Waste Issues Research Articles

User Experience Satisfaction Analysis of the CLEIN Plastic Bottle Waste Saving Mobile Application

CLEIN is a mobile application integrated with a specially designed drop box to address the growing issue of plastic bottle waste in the environment. The CLEIN mobile app is empowering communities to act against plastic waste by transforming it into valuable rewards through a points system. To assess usability testing such as effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction of the user experience on the CLEIN mobile app, researchers used the System Usability Scale (SUS) and Time-Based Efficiency Analysis. This approach evaluated the success rate of 22 testers in completing tasks on the CLEIN prototype by calculating their Screen Usability Score (SCUS) using the formula provided by the Maze-App tools. Data collection was carried out through an online questionnaire. The score of 74 falls within the "C" grade range (typically 68-80) on the SUS but is still considered "good" based on the adjective ratings. This suggests that users generally find the app usable, though there might be room for improvement. Users appreciated the app's intuitive and aesthetically pleasing design, along with its user-friendly functionality. To further enhance usability and attractiveness, the CLEIN app can consider several recommendations, such as developing additional features and expanding the types of waste that can be redeemed for points. This research can motivate users to use technology to manage waste.

Understanding the food waste behaviour in university students: An application of the theory of planned behaviour

Food waste has a significant impact on the environment, national economies, and food security, necessitating appropriate action by policymakers. Food waste is prevalent among the young generation, so it becomes prudent to understand their food waste behaviour, involving the identification and evaluation of significant variables. This study seeks to comprehend their food waste behaviour as well as their intent to engage in such behaviour. An extended theory of planned behaviour was utilized to achieve the objectives, and a conceptual model and hypotheses were formulated accordingly. Some extensive constructs were incorporated with the theory of planned behaviour's major constructs. Data was collected via a questionnaire survey from a sample of 345 students at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India to identify relevant factors. Correlation analysis and regression analysis (linear regression model) were used to better understand the relationship between various variables. The intention of students not to waste food was successfully predicted using the extended theory of planned behaviour. Our study's findings revealed that several factors, such as one's attitude, behavioural control, knowledge about food waste, moral standards, eating habits, and leftover reuse routine, have a significant influence (p < 0.01) on students' desire to avoid food waste and explain 68.6% of the variance in intention to not waste food. Knowledge about food waste was by far the most significant factor associated (with max. β coefficient) with the desire not to waste food. Subjective norms did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.01) and could therefore not be used to predict intentions. The research highlights effective strategies to reduce food waste among youth by outlining the most impactful factors that explain the intention to waste less food and thus contribute to addressing the global issue of food waste.

Equilibrium Modelling and Optimization of the Co-gasification of E-waste and Petcoke

Addressing the critical issues of Electronic waste (E-waste) with its low recycling and environmental impacts, this study highlights the necessity for efficient waste management and energy recovery. Leveraging petroleum coke's rich carbon content, co-gasification presents a viable method to transform E-waste into syngas. Using response surface methodology (RSM), the research analyzes various E-waste and petroleum coke blends, focusing on how gasification temperatures and pressures affect cold gas efficiency (CGE). Results highlight that the 25% printed circuit board (PCB) socket blend achieves an optimal CGE of 66.03% at 1,171.27°C and 1.95 bar via RSM and attains 64.10% CGE at 1,150°C and 1 bar as per the equilibrium model, in contrast to the 75% blend's CGE of 49.96% at 1,256°C and 1.57 bar, and 47% at 1,250°C and 1 bar. These findings reveal significant optimization opportunities in co-gasification processes, providing key insights for efficient E-waste handling and syngas generation.

Cost-effective eggshell-modified LDH composite for caffeine adsorption, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity: exploring the synergy and economic viability in search processes.

The rise of pharmaceutical residues poses a serious threat to ecological and aquatic environments, necessitating the development of cost-effective, convenient, and recyclable adsorbents. Given the high global consumption of eggs, a significant amount of waste eggshell is produced. The techniques outlined here aim to manage eggshell waste by transforming it into highly valuable products, addressing the issue of eggshell waste in communities and industries. This approach supports the concept of zero-waste operations to create value-added goods, contributing to sustainable development. In the future, this method of waste management and material recycling may be adopted as an alternative. CaO-based ZnFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) is identified as an efficient adsorbent for caffeine (COF) residues due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. We extensively analyzed the synthesized CaO, ZnFe-LDH, and CaO/ZnFe-LDH composites before the adsorption processes using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDX, BET surface area, PZC, TGA/DTG, and after the adsorption processes using FT-IR. We investigated factors affecting the adsorption process, such as pH, adsorbent dose, COF concentrations, and time. Six non-linear adsorption isotherm models were studied at pH 7 for the composite and pH 9 for LDH, showing maximum adsorption capacities (q max) of 152.35 mg g-1 for LDH and 194.87 mg g-1 for CaO/ZnFe-LDH. Kinetic studies were also conducted. Interestingly, the MTT assay conducted on WI-38 cells revealed minimal toxicity, with most tests indicating cell viability above 60%. The synthesized CaO, ZnFe-LDH, and CaO/ZnFe-LDH composite exhibit robust antimicrobial properties against two pathogens, including Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (MRSA). The MIC values for the synthesized materials range from 0.87 to 7 µg mL-1, varying with the microbial species. Two green metrics were applied: the analytical Eco-scale and the Analytical GREEnness Calculator (AGREE).

Plastic packaging regulations in Padang: Bridging the gap between policy intentions and real-world implementation

The issue of plastic waste, particularly stemming from packaging materials, has emerged as a global concern across various regions. This issue has also gained prominence in Indonesia, exemplified by the city of Padang. Despite the enactment of Regulation No. 36 of 2018 by the Mayor of Padang, aimed at curtailing plastic bag usage, the practical implementation of this measure has proven to be less than satisfactory. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the implementation of this regulation in Padang using literature review and descriptive methods. This study aims to unravel the intricacies of the implementation of the regulation, and to shed light on the challenges and obstacles encountered. By conducting a comprehensive examination, this research aspires to provide valuable insights into devising pragmatic solutions to enhance the efficacy of plastic packaging reduction initiatives in Padang. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute constructively towards surmounting extant challenges and formulating more potent strategies to mitigate the deleterious repercussions of plastic waste in the city of Padang.

Multi-stimuli-responsive polymer degradation by polyoxometalate photocatalysis and chloride ions.

Photocatalytic polymer degradation based on harnessing the abundant light energy present in the environment is one of the promising approaches to address the issue of plastic waste. In this study, we developed a multi-stimuli-responsive photocatalytic polymer degradation system facilitated by the photocatalysis of a polyoxometalate [γ-PV2W10O40]5- in conjunction with chloride ions (Cl-) as harmless and abundant stimuli. The degradation of various polymers was significantly accelerated in the presence of Cl-, which was attributed to the oxidation of Cl- by the polyoxometalate photocatalysis into a highly reactive chlorine radical that can efficiently generate a carbon-centered radical for subsequent polymer degradation. Although organic and organometallic photocatalysts decomposed under the conditions for photocatalytic polymer degradation in the presence of Cl-, [γ-PV2W10O40]5- retained its structure even under these highly oxidative conditions.

Politics and civil society in regional waste management

Indonesia, like the majority of countries throughout the world, is grappling growing waste management issues. On a national or regional level. As a result, an effective program to limit garbage disposed of in landfills is required. Collaboration between municipal government and civic society is one option. This study examines the pattern of synergy between local government and community organizations in enhancing trash management through the case of coordinating waste management in Garut Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. We modified the Collaborative Governance Framework and performed in-depth interviews with stakeholders, as well as a search for documentary sources and transect tracing. We gathered qualitative information from stakeholders about their experiences and perceptions of synergy patterns between sub-district trash bank administrators and district governments. The data was analyzed in three stages: data reduction, presentation, and conclusion. The collaborative governance paradigm of Anshell and Alison is applied to data analysis. As a result, it was discovered that the Garut Regency waste bank WhatsApp group offered sub-district waste bank administrators with an effective waste management communication space. Waste managers might be subject to a variety of local government laws. However, because the number of Waste Bank management members is still restricted, it is insufficient to address regional waste management issues.

Uncertainties about waste using an online survey and review approach: Environmentalist perceptions, household waste compositions and views from media and science

Abstract Waste generation and subsequent plastic pollution pose a major threat to both human and environmental health. Furthering our understanding of waste at individual levels can inform future waste reduction strategies, education and policies. This study explores the components and perceptions among individuals using survey data combined with a mini-review. An online Qualtrics survey was distributed pre-COVID-19 following a global social media challenge, Futuristic February, which directed participants to collect their nonperishable waste during February 2020. Participants were asked about their waste generation, perceptions toward waste and plastic pollution issues, and environmental worldview using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale (n = 50). We also conducted a mini-review of eight waste and plastic pollution statements from our survey in both popular media and scientific journal articles. Survey results indicated participants had an overall pro-ecological worldview (M = 4.32, SD = 0.88) and reported cardboard and paper (66%) as the most commonly occurring nonperishable waste category. Across categories, food packaging was the most common waste type. Participants were most uncertain about statements focusing on bioplastic or biodegradable plastic, respectively (44% and 30%), while the statement on microplastic toxicity obtained 100% mild or strong agreement among participants. Uncertainty for reviewed statements varied depending on the topic and group. Popular media and scholarly articles did not always agree, possibly due to differences in communication of uncertainty or terminology definitions. These results can inform future policy and educational campaigns around topics of misinformation.

Geographies of urban solid waste management in India

Rapid urbanization and globalization increase consumerism in developing countries specially in India. As a consequence, municipal solid waste (MSW) has been exponentially increased in last two decades and posed a great challenge to manage. Government has taken many initiatives, policies and collaborated with private company to solve these issues of waste but lack of scientific approach, money, political will, conflict, interest of planners, it stands undisputed problem of urbanization. Different degree of environmental degradation takes place due to MSW in different ecosystems and also it affects health of urban people. This paper analyzes municipal solid waste generated in 59 cities of India which categorized into six regions to understand spatio-temporal quantum of waste generated by each city, nature of management and problem at regional level.

Fostering Community-Led Waste Management Through Dynamic Governance: A Case Study of Batam City

Effective city solid waste management has become a critical issue for communities globally due to the rapid pace of urbanization and increasing environmental concerns. The convergence of economic development and environmental preservation in Batam City, Indonesia, has underscored the necessity for inventive waste management approaches. This study examines the impact of dynamic governance and community empowerment in addressing the intricate waste issue in Batam City. The research uses a qualitative approach to investigate the underlying reasons for waste management difficulties. It investigates how adaptive governance might improve stakeholder cooperation and decision-making based on facts. Effective policy implementation relies on public interaction, yet meaningful participation remains difficult. Prior research suggests that individuals are more inclined to engage in matters that directly impact them, and ambiguous implementation protocols and a lack of confidence in political establishments frequently hinder community engagement in environmental policy. The waste management techniques in Batam City are conventional and inefficient due to limited government resources, highlighting the necessity for a more comprehensive strategy. The study's results indicate that implementing dynamic governance, which involves the flexibility to adapt and collaborate with stakeholders, can enhance waste management procedures. In addition, applying social capital theory can facilitate community empowerment, leading to a heightened sense of ownership and active engagement in waste management initiatives. Communities can enhance the effectiveness and durability of waste management systems by utilizing social networks, trust, and shared standards. This study emphasizes the significance of integrating inventive governance approaches with community-led efforts to tackle urban trash issues and advance sustainable development in Batam City.

A review on the diaper waste issue: generation, composition, disposal and valorising potential

A review on the diaper waste issue: generation, composition, disposal and valorising potential

Evaluating the effectiveness and challenges of the solid waste management system in lilongwe city council, Malawi

The current state of Solid Waste Management in Lilongwe City underscores the need to integrate contemporary and technological approaches for more efficient waste handling, with the support of digital solutions. Despite the severity of the solid waste issue impacting various sectors, including households, businesses, industries, and agriculture, there has been minimal effort to educate communities and townships on the importance of waste separation prior to collection. Recognizing that certain types of waste can be recycled for specific purposes, such as in agriculture, is essential. There is also a need for increased individual involvement to address solid waste management challenges, aiming to shift public perception and promote sustainable waste management practices. The rapid pace of waste production, driven by industrialization and population growth, is concerning. Unauthorized dumping has led to an unpleasant environment, noxious odors, and significant health risks through contamination of land, air, and water resources. Addressing these challenges requires focusing on technology and innovative solutions to manage solid waste effectively. This approach should enhance coordination and improve waste management from the point of creation and categorization to disposal at the dumping site. Implementing such methods could help reduce public health issues related to waste mishandling in urban areas. A proposed digital waste management solution, such as a cloud-based application, could represent a significant step towards achieving effective waste management practices in the city.

The influence of motivators on responsible consumption in tourism

Responsible consumption in tourism is a crucial prerequisite for its sustainable development. Tourists' attitudes are an essential topic in the issue of waste generation and management in both academic and practical environments. Raising awareness of waste issues, education, media influence, and influencers? support can positively or negatively shape tourists' attitudes toward environmentally conscious behavior. The paper examines the attitudes of Slovak tourism consumers toward sustainable consumption and waste generation. The study objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of motivators for responsible consumption in Slovakia's tourism industry. Four motivators and two attitudes that determine responsible consumption in tourism were determined. The results are based on data from primary research through a questionnaire conducted on a sample of 284 respondents. The intensity of perception of individual motivators was monitored through a 5-point Likert scale. The study defines one research question and four hypotheses. Spearman's correlation coefficient and logistic regression were used to verify the relationship between the selected motivators and consumers? attitudes. The results confirm that the motivators ?Family? and ?Media?, by providing information about waste and its effects on tourism destinations, are strong motivators for responsible consumption in tourism. ?Education? and ?Influencer? are less effective motivators. Based on this, the contribution presents possible measures to strengthen the education of consumers in the tourism industry on responsible consumption in waste generation.

Reverse Logistics for Food and Beverages in Grocery Stores: Benefit the Customers and the Businesses

In the post-pandemic Covid-19 era, as more people start doing their physical grocery shopping, supply and demand in the retail industry will eventually need to keep up. A few of the challenges the grocery retail sector is currently facing globally include the perishability of food products, which requires special handling, demand and supply forecasting, maintaining continuous stock inventories, return management, and waste management. In today’s world, reverse logistics and speedy and effective food product movement along supply chain networks are both essential. Employing reverse logistics benefits business operations and unwittingly supports global government sustainability objectives, which in turn benefits the green supply chain. While reverse logistics techniques frequently concentrate on ways to profit from returned goods and lower their cost of loss, they unwittingly have an indirect negative influence on the environment. There are far too many wastes produced by the retail sector. Based on that supposition, the study’s major goal is to analyses the best strategies for using reverse logistics and managing waste issue in this industry, so that business operations can be successful, economical, and eventually deliver a high-quality product to the customer. To collect specific information and viewpoints from the targeted organization, a qualitative technique was adopted in this study. Through this study, the authors can provide suitable recommendation solution find ways to reduce the cost of transportation if possible and improve the logistics system as a whole. This is because reverse logistics in retailing industry plays an important role in sustaining the retail business for all the parties involved in the business and logistics. Companies that are practicing reverse logistics the right way are tend to improve their overall performance, for example, the increasing numbers of customers which is gaining competitive advantage from the competitors.

Tropical Fruit Waste Management: Developing Pectin-based Biopolymer from Durian Rind (Durio zibethinus)

Durian (Durio zibethinus) is a popular native tropical fruit and is largely produced in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, 1.71 million metric tons of durian were produced in 2022. However, this high production may lead to organic waste issues due to the large amount of durian rind generation. About 60 – 75% of the durian is the rind, which is mostly discarded, hard to be decomposed, and not utilized optimally. Meanwhile, the durian rind poses as a potential reservoir containing high concentrations of cellulose and pectin. Therefore, this research aimed to (1) extract pectin content from durian rind and (2) synthesize and characterize pectin-based biopolymer films. First, the pectin was extracted from dried durian rind powder using acid extraction and alcoholic precipitation methods. Then, biopolymer synthesis was done by mixing formulations of pectin, chitosan, ethylene glycol, and glycerol solutions to form thin films. About 0.13 – 0.71 g of pectin (0.46% of the pectin yield) was extracted per 100 g of dried durian rind powder. The FTIR spectroscopy results of the extracted pectin confirmed the presence of the O - H groups at 3327.83 cm-1, which indicated the pyranose ring, the main characteristic of pectin. Pectin-based biopolymer films were produced with thickness, transparency, and tensile strength of 0.01 – 0.07 mm, 7.40 - 40.50, and 1.26 – 2.69 MPa, respectively. The findings of the soil burial degradation test for biodegradability showed that the biopolymer experienced weight loss of up to 62% in 14 days. Considering the potential utilization of the durian rind for developing biopolymers as value-added bioproducts from agricultural biomass, tropical fruit waste management should be done properly in the future. This also can be offered as one of the alternative solutions for plastic substitution with proper development in the future.

Ongoing Waste Issue Towards the Development of Photovoltaic Module Recycling Regulations

In this paper, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, that play an essential role in reducing fossil energy resources, are considered from a sustainability perspective. Solar PV systems, accounting for a significant capacity share among renewable energy sources, will have environmental and economic repercussions in the future. Despite photovoltaic (PV) modules contributing to the production of renewable energy for an average of 25 to 30 years, they pose a threat to the global environment. Policies should support the significance of initiatives. This will ensure that PV manufacturers, users, governments, and R&amp;D researchers assume responsibility for PV module waste, which is expected to be encountered more frequently and rapidly in the near future. Prioritizing global awareness and policy development in the field of solar PV recycling will inspire future work. Furthermore, the prospect of other solar PV technologies consolidating their market position in the future will necessitate a solar PV recycling industry. This industry should encompass all developing PV technologies.

Comprehensive mapping of food loss and food waste: Insights from a systematic literature review

This research aims to comprehensively map the stages at which food materials are discarded as food loss and food waste, drawing insights from existing literature. This study employs a systematic literature review methodology-the works of literature collected from reputable international journal databases. The findings of this investigation reveal a diverse array of research endeavors within the realm of food waste management. Researchers have undertaken endeavors to categorize different types of food waste, while others have delved into examining food resilience and waste generation in agricultural phases or amongst farmers. Distinct studies have concentrated on food resilience and waste issues encompassing traditional market traders. The academic community has also directed attention towards food waste in harvest, retail sales, followed by the hospitality industry, restaurant management, and household settings. The outcomes of this systematic literature review offer a foundational framework for delineating food waste patterns across agricultural, traditional market, retail, restaurant, hotel, and household contexts. Subsequent empirical research is poised to focus on categorizing food waste by type, identifying root causes, exploring mitigation efforts, and elucidating waste management strategies enacted by farmers, traditional market traders, retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and households.

PRIORITY STRATEGIES TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BATIK IN TRUSMI VILLAGE

Trusmi village is very famous for batik production, which is manufactured by industrial and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at various scales. Batik artisans in Trusmi still practice traditional batik technique, which have been passed down from generation to generation for decades. Materials such as mori cloth, wax, and textile dyes, are readily available and sold in Trusmi village. Environmental and health impacts can arise from the production process of stamped and printed batik fabric, which involves the use of many chemicals and exposure to heat in the working environment. The use of chemical dyes in the fabric dyeing process, where craftsmen manually perform the coloring, does not adhere to safety and health. Furthermore, the remaining dye waste is disposed of into the environment without undergoing proper processing. The research aims to address the issue of batik production process waste in Trusmi village, Cirebon, West Java Province, using the root cause analysis (RCA) method. The article presents a root cause analysis of environmental impacts using RCA and provides advice on minimizing environmental effects at the most optimal cost. Based on the result of the research using the RCA method, the most critical strategy identified for achieving environmentally friendly batik production, as determined by the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Analytical Network Process (ANP) analysis is to increase the awareness of batik producers.

Transmutation of Plutonium and Minor Actinide in PWR Thorium-Transuranic Fuel Assembly

Long-lived radioactive waste is often considered a concerning issue on utilizing nuclear power. This waste is in the form of plutonium and minor actinides (MA), formed due to successive neutron capture of 238U. Both are not particularly hazardous radiologically, but their long half-life caused an issue in the public acceptance of radioactive waste disposal. Thereby, this issue must be resolved, either politically or technically. One of the technical solutions to address the issue of long-lived radioactive waste is the incineration of transuranic (TRU) elements in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel assembly. Mixing TRU with thorium in a PWR fuel assembly can theoretically reduce TRU stockpile more effectively than uranium. This paper discusses plutonium and MA transmutation in a Thorium-Transuranic (Th-TRU) PWR fuel assembly using MCNP6 code and ENDF/B-VII library. A Westinghouse 17×17 PWR fuel assembly was chosen to determine the feasibility of TRU incineration. Three assemblies of 50:50, 55:45, and 60:40 mixture of UO2 and Th-TRU fuel rods are compared to one reference UO2 assembly from the criticality and burn-up point of view. From the calculations, the plutonium incineration rate was observed to be 9.47 %, 10.91 %, and 12.2 %, while MA incineration rates were found to be 11.5 %, 11.93 %, and 12.3 % for Th50-TRU50, Th55-TRU45, and Th60-TRU40, respectively. This observation indicates that a higher thorium fraction in the fuel assembly can increase the TRU transmutation rate. Therefore, a high thorium fraction is recommended to increase the transmutation rate of the TRU.

Transmutation of Plutonium and Minor Actinide in PWR Thorium-Transuranic Fuel Assembly

Long-lived radioactive waste is often considered a concerning issue on utilizing nuclear power. This waste is in the form of plutonium and minor actinides (MA), formed due to successive neutron capture of 238U. Both are not particularly hazardous radiologically, but their long half-life caused an issue in the public acceptance of radioactive waste disposal. Thereby, this issue must be resolved, either politically or technically. One of the technical solutions to address the issue of long-lived radioactive waste is the incineration of transuranic (TRU) elements in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel assembly. Mixing TRU with thorium in a PWR fuel assembly can theoretically reduce TRU stockpile more effectively than uranium. This paper discusses plutonium and MA transmutation in a Thorium-Transuranic (Th-TRU) PWR fuel assembly using MCNP6 code and ENDF/B-VII library. A Westinghouse 17×17 PWR fuel assembly was chosen to determine the feasibility of TRU incineration. Three assemblies of 50:50, 55:45, and 60:40 mixture of UO2 and Th-TRU fuel rods are compared to one reference UO2 assembly from the criticality and burn-up point of view. From the calculations, the plutonium incineration rate was observed to be 9.47 %, 10.91 %, and 12.2 %, while MA incineration rates were found to be 11.5 %, 11.93 %, and 12.3 % for Th50-TRU50, Th55-TRU45, and Th60-TRU40, respectively. This observation indicates that a higher thorium fraction in the fuel assembly can increase the TRU transmutation rate. Therefore, a high thorium fraction is recommended to increase the transmutation rate of the TRU.