Landfill Operation Research Articles

Characterization of a Small Abandoned Municipal Solid Waste Scattered Landfill Combining Remote Sensing and Near-Surface Geophysical Investigations

This study reports the combination of remote sensing and ground geophysical techniques to locate an abandoned and hidden municipal solid waste landfill located in a fluvial plain in the French Western Alps. Following earthworks and further floods that eroded into the river bank, wastes made of a mixture of plastic, metal and soil/earth, were uncovered and some of them flowed into the river. The existence of an abandoned landfill, several decades-old, was known, but the knowledge of its exact location was forgotten. Historic aerial photographs back to 1948 allowed delineation in space and time of the location of a platform that was used for landfill operations between around 1973 and 1983. A LiDAR DEM acquired in 2012 allowed was used to locate topographic depressions 0.1 to 0.4 m in depth, notably inside the platform. These depressions are interpreted as resulting from differential compaction originating from the presence of compressible wastes. Geophysical mapping techniques (magnetic and electromagnetic) confirmed the presence of anomalies inside the identified platform. Geophysical imaging techniques (ground-penetrating radar, electrical resistivity tomography) provided a quantitative evaluation of the width and depth of the individual pits. The combination of the different techniques allowed for estimating the first-order volume of waste. The methodology adopted in this work is applicable to detect landfills exhibiting differential compaction and physical contrasts.

Assessing the physicochemical parameters of leachate from biowaste fractions in a laboratory setting, using the elusion method

Leachate emissions, which are regarded as one of the primary polluters of groundwater and the environment, are unavoidable side effect of landfill operation. The leachate includes hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, suspended particles, and soluble organic molecules. The objective of this study was to simulate the leachate quality from the biowaste and assess its impact on groundwater pollution in a laboratory setting. For laboratory analysis, a variety of waste fractions that make up the waste composition of household bins in Windhoek were collected and mimicked in the laboratory for analysis. The aim of modeling these scenarios in the laboratory was to examine the quality of the leachate in the eluate when substantial volumes of biowaste were added to the residual samples. The analysis was carried out in accordance with the German Institute for Standardization's (DIN 12457) with respect to the process for sampling strategy and sample preparation. From the laboratory analyses, the values of pH decreased from 6.9 to 4.4 as the biowaste was increasing from 0 to 100 %, while EC was increasing with the increase in biowaste input from 0.6 to 4.99 mS/cm; equally, the concentrations of COD were increasing with the increase of biowaste input from 643 to 24,616 mg/l. These parameters had the strongest influence on the properties of leachate, as the high level of COD indicates the presence of high level of organic strength and a sign of organic pollution. The low or acidic pH values were also as a result of the production of volatile organic acids, which can cause the landfill leachate of such a nature to enhance pH of drinking water and contribute in trihalomethane formation which is a toxic substance for human health. High values of EC on the other hand indicate the discharge or other sources of pollution that has lowered the water body’s relative quality. From the findings, it can be concluded that leachate in this study is biodegradable and un-stabilized, as shown by the low pH levels and high COD concentrations. It also alluded that a change in physicochemical parameters, regardless of how little the concentration is, has the ability to change the quality of groundwater. According to this study, leachate was highly contaminated with organic matters. This has proven that the more biowaste inputs, the higher the concentrations of the physicochemical metrics, which can then alter the quality of groundwater. Hence, a recommendation for organic waste to be diverted from landfill sites or treated before landfilled. The findings from the leachate and groundwater samples of the Kupferberg showed that the landfill is mature methanogenic and stabilized stage, when compared to the pH of the laboratory results. COD values in the leachate samples are way higher than the permissible limit of the Namibian standard guidelines for drinking water, as well as the WHO guidelines. As alluded to by many researchers, high COD concentrations indicate high organic strength and pollution. Just as observed in the laboratory, conductivity is equally high in the leachate samples of the Kupferberg landfill, indicating high salts or dissolved inorganic components. This study can conclusively say that there is a relationship between the observed laboratory results and the actual field results, because of the similar trends they portray, noting that the filed values are always higher than the laboratory values. Hence, a proper correlation method is recommended.

Quantification of Methane Emissions Rate Using Landgem Model and Estimating the Hydrogen Production Potential from Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Site

In India, solid waste is deposited mostly in uncontrolled open landfills without proper segregation and handling methods. Organic wastes dumped in a landfill undergo anaerobic decomposition and emit landfill gases like methane and carbon dioxide. Landfill gases are a significant contributor to greenhouse gases and greatly impact climate change. In the interim, reducing gas emissions and controlling and recycling such gasses is important from environmental hygienic, and global perspectives. Landfill gas has tremendous potential to convert as a source of alternative fuel. The present study estimates the CH4 (Methane) and CO2 (Carbon dioxide) emissions and quantifies the renewable energy available and hydrogen production potential using the LandGEM 3.02 empirical models for the Kanuru, Vijayawada landfill. It was observed that methane emission peaked in 2042 with an emission rate according to the model was 2.51E+08 Metric tons CO2 equivalents. The gas-recovery system is an essential component in landfills for extracting energy with 75-80% efficiency; the generation rate of greenhouse gases will reduce to around 1.78E06 Mg of CO2 eq. The predicted methane emissions vary from 1.33E6-9.22E6 cu.m per year for the period of 2010-2042. It was also estimated that annual energy production from LFG emissions was from 1.8-130 GWh per year, and hydrogen production potential was 0.6-43.3 Gg per year. The study concludes that projected scientific data will assist policymakers in creating sustainable MSW management by bridging the gap between sustainable renewable energy production and protecting the environment. The basic objectives of the study include the quantification of landfill gas production using the LandGEM model for Vijayawada, assessing the electricity generation potential of the landfill methane gas emitted, methane and carbon dioxide recovery from landfills with energy conversion could reduce GHG emissions, and estimation of hydrogen generation potential from the landfill methane emissions.

A critical review of municipal solid waste hydraulic conductivity: A mini review.

This study is a critical review of municipal solid waste (MSW) hydraulic conductivity that includes investigation of the influence of vertical stress, dry unit weight and degradation. A total of 56 studies were compiled that included laboratory-, pilot- and landfill-scale hydraulic conductivity experiments. Compacting waste and increasing vertical stress reduce MSW hydraulic conductivity via reshaping the pore networks throughout the waste matrix, reducing the void ratio and increasing tortuosity. However, the magnitude of reduction in hydraulic conductivity is dependent on stress, waste composition and decomposition. Solid waste decomposition can have opposing effects on hydraulic conductivity. Some studies have indicated that an increase in MSW decomposition results in particle size reduction and settlement that reduces the void ratio and decreases hydraulic conductivity. Conversely, some studies indicate that waste decomposition reduces the solid mass, which increases the void ratio and creates larger flow paths that increase hydraulic conductivity. The data compilation, observations and key findings from this study are beneficial for solid waste practitioners to improve design, analysis and operation of MSW landfills.

Enhancement of Hydrogen Production by Aluminum Corrosion Using HCl and Promoted by NaOH Solution

Utility of aluminum series AA5XXX, 6XXX, and 7XXX emerges. However, scrap waste remains unrecycled and ends up in municipal solid waste landfills. It is known that aluminum related reactions maybe problematic for landfill operations by generating undesired heat, liquid leachate, and gases. Aluminum produces hydrogen as it reacts readily with water at room temperature to form aluminum hydroxide. In most cases, it may not conventionally take place due to the presence of aluminum oxide that naturally coats the materials preventing it from direct contact with water.The layer can be detached using an acidic solution, such as HCl. HCl solution is prepared to remove the Al2O3 protective layer under acidic conditions. NaOH solution is added into the water to promote hydrogen production afterward. Aluminum scrap with a constant mass of 0.5 grams added to 250 ml of NaOH solution in which the concentrations varied by 0.5 M, 1.5 M, and 3 M. As the pretreatment, it was soaked into 1 M, 2 M, and 3 M HCl solutions for 1 minute. The measurement result shows that aluminum treated with 3 M HCl and reacted in 3 M NaOH yielded 532 ml of hydrogen gas. However, hydrogen concentration in total produced gas volume decreases as NaOH and HCl increase. This result is also confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy which shows the reaction with less NaOH concentration yielded more bayerite form.

Metabolic diversity shapes vegetation-enhanced methane oxidation in landfill covers: Multi-omics study of rhizosphere microorganisms

Vegetation root exudates have the ability to shape soil microbial community structures, thereby enhancing CH4 bio-oxidation capacity in landfill cover systems. In this study, the CH4 oxidation capacity of indigenous vegetation rhizosphere microorganisms within operational landfill covers in Chongqing, China, was investigated for the first time, with the objective of identifying suitable plant candidates for CH4 mitigation initiatives within landfill cover systems. Furthermore, a multi-omics methodology was employed to explore microbial community structures and metabolic variances within the rhizospheric environment of diverse vegetation types. The primary aim was to elucidate the fundamental factors contributing to divergent CH4 oxidation capacities observed in rhizosphere soils. The findings demonstrated that herbaceous vegetation predominated in landfill covers. Notably, Rumex acetosa exhibited the highest CH4 oxidation capacity in the rhizosphere soil, approximately 20 times greater than that in non-rhizosphere soil. Root exudates played a crucial role in inducing the colonization of CH4-oxidizing functional microorganisms in the rhizosphere, subsequently prompting the development of specific metabolic pathways. This process, in turn, enhanced the functional activity of the microorganisms while concurrently bolstering their tolerance to microbial pollutants. Consequently, the addition of substances like Limonexic acid strengthened the CH4 bio-oxidation process, thereby underscoring the suitability of Rumex acetosa and similar vegetation species as preferred choices for landfill cover vegetation restoration.

UAV-based approach for municipal solid waste landfill monitoring and water ponding issue detection using sensor fusion

Abstract Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills need regular monitoring to ensure proper operations and meet environmental protection requirements. One requirement is to monitor landfill gas emissions from the landfill cover while another requirement is to monitor the potential settlement and damage to MSW landfill covers. Current surveying methods on a landfill cover are time- and labor-intensive and have limited spatial coverage. Landfill operators and researchers have developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based monitoring over recent years; however, UAV-based automatic detection of water ponding in landfills has not been studied. Hence, this study proposes a UAV-based approach to monitor landfills and detect water ponding issues on covers by using multimodal sensor fusion. Data acquired from sensors mounted on a UAV were combined, leading to the creation of a ponding index (PI). This index was used to detect potential ponding sites or areas of topographical depression. The proposed approach has been applied in a case study of a closed MSW landfill before and after Hurricane Ian. A comparison between the generated PI map and a manual survey revealed a satisfactory performance with an IoU score of 70.74%. Hence, the utilization of UAV-based data fusing and the developed PI offers efficient identification of potential ponding areas.

Annual Performance Evaluation of a Novel Industrial-scale Solar Dryer for Phosphogypsum Waste

Introduction: Solar drying is considered one of the most promising technologies for drying the phosphogypsum “Calcium Sulfate Dehydrate” material as a clean source of energy and saving the environment from its negative impact if it is dried in an open landfill. Method: The dried phosphogypsum (PG) may be recycled and utilized in many useful applications. The presented design of the trapezoidal-shaped greenhouse solar dryer is the preferable solution to perform the drying process in the daytime with solar energy. It may be usable at night, during cloudy and rainy periods, using evacuated tube solar collectors via sensible heat solar thermal energy storage. The system can be operated for 24 hours by solar energy. From theoretical calculations, it was found that the drying time decreased as the gypsum layer in the drying trays decreased due to the improvement of the heat transfer mechanism. The designed solar dryer was studied at various loading capacities depending on the gypsum thickness on the dryer trays. Capacities were 8280 kg, 6624 kg, 4968 kg, 3312 kg, and 1656 kg, corresponding to gypsum thickness of 5 cm, 4 cm, 3 cm, 2 cm, and 1 cm, respectively. The daily collected amount of water and the daily moisture content were estimated with different gypsum thicknesses during all months of the year. Result: It was found that the solar dryer with a capacity of 1,656 kg weight was technically and economically feasible. It was also found that the maximum reduction of moisture content occurred during the summer season, while the minimum values were achieved during winter. Conclusion: With a mass of gypsum equal to 1,656 kg weight, the moisture content of gypsum started to decrease from its initial value (35%) until it reached the final value (10%) in 4 scenarios: the first one, 2 days from April to September, 3 days from March to November, more than 3 days in other months while the minimum moisture content, i.e., 20%, was reported in the first day in June.

Assessment of The Geotechnical Properties of Municipal Solid Waste and Its Effect on The Surrounding Soil: A Review

Due to rapid growing of population and active lifestyle, massive amounts of municipal solid waste (MSW) are produced worldwide. The MSW can harm the environment and threaten the land if the dumping sites are not managed scientifically. The geotechnical properties of MSW are the key parameters required in the landfill operations and waste management facilities. Hence, presence of the geotechnical properties data of the waste can assist engineers in selecting possible solutions for extension of the landfill and obtaining prior background data for the evaluation and design of landfills. MSW disposal changes the geotechnical properties of soil. Also, alterations in the geotechnical properties of soils may contribute to the physical and physico-chemical interactions between soil and contaminants of the dumping sites. As leachate, which is generated by the waste, penetrates into the soil, it moves pollutants into the soil and influences the strength and stability of the soil. The main objective of this research is to summarize the most recent literature of the physical and mechanical properties of MSW, and their influence on the geotechnical properties of soil. The findings of numerous investigations on the physical and mechanical characteristics of MSW and soil influenced by MSW are presented and discussed. Depending on the reviewed research studies, it can be observed that the engineering characteristics of MSW are complicated and varied for various reasons. The waste components and degradation process can cause an increase in moisture content and unit weight, and a decrease in organic content, hydraulic conductivity and compressibility of MSW. Additionally, MSW sites significantly impact the physical and mechanical characteristics of underlain and surrounding soil and deteriorate the soil quality. Further, it was noticed that the influence of dumping on soil is reduced with depth due to less interaction between the soil and waste

Spatial suitability analysis for site selection of municipal solid waste landfill using hybrid GIS and MCDA approach: The case of Kitwe, Zambia

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is an issue of increasing concern at both the global and local levels as urban populations continue to rise with a corresponding increase in waste generation. MSWM, including dump-site/landfill site selection, are of serious socio-economic concerns with environmental and health implications in Zambia. Currently, operational MSW dump-sites in most urban centers in Zambia, including that of Kitwe City, were selected based on land availability and not on land suitability. In this work, we applied a hybrid GIS and multi-sectoral/multi-disciplinary approach to classify the city into areas that are most suitable, suitable and not suitable for hosting a landfill. We employed multi-disciplinary technical knowledge from local planners, public health, civil engineers and environmental experts, contrary to past practices. Input data used was obtained from a combination of environmental and socio-economic constraint and factor criteria. The results showed that 333.24 km2 representing 41.69% of the study area was classified as unsuitable, 140.41 km2 representing 17.57% of the study area was classified as suitable and 325.63 km2 representing 40.74% of the study area is classified as most suitable for a landfill. Further, out of 19 possible landfill sites identified as most suitable, 7 met the minimum of 0.54 km2 required for a landfill which can accommodate 8×106 m3 of solid waste projected to be generated in the next 20 years in Kitwe. The results further found that the current Ichimpe dumpsite falls in a zone classified as unsuitable. This study is of profound significance as it enhas contributed to the existing body of knowledge on the selection of scientifically and socially acceptable landfill sites in developing nations. We propose building human and infrastructural capacity and adopting hybrid GIS and MCDA approaches to promote environmental and socio-economic sustainability in landfill selection and operation which ultimately will contribute to meeting SDGs 3, 6 and 11 and the Africa Union's Agenda 2063.

Combined settlement and clogging in drainage sand layer for suspended solids, colloids and inorganic salts

Blockage of leachate drainage facilities is a common engineering problem in landfill operation. The key factors that cause blockage of drainage facilities in landfill leachate are the deposition of suspended solids (SS) with colloids and the precipitation of inorganic salts. To determine the combined sedimentation law of SS, colloids and inorganic salts, a combined sedimentation test of suspended solids, colloids and inorganic salts was conducted. To further clarify the resulting clogging characteristics of the water-conducting sand layers, a sand column blocking test were conducted, and mineral composition and grain characteristics of sediments were determined. The experimental results shown that the colloids (silver iodide) and inorganic salts (calcium chloride or aluminum sulfate) increased the sedimentation rate of SS by 8 to18 times. Among them, the effect of AgI colloid was the most significant, followed by effect of calcium chloride, while effect of aluminum sulfate was the weakest. Compared with sand column clogging caused by SS, this combined migration shortened the sand column clogging time by more than half and reduced hydraulic conductivity by nearly two to three orders of magnitude. This study contributes to the accurate assessment of the service performance of landfill leachate drainage systems.

Solid waste management: an investigation on the current situation of the landfill in the municipality of Garanhuns – PE

The generation of solid residues has become one of the biggest problems of humanity due to the growing demand of the population for goods and services, and it is necessary that the governments look into a way to mitigate its harmful effects on the environment. In Brazil, the problem of adequate solid waste management also became recurrent and started with the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which took place in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 1992, Rio-92 or Eco-92. The general objective of the work is to diagnose the current situation of the Garanhuns landfill regarding its suitability for the Intermunicipal Solid Waste Plan - PIRS of the Agreste Meridional Region of Pernambuco and the Garanhuns landfill as an instrument to combat environmental transgression. In the first moment, a documentary analysis was carried out regarding the proposed theme and in the second moment, an investigation, through an interview, about the situation of the landfill in relation to the PIRS. Despite fulfilling some requirements regarding the final destination of the waste, the municipality has not yet prepared, licensed and implemented the Degraded Areas Recovery Program-PRAD, an indispensable part to comply with the guideline of “Compliance with the National Solid Waste Policy”. However, even though there are still some obstacles to compliance with the PIRS, the importance of a properly licensed landfill operating in Agreste Meridional de Pernambuco is emphasized.

The Impact of the Sarimukti Landfill's on the Water Quality of the Cipanawuan River

Sarimukti Landfill operations use a controlled landfill system. The Cipanawuan River is affected by the operational impact of this Landfill. This study aims to identify the effect of leachate from the Sarimukti Landfill on the water quality of the Cipanawuan River. The research method calculates water quality status based on the Decree of the State Minister for the Environment No. 115 of 2003 concerning Guidelines for Determining Water Quality Status. River water quality standards are based on Appendix VI of Government Regulation No. 22 of 2021 concerning implementing Environmental Protection and Management. Water quality parameters identified are parameters that exceed quality standards. Based on the water quality status calculation shows a decrease in water quality from upstream to downstream of the river. The downstream part has been heavily polluted, indicating that there is influence from Sarimukti Landfill operations. Based on the research results, Sarimukti's Treatment Plant's flowing quality for TSS, BOD, and COD is needed to meet quality standards. This can affect water quality, and there is a relationship between the influence of Sarimukti Landfill operations on the water quality of the Cipanawuan River, which is near the Landfill.

Site suitability analysis for sanitary landfills using geospatial methods in a part of southern Peninsular Malaysia.

Globally, around 1.3 billion tonnes of waste are generated annually, and solid waste management has thus become a major concern worldwide. There are projections of a 70% increase in waste generation from 2016 to 2050 owing to urbanization and the rapid growth of the global population. Estimates indicate that around 38,200 tonnes of waste are generated per day in Malaysia, and this volume of waste is significantly shortening the planned life spans of operating sanitary landfills in the country. Batu Pahat is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia, with a relatively large population of 495,000 and with no record of an operational sanitary landfill. This study was conducted to identify and classify the most suitable sites for sanitary landfill developments in southern Peninsular Malaysia by means of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which is recognized as a competent technique for multicriteria decision-making. The resulting landfill site suitability index map established 33.88 km2 of area coverage as very highly suitable for landfill development, while 353.86 km2 of area coverage was classified as unsuitable. Sites 1-6 were identified as the most suitable for landfill activities. Sites 1-5 are situated in agricultural land areas, while site 6 is in a forested land area; this implies public participation and the adoption of compensatory measures in the event of landfill development in these areas, given their socioeconomic importance. The six suitable sites are all at least 2000m from rivers: 2000-3000m for sites 1, 3, and 5 and > 3000m for sites 2, 4, and 6. The six sites are all > 3000m from fault zones and > 1000m from flood-prone areas, meaning that occurrences such as fault movements and flooding will have minimal impact on the operational activities of landfills at these sites. The selection of sites 1-6 as very suitable for landfill development was associated with an overall accuracy rating of 93.33% and kappa coefficient score of 0.92 based on accuracy assessment analysis of all sites. This study will guide the actions of policymakers, city planners, and local authorities toward sustainable and environment-friendly landfill development and operation in Batu Pahat and other districts in the state of Johor.

Environmental Impacts and Health Risks of Open Landfills in West African Countries: A Systematic Review of the Literature

In developing countries, despite the fact that most waste is composed mainly of materials of plant origin, the increasing industrialization of communities is increasingly involved in the generation of waste from industrial and agricultural activities and chemical remains.

Evaluation of biogas production rate and leachate treatment in Landfill through a water-energy nexus framework for integrated waste management

The aim of this study was to investigate the simultaneous biogas generation and leachate treatment using municipal waste and its polluted leachate at Mashhad landfill in northeast Iran. The research focused on examining the kinetic model of CH4, CO2, CO, H2S and O2 production with and without leachate recirculation (LR) through control/test wells. The findings from both wells showed an increase in logarithmic CH4 production rate, with the coefficient related to the rate of increase in methane concentration ranging from 0/52-0/64 in the control well and 0/47-0/55 in the test well, respectively. Under LR conditions, it was observed that the CH4 production rate was slower, taking an average of 120 minutes to reach 50% concentration, compared to just 15 minutes without LR. Using first-order equations, the CH4 production coefficients were measured to be 2/17 h−1 and 0/9 h−1 for the control and test wells, respectively. The analysis of recirculated leachate revealed a significant decrease (∼30%) in the total volume of leachate with 72% COD removal, which could help manage overloaded leachate problems in the landfill. The COD removal coefficient was found to be 0/036 day−1 in the control well, whereas the test well with leachate recirculation showed a more rapid decrease from 50 g.l−1 to about 14 g.l−1 with a removal coefficient of 0/012 day−1, three times higher than the control well. Additionally, nitrogen content analysis indicated that although the amount of ammonia content increased with LR, the increase was relatively low in comparison to conditions without LR, equivalent to 1394 ppm and 1000 ppm in control and test wells, respectively. This study aligns with the water-energy-nexus concept by offering a sustainable solution for waste management and energy generation, while also addressing water management challenges associated with landfill operations.

Experimental and machine learning approaches to investigate the application of sugarcane bagasse ash as a partial replacement of fine aggregate for concrete production

Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) is produced during the cogeneration of dry sugarcane bagasse in the sugar and ethanol industries. Managing the huge amount of SCBA is a difficult task as it requires a lot of time and effort, resulting in its direct disposal in open landfills and polluting the environment. To address these problems, the present study is aimed at utilizing this waste as a sustainable material. The objective of the current study is to analyze the impact of using SCBA as a partial replacement material for natural fine aggregate (NFA) in concrete production using two methodologies, namely experimental and artificial intelligence approaches. In the experimental approach, the mechanical properties of SCBA-based concrete made by replacing NFA at various proportions (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) are assessed. These properties include mechanical (compressive strength, split tensile strength), and durability (initial surface absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and sulphate attack). Additionally, to analyze the practical usability of the SCBA-based concrete, analytical evaluations such as cost estimation, global warming potential, statistical analysis, and the linear relationship between the parameters have been carried out. In comparison to the control mix, the experimental results showed that a 10% substitution of SCBA for NFA significantly improved compressive strength (14.1%), split tensile strength (24.05%), ultrasonic pulse velocity (0.52%), initial surface absorption (19.2%), and resistance to sulphate attack (11.5%). In addition, the analytical evaluation showed a significant reduction in the concrete production cost and a negligible increase in global warming potential. The statistical analysis and mathematical relationship showed a statistically significant difference in the compressive strength at different curing ages and a strong relationship between the compressive strength and other parameters of SCBA-based concrete. On the other hand, seven machine learning (ML) models (linear regression, artificial neural network, K-nearest neighbor, K-star, decision tree, support vector machine, and additive regressor) were considered to predict the compressive strength of SCBA-based concrete produced by replacing NFA content. The performance of these models has been evaluated using errors, correlation coefficients, and sensitivity analysis. In addition, scatter plots, box and whisker plots, histograms, and correlation matrices are used to visualize the available datasets. The results of the artificial intelligence approach revealed that the additive regressor model performed well compared to other models, with the highest coefficient (0.95) and minimal errors in predicting compressive strength.

Developing a sustainability solid waste treatment portfolio for 3Ps (planet-prosperity-people) nexus

Municipal solid waste requires effective management to avoid adverse environmental impacts, such as pollution emissions and leachate discharge, and to enhance economic feasibility and societal acceptance. The current waste policy lacks the synergistic and integrated effect of the 3Ps dimensions – planet (environment), prosperity (economic), and people (social) – leading to unsustainable municipal solid waste management. This study develops a novel 3Ps nexus graphical portfolio that can be universally adoptable in various regions to quantitatively evaluate the life cycle sustainability of solid waste facilities relative to business-as-usual (i.e., open landfill). The 3Ps assessments, which share the backbone of life cycle analysis, are conducted to form the portfolio. Taking Malaysia as a case study, mechanical material recovery facility is the most sustainable solid waste facility, outperforming open landfill by 7.5 (environmental), 2.7 (economic), and 1.95 (social) times, followed by incineration, anaerobic digestion, tunnel composting, and sanitary landfill. Mechanical material recovery facility (−67.7 Pt) and incineration (−9.26 Pt) are the only solid waste treatment facilities with net environmental benefits due to the 298- and 4.18-times environmental saving effect, respectively, from their generated value-added by-product. Ten scenarios are further analysed, combining existing national municipal solid waste policies and zero-landfill targets. A scenario with 40% recycling is the most sustainable scenario for fulfilling the 3Ps. Recycling is recommended to be coupled with tunnel composting and anaerobic digestion to treat heterogeneous waste, rendering the scenario 1.04–33 times more sustainable than other integrated scenarios. To align with the 2030 Agenda, waste segregation is essential for sustainable waste management and can be supported by technology improvement, financial subsidy, and legislative enforcement.

Environmental and Legal Support for the Implementation of a Pilot Project for the Creation of Carbon Landfills and Carbon Farms

The article is devoted to the analysis and evaluation of the prospects for the formation and development of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of creation and operation of carbon landfills and carbon farms. According to the results of the study of regulatory legal acts and methodological documents in the field under consideration, legal problems have been identified that could potentially affect the provision of the strategic goal set in the documents of state strategic planning to achieve carbon neutrality of the Russian Federation by 2050.The conclusion is proved, according to which completely different areas of the natural environment are provided and currently used for the implementation of a pilot project for the creation of carbon polygons, while the current environmental legislation does not establish the specifics of the use and protection of natural resources and objects during the creation and operation of carbon polygons. At the same time, the legal regime for the use and protection of natural resources within the boundaries of the carbon landfill has not yet been created, nor has a unified legal model for the use of carbon polygons been formed.Based on the results of the study, the main directions for improving the current legislation on environmental and legal support for the creation and functioning of carbon polygons are proposed. Also, based on the results of the study, the conclusion is substantiated that there is a need for a separate comprehensive intersectoral regulatory legal regulation of the creation and operation of carbon farms created on the basis of existing carbon landfills, including regulation of the procedure for the creation, production and subsequent circulation of carbon units, the creation of a carbon unit trading market, a system for monitoring the circulation of carbon units, etc.

Hydration Characteristics of Cementitious Composites Containing Calcium Silicate Slag Powder

A significant portion of calcium silicate slag (CSS) waste is deposited in open landfills, leading to various environmental concerns. CSS powder with high content of active β-C2S is a potential supplementary cementitious material. This study determined the isothermal hydration heat flows of cementitious composites containing 0 – 40% CSS powder using an isothermal calorimeter. The hydration kinetics and parameters were simulated and analyzed using Krstulovic-Dabic model. Results indicated that the first exothermic peak of the cementitious composite containing CSS powder shifted to the left and was significantly higher compared to Portland cement. The second exothermic peak also shifted to the left, but its value decreased significantly. The cumulative hydration heat of the cementitious composite gradually decreased with increasing of CSS powder content. The simulations from the kinetic model showed that the hydration rate of the entire process decreased with the increase of CSS powder incorporation. These findings are expected to provide guidance for the use of CSS powder in low-heat mortars or concrete.