Waste Costs Research Articles

Review of Heavy Metal Removal from Soil: Methods and Technologies

Soil health is vital for ecosystem functioning, agriculture, and human well-being, yet heavy metal contamination poses significant risks to environmental and public health. This review examines various methods for removing heavy metals from contaminated soils, focusing on physical, chemical, and biological remediation techniques. Sources of contamination, including industrial activities, mining, and improper waste disposal, are discussed, alongside the environmental and health impacts of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury. Physical techniques such as soil washing and excavation effectively reduce contamination but generate secondary waste and incur high costs. Chemical methods, including soil stabilization and chemical leaching, immobilize or extract metals but may risk recontamination. Biological approaches like phytoremediation and bioremediation leverage natural processes for eco-friendly remediation, though they often require longer timescales for significant results. Emerging technologies, such as nanotechnology and biochar application, show promise for enhancing remediation efficacy. However, challenges remain, including economic constraints, regulatory inconsistencies, and the need for sustainable, long-term solutions. Future directions include integrating various remediation techniques, developing eco-friendly technologies, and emphasizing long-term monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of remediation efforts. This comprehensive overview aims to inform future research and policy development to address heavy metal contamination sustainably.

Circular agro-economies (CAE): reducing waste and increasing profitability in agriculture

This paper explores the concept of Circular Agro-Economies (CAE), a sustainable agricultural model focused on recycling agricultural by-products to minimize waste and maximize profitability for farmers. In contrast to traditional linear agricultural systems, CAE promotes resource efficiency and the development of new value chains through the reuse of organic materials. The paper examines the environmental, economic, and social benefits of adopting CAE, including waste reduction, cost savings, rural development, and job creation. It also discusses the significant barriers to adoption, such as technological limitations, financial constraints, and policy-related challenges. Finally, practical recommendations for farmers, policymakers, and businesses are provided to support the successful implementation of CAE, highlighting the collaborative efforts needed to overcome existing challenges and realize the full potential of this model. Keywords: Circular Agro-Economies, Agricultural Waste Recycling, Sustainable Agriculture, Resource Efficiency, Rural Development, Profitability in Farming.

Flyash and coffee silverskin binary blended geopolymer

Exploring alternative precursors other than flyash, slag, metakaolin and palm oil fuel ash for geopolymer synthesis has become very essential owing to the need for reduction in cost and accumulation of solid waste that could contribute to environmental pollution. The use of coffee silverskin (CSS) in binary blending with flyash (FA) in geopolymer synthesis is not yet fully understood, although its performance in ternary blending with silica fume for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar has been established. Thus, binary blended CSS (0–30 %) with FA - such that CSS/(FA+CSS) varied from 0 to 0.3 - was activated by sodium hydroxide (8MNaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3), and then subsequently cured at 60 °C. Mechanical property, binder morphology, compound product phases and bond characteristics were studied through compressive strength test, scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS), respectively. CSS (CSS/(FA+CSS) = 0.3) significantly contributed to strength loss due to microcracks, carbon content and fiber induced microstructural discontinuity, such that 7-,14-and 28-d strengths recorded were 5.2, 7.8 and 9.7 MPa, respectively. Maximum 28-day strength of 16.5 MPa was recorded in CSS/(FA+CSS) = 0.1. CSS caused the formation of monetite, and disappearance of muscovite and augite in flyash/coffee silverskin based (FACSS) geopolymer.

Lattice Structures-Mechanical Description with Respect to Additive Manufacturing.

Lattice structures, characterized by their repetitive, interlocking patterns, provide an efficient balance of strength, flexibility, and reduced weight, making them essential in fields such as aerospace and automotive engineering. These structures use minimal material while effectively distributing stress, providing high resilience, energy absorption, and impact resistance. Composed of unit cells, lattice structures are highly customizable, from simple 2D honeycomb designs to complex 3D TPMS forms, and they adapt well to additive manufacturing, which minimizes material waste and production costs. In compression tests, lattice structures maintain stiffness even when filled with powder, suggesting minimal effect from the filler material. This paper shows the principles of creating finite element simulations with 3D-printed specimens and with usage of the lattice structure. The comparing of simulation and real testing is also shown in this research. The efficiency in material and energy use underscores the ecological and economic benefits of lattice-based designs, positioning them as a sustainable choice across multiple industries. This research analyzes three selected structures-solid material, pure latices structure, and boxed lattice structure with internal powder. The experimental findings reveal that the simulation error is less than 8% compared to the real measurement. This error is caused by the simplified material model, which is considering the isotropic behavior of the used material PA12GB (not the anisotropic model). The used and analyzed production method was multi jet fusion.

Relationship Between Working Length of Pharmacy Personnel, Working Length of Doctors and Treatment Length of Patients with the Availability of Medicine in the Era of National Health Insurance (JKN) in the Hospital Grandmed Lubuk Pakam in 2024

Background: Quality public health services must have sufficient quantities and varieties of medicines when needed. The availability of these medicines can be ensured through good pharmaceutical standards and regulations. Optimal availability of medicines is the availability of medicines that can meet patient needs. One important step in medication management is the purchase of medicines. If the purchase of medicines is not managed carefully and responsibly, for example buying more medicines than needed, it will result in wasteful budget, increased purchasing and storage costs, and medicines or goods cannot be distributed. or expired.Objectives: To find out what factors influence the availability of drugs in the health insurance era (JKN) at the Grandmed Lubuk Pakam Hospital in 2024.Research method: This type of research is quantitative and is descriptive quantitative with a cross-sectional time approach. Results: There is a relationship between the length of service of pharmacists. The length of service of doctors and the length of treatment of patients with the availability of drugs in the era of JKN at the Grandmed Hospital in Lubuk Pakam in 2024. Conclusion: The availability of medicine for the community is one of the government's commitments in implementing public health services. The efforts made by the government are certainly aimed at maintaining public health.

A new mechanism for the kinetics of simultaneous depolymerization reaction inside and outside poly (ethylene terephthalate) particles

The depolymerization and recycling of PET is important for waste reduction, resource efficiency and production cost reduction. However, among the industrialized methods for recycling waste PET, the main challenge applicable to the PET glycolysis strategy is the low efficiency and low purity in recovering polyester, which is mainly due to the imperfections in the reaction kinetics model. In this study, we developed a kinetic model for PET glycolysis at different reaction temperatures by investigating the glycolysis process of PET chips at different reaction temperatures to discover new PET glycol depolymerization mechanisms. It was found that the zinc acetate-catalyzed PET glycolysis followed a first-order reversible kinetic model at higher temperature (206–210 °C). However, at lower temperatures (180 °C–205 °C), the experimental curve of the kinetic model is similar to the theoretical curve of the nucleation-controlled model, and in this temperature range, EG depolymerized PET in a manner that internal and external depolymerization proceeded simultaneously. This finding is expected to guide the establishment of a more efficient PET depolymerization process, which is an important guide for recycling waste PET.

AI-Driven Quality Control in PCB Manufacturing: Enhancing Production Efficiency and Precision

This paper investigates the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing quality control within Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing processes, focusing on how AI-driven technologies improve production efficiency and precision. The research addresses traditional quality control methods, such as manual inspection and Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), highlighting their limitations in keeping up with the complexities and demand for high-precision PCBs in modern electronics. The study delves into how AI technologies, particularly machine learning, computer vision, and predictive analytics, are being leveraged to overcome these limitations. By automating defect detection, improving accuracy, and enabling real-time analysis, AI systems not only streamline the quality control process but also significantly reduce human error and production costs. AI-driven quality control systems are shown to increase defect detection rates, reduce inspection times, and enhance overall production throughput. The paper includes a comparative analysis between traditional and AI-based quality control methods, revealing a notable improvement in both detection accuracy and production speed when AI systems are employed. Additionally, cost efficiency is explored, demonstrating how AI systems reduce waste, minimize rework, and lower operational costs. The potential challenges of AI implementation, such as the high initial costs, data requirements, and integration with legacy systems, are also discussed. The paper concludes that despite these challenges, AI offers a transformative solution to the growing demands of the PCB manufacturing industry, with the ability to scale effectively and adapt to future technological advancements. Ultimately, this research underscores the significant role of AI in revolutionizing PCB quality control by providing a more efficient, precise, and cost-effective approach, paving the way for further innovation in the electronics manufacturing sector.

Minimal assay detects population-level senescence in the aquatic plant <i>Lemna minor</i>

At the population level, senescence occurs when older individuals have increased risk of death and reduced reproduction compared to younger individuals. We investigated senescence in the aquatic plant <i>Lemna minor</i> (common duckweed), an important species for plant senescence research. Our objectives were to (1) confirm or refute the presence of population-level senescence in this model species; (2) develop a minimal assay of senescence requiring only once-weekly data collection; and (3) test whether there were appreciable differences in senescence in plants grown in glass compared to polystyrene petri dishes, with an aim to reducing single-use plastic waste and long-term research materials costs. We found that weekly survival arced downward with age when viewed on a semi-log plot, and weekly production of descendants decreased with age, with both findings indicating population-level senescence that matched previous work using more frequent data-collection (per Objectives 1 and 2). Additionally, we found no noteworthy differences in senescence between plants grown in glass versus polystyrene petri dishes (per Objective 3). The use of weekly data collection could liberate personnel resources for other research-group functions, and could make the <i>Lemna</i> system suitable for senescence- or demography-education exercises. The use of glass dishes could reduce lab waste and expense.

Graphite–Phosphate Composites: Structure and Voltammetric Investigations

The utilization of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is increasing sharply with the increasing use of mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and electric vehicles worldwide. Technologies are required for the recycling and recovery of spent LIBs. In the context of the circular economy, it is urgent to search for new methods to recycle waste graphite that comes from the retired electrode of LIBs. The conversion of waste graphite into other products, such as new electrodes, in the field of energy devices is attractive because it reduces resource waste and processing costs, as well as preventing environmental pollution. In this paper, new electrode materials were prepared using waste anode graphite originating from a spent mobile phone battery with an xBT·0.1C12H22O11·(0.9-x)(NH4)2HPO4 composition, where x = 0–50 weight% BT from the anodic active mass of the spent phone battery (labeled as BT), using the melt quenching method. Analysis of the diffractograms shows the graphite crystalline phase with a hexagonal structure in all prepared samples. The particle sizes decrease by adding a higher BT amount in the composites. The average band gap is 1.32 eV (±0.3 eV). A higher disorder degree in the host network is the main factor responsible for lower band gap values. The prepared composites were tested as electrodes in an LIB or a fuel cell, achieving an excellent electrochemical performance. The voltammetric studies indicate that doping with 50% BT is the most suitable for applications as electrodes in LIBs and fuel cells.

Correlation of Water and Energy Parameters in a South of Minas Gerais Water Supply System

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between water and energy parameters in order to obtain water and energy consumption, according to studies by a local water utility. Theoretical Framework: The main theories presented here are the water and energy balances of a water supply network, whose authors can be found throughout the work. Such concepts are fundamental, as they allow correlating the parameters that are the objective of the study. Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises a literature review to obtain the necessary theoretical basis, as well as data collection carried out through campaigns by the research group throughout its trajectory, in previous works. The processing of the collected data was carried out using water and energy balances, with the consequent correlation of such parameters in relation to water losses in the sector under study. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that losses can reach up to R$249,949.06 in 5 years in the sector under study, reconciling water and energy losses due to the inefficiency of the system under study. Research Implications: This research, due to its approach, can guide measures to increase water and energy efficiency in sanitation companies, resulting in important financial and environmental gains for society by reducing water and energy waste and reducing operating costs, with resulting financial relief for society. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by correlating water and energy parameters in the study of water distribution losses, having revealed the monetary values ​​of the losses and their impacts on society.

The hidden climate cost: Food loss, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions

The hidden climate cost: Food loss, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions Professor Gordon Price from Dalhousie University and Professor Grant Clark from McGill University study the hidden climate change costs of food loss and waste in Canada. Here, they highlight the need for greater cooperation and data sharing. What connects a meal left uneaten, crops left to rot in the field, and spoiled produce buried in a landfill? They all contribute to the more than one billion tonnes of food that is lost or wasted globally every year (UNEP, 2024). Food loss and waste (FLW) is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and consequently a driver of climate change. The intertwined relationship between food policy, production, and consumption requires that government, industry, and consumers take immediate and collective action to reduce FLW and its environmental impact.

Assessing the Costs of Intravenous Push Waste in Intraoperative Areas Through Observation: A Multi-site Study.

The costs associated with proper disposal, management, and regulatory compliance of controlled substances in healthcare systems are substantial. In the context of the current opioid crisis, and given the high abuse potential of controlled substances, it is imperative that waste is minimized and waste procedures are followed to ensure safe disposal of controlled substances. This study aims to quantify the costs associated with fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine, midazolam, and ketamine waste in intraoperative areas through a multi-site observational analysis. The study used an observational design across various hospital procedural and post-procedural units in the Southwest Florida region of the United States. Automated and non-automated workflows for wasting controlled substances were compared. As with a previous study conducted by Hertig et al., waste was evaluated as (1) the quantity (mg/μg) of medication disposed defined as 'pharmaceutical waste' or 'product waste' (PW); and (2) workforce time associated with the waste disposal process defined as 'workforce time waste' (WTW). Secondary measures include workforce costs associated with the waste disposal process. The product waste analysis was conducted between October and December 2023. The workforce time waste analysis was examined over a 10-day period in January and February 2024. A yearly extrapolation model was applied to cost data. The findings revealed substantial costs linked to both PW and WTW, emphasizing the financial burden of controlled substance waste. Study data validated previous literature describing the extent of fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine waste while documenting significant amounts of midazolam and ketamine waste. The combined annual waste cost for the two study hospitals was estimated at US$56,557, with workforce time accounting for 36%-50% of this total cost. This study provides vital insights into the financial and operational impact of medication waste in procedural and post-procedural areas, supporting ongoing efforts to minimize waste, ensuring the safe and effective use of controlled substances. Future research should explore the impact of medication waste across diverse healthcare settings and the cost implications associated with pharmacy professionals in the waste compliance process.

Environmental Management Strategies for Cost-Effective Waste Management in Hospitals

General background: Waste management in hospitals is crucial due to its environmental impact. Specific background: RSU Al Islam HM Mawardi Krian struggles with waste management while adhering to PSAP No. 1 of 2010 and maintaining efficiency. Knowledge gap: Limited research exists on applying environmental management accounting and operational strategies for hospital waste management in line with accounting standards. Aims: This study analyzes the impact of environmental management accounting and strategies on waste management costs at RSU Al Islam HM Mawardi Krian, assessing compliance with PSAP standards. Results: The hospital has implemented processes of identification, recognition, measurement, recording, presentation, and disclosure per PSAP No. 1 of 2010, managing waste effectively and incurring environmental costs. Novelty: Offers insights into aligning hospital environmental cost management with government standards. Implications: Structured environmental accounting and strategies can enhance waste management, improve hospital reputation, ensure regulatory compliance, and potentially increase revenue. Highlights: RSU Al Islam HM Mawardi complies with PSAP No. 1 of 2010 in managing waste costs. Proper environmental accounting improves transparency and operational efficiency. Structured strategies can boost hospital reputation and revenue. Keywords: Environmental Management Accounting, Operational Strategies, Waste Management Costs, Hospital Compliance

Prescribing a Green Future: A Review of Antimicrobial Waste in Pediatric Hospitals and Practices to Promote Healthcare Sustainability.

Pediatric hospitals are uniquely positioned to be impacted by antimicrobial waste. To explore this issue, we reviewed the current literature to identify the reasons, costs, and potential solutions to waste. Identified reasons for waste included weight-based dosing, medication order changes due to changing patient status, loss or expiration of doses, and medication errors. The cost of waste included financial costs, promotion of antimicrobial resistance, and generation of greenhouse gases. Proposed interventions to reduce waste included an early switch from intravenous to oral administration, required stop dates, standardized dosing times, and optimization of the pharmacy batching process. However, additional studies are needed to assess the potential correlation between these proposed interventions and waste reduction. Antimicrobial stewardship programs have been identified as a group that can play a crucial role in partnering to implement these interventions to potentially reduce antimicrobial waste and promote better healthcare sustainability.

An enhanced conventional neural network schema for structural class-based software fault prediction

ABSTRACT Malicious software detection is the most prominent process required by various industries to avoid server failure. It is required to detect malicious software accurately to avoid time and cost wastage. Various research works have been introduced earlier for the detection of malicious software. In the existing work Support Vector Machine (SVM) is introduced for malicious software detection. However, existing works cannot perform well where there are error modules in the software. It is addressed in this suggested study by developing Coupling and Cohesion Metrics-based Fault Detection (CCMFD). In this research work, structural measures are mainly examined which come under the cohesion measures and comprise deficient cohesion in approaches (LCOM), and Conceptual Coupling between Object Classes (CCBO). Failure situations and measures relating to information flow are used in other techniques. A high-quality service has a low coupling and a high cohesiveness. These extracted features will be given as input to the enhanced Conventional Neural Network (CNN) for software mistake forecasting. A complete study analysis is done in a Java simulator, indicating that the suggested approach tends to have superior fault prediction outcomes than the current method.

Societal impact of recycling waste into composite materials

Demands for consumer goods and synthetic materials have increased significantly due to rapid population growth. As a result, environmental pollution, natural disasters and catastrophes, and controlling and recycling waste have become crucial issues for global sustainability and developing a circular economy. Besides the various sources, solid waste is generated from medical fields, ready-made garment (RMG) industries, and human hair during their service time and life. Human hair, face masks, and RMG waste are disposed of in landfills, buried, and incinerated without recycling. It creates dust and microparticles and develops CO2, methane, and harmful gases before fully decomposing in landfills, promoting environmental hazards and degrading air quality and social attributes. In addition, it causes the infiltration of microplastics and other micro/nano-particles into aquatic life, birds, and animals, and ultimately into human organs through food chains. It can be controlled by reducing, reusing, and recycling waste into useful materials and resources. Therefore, scientists seek to replace synthetic materials by developing bio-composites through recycling waste. This study explores the social impact of recycling human hair, waste face masks, and RMG waste into composite fields, which will help to reduce environmental pollution and global warming, achieve sustainability, develop a circular economy, and deter climate change. In contrast to societal impacts, the scalability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term durability of composites will not be an issue since the cost of waste is tiny, composite's strengths are higher than some natural fiber-reinforced composites, and those wastes can also be used to fabricate hybrid composites as cheap constituents.

Investigating the sterile surgical supply waste in laparotomy surgery

BackgroundOperating rooms contribute to over 40% of hospital expenses, with a portion attributed to waste from single-use, sterile surgical supplies (SUSSS). This research aimed to determine the amount of cost wastage due to not using SUSSS during laparotomy procedures.MethodsA descriptive-analytical investigation was conducted in two prominent teaching hospitals in Mashhad, Iran 2018. Seventy-seven laparotomy surgeries were scrutinized, documenting both used and unused disposable devices, with their respective costs being assessed. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16 software.ResultsThe study revealed that during surgery in the operating rooms, waste of SUSSS averaged 5.9%. Betadine solution and sterile Gauze types were the top two contributors to resource wastage. Sterile Gauze types incurred the highest cost loss. The study found a significant correlation between cost wastage and surgeon experience (r = 0.296, P < 0.001) as well as surgery duration (r = 0.439, P < 0.001).ConclusionInadequate management of available and commonly used disposable supplies leads to increased hospital expenses. Enhancing the surgical team’s knowledge of sterile surgical supplies usage and making thoughtful selections can play a vital role in curbing health costs by minimizing waste of SUSSS in the operating rooms.

Food waste reduction and its environmental consequences: a quasi-experimental study in a campus canteen

BackgroundFood waste is the third-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which has severe environmental and economic effects. This study presents a two-level intervention to estimate the quantity and environmental consequences of food waste at a campus canteen, offering innovative solutions to reduce food waste and its environmental footprint.MethodologyThis study involved 300 students and consisted of three main stages: initial food waste assessment, environmental and economic impact evaluation, and qualitative exploration of the causes of food waste through interviews with students. The assessment included direct measures and weighing of leftover food, and the environmental and economic impact was calculated. A two-level intervention was implemented for students and staff, and a re-assessment of food waste was conducted to evaluate the intervention’s impact. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.ResultsThe study monitored 26 meals, finding that the total amount of food waste in the university canteens was (mean = 60.65 g/person), and the intervention reduced food waste by 16.35% per meal (50.73 g/person). Moreover, after the intervention, the amount of food waste costs and total water waste were reduced by 30.14% and 16.66%, respectively. Grey water was reduced significantly by 12.5% (p = 0.033). Interviews with students identified low-quality meals, unpleasant taste, large portions, and a limited menu as the main causes of food waste.ConclusionsIt is possible to tackle food waste effectively with educational intervention, decreasing portion size, and improving the quality and variety of food.

FP3.7 - Do we need to follow up perianal abscesses in clinic?

Abstract Aim The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) states those who present with their first perianal abscess do not require routine follow up in clinic after surgical intervention. This audit aimed to assess the percentage of perianal abscess patients being referred to clinic and their subsequent clinic outcome. An additional outcome was a cost analysis of clinic waste. Methods We reviewed the patient records of all patients who underwent an incision and drainage of perianal abscess between 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022 within a district general hospital setting. We recorded the number of these patients being referred to clinic and their clinic outcome. The 2022/23 National Tariff Workbook resource was used to analyse the cost of clinic wastage. Results A total of 72 incision and drainages of perianal abscesses were performed in 2022 and 92% (N=66) were first presentation perianal abscesses. 46% (N=33) had a post-operative outpatient clinic appointment requested; and of these 67% (N=22) were first presentation perianal abscesses. This culminated in a total cost burden of £1568; in addition to prolonging patient anxiety, increasing their need for time off work and adding to NHS clinic wait time. Conclusion As per guidance, first presentation perianal abscesses do not need to be seen in clinic. The results suggest that we are referring too many patients to colorectal or general surgery outpatient clinics, which is increasing workload, adding to financial costs and affecting patient care.

Pemahaman dan Kepedulian dalam Penerapan Green Accounting pada UMKM Tempe di Kabupaten Sikka

This research aims to determine understanding and concern in implementing green accounting in Tempe MSMEs in Sikka Regency. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method. The data collection techniques used were interviews and documentation. The data analysis technique, namely descriptive analysis, begins with the data reduction stage, data presentation and conclusion drawing or verification. The research results show that tempe MSMEs in Sikka Regency, consisting of the Super Jaya tempe factory, Sidu Moro tempe factory, Bintang Jaya tempe factory, Putra Fajar tempe factory, have an understanding and concern for the environmental impact of the business activities they carry out. A manifestation of the understanding of tempeh MSMEs in Sikka Regency regarding the environment is by charging environmental costs in the tempeh production process. The environmental costs charged include the costs of storage tanks, filters, labs, plastic, banana leaves and waste. However, tempe MSMEs do not yet have sufficient understanding to apply the green accounting concept as a whole to the presentation of financial reports. The manifestation of concern for tempeh MSMEs in Sikka Regency is through maintaining business continuity, business raw materials, business waste, organic and non-organic waste, environmentally friendly equipment, understanding environmental costs and being directly assisted by the Health Service and the Sikka Regency Environmental Service.