Illegal Dumping Research Articles

“Look, It’s a Dengue Mosquito”: A Qualitative Study on Living Near Open-Air Dumpsites and Vector-Borne Diseases

Currently, almost half of the human population is at risk of acquiring dengue. Other emerging pathogens affecting human populations transmitted by <em>Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti </em>are chikungunya and Zika viruses. People who live in poor areas are more susceptible to be infected by these diseases. The lack of selective garbage collection and inadequate water storage are important factors in the dynamics of vector-borne transmission. This study took place in Estrutural City, the poorest city in Brasilia, Brazil, which hosted the largest open dump in America Latina and second largest in the world for almost 60 years; many of the inhabitants are waste pickers, who live and survive by gathering and selling recyclable waste. A qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 100 participants to understand the experiences regarding community knowledge on mosquitos, contributing and prevention measures, and water access. Previous research on waste pickers has focused on vector-borne diseases, their exposure, and mitigation strategies. This research uncovered novel experiences that confirmed the plethora of knowledge of this population regarding exposure to vectors, specifically dengue. Participants mentioned contributing factors to the disease, while identifying mosquitos that carry dengue, and how often and how specifically it was to have dengue. They also mention preventative techniques that they currently take and strategies to improve upon these. These findings and actions will provide new control alternatives for arboviruses in risk areas and contribute to continued public health policies and basic services to be provided to the vulnerable communities.

Penurunan TSS, COD, dan Total-Nitrogen pada Air Lindi dengan Metode Constructed Wetland Tanaman Typha Angustifolia

Landfill is a place to dispose of waste. There are still many landfills in Indonesia that use open dumping. Klotok Landfill in Kediri City uses a sanitary landfill where if you use the sanitary landfill method, leachate can be accommodated in a shelter. Leachate comes from waste decomposition. One of the leachate treatments is constructed wetlands. Constructed wetlands are treatment with a design that copy the natural system of plants to treat wastewater by involving several process mechanisms such as physics, chemistry, and biology. In this study, Typha angustifolia were used because these plants were considered capable of processing leachate. Using subsurface flow and continuous process is expected to reduce TSS, COD, and Total-Nitrogen. Sampling time was carried out in the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th, and 14th days. The results of TSS, COD, and Total-Nitrogen obtained were highest at 5L/day discharge with the 14th day sampling reaching 96.30%, 90%, and 89.16%. The average temperature and pH results obtained reached 26.92 ℃ and 7.9. The temperature and pH in this study are still within the optimal range for constructed wetland processing methods.

Role of Municipality in Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Berhampore Municipality with Special Reference to Saidabad Ring-road Open Dumping Ground, West Bengal, India

Role of Municipality in Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Berhampore Municipality with Special Reference to Saidabad Ring-road Open Dumping Ground, West Bengal, India

MONITORING AND ALERTING OF HAZARDOUS GASES IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE USING MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUE

Abstract-In recent times, the rate of urbanization is proliferating; thus, there is a need to find a sustainable way for an urban development plan. There is rapid growth in the concept of smart cities all around the globe. A smart city is always incomplete without a smart waste monitoring structure that can manage the waste collection of the entire city. This paper proposes a Forest Fire alerting system, which keeps track of the hazardous gases produced by dumped waste by integrating a network of gas sensors. Land fill sites collect tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) using an open dump mechanism, causing gases to emerge, which may cause disease and the greenhouse effect. Mainly, landfill environments are observed using a portable system that does not continuously monitor and measure emitted gas levels. It is also difficult to evaluate changes in landfill emissions over the long term unless they are monitored at regular intervals according to a detailed plan. This paper presents a new monitoring method to measure gas levels in landfill sites, which documents dynamic changes in gas composition concentrations over the long term. The system was placed in the middle area of the landfill and was charged using solar panels for convenience and greater efficiency during monitoring.

Rapid identification of hazardous heavy metal-containing waste by combining EDXRF with machine learning: Taking zinc smelting waste as an example

To address the time-consuming identification and poor timeliness of environmental pollution tracing problems of traditional chemical detection methods for hazardous solid waste, a rapid identification and characterization methodology for hazardous waste containing heavy metals is established by using the EDXRF spectroscopy principle combined with an optical intelligent optimization algorithm. Two years of long-time serial optical spectrum information are collected from nine typical types of hazardous waste containing heavy metals produced in the zinc smelting process using EDXRFs, online analytical instruments installed on different process lines. Then, different machine learning models are applied to identify the key spectral factors that are first screened after noise reduction and standardization to pretreat all spectrum information data to distinguish different characteristics of each type of hazardous waste. Finally, the random forest model is selected and optimized to improve its identification accuracy. The results show that the spectral line signals corresponding to heavy metal elements such as Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Ag in zinc smelting materials can be used as important factors to distinguish different types of zinc smelting solid waste. Because different smelting processes lead to different heavy metal contents in different types of zinc smelting hazardous waste, the optimized random forest model can be implemented to accurately identify and characterize nine typical types of hazardous waste containing heavy metals, and an accuracy rate of 100% is achieved. This method provides an efficient tool for the environmental management of hazardous waste and the rapid tracing of environmental risks in the future. Especially in tracking soil or surface water pollution caused by the illegal dumping of solid waste, the rapid identification and characterization of solid waste are of great significance for the quality supervision of regional ecological environments.

Ukrainian soil pollution before and after the Russian invasion

ABSTRACT Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already caused pervasive pollution. To appreciate the scale of the problem, identify its causes and consequences, and develop strategies and practical counter measures, we present a comprehensive picture of soil pollution with more detailed analysis in Kharkiv, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. The intensity of contamination depends on location, industrial development and the course of military operations. In the east of the country, illegal dumping of chemical waste as well as active hostilities have caused significant soil contamination with heavy metals and oil products: Kharkiv region showed a 200% increase in cadmium contamination; Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions showed a 139% and 156% increase in oil spills; all with serious consequences for public and environmental health.

Assessment of solid waste management in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

The rapid rate of population growth and urbanization has impacted the management of municipal solid wastes (MSW) and is increasingly becoming a major concern in many cities in developing countries. Insufficient area coverage for wastes collection, processing system, and unsuitable disposal all appear to be the causal factors. This paper discussed the current situation of solid waste management in Ota municipality as well as the challenges and associated problems. Structured questionnaires, interviews and on-site observations were used for data generation, and subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated that 28.6% of the respondents incinerate their wastes, while 27.6% of the respondents dispose theirs to public waste bins. About 11.4% deposit their wastes by the road side, while 6.4% dump their wastes in drainages and water bodies. Most respondents incinerate their wastes which would impact negatively on the ozone layer. Results also indicated that 54.3% of the respondents have their wastes disposed regularly, while 66% do not sort their wastes which make them difficult to manage. The city's single dump site was visited in order to have a better understanding of the existing solid waste management measures in place. Other illegal waste dumps in the town were also visited. In order to address the difficulties of solid waste management in the municipality, it is recommended that the state government engage additional Private Service Provider (PSP) operatives to assist with waste collection and transportation, provide suitable facilities, machinery, and equipment, and launch a public awareness campaign

Implementing land-based litter surveys through visual inspection of imagery using unmanned aerial vehicles

Understanding the location of dumping sites, or where littering occurs, is needed for effective and efficient waste management efforts. South Africa experiences open indiscriminate dumping and faces a challenging social practice of littering. This pilot study used unmanned aerial vehicle imagery, aimed to monitor litter loads (illegal dumps and individual littered items) over a large land area (> 2 km2) to assess potential change in litter through time. Two techniques, the Percentage Cover Technique and the Comparison Technique, were used. The two techniques were trialed at five sites to quantify litter load and monitor change over time. Overall, through the Percentage Cover Technique, 13.5% of the study area was covered in litter in February 2020, and this decreased to 10.3% by July 2021. All five sites individually showed a decrease in litter loads, with significant differences between imagery sets (H(2) = 52.786, P < 0.001) and between surveyors (U = 15 567 399, n1=n2=5 211, P < 0.001 two-tailed). The Comparison Technique revealed that of the 10 422 blocks analysed in this study, litter coverage decreased in 10.3% and increased in 8.3%, of them. The study showed that the Comparison Technique is an easy and inexpensive method to monitor litter loads on large scales and could therefore be replicated across Africa which has limited resources (financial and expertise).

Construction and Demolition Waste Management in a Developing Country: A Nigerian Scenario

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is an important waste composition receiving attention from policymakers and researchers globally due to the negative impacts associated with its management. This paper explores construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) in Nigeria with a view to understanding CDWM’s practices as perceived by the policymakers, waste managers and other stakeholders in the construction industry. A descriptive qualitative research design was adopted with data obtained from secondary sources. Findings revealed that CDWM is not a recent phenomenon in Nigeria but there is a renewed interest in it in the last decade. Findings also revealed that CDW does not receive the deserved attention from the constituted authority and stakeholders in the construction industry. While there is a low level of awareness regarding the negative impacts of CDW on public health and the environment, most construction firms and contractors have resorted to unsustainable disposal methods of open dumping, burning, and landfilling. Further findings revealed the potential for sustainable CDWM of reusing, recycling, and composting. Finally, the paper put forward recommendations that would chart a course for sustainable CDWM in Nigeria if implemented.

Similarity model by matching and cross entropy-driven methods to support tracing source of unknown waste

There is a growing recognition that illegal dumping or global transfer of solid waste poses an environmental challenge. The dearth of effective tracing source techniques exacerbates the difficulty in the identification of unknown wastes, thus further complicating the environmental and management challenges. To this end, we developed tracing source processes for unknown waste, leveraging similarity models to facilitate identification. With a dataset of waste features, we established a matching function for single waste feature, as well as a cross entropy model for multiple waste features. Both the similarity models were applied to the tracing source process, enabling the identification of the source or category of unknown waste. The similar probability value between known waste and unknown waste can be obtained by those two models. The process of source tracing in the study was shown by examples of aluminum dross. If the known waste feature dataset is sufficiently accurate, the accuracy rate of tracing source will be correspondingly high in practical applications. Therefore, when using the similarity models, it is imperative to improve the known waste dataset to satisfy the demands of actual tracing source.

Illegal firm behaviour and environmental hazard: The case of waste disposal

AbstractThis study provides an analysis of illegal waste disposal examining how and why it occurs, with a focus on illegal industrial dumping. Organizational resource dependency theory and the bad barrel theory are used as conceptual frameworks to highlight the reasons leading firms to engage in illegal waste disposal, influenced by the firm's operational environment and characteristics, and how firms make use of it. The effects of environmental resource dependency variables and micro variables in terms of the hazard level associated with illegal waste disposal were tested separately and jointly by means of logistic regressions. Environmental resource dependency is found to be a powerful driver of the behaviour of firms, both independently and combined with certain organizational factors, with an impact on the hazardousness of illegal waste disposal. The policy implications of the findings are discussed, and a number of suggestions for preventing illegal dumping are put forward.

CO2 Emissions from Plastic Consumption Behaviors in Thailand

Plastic waste is an environmental crisis that is becoming increasingly well-documented. The rapid expansion of plastic manufacturing and consumption has led to a harmful cycle of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions due to petroleum-based production and plastic waste disposal. Plastic production and disposal depend on the consumption behavior of people. This study aimed to examine the plastic consumption behavior in Thailand and its impact on climate change at the end-of-life stage. The general information, plastic consumption, and plastic waste management were collected via questionnaires for each product lifetime, including single-use, medium-use, and long-use plastics. Based on 567 questionnaires, the results showed that people consumed single-use plastic, e.g., plastic bag, food container, cutlery, straws, and bottles, at a rate of about nine pieces/household/day or three pieces/cap/day. The medium-use and long-use plastic were 10 pieces/household/month and 50 pieces/household/year, respectively. It should be remarked that population density, education, and number of household members affected plastic consumption behavior, especially for single-use plastic. Regarding the disposal of end-of-life plastics, Thai people, on average, contribute 0.15 kg CO2eq/household/day to climate change. Many households have mismanaged waste by open dumping and open burning. Therefore, practicing proper waste management will help Thailand on the path to carbon neutrality in the future.

PERSEBARAN AIR LINDI TPA BENOWO TERHADAP KUALITAS AIR TAMBAK

Tempat Penimbunan Akhir (TPA) Benowo kota Surabaya menerapkan metode Open Dumping sehingga berpotensi menghasilkan lindi yang dapat mencemari lingkungan sekitarnya. Sistem penampungan air lindi yang ada di TPA Benowo juga turut berperan dalam kemungkinan bocornya air lindi yang masuk kedalam air tanah dan mencemari kualitas air tambak budidaya air tawar yang berada disekitar TPA Benowo. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode Purposive Sampling, yaitu dengan pengambilan beberapa sampel yang tersebar disekitar pusat timbunan sampah TPA Benowo, kemudian diuji nilai konsentrasi COD, yang kemudian hasil dari pengukuran COD tersebut, diplot pada peta untuk dianalisa pola persebarannya. Hasil penelitian menunjukan adanya indikasi air tambak yang terdapat disekitar TPA Benowo telah terkontaminasi lindi yang ditunjukan dengan kandungan konsentrasi COD didalam 14 sampel uji hanya 3 yang sesuai dengan baku mutu PP RI No.82 Tahun 2001.

A review of open pit mine and waste dump schedule planning

In seeking to maximise NPV (Net Present Value), open pit mining schedules depend on optimal sequencing of pit progress along with ore-waste segregation. Although extensively researched using mathematical models and linear programs dating from the late 1960s, this subject continues to evolve with the emergence of innovative approaches and new computational techniques. Whereas past models have focused almost exclusively on ore extraction as the principal cost-intensity factor, waste movement and handling are less well understood. However, as it comprises some of the largest operational and reclamation expenses, waste management has been progressively incorporated into the mine scheduling process, with dedicated studies commencing from 2007. This paper focuses on the impact of waste movement and placement on pit schedule optimisation, with strategic plans that honour both cost and environmental constraints.

Solid Waste Disposal and Extent of Selected Heavy Metals in Fadama Area of Sokoto City, Nigeria

This study was carried out with the purpose of assessing solid waste disposal and levels of heavy metals in Fadama area of Sokoto city. A survey using questionnaire and atomic absorp-tion spectroscopy was employed for the study. The descriptive statistics and X2 test were done. The types of pollution noticed include: land (40.0%), air (40.0%), and water (20.0%). The possible causes of the pollution include, mostly open dumping of solid waste (41.7%), then open defecation (33.3%), and lastly burning (25.0%). Spread of diseases was most (40.0%) perceived effect, then effect on children (20.0%) and gastroenteritis (20.0%). Other effects are: sickness (13.3%) and accidents (6.7%). The efforts to address the waste disposal are: burning (60.0%), pushing it away from road (20.0%) and provision of containers (20.0%). Effort did by the government involves, promising to bring con-tainers (30.0%), and doing nothing (70.0%). Wastes found are: plastics (70.0%), organic and defeca-tions (23.3%), metal and relations. The heavy metals analysis shows, the lead ranges from 5.1 ± 1.2 to 10.0 ± 0.80 (ppm); chromium ranges from 0.59 ± 0.01 to 2.10 ± 0.02 (ppm); zinc ranges from not detected to 0.81 ± 0.3 (ppm); cadmium from 0.25 ± 0.02; and mercury ranges from 0.95 ± 0.02 to 10.20 ± 0.11 (ppm). There is poor waste management in an agricultural area, a trend that can seep harmful chemicals to be taken up by plants to the upward food chain/web, coupled with other harmful ef-fects of waste such as instigation of diseases and environmental degradation.

A review of plastic waste circular actions in seven developing countries to achieve sustainable development goals.

Plastic waste circularity is a priority at a global level. Sustainable development goals (SDGs) set the ways to go, and the circular economy principles underlined the 'green' strategies to be employed. However, in practice, there is still much to do, especially in developing countries, where open burning and open dumping still represent the common way of plastic waste disposal. This review aims to analyse current plastic waste circular approaches in low-middle income settings. Seven countries were selected based on the economic level and data availability from the authors, and analysed to collect and critically discuss the actions implemented at a city level. Examples of waste minimization and recycling strategies, selective collection systems and public campaigns are reported from Africa, Asia and Latin America. First, a background analysis related to physical and governance aspects of municipal solid waste management systems of the chosen settings was conducted. The assessment was focused on the treatment processes or minimization actions. Then, the applicability of the projects to achieve the SDGs was commented on. The outcomes of the research underline the need to: (1) scale up small-scale and pilot projects, (2) disseminate good practices in more low- to middle-income settings, (3) create synergies among international partners for further replications in cities. Urgent solutions to plastic waste pollution are needed. The review presented practical actions to be implemented now to boost plastic waste circularity in developing cities.

Externality Value of Waste Power Plant (PLTSa) in TPA Terjun Medan Marelan Using Benefit Transfer Method

In Indonesia, waste has become a national issue due to the old view that waste management is only collected, transferred, and disposed of in landfills. Several big cities in Indonesia also face the same problem. The open dumping of waste at the landfill in TPA Terjun Medan Marelan has resulted in negative environmental externalities that continue to get worse for the people living in the vicinity. The external costs of TPA Terjun Medan Marelan will be studied in this study. Residents living around the TPA are the research subjects. In this study, replacement costs and the cost of illness will be determined as a logical tool for calculating the total cost of externalities. Externality costs at the TPA Terjun Medan Marelan are calculated using benefit transfers. Given the difficulties and high costs associated with valuing actual costs, the benefit transfer method was developed as an alternative method for assessing externalities using scores from studies of similar circumstances or characteristics conducted elsewhere. This study focuses on estimating the costs of externalities related to the feasibility of a waste power plant (PLTSa) project using the benefit transfer method from the PLTSa project at TPA Benowo Surabaya, which is then applied to the PLTSa project plan at TPA Terjun Medan Marelan. The study found that the existence of the TPA Benowo Surabaya has a negative impact not only on the environment of the residents but also on its social and economic aspects. Then the researchers also found that there was also a negative impact from PLTSa in TPA Terjun Medan Marelan

Nature based solutions applied to mature leachate treatment in the Latin American resource-poor environment

Some Latin American countries have implemented environmental policies which have enhanced a shift in domestic solid waste practices from open dumps to sanitary landfills, bringing about a serious challenge to the region in terms of leachate management both in the operation and the aftercare phases of landfills. This work looks at the viability of Nature based Solutions (NbS) in the Latin American resource-poor environment as a cost-efficient alternative for dealing with such a challenge. In particular, an experimental trial was carried out in order to evaluate the contaminants removal of four subsurface constructed wetlands at a pilot scale, for treating mature leachate with emphasis on nitrogen removal. The wetlands were set in two treatment lines: (1) a vertical flow wetland followed by a horizontal flow wetland and (2) two vertical flow wetlands in series. Each line was fed at a 173 L.d−1 rate of mature leachate. The wetlands were planted with a polyculture of the tropical plants Colocasia esculenta and Heliconia psittacorum in a random way and the support media used was composed of 3/8″ gravel and gross sand. Both treatment lines showed similar behaviours and it is important to highlight that ammoniacal nitrogen, that is the principal contaminant to treat, was significantly removed (40% approx.) considering the high loads the system was fed with (490 kg.d−1 TAN). It is considered that the removal mechanism of the ammoniacal nitrogen is a biological nitrification-denitrification process, due to the increase of nitrite and nitrate concentrations in the effluent, as well as the bicarbonate alkalinity consumption. These results suggest the system proposed as an NbS has promising potential for leachate treatment in Latin American countries.

Assessing and predicting the illegal dumping risks in relation to road characteristics

Using historical data to assess illegal dumping risks has significant potential to enhance the effectiveness of waste management in low-population density counties where the ability to patrol and regulate illegal dumping is limited. Using big data and geographical analysis to identify high-risk areas plays an important role in improving the effectiveness of supervision related to illegal dumping. However, current methods for classifying risk areas have limited accuracy. Taking an area in South Australia as an example, this study aims to improve the accuracy of classifying risk areas by using geo-information technology and machine learning methods. The results show that combining illegal dumping locations with road characteristics allows the high-risk areas to be refined to road sections. Compared with identifying the whole road or area as a high-risk spot, this result could be beneficial for monitoring illegal dumping in real life. Moreover, this model allows the analysis of factors that affect illegal dumping locations. Results show that the influencing factors for different risk levels of illegal dumping vary significantly. The model developed in this research can effectively distinguish risk levels according to these factors, and the model classification accuracy can reach 85%. In addition, there are priorities amongst these factors. This finding could help environmental authorities to allocate equipment and personnel with consideration of varying level of importance of those factors. This study has both technical contributions to identify high risk areas of illegal dumping, and theoretical implications for its management.

The human-animal bond and at-home behaviours of adopted Indian free-ranging dogs

Free-ranging dogs (FRDs) represent the largest population of dogs around the world. Their lives are not under direct human supervision and these dogs can be found in and around all possible forms of human habitation. Increased urbanization, poor population management measures and open garbage dumps have compounded their population over the years, leading to increased dog-human conflict, especially in the Global South. Pet keeping has been on the rise in India but most dogs are commercially acquired and are typically foreign breeds. Adoption of FRDs may be a potential solution for both population management and better welfare. While many studies have been conducted on dog behavior across the Global North, studies pertaining to adoptability, dog-human bonds, and welfare of FRDs have been largely missing. We investigated the in-house behaviour and human-animal bonds among adopted FRDs in India using a mixed method approach. Participants were recruited using social media using a snowball method. Data were collected on demographics and lifestyle of both the owners and their dogs, along with owner responses on the Canine Behaviour and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ, Survey I) and the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS, Survey II). Questions on reasons for adoption, not sterilizing their dogs and behaviour consultation were kept as open responses. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on the C-BARQ items to investigate differences in factor structure from previously established studies in Europe and United States. Influence of demographic and lifestyle parameters on factor scores were investigated using logistic regression. We received valid responses from 1484 respondents for Survey I and 427 responses for Survey II from participants, who had filled the surveys for the same adopted FRD. A 13-factor structure emerged from the EFA- Stranger directed aggression, Owner directed aggression, Dog directed aggression, Fear, Nonsocial fear, Touch sensitivity, Separation related problems, Attachment, Excitability, Energy, Chasing, Elimination and Stereotypy. Comparison of scores across sex and neuter status of the dogs revealed differences. Various demographic factors influenced the behaviour of the adopted dogs. Owners reported a very high Emotional Closeness, low Perceived costs and average dog-owner interaction. The dog-owner relationship was mostly influenced by lifestyle and demographic factors rather than the dog’s behaviour. Overall, our results indicate that FRDs can adapt to a domestic life and make good pets. This study is a first attempt to bridge the ethnocultural gap on dog-keeping from India and lays the foundation for multiple avenues for future studies on the welfare of FRDs in the Global South.