Disposal Fees Research Articles

Spatial-temporal Analysis for PPP Waste-to-energy Projects in China

The accelerating urbanization and improvement of living standards have greatly increased the municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in China. Public private partnership (PPP) widely used in the field of waste-to-energy (WTE) industry can decrease the volume of MSW, generate power and address the serious environmental problems caused by MSW. The advantage of PPP model can be expressed in its inherent incentive, expanding product quality, improving capacity utilization, saving transaction costs, improving efficiency of WTE industry. We collect data of municipal solid waste disposal fee from 69 PPP WTE projects of 231 operating projects, covering 30% of all PPP WTE operating projects in 29 provinces from 1999–2016, the spatial-temporal model is built to analyze the waste-to-energy environmental efficiency in PPP waste-toenergy industry.

System dynamics applied to closed loop supply chains of desktops and laptops in Brazil: A perspective for social inclusion of waste pickers

The structure of reverse logistics for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is essential to minimize the impacts of their improper disposal. In this context, the Brazilian Solid Waste Policy (BSWP) was a regulatory milestone in Brazil, submitting WEEE to the mandatory implementation of reverse logistics systems, involving the integration of waste pickers on the shared responsibility for the life cycle of products. This article aims to measure the impact of such legal incentives and the bargaining power obtained by the volume of collected waste on the effective formalization of waste pickers. The proposed model evaluates the sustainability of supply chains in terms of the use of raw materials due to disposal fees, collection, recycling and return of some materials from desktops and laptops using system dynamics methodology. The results show that even in the absence of bargaining power, the formalization of waste pickers occurs due to legal incentives. It is important to ensure the waste pickers cooperatives access to a minimum amount, which requires a level of protection against unfair competition with companies. Regarding the optimal level of environmental policies, even though the formalization time is long, it is still not enough to guarantee the formalization of waste picker cooperatives, which is dependent on their bargaining power. Steel is the material with the largest decrease in acquisition rate of raw material.

Converting retail food waste into by-product

By-product synergy (BPS) is a form of joint production that uses the waste stream from one (primary) process as useful input into another (secondary) process. The synergy is derived from avoiding waste disposal cost in the primary process and virgin raw material cost in the secondary process. BPS increases profit and can have a positive environmental impact by reducing waste. We investigate how BPS can mitigate food waste in a retail grocer setting, and how it interacts with other mechanisms for reducing waste (i.e., waste disposal fee and tax credit for food donation). In the retail setting, waste is generated because of demand uncertainty – the retailer stocks inventory without knowing demand and excess units become waste. We derive the retailer’s optimal order policy under BPS and the order policy for a more practical hybrid implementation of BPS, and compare these BPS implementations to the benchmark case where the retailer only sells fresh produce (“Fresh Only”). We show that the benefit of BPS increases in primary demand uncertainty, but decreases in secondary demand uncertainty. We find that BPS can reduce waste when secondary demand uncertainty and the net tax benefit from donation are low, but can increase waste if increased secondary demand uncertainty drives up safety stock. Our results suggest that under BPS, the threshold net tax benefit required to induce donation increases because BPS competes with donation for excess primary units. We find that the tax credit and disposal fee are substitute mechanisms for inducing food donation.

The Economics of the International Trade of Waste

International trade in hazardous and nonhazardous waste and scrap products has been growing at an exceptional rate the past two decades. This review presents current data on the magnitude and trends regarding this growth and discusses the recent literature as it pertains to the economic incentives and drivers of international waste trade. Differences in environmental policy, taxes, disposal fees, and transport costs are important determinants across countries. However, the illegal nature of many types of hazardous waste also means that organized crime may play a role in some countries. Gaps in our understanding regarding microeconomic incentives as they relate to upstream and downstream recyclers and to the social welfare implications for wages, environmental quality, and human health are also discussed.

Waste-to-fuel opportunities for British quick service restaurants: A case study

The fast food supply chain is facing increasing operating costs due to volatile food and energy prices. Based on a case study of a major fast food logistics operator, this paper quantifies the potential for fuel generation from the waste generated by quick-service restaurants in Britain. Several fuel pathways and supply chains were mapped to understand the carbon intensity of the various waste-to-fuel opportunities, the number of heavy goods vehicles that might be powered and the key factors that could help companies make better informed decisions related to fuel generation from waste.The research suggested that depending on the scenarios considered, between 13.9 and 17.2 million GJ of energy could be obtained from fuels made from the waste arisings of British quick service restaurants and their distribution centres (DCs), representing between 4.4 and 5.8% of the national energy consumption from heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and well-to-wheel (WTW) greenhouse gases (GHG) savings of between 652 and 898 thousand tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually.Used cooking oil and burger fat arising from British quick-service restaurants could generate enough energy to power up to 3891HGVs with FAME diesel (B100), 1622 with HVO diesel (B100) or 1943 with biomethane annually. The paper and card generated by these same establishments could also power an additional 4623 biomethane vehicles, wood pallets could power an additional 73 bioethanol trucks and plastics could also power 341 vehicles running with synthetic diesel.The results showed that collections of separate waste fractions by logistics operators could make a relevant contribution towards the decarbonisation of the supply chain while reducing disposal fees and fuel costs. The carbon emissions resulting from this approach depend greatly on the footprint of the collection and transportation systems used to move waste from the restaurants to the processing plants and return the converted fuel back to the distribution centres where the vehicles are refuelled. Logistics firms are in a privileged position to manage these flows as they can use empty back-haul trips to collect and consolidate waste in distribution centres.

Characteristics and management of domestic waste in a rural area of the Tibetan Plateau

In the rural area of the Tibetan Plateau (RATP), the characteristics of domestic waste, people’s environmental awareness, people’s willingness to pay and their influence factors were firstly studied by questionnaires, field samplings and laboratory tests. The results showed that, in the RATP, the generation of domestic waste was 85 g•d-1 per capita and it was mainly composed of plastics, inert waste, kitchen waste, glass and paper. The waste bulk density, moisture content, ash, combustible and low calorific value were 65 kg•m-3, 19.25%, 44.90%, 35.85% and 10,520 kJ•kg-1 respectively. These characteristics are influenced by income sources and geographical position to some extent. Classified collection should be promoted widely on the household and the village basis. Compost, fermentation, landfill, bioreactor landfill and semi-aerobic landfill have been approved as effective techniques to treat domestic waste, except incineration. The distance of 50–800 m between each collection facility and the disposal fee of around $0.8 per month per household are suggested. For suburbs or large population villages, it’s better to treat domestic waste by the centralized way. But for the remote rural areas, a decentralized way is proposed. Significantly, the educational and economic influence should be considered into an effective domestic waste management program.Implications: The current situatio n of the environment in the rural areas of the Tibetan Plateau (RATP) was surveyed. There, the generation of organics and moisture of domestic waste were low but ash, recyclables, and combustibles were high. People’s knowledge of domestic waste was absent but their participation in management was strong. Based on the current situation, compost, fermentation, and landfill were effective but incineration was inappropriate. Also, a localized mini landfill for a cluster of villages and or settlements was the best method there.

Mobile Fleet Economic Efficiency Calculation in International Road Transport

Activity efficiency of economic entity in transport business considerably depends on appropriate mobile fleet choice. As a rule, reliable, having low exploitation costs and well-designed maintenance stations extensive network, trucks secure sound financial position for transport enterprises which carry out efficient organization of freight forwarding business. Mobile fleet purchase conditions are much worse than in European counties: leasing and credit rates are 3 – 4 times lower, and price itself is lower too. Our government decree which foresees disposal fee implementation makes the situation even worse. It’s a serious issue and it should be solved, for under conditions of freight rates decrease, mobile fleet upgrading expenditures become more significant. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s4p59

A quantitative analysis of municipal solid waste disposal charges in China.

Rapid industrialization and economic development have caused a tremendous increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in China. China began implementing a policy of MSW disposal fees for household waste management at the end of last century. Three charging methods were implemented throughout the country: a fixed disposal fee, a potable water-based disposal fee, and a plastic bag-based disposal fee. To date, there has been little qualitative or quantitative analysis on the effectiveness of this relatively new policy. This paper provides a general overview of MSW fee policy in China, attempts to verify whether the policy is successful in reducing general waste collected, and proposes an improved charging system to address current problems. The paper presents an empirical statistical analysis of policy effectiveness derived from an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) test on panel data of China. EKC tests on different kinds of MSW charge systems were then examined for individual provinces or cities. A comparison of existing charging systems was conducted using environmental and economic criteria. The results indicate the following: (1) the MSW policies implemented over the study period were effective in the reduction of waste generation, (2) the household waste discharge fee policy did not act as a strong driver in terms of waste prevention and reduction, and (3) the plastic bag-based disposal fee appeared to be performing well according to qualitative and quantitative analysis. Based on current situation of waste discharging management in China, a three-stage transitional charging scheme is proposed and both advantages and drawbacks discussed. Evidence suggests that a transition from a fixed disposal fee to a plastic bag-based disposal fee involving various stakeholders should be the next objective of waste reduction efforts.

An evaluation of recycling schemes for waste dry batteries – a simulation approach

Shorter product life cycles are causing increase in the volume of electrical and electronic equipment waste and batteries are an important functional component of these. There are still batteries in use today which contain mercury, lead and nickel. These heavy metals are toxic and harmful to both the environment and human and have to be disposed of by proper processes. In Taiwan, waste dry battery recycling is managed by the Recycling Fund Management Board. Producers only have to pay advance disposal fees (ADFs). Many countries have adopted the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which requires the product manufacturer to assume responsibility for recycling and final disposal in compliance with the related laws. In this study the effects of three different recycling schemes under different recycling situations is investigated by simulation. System output data is collected under different recycling situations, and the cost effectiveness is determined and analyzed. The investigations showed the Producer Responsibility Organizations combined with a deposit system revealed the most cost effectiveness. This would seem to be a better scheme in terms of cost effectiveness for implementing in Taiwan.

An Optimal Ordering Cycle at Interactions of Fuzzy Parameters and High Disposal Fees of Food or Drug Supply Systems

In many cities the food and drug waste is invading their districts, and disposal fees are high. In this paper we investigate how to determine an optimal ordering cycle when the demand for products and the price are fuzzy variables, and lead time is constant, in the case of perishable food or drugs of unknown deteriorating ratio, and at high disposal fees. The parameters required for the solution are trapezoidal membership functions for the fuzzy demand, the fuzzy purchase cost for each item, the fixed cost to place the order, and the cost of disposal (i.e. disposal fee), the fuzzy deterioration rate, and the fixed storage cost specified for each item per period. The three fuzzy parameters in the total cost function are described as trapezoidal fuzzy variables so that the influence of volatility of these variables on the criterion function could be calculated. In the paper, the safety stock decays at the same rate as the rest of the inventory. Credibility distributions are given for such cases. Here, we demonstrated that the expected value of total costs in the ordering cycle is equal to the signed distance to the origin. The kurtosis of variables when appearing simultaneously, and their influence on the disposal fee are under investigation, therefore the trapezoidal membership functions are investigated. Through an extensive analytical study and the numerical example, we concluded the following: (1) for the items having a trapezoidal demand membership function, increasing the volatility of demand generates a membership function with a flatter shape, thus shortening the optimal ordering cycle, and (2) an increment of fuzziness reduces the optimal cycle length more gradually than the crisp values, when the sum of the purchase price plus the disposal fee of the product, or the demand, or the deterioration rate are increasing. This means that a high fuzziness reduces the sensitivity of the optimal cycle duration.

Study on anaerobic digestion treatment of hazardous colistin sulphate contained pharmaceutical sludge

Pharmaceutical sludge is considered as a hazardous substance with high treatment and disposal fees. Anaerobic digestion could not only transform the hazardous substance into activated sludge, but also generate valuable biogas. This research had two objectives. First: studying the feasibility of anaerobic digestion and determining the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of pharmaceutical sludge under different Inoculum to substrate TS ratios (ISRs) of 0, 0.65, 2.58 and 10.32 in mesophilic condition of 37±1°C. Secondly, investigating the removal efficiency of colistin sulphate during anaerobic digestion. The results showed that the use of anaerobic digestion to treat the pharmaceutical sludge is feasible and that it can completely eliminate the colistin sulphate. The highest biogas production from pharmaceutical sludge is 499.46mL/gTS at an ISR of 10.32.

Characteristics and management of domestic waste in the rural area of Southwest China.

With its rapid development, the rural area of Southwest China has been puzzled by the waste management problem, especially for increasing solid waste and water pollution from the domestic waste. Therefore, in order to efficiently and effectively manage the domestic waste in the rural area of Southwest China, 22 villages were selected randomly to analyse the characteristics of domestic waste, the influence factors of characteristics and resident's willingness of participation in domestic waste management by questionnaires, field samplings and laboratory tests. The results of the rural area of Southwest China indicated that the generation of domestic waste was 178 g d(-1) per capita and it was mainly composed of kitchen waste, inert waste, plastics and paper with a total proportion of 81.98%. The waste bulk density, moisture, ash, combustible and lower calorific value were 107 kg m(-3), 37.04%, 25.73%, 37.23% and 8008 kJ kg(-1), respectively. These characteristics were influenced by the topography, the distance from towns or cities, the villagers' ethnicities and income sources to some extent. Moreover, the distance of 50-800 m between each collection facility and the disposal fee of around ¥5.00 per household per month could be accepted. The working hours of participation in waste management is suggested as 5 hours per day with the income of ¥1000 per capita per month. Based on the outcome of this survey, a waste management system consisting of classified collection, centralised treatment and decentralised treatment was proposed. It is important to ensure financial viability and practical considerations of this system.

중·저준위방사성폐기물처분사업에서 금융비용 감소를 위한 연구

원자력발전소 및 산업계에서 발생하는 중·저준위방사성폐기물을 처분하기 위한 처분장이 2014년경 준공될 것으로 예상된다. 방사성폐기물 처분을 위해서는 물리적인 처분시설의 확보도 중요할 뿐만 아니라 발생자와 처분사업자 등 각종 이해관계자들이 모두 수긍할 수 있는 비용부과체계 마련도 중요하다. 우리나라의 처분비용은 해외의 다른 국가에 비하여 높은 편에 속하며 이는 폐기물 발생자와 처분사업자에게 많은 부담을 주고 있다. 우리나라의 처분비용이 높은 이유는 처분장 확보를 위한 사회적 비용 또는 건설비가 다른 국가에 비하여 상대적으로 높은 이유도 있겠으나, 처분장 건설을 위해 조달한 비용에서 발생한 금융비용이 보다 큰 요인으로 작용하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 처분사업의 지속가능한 사업체계 마련을 위해 비용 구조를 분석함으로서 처분비용 중 금융비용을 낮추기 위한 방안을 모색하고자 한다.

Product Remanufacturing: A Real Options Approach

In this paper, we consider a firm that leases a single product to a service provider under the assumption that this firm can decide when to replace the leased product and remanufacture it. The cost of remanufacturing is assumed to follow a geometric Brownian motion process, which is characterized by its drift and volatility. Under these assumptions, we construct and analyze a basic real options model for product remanufacturing. Specifically, we derive the remanufacturing cost threshold at which the remanufacturing option is exercised. We also perform extensive sensitivity analysis to examine how the remanufacturing cost uncertainty and other factors influence the remanufacturing decision. Furthermore, we present an extension where a remanufacturing subsidy and a disposal fee by the government are considered. The impacts of these economic instruments on the remanufacturing decision as well as on the environment are investigated.

Radioactive waste disposal fees—Methodology for calculation

Abstract This paper summarizes the methodological approach used for calculation of fee for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal and for spent fuel disposal. The methodology itself is based on simulation of cash flows related to the operation of system for waste disposal. The paper includes demonstration of methodology application on the conditions of the Czech Republic.

Biological control of mosquitoes in scrap tires in Brownsville, Texas, USA and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Dengue periodically circulates in southern Texas and neighboring Tamaulipas, Mexico; thus, a closer examination of human and vector ecology at the northern limits of North American transmission may improve prevention activities. Scrap tires produce large mosquito populations and increase the risk of dengue transmission. Some households choose not to pay tire disposal fees, and many tires are illegally dumped in residential areas. Biological control may provide low-cost and environmentally friendly mosquito control. This pilot study evaluated the ability of Mesocyclops longisetus to reduce mosquito populations in existing residential scrap tire piles. Mosquito populations were measured by the number of all mosquito pupae within tires or adult Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus near piles. Mesocyclops longisetus treated piles did not significantly reduce total mosquito pupae (P = 0.07) in Matamoros, Mexico. The study also evaluated the efficacy of native Toxorhynchites moctezuma which preferentially colonized tire piles under vegetation cover in Brownsville, TX. Toxorhynchites moctezuma larvae significantly reduced total mosquito pupae, but the strength of control diminished over time.

Analysis on Medical Waste Management and Disposal in Kunming City

Medical waste is a special category of waste with potential health and environment risks. Medical waste management and disposal is a difficult problem in the western China because the shortage of financial support. Kunming city was selected to assess the current achievement and experience of medical waste management and disposal. Kunming municipal government solved the problem of medical waste disposal by adopting the model of BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer). The analyzed results showed that there was a good achievement of medical waste disposal in Kunming city that medical waste disposal realized centralized and normalized disposal, and centralized disposal had amounted to one hundred percent in urban area since 2006. Medical waste disposal in Kunming city mainly includes three steps, that is,the sort and collection of respective medical institutions, the centralized collection and transport of Kunming Center for Medical Waste Centralized Disposal (KCMWCD) and incineration . Kunming municipal government approved franchise for Medical waste disposal. The government has strengthened the medical waste disposal by building the effective administrative monitoring system of medical waste, organizing some meetings and visiting the place of medical waste disposal for relevant person and training them, and imposing the medical waste disposal fee on medical institution.

Case study on municipal solid waste management in Vavuniya township: practices, issues and viable management options

Economic development and population growth in Vavuniya (a strategically important city connecting the towns in the south, west, and the previously conflict ravaged areas in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka) has been anticipated since the cessation of an ethnic conflict in May 2009 with a concurrent increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. This paper describes the present problems and issues faced by Vavuniya township and discusses strategies to introduce, plan, and implement a source separation (SS) program as one option that could be economically and technically feasible. MSW has a high content of biodegradable matter (62–66 % by weight). Currently in Vavuniya SS does not take place, the availability of collection vehicles is insufficient, collection frequency by the Vavuniya Urban Council varies considerably among different areas, and open dumping is practiced at a remote site (Pampaimadu; about 14 km from Vavuniya Town) without disposal fees. Moreover, the existing composting projects have been abandoned. Introduction of SS programs along with regular monitoring is crucial (to enhance the recycling of recyclables and to promote composting of biodegradable wastes). Also the present collection system and the availability of collection vehicles should be improved, and that the abandoned composting projects should be revived, at least until the SS programs are successful.

Scrap Prices, Waste, and Recycling Policy

This study examines the effect of waste and recycling policy on scrap prices and the importance of scrap price feedbacks as a determinant of policy costs. Price effects and direct and indirect channels of waste reduction are decomposed for deposit/refund, advance disposal fee, and recycling subsidies. Scrap price feedbacks decrease the cost of advance disposal fees, increase the cost of recycling subsidies, and have an ambiguous effect on the cost of deposit/refund. Simulation analysis finds that scrap price feedbacks substantially affect the costs of the policies and alter the ranking of instruments. ( JEL Q53, Q58 )

Assessing the treatment costs and the fertilizing value of the output products in digestate treatment systems

The objective of this paper was to advance towards finding sustainable solutions to deal with biogas digestate and contribute to faster development of the market for digestate treatment products. The study compares digestate treatment costs through four different treatment plants, estimates the potential fertilizing and humus value (PFHV) of the derived products and allocates the cash flows to show the possible regional benefits. The treatment costs for the pre-dried solid fraction of digestate ranged from €19 to €23/tonne output. These costs may be covered by vending treatment products at a price reaching at least 34-41% of their PFHV (ca €55/tonne). Treatment of raw digestate generates high operating costs (€216-247/tonne output), much higher than the PFHV of the products (ca €35-51/tonne). For such systems either the treatment has to be financially subsidized by the authorities or €13-32/tonne input should be covered by the substrate deliverers as a disposal fee. Nevertheless, a well-prepared investment concept in this field may allow the local binding of up to 80% of total cash flows. Finally, the current difficult market situation of the treatment products can be primarily improved by clearing their legal status at European level.