Collection Of Packaging Waste Research Articles

An ideal plastic waste management system based on an enhanced MCDM technique

The Fermatean probabilistic hesitant fuzzy set (FPHFS) concept is a method that combines Fermatean fuzzy sets and PHFS to provide detailed MCDM problem solutions. The management of solid waste is facing challenges in disposing of environmentally harmful plastic products. The study primarily focuses on plastic waste from the packaging industry, as it is the primary contributor to overall waste generation. The packaging sector has proposed a concept for the recycling of waste at various levels. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the hybrid analytic hierarchy process and the combinative distance-based assessment (AHP-CODAS) method FPHFS in determining the most suitable plastic waste collection system. The AHP analysis identified the most effective methods for collecting plastic waste for recycling, emphasizing successful segregation for efficient recycling. A deposit and refund system promotes waste collection and a circular economy by facilitating efficient waste management. The research offers valuable insights into selecting packaging waste collection (PWC) technology in uncertain environments and enhances decision-making methods in the field.

Investigation of greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste management practices using an economic input-output life cycle analysis approach

The urban solid waste management is gaining attention due to ecological, economic, and demographic factors, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices and infrastructure development. There are two main objectives of this work: developing an effective framework to predict the environmental impacts of alternative packaging waste collection rates and estimating the associated environmental emissions, energy consumption, and the materials required for goods and services for the case of Avcilar Municipality in Istanbul City, Türkiye. To achieve these objectives, an Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment model was implemented to assess the impacts of all associated industrial sectors. The results showed that as the amount of packaging waste collection increases, the top two sectors that are responsible for the most emissions are Oil and Gasoline Production and Electricity Production and Supply sectors. In addition, the economic analysis results of the study show that as the packaging waste collection rate increases, the unit packaging waste collection cost decreases. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the environmental emissions of packaging waste management strategies. Moreover, this study highlights the importance of packaging waste management in reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions and promoting more sustainable waste management practices. Policymakers and waste management stakeholders can utilize this framework to identify strategies that minimize environmental impacts and carbon footprints, thereby fostering a transition towards more sustainable waste management options.

The Warranty-Return System for Packaging – A New Challenge in Achieving Environmental Protection in Romania

The management of packaging and packaging waste, a component of the environmental protection strategy, determined the development of rules at the European Union level since 1975. The diversification of packaging types and the increase in the amount of waste required finding new ways to improve waste management. For this, however, it is necessary to ensure an effective selective collection of packaging waste, and not only that. This article presents the new challenges of the guarantee-return system in Romania from the perspective of the obligations imposed on economic operators in the collection, transport and recycling of packaging subject to this system.

Approaches and Policies to Promote Zero-Waste City Construction: China’s Practices and Lessons

The rapidly growing output of solid waste has brought tremendous pressure to urban development. China launched an action plan known as “Zero-waste city” (ZWC), that refers to an urban development model aimed at reducing the generation of and enhancing the recycling of solid waste, in order to alleviate environmental impacts. Eleven cities and five special zones achieved positive results of solid waste management were selected as pilot areas for exploring empirical methods until 2019. The practices and lessons of the pilot cities need to be deeply analyzed and summarized, so as to promote successful models, learn lessons and better implement the policy comprehensively for other cities. This study presents a review of China’s ZWC policies and practices with constructive suggestions for further development. Based on the policy objective of ZWC and the field investigation of solid waste flow, five crucial approaches to developing ZWC are proposed, namely, solid waste reduction throughout the industrial chain, collaborative treatment of classified municipal solid waste (MSW), efficient utilization of agricultural waste with multiple purposes, safety control of hazardous waste flow, and optimization of market mechanisms. The case study demonstrates that the five paths are appropriate to Xuzhou city. However, deficiencies in MSW classification, pesticide packaging waste collection systems, solid waste product application, management, and policymaking, have emerged. Regulatory prohibitions, extended producer responsibility and market vitality should be adopted to improve the collection, transportation, and utilization of solid waste. Key findings from this research are to summarize crucial paths toward fulfiling ZWC goal, and to reveal some successful practices of, and lessons from ZWC construction by case studies. This study provides a method to further implement zero solid waste management in a targeted manner. The recommendations drawn from the study, which include law, market and institutional measures, may contribute to the achievement of developing sustainable cities.

Deposit refund system for beverage containers as a best practice example for recycling maximization

Packaging waste has a detrimental impact on the pollution of the ecosystem unless it is not managed properly. Many countries try to solve this problem by collecting beverage packaging before it gets mixed with other wastes and sends the beverage packaging to recycling facilities. In order to reproduce a packaging material, in the exact same form and quality as the materials produced from the raw material, the quality and status of the used material become rather important. Therefore, a specific method, among others, becomes prominent for the re-collection of the used beverage packaging, before these become wasted and contaminated. This system is called the “Deposit Refund System (DRS)”. In the DRS, each beverage packaging shall have a certain deposit value and with each purchase, the consumer shall pay that deposit value in addition to the product price. This system leads the way to a clean and effective collection of recyclable beverage packaging. The aim of this study is to draw attention to the importance of packaging waste, to introduce the Deposit Return System, which is the best management method of used beverage packaging in the world, and to introduce the reader to the main lines of the deposit return system we have developed for Turkey. In this study, we have researched the best practices of DRS and examined the implementation of the system. The methodology we used included a detailed examination of all the administrative, technical and economic processes necessary for the sustainable implementation of the subject. The success of the system depends on a clear structuring and outlining of the relationships, duties, authorities, and responsibilities of each stakeholder. Accordingly, the legal framework shall set forth a comprehensive framework, in order to regulate all procedures and principles relating to the DRS. The main outcome of the study is to determine the advantages of implementing the DRS in Turkey, for beverage packaging waste management. In addition, we analyze the governance models of DRS, where the DRS is run by an Operator. We examine the alternative governance models, such as state-owned and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models other than “non-profit organization model” which is common in EU countries. We further elaborate on the financial sustainability of the PPP projects and how to create “bankable projects”. As an innovative model for the DRS, we created a well-structured finance model with a resilience revenue stream in the PPP option for long-term public services. The DRS is one of the best implementation mechanisms for the separate collection of packaging waste. In the countries where DRS is applied, recycling rates reach up to 98% for beverage containers [1]. DRS in Turkey can increase recycling rates up to 70% for PET, glass, and aluminum materials. This outcome leads more efficient and closed-cycle source management. The New Circular Economy Action Plan by the EU aims to design the entire life cycle of products while promoting circular economy processes, fostering sustainable consumption, and aiming to keep resources available as much as possible in the EU’s economy. Lastly, we also considered and examined other environmental benefits of the DRS in Turkey.

Environmental gains in the collection of packaging waste obtained in Uskudar district by changing the collection type

ABSTRACT The collection of packaging wastes separately from domestic wastes is a legal requirement and has become a necessity due to the need for raw materials today. Due to the legislative requirements, disruptions in practice constitute an obstacle to create a successful waste management policy. The subject of this study is to provide a system that will help the administrators of the district municipalities who want to collect the packaging wastes with their own means. In Uskudar municipality defined as a pilot area, environmental gains have been achieved by collecting packaging wastes separately from domestic wastes in two different days. The results of the collection of packaging wastes from households separately from domestic wastes were analyzed by separate collection days of district municipalities. Waste characterization studies are carried out, and the evaluation is presented. In this study, it was determined that the environmental gains obtained by changing only the packaging waste collection days yielded important results. The classical collection model, Uskudar Model and the effect of not collecting packaging wastes on ecosystem and people were examined by life cycle analysis. Implications: The importance of the environmental contribution of the proper packaging waste collection system. Environmental contributions provided by recycling only by changing the collection system. Revealing the environmental contributions of the packaging waste collection system through life cycle analysis.

Improving environmental performance in wine production by life cycle assessment: case of Lebanese wine

This paper aims to carry out a Product Environmental Footprint study of a Lebanese red wine, “Coteaux Les Cedres” by HF S.A.L company (Couvent Rouge winery) produced in the west Beqaa Valley and consumed in the UK. This study is done by implementing the draft Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) of wine. The purpose is to identify the most relevant life cycle stages and processes, in order to improve its environmental performance. The consumption of materials and energy and the emission to air, soil and water from the red wine campaign of 2014 were reported to the functional unit, 0.75 l of Coteaux Les Cedres. The company provided the specific life cycle data for the stages of grape production and wine making. The use phase and end of life were modelled in the UK, which is one of the most important markets of Coteaux Les Cedres. The SimaPro® software and the Ecoinvent database were used to model the Lebanese wine under study by respecting the drafty PEFCR ON WINE version 5.2. A scenario analysis for a set of selected parameters was performed. Results show that the most relevant life cycle stages for 0.75 L of packaged red wine are: grape production, primary packaging and distribution. These stages are contributing in average 39%, 34% and 13% to the impact categories respectively. The environmental impacts for grape production are mainly related to the waste management produced by pruning and diesel consumption by agriculture machinery. As for the packaging, the production of glasses bottles is the process with higher environmental impacts associated. As for the distribution, the transportation from retail to retail is the most impacting process. Within the End-of-Life, the collection of packaging waste is the process with the highest environmental impacts. According to the scenario analysis composting the biomass, using lighter glass bottles and implementing a water saving system were identified as critical for improving the environmental performance of the wine product assessed in this study. The company under study has already shown interest in environmental issues and has made it clear by opting for an organic grape production. Thus, it agreed to take specific actions, in the grape production and packaging stages, that have reduced the environmental impacts. This experience has certainly enhanced management and staff awareness of the importance of making strategic choices with respect to environmental performance throughout the entire product life cycle.

Global Criterion Approach for the Solution of Multiple Criteria Data Envelopment Analysis Model: An Application at Packaging Waste Collection and Separation Facilities

Adverse effects of packaging waste on the environment and economic losses resulting from the use of untouched resources have made the recycling process compulsory. The success of the collection and separation of packaging waste, which are the most important phases in the recycling process, depends on the effective management of these processes. In this paper, we analyzed the efficiency of 14 collection and separation facilities. A Global- Multiple Criteria Data Envelopment Analysis model (G-MCDEA) based on a global criterion method was proposed for the solution of the multiple criteria data envelopment analysis model, which is organized as a three-objective multiple objective linear programming model. With the proposed model, the three objective functions were transformed into a single objective function, and the normalized grades of the distance from the ideal solution was calculated for each decision making unit. In this was it was determined which objective was closer to the global activity achieved.

The environmental benefits of improving packaging waste collection in Europe

Collecting more waste via source separation waste collection systems is an essential part of increasing resource efficiency, achieving European recycling targets and closing the loop in a circular economy. Huge variation in the capture rates of packaging waste (paper, plastic, metal, composite material and glass) exists in Europe, even between municipalities with similar characteristics, which suggests there is great potential to increase the amount of these materials that can be recovered. In order to assess the environmental impacts linked to higher collection rates, a Life Cycle Assessment model was built that considers the reduced need for virgin materials as the system’s loops are closed. An extra 18 million tonnes of waste could be collected annually in Europe if best practice collection strategies were to be deployed, leading to a 13% reduction in greenhouse gas production associated with the packaging and packaging waste. Although high collection performance is crucial for efficient resource use, improving source separation waste collection systems alone will not be enough to achieve recycling targets; material losses must be reduced throughout the value chain, i.e. at the sorting and recycling stages. By evaluating the circularity and environmental implications of current waste management, it can be shown at which points in the system the most improvement needs to be made for each material in order to facilitate the transition towards a circular economy.

Prediction Performance of Separate Collection of Packaging Waste Yields Using Genetic Algorithm Optimized Support Vector Machines

Understanding the drivers underlying waste production in general, and source-segregated waste in particular, is of utmost importance for waste managers. This work aims at evaluating the performance of support vector machines (SVM) models in the prediction of separate collection yields for packaging waste at municipal level. Two SVM models were developed for a case study of 42 municipalities simultaneously serviced by separate collection of packaging waste and by unsorted waste collection. The “SVM-fixed” model used a fixed set of 5 variables to predict collection yields, whereas the “SVM-optimal” model chose from a pool of 14 variables those that optimized performance, using a genetic algorithm. These SVM models were compared with 3 traditional regression models: the ordinary least square linear (OLS-L), the ordinary least square non-linear (OLS-NL) and robust regression. The robust regression model was further compared against the other regression models in order to assess the influence of the dataset outliers on the model performance. The coefficient of determination, R2, was used to evaluate the performance of these models. The highest performance was attained by the SVM-optimal model (R2 = 0.918), compared to the SVM-fixed model (R2 = 0.670). The performance of the SVM-optimal model was 42% higher than the best performing regression model, the OLS-NL model (R2 = 0.646). The differences in performance among the 3 regression models are small (circa 3%), whereas the exclusion of outliers improved their performance by 13%, indicating that outliers impacted more on performance than the type of traditional regression technique used. The results demonstrate that SVM model can be a viable alternative for prediction of separate collection of packaging waste yields and that there are nine important drivers that all together explain roughly 92% (R2 = 0.918) of the variability in the separate collection yields data.

Environmental and social life cycle sustainability assessment of different packaging waste collection systems

Considering the social, cultural, economic and environmental structure, source-separated collection of recyclable packaging wastes has been a huge issue for cosmopolite cities like Istanbul. To provide an effective recycling system; all source separation, collection and recycling activities should be analyzed environmentally and socially. In the scope of this study, existing and alternative municipal packaging waste management systems are analyzed and compared in terms of environmental and social impacts. The research is mainly based on a long term site observation, data collection and existing system analysis. Environmental performances of alternative scenarios are calculated based on the existing system data, whereas more site observations and interviews with stakeholders are conducted for the determination of social impacts. In the analysis of both environmental and social impacts of the scenarios, life cycle assessment used as a methodological approach. Results of the study show that informal collection systems are environmentally more effective than the formal collection systems. Even the resource consumption is high in these systems; they are still environmentally beneficial because of the high material collection rate. On the other hand, social impact assessment results indicate that informal collection system has serious social disadvantages compared to the formal systems. And finally, it is found that environmental and social weaknesses of the system could be minimized with integrated system applications.

Behavioral spillovers from food-waste collection in Swedish municipalities

We estimate behavioral spillovers from environmental policy within the context of a natural experiment on food waste in Sweden. Exploiting the staggered implementation of food-waste collection across Swedish municipalities, we use a difference-in-difference design to measure the causal effect of introducing such collection on another pro-environmental behavior, namely the sorting of packaging waste. Results suggest a positive spillover effect on packaging waste which corresponds to 5–10% of the population average and rises gradually over time, possibly due to slow implementation of food-waste collection in many municipalities. These estimates are unconfounded with a number of shifts in the waste-related incentives facing households, e.g. introduction of curbside collection of packaging waste from single-family homes. Although we are unable to directly account for all such factors, indirect robustness tests provide no compelling evidence that estimated spillovers are spurious.

The regional heterogeneity of household recycling: a spatial-econometric analysis of Swedish plastic packing waste

Environmental policy is often formulated at the national level, but the primary responsibilities for policy implementation, monitoring and compliance are often assigned to local actors (e.g., municipalities). This paper investigates the regional heterogeneity of household plastic waste collection among Swedish municipalities, and how collection rates have been influenced by local waste management policies, geographical conditions and socio-economic characteristics. This is achieved by employing spatial econometric methods and cross-sectional data for 282 Swedish municipalities. The results confirm the presence of spatial correlation. Furthermore, municipalities that employ weight-based waste management fees generally experience higher collection rates. The presence of curbside recycling and a high intensity of recycling drop-off stations, i.e., policy measures that help improve the infrastructural conditions for household recycling, also help explain why some municipalities perform better than others. However, the correlations between packaging waste collection and a number of important regional cost variables, such as the distance to the recycling industry, urbanization rate and population density, turn out both statistically and economically insignificant. An important explanation for this could be that the Swedish producer responsibility scheme has offered regionally differentiated (and fixed) monetary compensations to local collection entrepreneurs, and these have typically been higher in high-cost regions. This implies that plastic packaging waste collection in Sweden has been performed in a spatially cost-ineffective manner.

Yaşam döngüsü analizinin ambalaj atıklarının yönetiminde kullanılması

The aim of this study is to determine the environmental impacts of the packaging waste management for Sakarya-Serdivan by using life cycle analysis (LCA). Simapro 8.02 software with CLM-IA impact category was used to perform the LCA. Functional unit was considered as one ton of packaging waste collected in Sakarya-Serdivan. System boundaries include collection of packaging waste, transportation into sorting-recycling plant, separation of mixed packaging waste, sale of pressed papers, cardboards, metals and unpressed glasses to the relevant companies and recycling of plastics into granulate form and disposal of residual waste or non-recyclable materials by landfilling. In the study, 3 scenarios were modeled for packaging waste management. While packaging wastes are recycled at real and the regulation rates for two scenarios, landfilling of packaging waste without any recycling are focused on the last scenario. According to the results, landfilling of packaging waste is the worst alternative. It was observed higher negative impacts in the freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, marine aquatic ecotoxicity, ozone layer depletion and abiotic depletion (fossil).

Model for the separate collection of packaging waste in Portuguese low-performing recycling regions

Separate collection of packaging waste (glass; plastic/metals; paper/cardboard), is currently a widespread practice throughout Europe. It enables the recovery of good quality recyclable materials. However, separate collection performance are quite heterogeneous, with some countries reaching higher levels than others. In the present work, separate collection of packaging waste has been evaluated in a low-performance recycling region in Portugal in order to investigate which factors are most affecting the performance in bring-bank collection system.The variability of separate collection yields (kg per inhabitant per year) among 42 municipalities was scrutinized for the year 2015 against possible explanatory factors. A total of 14 possible explanatory factors were analysed, falling into two groups: socio-economic/demographic and waste collection service related. Regression models were built in an attempt to evaluate the individual effect of each factor on separate collection yields and predict changes on the collection yields by acting on those factors. The best model obtained is capable to explain 73% of the variation found in the separate collection yields. The model includes the following statistically significant indicators affecting the success of separate collection yields: i) inhabitants per bring-bank; ii) relative accessibility to bring-banks; iii) degree of urbanization; iv) number of school years attended; and v) area.The model presented in this work was developed specifically for the bring-bank system, has an explanatory power and quantifies the impact of each factor on separate collection yields. It can therefore be used as a support tool by local and regional waste management authorities in the definition of future strategies to increase collection of recyclables of good quality and to achieve national and regional targets.

Social life cycle assessment of different packaging waste collection system

Recycling is one of the most preferable tools of the sustainability concept considering its economic benefits and environmental effects. However, environmental and economic benefits are not always enough to accomplish a sustainable life concept. Social impacts, which basically focus on issues such as the well-being of humans, should be also considered. Regarding this concept; in this study we aimed to analyze the social impacts of different packaging waste management systems. In this context, we proposed eleven scenarios, which consisted of hypothetical formal and informal collection scenarios. All these scenarios were compared with the currently applied collection system in Istanbul, Turkey. The social analysis was conducted by using Life Cycle Assessment methodology. The results of this study showed that existing system and informal collection scenarios had socially fewer score than the formal scenarios in almost all impacts. Between the formal collection systems, there were slight differences caused by especially working conditions and socio-economic repercussion. However, formal collection scenarios showed more negative social impacts than formal-informal system integration. The result of this study showed that it was crucial to consider an amelioration on the informal collection system. In the integrated scenario (S11), some of the critical subcategories were idealized and improved taking into consideration to the long term modification issues. Although we couldn’t minimize all negative social impacts; it was obvious that this scenario was still the best option. Finally, we may conclude that application of an ameliorated informal collection system would be socially more beneficial than formal and informal collection systems.

A case study of packaging waste collection systems in Portugal – Part I: Performance and operation analysis

The need to increase packaging recycling rates has led to the study and analysis of recycling schemes from various perspectives, including technical, economic, social, and environmental. This paper is part one of a three-part study devoted to comparing two recyclable packaging waste collection systems operating in western Portugal: a mixed collection system, where curbside and drop-off collections are operated simultaneously (but where the curbside system was introduced after the drop-off system), and an exclusive drop-off system. This part of the study focuses on analyzing the operation and performance of the two waste collection systems.The mixed collection system is shown to yield higher material separation rates, higher recycling rates, and lower contamination rates compared with the exclusive drop-off system, a result of the curbside component in the former system. However, the operational efficiency of the curbside collection in the mixed system is lower than the drop-off collection in the mixed system and the exclusive drop-off system, mainly because of inefficiency of collection. A key recommendation is to ensure that the systems should be optimized in an attempt to improve performance. Optimization should be applied not only to logistical aspects but also to citizens’ participation, which could be improved by conducting curbside collection awareness campaigns in the neighborhoods that have a mixed system.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN BANJALUKA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

In this paper life cycle assessment was applied to analyze and evaluate, from an environmental point of view, current and alternatives to the current solid waste management system in Banjaluka region. The current system, which is disposal on landfill, has significant adverse environmental impacts caused by methane emissions from landfill. Therefore, four different scenarios were developed as alternatives to the current waste management system. Landfilling with energy recovery, separate collection of packaging waste, incineration and anaerobic digestion were considered in these scenarios. The functional unit in this study is 100,000 tons which is the amount of municipal waste which is generated within one year in Banjaluka. The assessment in this study was based on results from modelling performed in the EASETECH model. The improvement of gas collection in the current scenario and its utilisation for the purpose of creating energy will have a positive effect on the environment. Increasing separation collection of packaging waste and reducing biodegradable waste will have a positive effect on the environment. The separation and recycling of packaging waste should begin as soon as possible and policies that promote source separated collection should be implemented.

A case study of packaging waste collection systems in Portugal – Part II: Environmental and economic analysis

An understanding of the environmental impacts and costs related to waste collection is needed to ensure that existing waste collection schemes are the most appropriate with regard to both environment and cost. This paper is Part II of a three-part study of a mixed packaging waste collection system (curbside plus bring collection). Here, the mixed collection system is compared to an exclusive curbside system and an exclusive bring system. The scenarios were assessed using life cycle assessment and an assessment of costs to the waste management company. The analysis focuses on the collection itself so as to be relevant to waste managers and decision-makers who are involved only in this step of the packaging life cycle. The results show that the bring system has lower environmental impacts and lower economic costs, and is capable of reducing the environmental impacts of the mixed system. However, a sensitivity analysis shows that these results could differ if the curbside collection were to be optimized. From economic and environmental perspectives, the mixed system has few advantages.

Environmental analysis of different packaging waste collection systems for Istanbul – Turkey case study

Source-separated collection of recyclable packaging wastes has been a huge issue for cities such as Istanbul considering their socially, economically, culturally and environmentally cosmopolite structure. In order to apply an environmentally effective separation and collection, system has to be analyzed with a holistic approach including whole recycled packaging material amounts, source consumptions and related emissions. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine the environmentally optimum source-separated packaging waste collection system applicable in Istanbul, Turkey for the first time in literature. Eight scenarios for separated collection system were defined and all of them were compared with each other and with the existing system. To measure the efficiency of the system, some efficiency indicators were chosen and effectiveness related variables were determined to predict the participation rate. Calculations of the efficiency indicators for alternative scenarios were based on the existing system. The environmental analysis was conducted by using Life Cycle Assessment methodology. The results of this study showed that existing system was still one of the environmentally most promising scenarios. Following advantageous scenarios were Scenarios 5 and 6 which were two and three fractionated curbside collection systems, respectively. It is also seen that more fractionated scenarios were less beneficial than two fractionated scenarios. And finally, it can be concluded that with an increment on participation rate and changing collection material type, collection efficiency of curbside system would increase and be environmentally more beneficial.