Waste Handling Research Articles

Utilization of biomass wastes: coconut and Pangium edule shells as activated carbon for energy storage device material

In this research, activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from biomass wastes of coconut and Pangium edule shells and utilized as a material for electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLC), which are eco-friendly energy storage devices. This research was intended to bridge the need for greenhouse gas-free energy storage device and the handling of abundant biomass wastes. These efforts would undoubtedly contribute to mitigating climate change. To begin the research, the coconut and Pangium edule shells underwent carbonization at varying temperatures of 600°C and 700°C for 2 hours. Subsequently, they were subjected to chemical activation using KOH and physical activation at varying temperatures of 110°C and 600°C. Some characterization techniques, including SEM, XRD, TGA/DSC, BET, Iodine number, and proximate analysis, were employed to analyze the materials. The capacitive properties of EDLC electrodes were assessed through cyclic voltammetry (CV). After carbonization at 700°C and subsequent physical activation at 600°C, the coconut and Pangium edule shells exhibited the highest active surface area of 548.542 m2g-1 and 333.4 m2g-1, respectively. Notably, the EDLC demonstrated a maximum specific capacitance of 364.5 Fg-1 at 2 mVs-1 scan rate. These findings indicate the viability of utilizing AC from biomass waste as a promising material for EDLC applications.

Microbial Approaches for the Plastic Bioremediation and Ecofriendly Environmental Sustainability

The world’s first “infinite” plastic waste is a major issue existing in both developed and developing countries. Synthetic plastics are correlated to the current lifestyle in packing of food, detergents, cosmetics, plastic bottles, sanitary wares, household utensils, artificial leather and pharmaceutical products. These synthetic plastics include polyurethane, polystyrene, polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, high-density polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate in the descending order of recycling codes. Extensive use of these synthetic polymer materials paves way for accumulation in the ecosystem. Improper handling of this plastic wastes by traditional disposal methods like landfill and incineration in open fields leads to the release of toxic chemicals in the environment. The recent advancement in the degradation of synthetic plastics is concentrated on the use of microorganisms and their enzymes as biological treatment. The interaction between microbes and the plastic polymer is needed to understand for quenching the thirst for microbial bioremediation approach to overcome plastic pollution. However, knowledge of scientific evidence for plastic degradation by microbes is paucity. This review highlighted insight gist about the effective microbial technology applied in bioremediation techniques like in situ and ex situ strategies. Further exploration of the vast diversity of plastic-eating microorganisms and their enzymes involved in the mechanism results in a valuable end product. This literature represents the green route to the bio-recycling of harmful plastic material from the ecosystem.

Examination of the Practice for Protection against Landfill Fires

The scientific examination of residential waste management has become an increasingly important scientific problem nowadays. Waste disposal and incineration are the most important elements of the modern waste management system. The handling, disposal and burning of residential wastes have significant fire safety risks. In this article, the authors examine the fire protection characteristics of landfills, the legal background of their operation, the causes and circumstances of the individual fires that have occurred, the measures to increase the efficiency, as well as the technical and technological possibilities of fire safety operations.

ОЦІНКА ЕКОСИСТЕМНИХ ПОСЛУГ МІСТА ЧЕРНІГОВА З ПОЧАТКОМ ПОВНОМАСШТАБНОГО ВТОРГНЕННЯ РОСІЇ НА ТЕРИТОРІЮ УКРАЇНИ

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to analyze the ecosystem services of the city of Chernihiv after the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation and to assess the consequences of military actions for the urban space and ecosystem. Methodology. During the writing of the article, the method of analysis and synthesis, analytical, systematic and graphic were used. The informational basis of the study is the scientific work of Ukrainian and foreign scientists, as well as the authors' own observations and memories related to the first days of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the damage that was caused to the environment. Results. The impact of military operations on the disruption of ecosystem elements has been studied. Using the example of the city of Chernihiv, the importance of component ecosystem services and the need to preserve them to ensure the balanced development of the city's territory and improve the quality of life of the population is revealed. The main changes and consequences of the Russian aggression, which affected the state of atmospheric air, river systems, soils, and forest areas, are outlined. One of the main environmental problems of the city is analyzed - the accumulation of garbage and the handling of solid household waste. The ecological potential as a vector of the work of the new City Development Concept, which began to be developed immediately after the end of active hostilities in Chernihiv, was considered. Scientific novelty. Chernihiv is one of the largest cities in the north of Ukraine, which Russian troops have been trying to capture since February 24, 2022. Occupying a convenient geographical position determined by the proximity to the capital of the country, it is of strategic importance for the state. In addition, Chernihiv has unique historical-cultural and natural-recreational resources that require protection and appropriate treatment on the part of the population. Russian aggression caused the destruction not only of infrastructure facilities, enterprises, and houses, but also caused damage to the environment, which in some places has catastrophic consequences. Thus, the study of the elements of the ecosystem, the study of the city's ecological problems, and the receipt of ecosystem services require additional attention from scientists, especially after active hostilities. Practical significance. The practical significance of the article is determined by the possibility of using the research results during educational activities to increase the level of environmental culture and education of the population.

Simultaneous upcycling of PET plastic waste and CO2 reduction through Co-electrolysis: a novel approach for integrating CO2 reduction and PET hydrolysate oxidation

The paper reports on the concurrent electrochemical generation of formate through CO2 reduction (cathode) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) hydrolysate oxidation (anode).

Circular Economy Solutions: Converting Common Waste into Useful Products for a Sustainable Future

We currently live in a world where the depletion of resources is beyond our control. The demand for achieving sustainable development, both financially and ecologically, is communicated effectively and unambiguously. As a result, current and future generations must guarantee that all resources are maintained, fully utilized, and responsibly managed. Waste generation has always been a component of humanity’s quest for progress, whether in social or economic activity. The general meaning of “waste” is useless or in other words futile but nowadays waste is useful to create wealth and employment also but in the present scenario handling and treatment of “waste” is a big challenge. There is a lot of technology around us which solves the handling and treatment of waste as well as these methods creates wealth also. Plastics have become an integral and unmistakable part of our daily lives. Because of its high tensile strength, durability, lightweight, high elasticity, resistance to corrosion, and ease of transport, plastic is used to make a wide range of products, including carry bags, pet bottles, pouches, electric switches, computer accessories, automobile accessories, and many more. The present chapter deals with trending topics of waste-to-wealth conversion like plastic waste to granular for use in the construction of roads, municipal waste to methane production, and use energy as a side product in thermal power plants, biomass to biodiesel. The chapter also deals with a very important aspect of carbon dioxide storage and utilization which is the conversion of CO2 to useful Chemicals.

Characteristics of Solid Waste Generated and their Storage Facilities in Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria

In recent years, managing solid waste has become one of Nigeria’s biggest problems, especially in metropolitan and semi-urban areas. The problem of waste generation, handling and disposal has reached a disturbing level in Nigerian urban centers. The study analyzed solid waste management practices in Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria. These were achieved through characterizing the types of solid wastes generated and ascertain the solid waste storage facilities of the study area. The majority of the information used in this study came from the distribution of a questionnaire, with additional information coming from oral interviews, direct field observations, and photographs of the subject area. Tables of frequencies and percentages were used to provide answers to the study questions. Tests of the relationship’s Pearson product moment correlation coefficient were conducted. The findings demonstrated that the majority of the solid waste generated in the study area was organic waste (53%). The storage facilities in the study area were dustbins, poly bags, refuse carts, and nearby refuse heaps. The Pearson product moment correlation coefficient analysis showed strong and significant differences between the solid wastes generated and sold waste storage facilities in the study area, with an alpha value of 0.05. The findings of this study showed that the characteristics of the solid waste generated are not in line with the storage facilities. This implies that not much attention has been given to solid waste management in the study area. The study also recommends public awareness to promote waste management practices; more government approved waste collection centers, awareness campaign on waste reduce, reuse, recycle and waste separation method in the study area.

Treatment Option Selection for Medical Waste Management under Neutrosophic sets

Due to the possible threat, it poses to human health and the ecosystem, healthcare waste (HCW) handling and disposal are of major concern, especially in poor nations. Many countries are now turning to technology innovations as viable waste management solutions. Nevertheless, is still difficult for governments to choose an appropriate technology and an efficient waste management technique for the disposal of HCW. The difficulty of estimating these numbers inaccurately is addressed by using a neutrosophic set. The best alternative to HCW is hard to choose, and the process of doing so may be thought of as a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) issue. In this study, we propose a neutrosophic TOPSIS approach for assessing potential HCW alternatives. The weights of the requirements are calculated TOPSIS method. The best HCW alternative is assessed using the suggested approach.

Requirements for human mesenchymal stem cell‐derived small extracellular vesicles

Abstract“Requirements for human mesenchymal stem cell‐derived small extracellular vesicles” is the first set of guidelines on human mesenchymal stem cell‐derived small extracellular vesicles (hMSC‐sEVs) in China, jointly drafted and agreed upon by experts from the Chinese Society for Extracellular Vesicles. It was released by the Chinese Research Hospital Association on 28 December 2021 and came into effect on 1 January 2022. This standard specifies the technical requirements, test methods and regulations, packaging, instructions for use, labeling, storage, transportation, and waste handling for hMSC‐sEVs, which apply to the production and quality control of hMSC‐sEVs. We hope that the publication of these guidelines will promote consensus on the research and application of human mesenchymal stem cell‐derived small extracellular vesicles and accelerate its international standardization.

Can Industry 5.0 be seen as a remedy for the problem of waste in industrial companies?

Digitization, computerization, robotization and automation are setting new directions for the development of industrial companies. Modern digital technologies are shaping the framework of a new industrial era which is characterized not only by merging of material and digital resources, but above all by focus on human needs and interests. Undoubtedly, a very important need of modern societies is to function in a clean, unpolluted environment. The article addresses the problem of waste generated in industrial enterprises in the context of Industry 5.0. Due to the fact that Industry 5.0 is clearly oriented toward sustainability and environmental protection, the article presents opportunities for using Industry 5.0 tools to reduce the level of waste in industrial companies. In addition, the article highlights the environmental aspect in defining Industry 5.0, describes trends in industrial waste levels and waste handling methods in the European Union, and, most importantly, shows how Industry 5.0 can contribute to reduction of waste. The goal of the article was therefore to identify opportunities to reduce waste levels using Industry 5.0 solutions.

Robot-assisted automated sorting techniques for plastic recycling

This report discusses the current state of the art of robot-assisted sorting and separation systems in waste processing for the recovery of recyclable materials. The sorting methods addressed here are limited to the waste disposed of by households and include the sorting of pre-sorted municipal waste, e. g. plastic sorting. The focus is on the challenges of proven material recovery facilities and why manual sorting is still a necessity for efficient waste sorting. Solutions are sought to eliminate the employment of humans partially or completely for waste sorting. Suitable gripping components are to be found since one of the biggest challenges in waste sorting is gripping objects with different shapes, sizes, weights, positions, and materials. Not only existing techniques in the waste industry are addressed, but a broad spectrum is searched for possible universal grippers. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art robotic systems in the waste industry and presents different types of grippers that can lead to a possible solution to the described challenge. Through an evaluation system, the presented grippers were compared, revealing that the combination of individual gripping mechanisms is promising for waste handling. Furthermore, it was found that sufficient degrees of freedom in the wrist area of a robotic arm can facilitate better gripping quality.

Challenges Faced in Biomedical Waste Management by Waste Handlers amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) saw an overhaul in the biomedical waste management (BMWM) practices. Waste handlers were at the brunt of these changes. If the challenges pertaining to BMWM at the ground level are better understood, more effective measures to overcome them can be formulated. Objectives: 1. To identify myths and concerns regarding BMWM in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. 2. To explore the challenges faced in BMWM amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 3.To explore opportunities and future perspectives of BMWM. Method: In-depth interviews were conducted among 17 purposively selected Class IV health care workers during August to November 2021 in a tertiary care institute in Mumbai. Data was reported using thematic analysis. Results: Three major themes - challenges and concerns faced by BMW handlers, enablers/ motivators, opportunities and future practices were generated from the transcripts. Various challenges faced by waste handlers were- difficulties in segregation and transport of BMW, exhaustion from PPE usage and fear of acquiring and spreading COVID-19 from work, stigma faced from public, and handling COVID-19 deaths. Support from family and colleagues, incentives and a positive change in public perception enabled them to work. Forming redressal committees, addressing job security concerns and timely provision of good quality equipment can improve hospital waste management measures in the future. Conclusion: It is of utmost importance to address challenges faced by waste handlers in BMWM. Onus should also be on periodic training in BMW

A study of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding biomedical waste management among health care providers in a tertiary care Institute in Punjab

The biomedical waste, if not properly managed, can harm the surrounding environment, cause various infections and injuries to the healthcare workers, patients, their attendants. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices among different cadres of health care providers in a tertiary care institute. Expecting that 50% of the study population had precise knowledge about the rules and legislation of biomedical waste management, with an allowable error of 10%, at 95% confidence interval, and accounting for the finite population correction for 1700 participants, a minimum sample size of 426 was taken. Data analysis was done by using Microsoft excel and SPSS. Results: Out of 426 subjects, 138 (32.4%) were nurses, 35 (8.2%) were lab technicians and 253 (59.4%) were housekeeping staff. Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding biomedical waste management and handling were significantly (p<0.05) higher among the nurses as compared to other health care providers. Conclusions: Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding the collection, segregation, rules, and disposal of biomedical waste management was more among nursing staff compared to other health care workers. Hence, emphasis on adequate training is required among other health care workers for the safe handling and disposal of biomedical waste management.

Waste Management in Cities of India Need Introduction of Modular Concept for Sustainable Solutions

Waste Management in major cities in India is generally a grey area that needs proper attention. The rapid growth in population in cities caused due to mass influx of rural population in search of employment and better living and also the fast changing living standard in various strata of society are some of the major factors which are rendering even a properly planned scheme to a stage of inadequacy in a very short span of time. A scheme on waste management by the time it is physically implemented on ground is found to become under capacity, facing deficiencies all over places.Whether it is solid waste management or Waste Water Management, the issue of under design and need of augmentation is a common problem being faced on the ground. In such situations of rapid expanding dimensions of problems, introduction of Modular Concept in design of schemes can be more effective and convenient in design, implementation, and subsequent augmentations in phases.Solid waste management which is basically on the principle of 6 R i.e., Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Re-gift, and Recover, can be planned and designed on a modular basis for a population of 5000 to 10,000 and earmarking a zone of 100,000 sq. ft. as Solid Waste Area having various facilities for composting, incineration, plastic shredding facility, metal segregation cells, cell for electronic waste, and everything at a place to function in an organized manner. Such operations can be handled by RWAs collectively with necessary aids from municipal authorities and the government. Such modular units of waste handling can serve as a tool for local employment.The Modular Concept similarly can also be well applied to Waste Water Management for handling liquid waste from colonies of population of 5000 to 10,000. There are various methodologies for waste water treatments and waste water recycling depending on the nature of the waste, but out of the lot, use of RBC (Rotating Bio Contactors) is more appropriate for small/medium capacity which can be conveniently subjected to phase wise augmentation by adding additional modules time to time.The present concept for aggregating the waste and handling it to transport the entire waste, be it the solid waste or the liquid waste to a far corner of city area for purpose of centralised handling/treatment and disposal. This concept of centralised handling of large mass needs a re-look in the present scenario.

The Design of the IoT-based Smart Bin System

Waste management is one of the major problems facing the world today. The trash spillover from garbage/trash/dust bins and the waste handling facilities creates unnecessary waste that needs to be managed. For example, in certain areas, trash spillover generates pollution as well as various hazardous situations. In this regard, unmanaged trash may be the root cause of spreading various diseases as well as creating huge waste management and health issues. To overcome the challenges, as well as maintain public health and cleanliness, this paper proposes the design of an Internet-of-Things (IoTs) based garbage monitoring system that measures the level of garbage in the bins and alerts the relevant stakeholders. It uses an ultrasonic sensor, load sensor, Arduino board, GPS Module, buzzer, and a motor and trash bin (with lid) to design the system. A sensor network was used to collect the levels in the trash bins and remotely trigger the required controls using IoTs. An ultrasonic sensor is interfaced with an Arduino board to check the level of trash and display the data on a dashboard. The administrator will then execute the required notification and dispatch authorized action. In this regard, waste management will be efficient, and overspill managed.

Collaborative Governance Process in Supporting Smart Living in Pekanbaru City

This research is motivated by the background of waste management in the city of Pekanbaru, where waste handling has not been optimally carried out. The waste problem can have an impact on social, economic, health and environmental aspects and even cause the greenhouse effect which is the cause of climate change. This condition is exacerbated by the government's inability to provide environmental management facilities, low awareness and participation of the community, involvement of the private sector, human resource issues, budget and compliance with regulations. Overcoming this, the Collaborative Governance process is carried out in creating a clean environment, this is a form of one of the pillars of the smart city of Pekanbaru City, namely smart living. The purpose of this research is to find out the process of collaborative governance in supporting smart living in the city of Pekanbaru. This study uses qualitative methods with data collection techniques in this study based on the results of interviews, observations, and documentation. While the data analysis technique consists of several stages, namely data transcription, categorization, verification, as well as interpretation and description. This research was conducted at the Pekanbaru City Environment and Sanitation Service and PT. PJB Ubjom Tenayanraya, Pekanbaru. The results of this study indicate that the collaborative governance process carried out is quite well implemented in an effort to handle waste management in Pekanbaru City based on the collaboration process cycle according to Ansel and Gash called face to face dialogue, building trust, building commitment, sharing understanding, and intermediate outcomes.

Assessment of Healthcare Waste Management Strategies in Selected Hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria

Improper healthcare waste management practices, capable of contributing to poor human health and negative environmental impacts, inundate Abuja hospitals. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess risk perceptions and awareness among healthcare workers handling hospital waste in Abuja, Nigeria. In this study, mixed methods design of quantitative approach using cross-sectional study and qualitative approach using descriptive case study were applied to explore the risk perceptions and awareness of healthcare waste handlers within the four selected (two public and two private) hospitals in Abuja. Coding and analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data helped in triangulation, which improved the quality of work. Major trends found through investigations, include that: most Abuja hospitals were fraught with poor healthcare waste management practices; healthcare waste attendants handling hospital waste in Abuja seldom appreciate the danger involved; there exists risky exposures of hospital waste to human health; coupled with negative environmental impacts. Summary of interpretation for the study points at improper healthcare waste management practices. Keywords: Environmental impacts, Healthcare waste management, Healthcare workers, Human health, planned behaviour theory, Risk perception, social care, Waste Management Theory.

Conversion of food waste to renewable energy: A techno-economic and environmental assessment

Increasing quantities of food waste have become a concern due to high disposal costs in landfills and high greenhouse gas emissions. With this increase in food waste generation, there is also an increasing demand for renewable natural gas to supplement traditional fossil fuel combustion and offset the impacts of climate change. Collecting food waste from landfills and turning it into renewable natural gas using anaerobic digestion could be a win-win option for both food waste disposal and renewable energy production. While some literature exists on the energy potential, economic feasibility, and environmental benefit of food waste disposal via anaerobic digestion, no existing study simultaneously evaluates the energy, economic and environmental effect of food waste to renewable energy via anaerobic digestion, especially on a plant and city scale. This study is focused on the techno-economic and environmental assessment of food waste to energy via anaerobic digestion in order to fill this gap. Four anaerobic digestion pathways are considered in this study: flare, pipeline natural gas, combined heat and power, and combined cycle for efficient power generation. Using a city of 1 M people the results show that renewable natural gas from food waste could supply the natural gas usage for 1.9% of residential use, 2.7% of commercial use, 1.1% of industrial use, 167.5% of the compressed natural gas vehicle fleet, 0.7% of electric power generation, or 2.5% of industrial high-temperature heating processes. All pathways except pipeline natural gas will have a positive net present value in the baseline scenario, and the pipeline natural gas pathway will become economically viable with a net present value of 31 USD/t of food waste with renewable energy credits. Lastly, all of the pathways achieve negative greenhouse gas emissions, which indicates that anaerobic digestion is a more environmentally friendly method for the handling of food waste than landfills.

Methods of pharmaceutical waste management disposal practiced in sanitation value chain by community pharmacies and households in Nkubu town

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pharmaceutical Waste Management (PWM) has emerged as a challenging issue, with both health and environmental negative impacts. The study assessed the common methods of pharmaceutical waste management disposal in Nkubu town among community pharmacies and households in the sanitation service chain. Problemstatement: Increasing disease incidence and prevalence necessitate healthcare practitioners to prescribe and dispense different medications. According to World Health Organization (WHO2010), more than half of all medications are inappropriately prescribed and sold, which causes unnecessary storage in community pharmacies (CPs) and households creating environmental threats that jeopardize efficiency of sanitation service chain. Methods: The study area was Nkubu town, where data was collected by use of structured questionnaires. size was 19 community pharmacies and 380 households. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results are presented in tables. Results: The study showed that 23.9% (n=91) of the households use pit latrines while 73.5% (n=14) of the community pharmacies use burning as the common methods of pharmaceutical waste disposal. Conclusion: The common method of pharmaceutical waste disposal being practiced in community pharmacies was burning while for households was emptying in the pit latrine. Disposal of unwanted pharmaceutical products through unsafe methods along the sanitation chain was prevalent among the respondents. Recommendation: There is need to create public awareness and establish educational programs regarding management and handling of unwanted pharmaceutical wastes among community pharmacies and households in Nkubu town. Key words: community pharmacies, household, pharmaceutical waste, pharmaceutical waste management , Sanitation, sanitation value chain.

Assessment of Recycled Plastic Performance in The City of Zawia Libya

Plastic particles and other plastic pollutants exist in our environment and in the food chain and threaten human health. Inappropriate handling and disposal of plastic waste is a global problem and is still not resolved in many countries. When recycling companies need to deal with complex plastic, the problem becomes even more serious, which can prevent their recycling initiatives. The main purpose of this research is to determine whether recycled products can be used as post-consumer materials in various recycling ratios to produce new products without reducing quality. In the study, 0 percent, 20%, 50%, 70%, and 100 percent regrind ratios were used. Reduction, hardness, and solid density are the qualities studied. The results show that the properties did not change significantly.