Disposal In Sanitary Landfill Research Articles

Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment Analysis of an Italian Composting Facility concerning Environmental Footprint Minimization and Renewable Energy Integration

The present paper aims to investigate the environmental impacts of a real municipal solid waste management facility operating in Italy including two power units, i.e., a combined heat and power system and an internal combustion engine, fed by the biogas produced from anaerobic digestion and waste disposal in sanitary landfill. The Life Cycle Assessment study is carried out in Simapro 9.1.1.7 and, in addition to the base case scenario, the implementation of additional renewable energy and circular economy solutions is evaluated. More precisely a PV plant on the roof of the anaerobic digesters section and the use of plastic and paper residues in a gasification process for additional heat and power production are considered. The main outcomes of the simulations demonstrate the following: (i) the benefits in terms of energy and fuel savings provided by the two power units; (ii) the environmental impact reduction due to the compost obtained from the anaerobic digestion of the organic waste as potential fertilizer; (iii) a potential power capacity of 2 MW through the gasification of the plastic and paper residues. With reference to the latter, despite bringing an increase of the carbon emissions (+48%) compared to the base case, it could contribute to reach higher environmental standards for MSW composting facilities.

Environmental performance of different end-of-life alternatives of wood fly ash by a consequential perspective

The increasing demand for bioenergy has intensified the pressure to utilise forest residues. Consequently, wood ash production has increased, which has prompted the need to find environmentally friendly alternatives for its end-of-life processes. However, studies assessing the environmental impacts of wood ash valorisation have assumed a static market while disregarding the potential environmental consequences and economic causalities of producing new products from wood ash. Therefore, this study assesses the outcomes of changing the conventional end-of-life of wood fly ash from its disposal in sanitary landfills to valorisation alternatives through its incorporation in construction materials (mortar and concrete) or soil amelioration. First, a consequential life cycle assessment was applied to identify the most environmentally sustainable choices for two types of wood fly ash (namely, those derived grate furnaces and fluidised bed furnaces). The characterisation factors used in this study are those that have been suggested for conducting a Product Environmental Footprint (PEF). The results show that mortar production is the best alternative for fly ashes generated in grate furnaces. Meanwhile, concrete and mortar production are the best alternatives for fly ashes generated in fluidised bed furnaces, concrete production has a slight advantage (smaller than 1%) over mortar production. Valorisation is less beneficial for soil amelioration than the incorporation in construction materials, and the impacts are higher than those of ash landfilling in some impact categories (human toxicity, freshwater eutrophication and ecotoxicity) due to the emission of trace elements into soil. A sensitivity analysis was carried out by changing the market trend of the conventional materials displaced from stable to strongly declining. This analysis showed that market trends could affect the net environmental performance of the investigated alternatives and modify their rankings.

Zero Single-Use Plastics University

Since 2019 CES University began with the implementation of the zero single-use plastics guidelines in order to restrict 100% the use of all single-use plastics at Campus and thus avoid the final disposal in sanitary landfills, with all the negative impact that it has into the fauna, flora and human health, eliminating the generation through prevention, reduction, reuse and recycling. Those single-use plastic products were replaced by elements such as cane bagasse and starch of corn; among others biodegradable and compostable, in order to end the life cycle of these products transforming them into compost. Since the use of single-use plastic elements was banned, we managed to reduce the generation of these products by 89%. From 471.5 Kg in 2018 to 53 Kg in 2019. With this practice, we contribute to SDG 13 - goal 13.3, SDG 12 - goal 12.4 and 12.5. This practice is being replicated in 10 more universities countrywide.

Potential of carbon credits generation from organic waste composting of large generators: an alternative to the final disposal in sanitary landfills

This study aims to measure the potential for reducing Greenhouse Gases by surveying the amount of methane avoided by a company that collects and processes organic waste from large generators through composting. The applied methodology was the avoidance of methane emissions through composting, from the Clean Development Mechanism, considering as a baseline the emissions of the Santa Rosa sanitary landfill, located in the city of Seropédica, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With data on the amount of organic waste composted by the company, the emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) were calculated, considering the standard emission factors established in the methodological instrument. The data show that the emission of 22,062 tons of CO2eq was avoided, which corresponds to a reduction of 83.5% of CH4 emissions, if the waste composted by the company were deposited in the Santa Rosa sanitary landfill. In terms of carbon credit, according to the calculation, this value would correspond to approximately 17 thousand euros annually (considering current values). Thus, the applicability of this study contributes as a scientific basis to assist decision-making and effectiveness of other composting projects, enabling greater reductions in emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the long term and adequacy to the future perspectives of carbon market development. At the same time, it contributes to the construction of alternative scenarios for mitigation and reduction of Greenhouse Gases emissions in Brazil and promotes sustainable waste management, as determined by the National Solid Waste Policy.

Population dynamics of microbial species under high and low ammonia nitrogen in the alternate layer bioreactor landfill (ALBL) approach

Anaerobic landfill process is still believed to be a complex ecosystem due to the lack of knowledge on the functional activities of microbial species. This research sought to introduce a novel landfill bioreactor, named here as the alternate layer bioreactor landfill (ALBL) of fresh MSW (FW) and stabilized waste (CT) to avoid inhibitory conditions for the microbial species in anaerobic landfill. The stabilized waste layer in the bottom of landfill cell significantly changed microbial ecology of fresh MSW which in turn reduced the concentrations of NH4-N (29–31%) and VFAs (33–38%) in the ALBL approach, compared to fresh MSW disposal in sanitary landfill. The reduction of NH4-N favored early onset of methanogenesis within 6 weeks and methane (CH4) content of landfill gas increased from 11% to 40–50% (v/v), owing to the coexistence of Methanosarcinales (36–50%) and Methanomicrobiales (26–28%) archaea. The acetoclastic methanogenesis was achieved by reducing NH4-N toxicity in the ALBL.

Transition towards eco-efficiency in municipal solid waste management to reduce GHG emissions: The case of Brazil

Developing countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), are implementing mitigation strategies for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in specific sectors, such as municipal solid wastes (MSW), to reduce the impacts of climate change. The purpose of this research was to evaluate different GHG emission mitigation scenarios in MSW management in Brazil, countrywide and at municipal level, to determine the best transition towards eco-efficiency (TEE) relative to the current scenario. Environmental (GHG emissions, using the CO2ZW tool) and economic (operating and investment costs and climate change externalities) indicators were determined and analysed per ton of MSW treated, based on field work and national data. An analysis was made of six scenarios of transitions of MSW management and treatment via wet processes (composting and mechanical biological treatment – MBT), dry routes (recycling and incineration) and disposal in sanitary landfills (DSL). The most eco-efficient scenario for Brazil and the municipalities with the largest populations, such as São Paulo and Sorocaba, corresponded to: 70% composting and 30% DSL for wet MSW and; 70% recycling and 30% DSL for dry MSW. In the smaller municipalities such as Humaitá, Piedade and Santa Cruz do Sul, the best results in TEE were: 42% composting and 58% DSL for wet MSW and; 41% recycling and 59% DSL for dry MSW. The scenarios showing the lowest TEE performance were MBT and incineration, due to the high costs of these technologies in Brazil.

Characterizing the paper industry sludge for environmentally-safe disposal

The world paper industry produces a great amount of industrial solid waste that undergoes a treatment process that can be either primary, secondary, or tertiary, in order to adapt the waste for correct disposal. The paper manufacturing industries search for the best way to dispose of their wastes, generally in landfills, but there are few studies proving the effectiveness of such measure from the environmental, technological and economic points of view. Knowing the characteristics of this waste and understanding the treatment process it is submitted to are fundamental issues to manage it and comply with environmental demands. The purpose of this paper is to perform a chemical, mineralogical, thermal, morphological, physical and environmental characterization of the paper and pulp industry wastes, in order to assess alternatives for their adequate disposal, such as controlled landfills, sanitation, incineration, and sea dumping. It was observed that the material presents physical, chemical, and morphological features that indicate the possibility of reusing it in other production chains, such as the ceramic industry, besides being classified as non-hazardous wastes. Furthermore, disposal in sanitary landfills presents advantages in environmental and technological terms.

Recycling of sludge from drinking water treatment as ceramic material for the manufacture of tiles

Currently, the main destination for sludge from Drinking Water Treatment Plants (DWTP) is its disposal in sanitary landfills. However, its chemical composition and physical properties make it suitable for use as a building material. In this work, the use of spray-dried DWTP sludge on the manufacture of cladding ceramic material for the production of tiles as an alternative to the final disposal of sludge is analysed. The work is based on an experimental study carried out on a laboratory scale. Clay and spray-dried DWTP sludge (average humidity of 3 wt%) were mixed with different percentages of sludge (from 0 to 70 wt%) to form a slurry to be extruded. Specimens were then fired up to 980 °C. Chemical and mineralogical composition of raw materials was analysed. Technical properties of the ceramic samples were determined. The results obtained showed that the DWTP sludge became a powder with low organic content and a high-micronised calcareous content (14.4 wt% calcium oxide). The ceramic samples had a high open porosity, which increases with the increase in sludge addition percentage. They also had a high dilatometric coefficient. Taking into account these two properties, a possible application of this material would be the manufacture of glazed tiles. The resulting ceramic material does not pose any environmental problem, far surpassing the NEN-7345 leaching test and accelerated degassing tests (outgassing PSS-01-702 and offgassing PSS-01-729 standards of the European Space Agency).

Cement‐based solidification/stabilization of phenol‐contaminated soil by bentonite and organophilic clay

AbstractThe performance of ordinary and organophilic clays in the solidification and stabilization process was investigated with respect to the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and leaching of phenol‐contaminated soil. The samples contained 2,000 mg/kg of phenol. White cement (15 and 30 percent by weight [wt%]) was used as binder, while ordinary and organophilic clays (8, 15, and 30 wt%) were applied as additives for reducing the harmful effects of phenol interference in cement hydration with a 28‐day curing time. The results revealed that the UCS is reduced by increasing the amount of clays. The values of UCS of all samples met the minimum standards specified for disposal in sanitary landfills determined by developed countries. The leaching test demonstrated that the degree of leaching diminished with increased clay content in all samples of both clay types. This reduction was observed to be greater in samples containing organophilic clay than in bentonite clay samples. Furthermore, the best composition of the materials tested was determined to be 30 wt% white cement plus 13.3 wt% organophilic clay with a compressive strength of 3,839 kPa, phenol removal percentage of 80 percent, and a cost of $67 per ton of contaminated soil.

Carbon footprint associated with four disposal scenarios for urban pruning waste.

The inadequate disposal of urban pruning residues can cause significant environmental impacts. The objective of the study presented herein was to quantify the carbon footprint and analyze four disposal scenarios for the urban pruning waste of the city of Joao Pessoa (Northeast Brazil). Software SimaPro was utilized for the quantification of the carbon footprint, with the IPCC 2013 GWP 100y impact evaluation method. The end-of-life treatments considered were sanitary landfilling (with and without collection of methane), simple municipal incineration, and reutilization of wood (transformation into briquettes). The results indicated that simple disposal in sanitary landfill generated 136.34kg CO2/t urban pruning waste collected (highest carbon footprint), sanitary landfill with methane collection emitted 113.43kg CO2/t waste, municipal incineration generated 71.31kg CO2/t waste, and reutilization of woody residues was the scenario with the lowest carbon footprint, with 27.82kg CO2/t waste. This study demonstrated that reutilization of biomass, besides being environmentally viable, presents the potential to contribute to the city's environmental quality, including the possibility of being used to obtain carbon credits.

Municipal solid waste in Brazil: A review.

The production of municipal solid waste (MSW) represents one of the greatest challenges currently faced by waste managers all around the world. In Brazil, the situation with regard to solid waste management is still deficient in many aspects. In 2015, only 58.7% of the MSW collected in Brazilian cities received appropriate final disposal. It was only as late as 2010 that Brazil established the National Policy on Solid Waste (NPSW) based on the legislation and programmes established in the 1970s in more developed countries. However, the situation with regard to MSW management has changed little since the implementation of the NPSW. Recent data show that, in Brazil, disposal in sanitary landfills is practically the only management approach to MSW. Contrary to expectations, despite the economic recession in 2015 the total annual amount of MSW generated nationwide increased by 1.7%, while in the same period the Brazilian population grew by 0.8% and economic activity decreased by 3.8%. The article describes the panorama with regard to MSW in Brazil from generation to final disposal and discusses the issues related to the delay in implementing the NPSW. The collection of recyclable material, the recycling process, the application of reverse logistics and the determination of the gravimetric composition of MSW in Brazil are also addressed in this article. Finally, a brief comparison is made between MSW management in Brazil and in other countries, the barriers to developing effective waste disposal systems are discussed and some recommendations for future MSW management development in Brazil are given.

Degradation and half-life of DNA present in biomass from a genetically-modified organism during land application.

White biotechnology has made a positive impact on the chemical industry by providing safer, more efficient chemical manufacturing processes that have reduced the use of toxic chemicals, harsh reaction conditions, and expensive metal catalysts, which has improved alignment with the principles of Green Chemistry. The genetically-modified (GM) biocatalysts that are utilized in these processes are typically separated from high-value products and then recycled, or eliminated. Elimination routes include disposal in sanitary landfills, incineration, use as a fuel, animal feed, or reuse as an agricultural soil amendment or other value-added products. Elimination routes that have the potential to impact the food chain or environment have been more heavily scrutinized for the fate and persistence of biological products. In this study, we developed and optimized a method for monitoring the degradation of strain-specific DNA markers from a genetically-modified organism (GMO) used for the commercial production of 1,3-propanediol. Laboratory and field tests showed that a marker for heterologous DNA in the GM organism was no longer detectable by end-point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after 14days. The half-life of heterologous DNA was increased by 17% (from 42.4 to 49.7h) after sterilization of the soil from a field plot, which indicated that abiotic factors were important in degradation of DNA under field conditions. There was no evidence for horizontal transfer of DNA target sequences from the GMO to viable organisms present in the soil.

BIODISPOSAL FARMING OF REFINERY OILY WASTES

ABSTRACT Oily waste materials, whether they are derived from oil spill cleanup operations or generated during petroleum processing, present somewhat similar disposal problems which are of major concern. With oily waste disposal in sanitary landfills increasingly unacceptable and with the many problems and high costs associated with incineration, landspreading (landfarming) is becoming more and more important as a disposal method. Although simple in principle, it is somewhat complex in application with little experimental data available. The API has undertaken a study to define the requirements and limitations for an environmentally acceptable landspreading method. Suntech selected three sites in the United States for the study, one of which is discussed in this paper, namely, Toledo, Ohio. Typical refinery oily wastes were spread on test plots in multiple, controlled applications and tilled into the top eight inches of soil, and the fate of these wastes and their components in the soil environment was monitored for a two year period. Bio-oxidation rates were determined for the oil fractions. Microflora population counts served to monitor the microbial response and determine overall soil viability. Leachate and groundwater quality and surface runoff contamination were studied to assess any tendency toward waste constituent migration. Heavy metals, phenolics, and cyanides were also examined. Biodegradation rates were found to be substantial, with controlled applications in excess of 1,000 barrels of oil per acre per year.