Dried Orange Pulp as Sheep Dietary Supplementation on Physico-Chemical, Microbiological and Fatty Acid Profile of Comisana Ewe's Milk and Cheese.

The use of agro-industrial by-products for ruminant feed represents both an economical and environmental convenient way for reducing waste discharge and waste management costs for food industries. Large amounts of waste from citrus processing industries are available in Sicily, Italy. In the present study, the effect of dried citrus pulp as sheep dietary supplementation was evaluated on physico-chemical, microbiological and fatty acid composition of resulting milk and cheese. Pelleted feed integrated with molasses and blond orange pulp, replacing cane molasses, beet pulp and part of the maize and sunflower in ration, were administrated to ewes as an experimental treatment The experiment involved sixty Comisana breed sheep divided into two groups and two feeding trials (experimental and control). Ewe's milk and cheese samples were collected from January to April and analyzed for physico-chemical, microbiological and fatty acid profile composition. Results suggested that both the experimental milk and cheese were different from the controls. In particular, an increase of experimental milk yield and fat content were registered whilst the cheese samples exhibited a significant decrease of pH values and an increase in fat and protein contents. In addition, an increase of conjugated linoleic acids as well as of the oxidative stability were observed indicating the beneficial effect of dietary supplementation. Furthermore, among the main microbial groups, the experimental and control samples, no differences were detected. However, with the exception of streptococci, which was found higher in experimental cheeses, and staphylococci, which was significantly reduced by experimental feed. Moreover, the application of culture-independent methods highlighted the dominance of Lactobacillus rhamnosus/casei group in the experimental cheese, suggesting a driving role of the dietary supplementation in the cheese microbiota composition. The present study demonstrated that the inclusion of citrus by-products in the diet of small dairy ruminants is a promising feeding, which could positively affect milk composition and cheese manufacture.

Pricing products' negative externalities at end-of-life using eco-modulation: Discussion from case studies

Does an efficient and flexible mechanism exist to address negative externalities of products, or are we doomed to grow the list of product standards? In this paper, I open the discussion whether eco-modulation in the framework of collective extended producer responsibility (EPR) could be able to spur the design of more environmentally sound products at end of life. In Europe, EPR for final products has mainly been implemented in the form of collective systems, where producers pay a fee per quantity of items placed on the market to a central organisation. This compliance fee represents the average cost of treating waste for a given product stream. Since waste management costs are averaged across producers, such collective EPR schemes have been criticised for hindering individual internalisation of products’ end-of-life externalities. To deal with these critiques, French public authorities have imposed eco-modulation to EPR collective systems. Eco-modulation consists in penalising or rewarding individual design choices of producers, using financial incentives. The European Commission is now planning to revise its directive Dir. 1994/62/EC to provide guiding principles on eco-modulation for packaging for all EPR organisations across Europe. In general, eco-modulation is becoming increasingly relevant on the European scene. Therefore, I aim at reflecting on the efficiency of eco-modulation in addressing products’ negative externalities at end-of-life, by analysing early feedbacks and data from French EPR systems.

Economic Evaluation of Biodegradable Plastic Films and Paper Mulches Used in Open-Air Grown Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Crop

Black polyethylene (PE) is the most common mulching material used in horticultural crops in the world but its use represents a very serious environmental problem. Biodegradable films and paper mulches are available alternatives but farmers are reluctant to adopt them because of their high market prices. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the economic profitability of eight biodegradable mulching materials available for open-air pepper production. The economic evaluation is based on a four-year trial located in a semi-arid region of Spain. Three scenarios of PE waste management are examined: (i) absence of residues management, (ii) landfill accumulation, and (iii) total recycling. The inclusion of the costs of waste management and recycling under the current Spanish legislation only reduced the final net margin by 0.2%. The results show that an increase in subsidy rates of up to 50.1% on the market price would allow all biodegradable films to be economic alternatives to PE. The study supports the mandatory measures for the farmers to assume the costs of waste management and recycling. Despite savings in field conditioning costs, high market prices of biodegradable materials and papers are not compensated by the current level of subsidies, hampering their adoption in the fields.

Corporate Responsibility: A Green Initiative to Reduce Chlorobenzene Based Chemistries in Semiconductor Processing

ABSTRACTClimate change and an increase in endangered species, are examples of technological advances negatively impacting the environment. As technology demands increase, an earnest effort to reduce the environmental impact of processing and manufacturing related activities is critical. From a business perspective, minimizing or removing toxic process chemicals is a high impact area that can increase work environment safety and decrease waste management costs. This work presents processing considerations when transitioning to greener alternative polymer resist solvents, for applications in nanomanufacturing with sustainability considerations. Within government contracting, process modifications that change product form, fit, or function require qualification and at minimum justification. This work presents the conversion from a chlorobenzene to anisole based solvent using a 495 kMW polymetheyl methacrylate polymer resin, without impacting form fit or function of the intended device. Resist conversion is of interest as the difference in the substituents of the two solvents, impact the effective toxicity of the polymer resists. Specifically, the oral median lethal dose (LD50) in rats for chlorobenzene is 1110 mg/kg, while anisole is 3700 mg/kg. Therefore, developing a process utilizing anisole and replacing chlorobenzene addresses safety concerns and contributes to green initiatives worldwide. Within this work electron beam lithography fabricated transistor components consisting of a double layered source, and gate were converted from a chlorobenzene to anisole based process; while maintaining process of record specifications. The purpose of this work is to provide a starting platform for individuals seeking to convert from a chlorobenzene solvent to an anisole based resist for sub-micron lithography steps.