European Waste Management Research Articles

Macroeconomic Influences on Recycling in Europe: An Econometric Investigation

AbstractWhile the circular economy has garnered significant attention over the last two decades, few studies have explored the relationship between recycling and macroeconomic conditions. This paper aims to elucidate how macroeconomic factors influence and correlate with recycling indicators, focusing on European waste management. First, we analyze how macroeconomic indicators impact key circular economy indicators related to waste management, considering 27 European countries from 2000 to 2019, categorized into Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe. An ordinary least squares model serves as a baseline for comparison with a fixed effects model and a model with regional and time dummies. As a response to Ferrante and Germani's (2020) call for more research on causal studies of this kind, we also address reverse causality both by testing for panel data Granger causality and by applying the dynamic panel data approach developed by Arellano and Bond (1991). Second, we investigate variations in circular economic performance across European regions and countries, both before and after controlling for the macroeconomic context. The empirical analysis reveals a substantial correlation between circular economy indicators and key macroeconomic conditions, but we do not find evidence supporting causal impacts from macroeconomic circumstances in the short run. Regional examinations unveil disparities in circular economic performance, with Western Europe generally surpassing Southern and Eastern Europe. However, these patterns align more closely when considering the macroeconomic context. The methodologies employed in the study may prove valuable for future research on the circular economy and its relation to macroeconomic influences.

A Flexible and Sustainable Analysis of Waste Efficiency at the European Level

AbstractThis paper analyses the waste management efficiency of European Union countries using a flexible nonparametric methodology known as directional data envelopment analysis (DEA). The study evaluates performance at the macro (country) level, considering waste generated as input, landfilled and incinerated waste as bad output and recycled waste as output. The analysis incorporates the heterogeneity and specificities of each country, with respect to social and economic sustainability, establishing specific and realistic targets for each country to achieve efficiency. The research introduces a flexible and innovative method for assessing waste management efficiency and provides new empirical evidence on European waste management, considering economic and social sustainability. The results reveal a significant disparity among European countries in both waste generation and waste recycling. Countries are categorised into five groups according to their level of efficiency, and Central European nations are observed to exhibit generally better performance. A pragmatic approach, based on clear collaboration among countries, could optimise the unique waste management characteristics of individual nations to enhance the overall efficiency of the European waste management system, contributing to a circular economy and sustainable development.

Process Modelling of Integrated Bioethanol and Biogas Production from Organic Municipal Waste

One of the key guidelines in the European waste management policy is the diversion of waste from landfills, preventing harmful effects on human health and the environment and ensuring that economically valuable waste materials are efficiently recycled and reused through proper management. The organic fraction of municipal waste is abundant and contains biodegradable ingredients such lignocellulose, starch, lipids, pectin, and proteins, making it suitable for biotechnological production. Taking into account that a large amount of organic waste is disposed of in landfills, within this work, the amount of organic waste disposed of in the landfill in Banja Luka was considered. Four simulation model scenarios of the integrated production of bioethanol and biogas are generated, and their process and economic aspects are discussed. In the first two modelled scenarios, the pretreatment conditions (1% sulfuric acid and a different neutralization agent) were varied, while in the other two, the share of the amount of raw material used for the production of bioethanol, i.e., biogas, was varied (split factor: 10–90%). The modelled plant, with a designed capacity of 6 tons/h of organic waste, is a significant bioethanol producer, generating 5,000,000 L/year. The profitability indicators, when examined, revealed that dedicating a portion of the organic municipal waste input exclusively to biogas production leads to decreased process efficiency. Based on the modeled process parameters, ethanol’s minimum feasible selling price is $0.6616 per liter, while regarding the composition of organic municipal waste, carbohydrates have the most significant impact on the viability of the process. The developed model represents an excellent basis for further development of this integrated bioprocess in such a way that it can be modified with new process parameters or economic or ecological indicators and used at all levels of bioprocess design. Additionally, the obtained sustainable integrated bioethanol and biogas production plant models could support forthcoming steps in municipal waste management by providing reliable data on the conditions under which the integrated process of bioethanol and biogas production would take place, as well as the technical feasibility and economic profitability of such organic municipal waste utilization.

Electrodialytic Separation of Heavy Metals from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash: Impact of Alternative Catholyte on Acid Dosing for System Control

Background and Purpose The incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a pivotal aspect of European waste management, particularly in Denmark, generating around 15 million tons of MSWI fly ashes annually, with nearly all of them ending up in limited landfill sites. From a resource perspective, these MSWI fly ashes are underutilised as a significant amount of critical raw materials and industrially valuable minerals, e.g., heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, Cd, etc.), nutrients, and rare earth elements contained in the ashes are lost during landfilling. Current landfilling practices for hazardous MSWI fly ashes are economically burdensome, ranging from 100 to 500 Euros per tonne. Future costs are anticipated to rise due to stricter EU landfill directives, increased disposal fees, waste taxes, and challenges in securing new landfill sites. Addressing these challenges requires the recovery or 'urban mining' of heavy metals from fly ash, transforming them into forms suitable for industrial use.Over the last two decades, the electrodialytic separation (EDS) process has shown great potential in the removal of heavy metals, rare earth metals, and nutrients from particulate materials, e.g., MSWI fly ashes. This technique involves the simultaneous extraction of ions from the ash in a suspension, which is gradually acidified during the process, and the separation of the ions through anion and cation exchange membranes under the influence of applied current. These membranes serve as separators for the electromigration of ions from the suspension to concentrate compartments containing electrolytes. During the EDS process, the pH of the highly alkaline MSWI FA is reduced because of the induced water-splitting effect that occurs when the limiting current of the anion exchange membrane is exceeded (i.e., 4H2O (aq) → 4H+ (aq) + O2(g) + 4e-). This innate acidification facilitates the desorption of metals from the ash matrix into the liquid medium of the suspension so that metallic ions can be electromigrated through membranes into the electrolytes. However, an unwanted but consequent water-splitting effect can occur at the cation exchange membrane [i.e., 4H2O (aq) + 4e-→ 2H2(g) + 4OH- (aq)], when the limiting current is exceeded here as well. To control and reduce the precipitation of the metals in the catholyte solution, there is a need to counteract OH- (aq) formation by dosing acid into the catholyte. This acid dosage requirement is a notable challenge yet often overlooked in the literature, as it affects the cost of running the EDS system. Hence, this study investigated and compared the use of pure nitric acid (HNO3) as an alternative catholyte solution to acidified sodium nitrate in a 3-compartment EDS cell (which has been used so far).The primary objective is to understand how the choice of catholyte solution influences the amount of acid dosage needed to control the pH of the catholyte under different currents and enhance the overall efficiency of the EDS process. Materials and methodology The fly ash sample was collected from the Amager Resource Centre (ARC) in Copenhagen. The fly ash was made up of ashes obtained from both the boiler and the electrostatic precipitator unit of the incineration plant. The EDS system was operated galvanostatically at 50 mA, 75 mA, 100 mA, and 125 mA for 14 days at an L/S ratio of 3.5 (distilled water). The metals under study were Cd, Co, Cu, and Zn. Results and Conclusion After 14 days of the EDS process, the amount of acid dosed to control the pH of the catholyte reduced considerably (4–8%) when 0.01 M HNO3 was used as compared to the reference (acidified 0.01 M NaNO3) for each current employed. Comparatively, at each current, the experiments that employed HNO3 as the catholyte recorded somewhat similar removal rates (i.e., the amount of the ions that were extracted in solution and simultaneously separated through the ion exchange membranes) of individual metals with the experimental studies that employed acidified NaNO3 as the catholyte. Overall, the removal of the metals increased considerably with currents for both catholyte solutions, with the highest recorded at 94-100% for Cd, 90-93% for Cu, 77-80% for Zn, and 69-100% for Co. The elemental distribution at the end of the EDS experimental demonstrations showed that Cu2+ , Cd2+, Zn2+, and Co2+ were mostly transported to the cathode end of the EDS system, with Cd2+ recording the highest transported metal species (90%). Based on these initial findings, pure HNO3 as a catholyte demonstrated a potential means of minimizing the amount of chemicals used to control the pH while maintaining the removal efficiency of the respective metals at each current used.

SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC INDICATORS

The main objective of the article is to study the anthropogenic impact on the state of environmental quality by using ecological and economic indicators to further determining the level of necessary environmental protection actions. A systematic analysis of the indicators that identify the dynamics of changes in environmental quality in the current conditions of transformation of the European economy under the globalisation processes is carried out. It is determined that the sustainability of modern production depends on the efficiency of resource use, which provides economic growth and prevents increased pressure on the environment. It is proved that the rate of carbon dioxide emissions in highly developed countries is constantly decreasing, which is associated with the flexible environmental policy and transformation of the energy sector. It is established that in order to achieve the status of a climate-neutral country, Ukraine needs to use a modern system for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, optimise the СО2 tax and implement a more intensive decarbonisation policy. When introducing organic farming mechanisms, it is necessary to take into consideration the effect of all exogenous and endogenous factors and the potential benefits of using inorganic fertilisers in the short term. The level of phosphate pollution of rivers in European countries and their influence on water quality are determined, and effective mechanisms for reducing this harmful effect are proposed. The reasons that cause eutrophication of water bodies, the consequences of its influence on the state of water and living organisms are investigated, and the areas of marine areas with eutrophic waters are established. The influence of the energy factor on the state of environmental quality is determined by analysing the indicator of final energy consumption by households per capita in oil equivalent. The efficiency of the European waste management policy is analysed and the level of waste packaging recycling in the Scandinavian countries is determined. The algorithm for calculating the gross value added of the environmental goods and services sector and its place in the GDP structure is identified. It is recommended that Ukraine implement the experience of the EU countries in fundamental approaches to resource conservation and sustainable development.

Management of textile waste in Europe: An environmental and a socio-economic assessment of current and future scenarios

Textile production and consumption continues to grow, and yet textile waste management in Europe remains suboptimal. This study assesses and compares the life cycle impacts of managing selected textile waste fractions via selected technologies, under current and future framework conditions. The study combines environmental and socio-economic analyses with data input from stakeholder consultation within the European Union. Preparing for reuse is the most beneficial management pathway from both an environmental and a socio-economic perspective. Overall, mechanical recycling is the second-most preferred pathway for most environmental impact categories. However, for recycling pathways to be economically competitive against incineration, either CO2 prices will have to increase, or technology and processing costs will have to decrease. The uncertainty analysis identified critical parameters, such as substitution factors and yields of most desirable products from the recycling processes. The results offer a detailed basis for prioritising technology pathways for future textile waste management in Europe.

Battery Waste Management in Europe: Black Mass Hazardousness and Recycling Strategies in the Light of an Evolving Competitive Regulation

The increasing significance of batteries in the 21st century and the challenges posed by the anticipated surge in end-of-life batteries, particularly within the European context, are examined in this study. Forecasts predict a notable escalation in battery waste, necessitating a focus on the recycling of black mass (BM)—a complex and hazardous byproduct of the battery recycling process. Employing systematic analysis, this research investigates the hazardous nature of BM derived from various battery types. The study underscores the urgent need for definitive legislative classification of BM’s hazardous properties (HPs), in accordance with European regulations. This comprehensive examination of BM’s HPs contributes significantly to the understanding of BM recycling complexities, proving essential for industry stakeholders and guiding future developments in this field. Additionally, the study explores innovative technologies and strategies that could improve recycling efficiency and reduce associated risks. A pivotal finding of this investigation is the inherently hazardous nature of BM, leading to the recommendation that BM should be classified at a minimum under the “HP3—Flammable” category. This discovery underscores the critical need for stringent management protocols and robust regulatory frameworks to address the burgeoning challenge of battery waste in Europe.

Моніторинг та управління побутовими відходами у селищі Нова Прага: від несанкціонованих сміттєзвалищ до сучасних рішень

This publication addresses the problematic issues of unauthorized landfills, monitoring, and management of household waste using the example of the village of Nova Praha (Kirovohrad region), which is relevant and timely in the context of Ukraine's European integration and the implementation of the European waste management model. The object of this study is the unauthorized landfills in the village of Nova Praha, while the subject is the features of their location and the spatial planning aspects of handling, monitoring, and management. During the implementation of this study, a set of empirical (mapping, comparative analysis) and theoretical (synthesis, Annotationion) methods were applied. As a result of the monitoring conducted for subsequent mapping purposes, 9 household waste landfills and 6 construction waste landfills were identified within the relatively small area (50 km²) of the village. Their negative impact on the environment was established, and numerous violations of environmental legislation were detected. To address the suboptimal handling of household waste based on current legislative requirements, specific recommendations were developed for local authorities regarding the elimination of identified unauthorized landfills, the reclamation of disturbed lands, and the prevention of new ones. The practical significance of the developed recommendations lies in their potential use by local authorities to optimize the household waste management system in the interest of the sustainable development of the territorial community.

A model to assess the environmental and economic impacts of municipal waste management in Europe

The Monitoring Framework proposed in the EU27 New Circular Economy Action Plan comprises two mass-based indicators, namely overall recycling rate and recycling rate for specific waste streams. Yet, to monitor and assess the impacts of circular economy, indicators cannot be limited to mass-based indicators; we argue assessments should also include environmental and economic effects. Towards this end, these impacts can be quantified by an advanced model based on life cycle thinking, entailing the use of life cycle assessment and costing (LCA/LCC). Calculating these effects for municipal waste management is challenging due to gaps in available data for estimating generated waste. We propose a methodology to estimate more finely the amounts of waste generated in the Member States, complemented with LCA/LCC. The results highlight that important inconsistencies in municipal waste data reporting exist and that recycling rates calculated from these are lower than hitherto estimated. The impacts quantification shows great performance variation across EU27, with C-footprint ranging from −490 to 539 kg CO2-eq. t−1. Potentials for improvement are substantial and can bring up to 103 Mt CO2-eq. additional annual saving, reducing costs (calculated as Full Environmental LCC) of waste management by 8.4 billion EUR and bringing 206,100 new jobs in the sector. The approach presented highlights the rationale for improved data management on waste statistics and the potential for harmonised models. It also paves the way for more sophisticated impact analyses relevant for policymaking, by bringing a richer perspective to the environmental and economic impacts of waste management on top of tracking generated, collected and recycled waste flows.

Tools for the Involvement of Construction and Demolition Waste in the Repeated Production Cycle

Purpose. This paper aims to analyze and classify construction and demolition waste. It is necessary that this classification not only reflects statistical data on waste generation, but also serves as an information basis for the integrated waste management system (IWMS). The main task of this system is to maximize the involvement of waste in economic recycling and to objectively reflect the technological capabilities of its processing. This is extremely important in the context of the implementation of European waste management principles and the implementation of the National Waste Management Strategy in Ukraine until 2030. Methodology. The article considers the problems of construction waste management within the framework of the National Waste Management Strategy in Ukraine until 2030, which provides for the implementation of measures and principles of waste management, including construction waste. The author analyzes the management problems in the field of construction and demolition waste, which substantiates the need to classify construction waste with the simultaneous harmonization of processing methods and technologies. Construction activities are inextricably linked to the management of various types of resources, among which secondary materials play a key role in the implementation of construction processes. The ability to effectively manage the flows of these secondary resources is critical to ensuring the sustainability and efficiency of construction production. In this context, the study of the importance of managing the flows of secondary resources becomes an integral part of strategies for optimizing construction processes. Findings. Construction waste from the demolition of buildings and structures is unique due to its size and the need to prepare it for primary crushing. This is especially true in the context of implementing the concept of renovation of the outdated housing stock. Various static and dynamic methods of destruction of building materials, in particular, impact and vibration, have been investigated, with dynamic methods being characterized by lower energy consumption. Originality. The work reflects the formation of theoretical and methodological directions based on the use of recycled materials in construction, as well as a comparative characterization of various methods of destruction of building materials. Practical value. The possibilities of recycling construction waste, in particular, their maximum involvement in recycling, which meets the goals of the Strategy of Ukraine, provides 50% of waste recycling.

On the role of system integration in plastic waste management

The management of plastic waste is a growing concern that can harm wildlife and ecosystems, and its end-of-life policies are key to mitigating plastic environmental impact. This work presents a decision-making methodology for the thermal and material valorization of plastic waste, coupling a supply chain model with multi-objective optimization and data analytics. It highlights the challenges and vulnerabilities of plastic waste management, the importance of system integration and holistic analysis, as well as the potential for carbon capture to reduce emissions. Our results suggest that efficient incineration, coupled with simplified waste logistics, can compete with existing mechanical recycling strategies in terms of emissions and costs. This study provides insights into municipal, regional, and European waste management, with the potential for a common EU platform and savings of 210 Mton of CO2 by harvesting benefits from plastic recycling and incineration with carbon capture.

Sustainability pathways in European waste management for meeting circular economy goals

This study explores trends in recycling rates and municipal solid waste landfilling to construct a circularity index (CI) forecasted up to 2035. This projection is contrasted with the pathways that countries must adopt to attain set targets. We further estimate the impact of the CI on factors such as sustainability performance, innovation, commodity trade balance, and waste reduction. Moreover, we provide policy implications useful for designing industrial and environmental strategies, including accelerating permit approval times for waste treatment facilities, introducing more flexibility in state aid rules, empowering service users or waste generators, implementing tax credits, and leveraging specialized funds. These strategies are aimed at supporting the recycling industry to stimulate convergence and achieve circular economy objectives.

Neptune versus canister-based surgical waste management in Europe: results of the GREEN study.

Ineffective surgical fluid waste management in operating rooms (OR) creates a significant environmental burden, reduces OR efficiency, and adds physical challenges for surgical staff. There is a need for waste management systems that improve OR efficiency, safety, and sustainability. The GREEN study (Greening operating Rooms in EuropE comparing Neptune vs. canisters) was conducted to compare the impact of two fluid waste management systems. This 2-arm, nonrandomized, prospective service evaluation of fluid waste extraction was conducted using observational time series and surveys. Fluid waste-related data were collected from routine urologic and orthopedic surgeries across three European hospital sites. The primary endpoint of waste disposal impact was the volume of treated waste after surgery (kilograms) using Stryker's Neptune device (n=43) or canisters (n=41). The authors hypothesized that the surgical waste volume related to Neptune is less than the waste volume related to canisters. Secondary endpoints included time efficiency, user satisfaction, and staff ergonomics. The total weight of device-related treated waste products was reduced by 98.5% when using Neptune (0.2±0.7kg) compared with traditional canisters (13.2±16.6kg; P<0.001). Decreased waste weight also translated to enhanced ergonomic safety for surgical staff, as Neptune reduced surgical fluid weight handled by staff by an average of 34kg per procedure, a 96% reduction compared to canisters. Furthermore, the use of the Neptune system improved OR efficiency by reducing the number of staff required to manage the fluid suction device (P<0.001) and the time spent disposing of fluid waste (P<0.001). Stryker's Neptune waste management system significantly reduces the volume of treated waste per surgery and improves OR efficiency, staff safety, and user satisfaction over the traditional canister system. This is a more eco-responsible approach to OR fluid waste management and could be considered in any healthcare establishment that generates fluid waste.

RECOVERY AND UTILISATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE INCINERATION BOTTOM ASH: IMPLICATIONS FOR EUROPEAN WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Over the last two decades, the stated intent of European waste management strategy has evolved from a specific focus on landfill diversion to enabling the transition to a circular economy.. Widespread introduction of source-segregation alongside deployment of material recovery technologies have improved MSW management practices across Europe. However, with diminishing returns it has become more difficult to achieve further landfill diversion through increased recycling alone, and incineration rates (across the EU-27 as a whole) have continued to increase. The advantages of incineration include the ability to harness the energy content of the waste alongside a sizeable reduction in mass and volume. However, the remaining solid residues, the most substantial being incinerator bottom ash, present a management issue. Exploring the role of incineration and the utilisation of incineration bottom ash, this paper highlights the potential risks of lock-in in the context of evolving waste policy. A simple thought experiment suggests that while increased use of incineration may help member states achieve 2035 landfill diversion targets, it would also carry a substantive risk of placing the 2035 recycling target out of reach. To address this, a long-term vision concerning the future of incineration is required, where it is recommended that policy which focuses on landfill diversion and the recycling of residual wastes should be strengthened through mechanisms that gradually phase out incineration and distinguish between open and closed-loop recycling.

Microbial Enzyme Biotechnology to Reach Plastic Waste Circularity: Current Status, Problems and Perspectives.

The accumulation of synthetic plastic waste in the environment has become a global concern. Microbial enzymes (purified or as whole-cell biocatalysts) represent emerging biotechnological tools for waste circularity; they can depolymerize materials into reusable building blocks, but their contribution must be considered within the context of present waste management practices. This review reports on the prospective of biotechnological tools for plastic bio-recycling within the framework of plastic waste management in Europe. Available biotechnology tools can support polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling. However, PET represents only ≈7% of unrecycled plastic waste. Polyurethanes, the principal unrecycled waste fraction, together with other thermosets and more recalcitrant thermoplastics (e.g., polyolefins) are the next plausible target for enzyme-based depolymerization, even if this process is currently effective only on ideal polyester-based polymers. To extend the contribution of biotechnology to plastic circularity, optimization of collection and sorting systems should be considered to feed chemoenzymatic technologies for the treatment of more recalcitrant and mixed polymers. In addition, new bio-based technologies with a lower environmental impact in comparison with the present approaches should be developed to depolymerize (available or new) plastic materials, that should be designed for the required durability and for being susceptible to the action of enzymes.

Challenges and Strategies for Bio-Based and Biodegradable Plastic Waste Management in Europe

In recent years, an increasing trend towards replacement of conventional fossil-based plastics with bio-based plastics was noticed, i.e., production of plastics partly or fully made from biomass is rapidly expanding. Currently, bio-based and biodegradable plastics have a very small market size, approximately only 1% of all plastics produced. However, the forecast of the global bioplastics production capacities predicts an increase from approximately 2.417 million tonnes in 2021 to approximately 7.593 million tonnes in 2026, more than three times the current capacity. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the challenges and identify the barriers for bio-based and biodegradable plastics for waste management and to evaluate the effectiveness of current plastic waste management strategies for the efficient waste management of bio-based and biodegradable plastics. The main barriers and motivators of the biodegradable and biodegradable plastics market that have been identified include macroeconomic factors, regulatory factors, technological factors, and social factors. The bio-based and biodegradable plastics have to be separately collected and treated under mostly controlled, regulated conditions. However, currently, there are no legal provisions providing for the separate collection of bio-based plastics, leading to their disposal with either hazardous waste, conventional plastics, or municipal waste. Since the effective plastic waste management strategy relates to good performance in each step of the waste management process, bio-based and biodegradable plastic waste management could, therefore, be based on an effective strategy for the management of plastic waste. However, there is a need for standardizing waste collection systems and creating a harmonized waste collection infrastructure, which would lead to effective sorting of bio-based plastic waste.

Quantifying textile streams and recycling prospects in Europe by material flow analysis

Textiles represent the fourth highest pressure commodity on a global scale and cause significant environmental, climate and social impacts under resources and waste perspectives. Considering the environmental burdens associated with resources limitations and waste management, the Waste Framework Directive approved by the European Parliament in 2018 has obliged the Member States to collect textiles separately by 2025, supporting circular strategies and environmental sustainability. As to tackle the linear economy model (take-make-waste), the present research applies the material flow analysis to estimate textile waste streams in Europe and to simulate two short-term prospective End-of-Life scenarios. Further, the research calculates the energy and the CO2eq emissions flows according to textiles recycling, incineration with energy recovery or landfilling. As a result, separate collection should be considered as one of the most important pathways to: (a) reduce textile waste streams destined to incineration or landfilling; (b) reduce virgin fibers supplying from the environment; (c) reduce CO2eq emissions associated with the EoL pathways, such as incineration or landfilling. The research contributes to the scarce empirical studies about textile waste management in Europe, providing theoretical and public authorities' recommendations towards sustainable development.

Synoptic Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination from Landfills

Waste management in Europe has improved in recent years, reducing the amount of waste disposed at landfills. However, there are still many landfills in the countries. It is well known that landfills that do not have measures in place to control leachate entering groundwater can contaminate groundwater long after the landfill is closed. Collecting monitoring results from all landfills allows permitting and management agencies to improve action plans. This relies on a synoptic risk assessment that allows prioritization and milestones to be set for required actions. The developed method of synoptic risk assessment is based on a conceptual model of the landfill and the results of chemical groundwater monitoring tested at 69 landfills in Slovenia. The study confirms that most landfills have a direct or indirect impact on groundwater quality. All landfills were classified into three priority classes on the basis of the synoptic risk assessment. The results show that a total of 24 landfills have a clearly pronounced impact on groundwater. A total of 31 landfills have a less pronounced impact due to the favorable natural attenuation capacity of the soil or the technically appropriate design of the landfill itself. A total of 14 landfills have a less pronounced or negligible impact on groundwater.

Wood Waste Management in Europe through the Lens of the Circular Bioeconomy

Over 30% of the world’s land area is covered by forests. Approximately 761 million m3 of wood is harvested annually in Europe (2017). The aim of the paper is to assess the amount of wood (biomass) produced in Europe per year, as it determines the amount of carbon dioxide released from wood because of combustion for heating and energy purposes. The circular bioeconomy was applied as the theoretical framework for this study. The study employs official statistics on material flows and also uses a technology assessment, which allows for more precise estimations. It can be estimated that 110 million tons of harvested woody biomass are converted into energy every year. This constitutes nearly 69% of processed wood, with burned wood treated as zero-emission. From the analysis of the compiled results, it can be concluded that, in Europe, more than 50% of the mass of raw wood material harvested per year is used for energy in the first stage of processing by manufacturing industries. These processes produce products that become the raw material for further processing, as a result of which, further amounts of wood biomass are used for energy purposes.

Development of a strategy for managing medical waste management in the Russian Federation

The problem of waste in the world is almost the most urgent and painful, we constantly see overflowing garbage cans, mountains and rivers of garbage, etc. on the Internet and on the streets. The era of the COVID-19 pandemic brought into our lives the understanding that there is a problem not only with the disposal of household and industrial waste, but also the problem of the disposal of medical waste and, in general, the sphere of handling this waste has become no less important and popular. The article presents an analysis of the experience with medical waste in foreign countries, as well as in the Russian Federation. The approaches in the field of medical waste management in Europe, the USA, and Africa are analyzed. The state of scientific research in Russia is analyzed, and a comparative analysis of the World Health Organization and Russia guidance document is carried out. The problems of legal regulation and regulation of medical waste and its place in the legal system are considered. Medical waste occupies a special place in our country, due to the specificity of the sphere of handling this waste, a large number of issues arise in practice, which are difficult to solve in the daily work of both medical institutions and waste disposal companies. The study identified negative and positive trends in the waste management system in Russia and developed a strategy (basic principles) to improve the functioning of the medical waste management system in our country, taking into account current legislation.