Waste Management Sector Research Articles

Municipal Solid Waste Management towards Climate Neutrality

In line with the European Union’s move and the Green Deal initiative, Latvia needs to reduce CO2 emissions by 2030 and reach their complete elimination by 2050. Since waste management sector is associated with high greenhouse gas emissions, the sector will experience changes in the near future, and its sustainable development is linked to overcoming technical, economic and environmental challenges. The work aims to find solutions to the development of the waste sector in an environmentally sound manner, ensuring that the sector is closer to climate neutrality in 2050. Waste management is at the forefront of major changes and challenges in achieving regulatory objectives. In view of the changes expected and taking place in the sector, it is essential to carry out studies on resource and material recovery optimization options and potential for waste streams to be recycled and the energy recovery potential for non-recyclable streams. Acquiring knowledge and raising awareness of the role of changing management practices in saving CO2 emissions – avoided emissions – will allow the sector to move towards climate neutrality. This article analyses biodegradable waste management options and proposes the optimal solution for biodegradable waste management towards climate neutrality.

90 Bioaerosol Exposure in Automated and Traditional Waste Sorting Plants

Abstract The waste management sector takes a central part in the transition towards circular economy and is subject to technological progress and the implementation of new work operations. Traditional waste collection and processing systems are characterized by numerous tasks that favour waste workers’ exposure to bioaerosols, whereas exposure in modern automated waste sorting plants remains elusive. Moreover, there is still a lack of health-risk based exposure limits for most components contained in bioaerosols. We investigated occupational exposure to bioaerosols in traditional and automated waste sorting plants. The results revealed significant differences in various exposure levels, such as total dust (GM automated: 0.34 mg/m3, GM manual: 0.66 mg/m3), endotoxins (GM automated: 51 EU/m3, GM manual: 32 EU/m3) and microorganisms between and within type of plant. An assessment of the composition of air-borne fungal particles (FESEM based immunodetection method) showed significantly increased levels of fungal spores at automated waste sorting plants (GM automated: 1.2 × 105 spores/m3, GM manual: 2.1 × 104 spores/m3). Elevated total dust levels and concentrations of submicronic fungal fragments were significantly correlated to the occurrence of symptoms of the extrathoracic region, such as congested nose, in exposed workers. The results of this study showed high variation in exposure levels between and within type of waste sorting plant, as well as seasonal variation for some parameters, such as total dust and endotoxins. This indicates that Norwegian waste workers are potentially exposed to high levels of dust and microorganisms that may cause adverse health effects in receptible individuals.

Japan’s greenhouse gas reduction scenarios toward net zero by 2050 in the material cycles and waste management sector

The first draft scenario toward net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 for the material cycles and waste management sector was presented by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan in August 2021. The details of the future GHG emission estimation used to create the draft scenario are described in this document. For multiple scenarios where more aggressive measures, such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), were included in addition to business-as-usual and the current policy continuity scenario, future GHG emissions were estimated as the sum of the products of activities and emission factors indicating changes in measures between scenarios. The estimation outcomes demonstrated that future GHG emissions from the solid waste management sector could be anticipated to be zero or even negative when material conversion to biomass, primarily for plastics, recycling to raw materials, and installation of CCUS at incineration facilities are assumed. Extensions of prior plans are not enough to reach the goal of net zero emissions, according to the measures necessary and the volume and pace of their implementation suggested in this study. Stakeholders should collaborate with great ambition.

Urban mining of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) residues with emphasis on bioleaching technologies: a critical review.

Metals are essential in our daily lives and have a finite supply, being simultaneously contaminants of concern. The current carbon emissions and environmental impact of mining are untenable. We need to reclaim metals sustainably from secondary resources, like waste. Biotechnology can be applied in metal recovery from waste streams like fly ashes and bottom ashes of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI). They represent substantial substance flows, with roughly 46 million tons of MSWI ashes produced annually globally, equivalent in elemental richness to low-grade ores for metal recovery. Next-generation methods for resource recovery, as in particular bioleaching, give the opportunity to recover critical materials and metals, appropriately purified for noble applications, in waste treatment chains inspired by circular economy thinking. In this critical review, we can identify three main lines of discussion: (1) MSWI material characterization and related environmental issues; (2) currently available processes for recycling and metal recovery; and (3) microbially assisted processes for potential recycling and metal recovery. Research trends are chiefly oriented to the potential exploitation of bioprocesses in the industry. Biotechnology for resource recovery shows increasing effectiveness especially downstream the production chains, i.e., in the waste management sector. Therefore, this critical discussion will help assessing the industrial potential of biotechnology for urban mining of municipal, post-combustion waste.

Promotion of Producer Contribution to Solve Packaging Waste Issues—Viewpoints of Waste Bank Members in the Bandung Area, Indonesia

As regulations have developed, the waste management sector in Indonesia has increasingly expected producer involvement in waste reduction activity through the enactment of new regulations. In addition, the recent development of the waste management sector now involves community-based approaches such as waste banks. This study aims to determine the relationship between extended producer responsibility implementation and the waste bank concept. A questionnaire survey was designed and applied to waste bank members of two waste banks in the Bandung municipality, Indonesia. Several factors were identified that can be considered by producers to promote their contribution in dealing with the packaging waste issue, such as producer consideration and contribution, knowledge level, collection, and awareness of the importance of packaging waste issue. The result also shows that involving feedback from waste banks can provide some insights to expand and develop producer contribution in reducing the impact of packaging waste. Producers can improve collection and recyclability of their product packaging while increasing public knowledge on their activity at the post-consumer stage.

Waste as Resource for Pakistan: An Innovative Business Model of Regenerative Circular Economy to Integrate Municipal Solid Waste Management Sector

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a global concern, especially in low–middle-income countries such as Pakistan, which require the redressal of MSW treatment issues to attain sustainability in the waste sector. The prosperity of municipal solid waste (MSW) collectors, i.e., the sanitary workers, is critical in the waste management hierarchy. Hence, the health, safety, social welfare, economic conditions and overall wellbeing of this tier need to be focused on more. Safeguarding the interests of the sanitary workers will support the MSW management sector in sustainability, which will help to generate revenue and minimize climatic impacts. An innovative MSW business model with waste ownership and technological intervention has excellent potential to support the sector towards a circular economy in Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world, generating about 100,000 metric tons of MSW per day. The proposed recycling business model will ensure a daily material recovery of 26,070 tons with 4721 tons of compost manufacturing in the country, which ultimately helps towards achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and meeting the targets of nationally determined contributors (NDCs) by 2030. In addition, the sector’s economic potential can contribute 5.5% to the total annual budget and possibly pay 1.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP) per annum to service national foreign debt, thus helping maintain the debt threshold value with an opportunity to accelerate the economic growth of Pakistan.

The Socio-Economic and Environmental Benefits of Waste Scavenging in Maiduguri, Borno State

This study aimed at assessing the economic and environmental benefits of waste scavenging in Maiduguri, which has been presumably neglected by formal sector. The objectives of the study were to: identify the types of waste materials recovered by scavengers, determine the average monthly income and factors that influence the income of Scavengers and examine the environmental benefits of waste scavenging. Data were collected using Questionnaire and observation checklists. Five wards out of the 15 wards that constituted the study area were purposively selected for the study. 210 scavengers were randomly selected and administer Questionnaire at the depots in each of the sampled wards where they sell recovered materials. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi square test. The study found that scavenging is a male dominated occupation, with a mean age of 20.2 and average monthly income of N13, 500. The Chi-square test performed to demonstrate the influence of socio demographic factors on income of scavengers revealed a significant association between Age, Educational attainment, length of practice, marital status and categories of waste scavengers. Gender and alternative occupation were the only insignificant factors. The study also showed that, Scrap metals and aluminum were the major materials recovered by scavengers as ascertain by 65.71%, and that the materials are recovered base on their economic value, quality and state. Seasonal differences also contribute to the pricing of recyclable materials recovered by scavengers. The study also revealed that despite the significant contribution of scavengers to environmental sustenance, economic growth and poverty reduction, their activities is still not acknowledge by local authorities in the study area. The study recommends that Government should recognize their contributions as important stakeholders in the waste management sector in Maiduguri by diversifying the types of recyclables and establishing recycling plants, more permanent employment could be provided for the scavengers and other people, thereby improving the economy. Also, Successful integration of scavengers into a formal programme can help optimize waste collection and recycling in an integrated waste management programme. If well organized, scavengers could be given the necessary training that would enable them overcome the challenges they encounter in their activities, especially those related to vulnerability of hazards.

Improving Urban Resilience through Formal Integration of Waste Pickers in Jordan’s Solid Waste Management

The main aim of this project is to study the situation of waste pickers around the world and to analyse the situation of the informal sector of solid waste management in Jordan specifically. The study was done by different methods like surveys and desk reviews. It included studying their behaviour, the places they work at, types of materials they collect, the method of collection and much more. After this analysis, the focus was to find the most suitable method to integrate this sector with the government in a formal way that can benefit the waste pickers themselves, the government and the whole solid waste situation in the country. Based on the results of our study, recommendations for the waste pickers’ situation in Jordan were given.

Streamlined Social Footprint Analysis of the Nascent Bio-Pellet Sub-Sector in Zambia

Climate change concerns have goaded countries toward seeking renewable energy options (bio-energy being one of them) to replace/supplant the conventional fossil-fuel alternatives (coal, oil and natural gas) commonly used now. Fuel pellets—at the confluence of the forestry, agriculture, waste management and bio-energy sectors—when produced from biomass residues, serve the dual purpose of ensuring energy security and environmental sustainability. By valorizing more and more organic wastes to bio-energy products, one could, to use the old adage, ‘kill two birds with one stone’. Social LCA is a method used to analyze a very wide range of social issues associated with the stakeholders in a value chain—workers, local community dwellers, society, global consumers, banks, investors, governments, researchers, international organizations and NGOs. In this analysis, the authors commence with a highly focused, niche literature review on the social dimension of sustainability in the African energy/bio-energy sector. The streamlined social footprint analysis inspired by the relatively lesser number of such studies for this sector in Africa is not a novel addition per se to the S-LCA knowledge base. The purpose of the application is to shed light on something in Zambia that must be understood better so as to bring about much-needed alterations in the direction of sustainable development. While the questions addressed to four different groups of stakeholders encompass a clutch of sustainable development goals, gender equality (SDG 5) and the need for greater interest on the part of governments and investors (SDG 9) to look at sustainable alternatives to the status quo stand out as concerns that need to be tided over. This paper and the streamlined social footprint analysis carried out are all the more relevant and timely when one considers some key changes that have happened in Zambia over the last five years—the implementation of the National Energy Policy in 2019 and the creation of the Ministry of Green Economy in 2021. These are verily harbingers of positive change auguring well for future developments in the bio-energy (and bio-pellets) sector, not just in Zambia but, by way of emulating and learning, in other countries on the continent.

Application of system dynamics for municipal solid waste to electric energy generation potential of Khulna city in Bangladesh

A sustainable municipal solid waste (MSW) planning approach for Khulna city must include innovative and pioneering technologies which will suffice the requirements towards achieving the sustainable development goals (SDG) enlisted in the Bangladesh delta plan (BDP), 2100. This study utilizes system dynamics (SD) model to not only understand the MSW management system of Khulna city with independently interconnected parameters but also investigates three policy scenarios to aid the decision makers. An unforeseen increase of the composite index to 57.1 by 2050 represents the deteriorating environmental quality due to inconsistent policy measures for the baseline scenario of waste management sector. The methane (CH4) emission potential from landfill at Rajbandh in Khulna city has been found to be 8.29 Gg in 2020, which increases enormously to 108 Gg by 2050. The electric energy generation potential from the emitted CH4 has been found to be 7.65 MW per day in 2020 which eventually increases to 99.5 MW per day by 2050. This quantity can potentially be supplied to meet 2.24% of the total electricity demand by 2050. The total electric energy generation potential from MSW in Khulna city has been found to be 36.311 thousand MW in 2050 from 2.80 thousand MW in 2020. It has been perceived that, existing MSW management policy of Khulna city has to be replaced by assumed “Policy 3”, involving improved recycling capacity, collection capacity, extensive composting, landfill CH4 recovery and waste to electricity generation measures. Finally, this sophisticatedly developed SD model can be used for policy simulation of different spatiotemporal region.

The path to circularity: A literature review of its application in Latin America

Present and future generations have a great concern about environmental issues such as the increase of contamination of natural resources and the loss of plant and animal life on earth due to excessive waste and its poor management, poor production practices and consumption habits. As a result of this concern, the main purpose of this research was to present the strategies and the framework that constitute the circular economy (CE) and to consider its application in Latin America. The methodology included a literature review using Scopus and Dialnet databases, applying the key terms “Circular Economy” and “Latin America”, the selection criteria were based on language, number of citations and publication date, which resulted in a statistical sample of 62 articles and reports. After completing the literature review of CE principal concepts, implementation strategies throughout different economic levels, opportunities and disadvantages for use, the researcher was able to see the potential for a global change in the economic system. Because there are clear differences in the application of a circular economy in different regions, the researcher found that an investigation into the socio-economic conditions of any particular region would be necessary before implementing a circular business model. The researcher found that in Latin America a circular economy with a focus on regenerative agriculture and a waste management sector with a waste-to-energy focus provided a high potential for success.

Possibility of Using Waste Materials as Substitutes for Gravel or Water in Concrete Mix

Analyzing the global waste management sector, we can see that some waste, due to its specificity, is a major challenge when it comes to its management. This group includes rubber waste and sewage sludge. Both items pose a major threat to the environment and human health. The remedy for this problem may be the solidification process, in which the presented wastes are used as substrates in the production of concrete. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of waste addition to cement in the form of an active additive (sewage sludge) and a passive additive (rubber granulate). An unusual approach to sewage sludge was used, which was introduced as a substitute for water, and not, as in most works, sewage sludge ash. In the case of the second waste, commonly used tire granules were replaced with rubber particles resulting from the fragmentation of conveyor belts. A wide range of the share of additives in the cement mortar was analyzed. The results for the rubber granulate were consistent with numerous publications. For the addition in the form of hydrated sewage sludge, the deterioration of the mechanical properties of concrete was demonstrated. It was found that the flexural strength of the concrete in which water was replaced with hydrated sewage sludge was lower than that of the sample without the addition of sludge. The compressive strength of concrete with the addition of rubber granules was higher than the control sample and did not significantly depend on the amount of granulate used.

The Practices of At-Source Segregation of Household Solid Waste by the Youths in Nepal.

Source segregation, the first important step for effective solid waste management, is practised by a handful of organizations in limited areas in Nepal. The inadequacy of source segregation and ineffective collection system in Nepal have led to maximum waste reaching the landfill site. Though several researchers have studied the role of stakeholders and the importance of youths in the waste management sector, there is a paucity of studies on the role of youths, particularly in waste segregation in Nepal. In this regard, this study was conducted to understand the at-source household waste segregation practices by youths in Nepal. The study adopted the snowball sampling technique. A structured survey questionnaire which included information on the sociodemographic status of the respondents, placement of bins, segregation practices, and satisfaction with the waste collection provider was used to elicit information from 522 youths. It was found that almost half (49.2%) of the respondents had installed two dustbins in their kitchen with 80.3% of respondents claiming to practice source segregation in their houses. The majority (75.1%) of participants were ready to pay more for improved solid waste management in their area. Also, 75.8% of respondents declared that everyone is responsible for solid waste management with fewer than 14.8% and 9.4%, stating that waste management should be the responsibility of the government and waste management service provider, respectively. The gender and source segregation was statistically significant with a p value of 0.007 (<0.05). However, the likelihood ratio significance showed no association between the level of education and the practice of source segregation. Hence, the source segregation practice of household solid waste was found to be satisfactory among the youths of Nepal. Thus, there should be a proper monitoring mechanism to ensure that household waste gets collected in a segregated form causing less burden on landfills.

Multi-sectoral analysis of smarter urban nitrogen metabolism: A case study of Suzhou, China

The urban socioeconomic metabolism of multiple flows of resources is highly complex. Our concern is that of moderating the environmental burden and intensity of this metabolism and elevating its “circularity” through technological interventions in the composition of urban infrastructure. The paper addresses present and possible future patterns of the nitrogen (N) metabolism of Suzhou, China, using a Multi-sectoral Systems Analysis (MSA) model of the water, energy, food, forestry, and waste management sectors of the city's infrastructure and economy. Two of the Triple Bottom Lines are employed in the assessment: those of the economic feasibility and the environmental benignity of the technological interventions. Environmental benignity is gauged by three Metabolic Performance Metrics (MPMs). 15 scenarios of these interventions are assessed, each being a different combination of introducing four particular promising technologies. The MPMs allow ranking of the scenarios according to, first, the ratio of incoming resource flows into the city and outgoing socio-economically beneficial products and, second, the rates at which “wastes” of no value are released to the atmosphere (as air pollutants), hydrosphere (water pollutants), and the lithosphere (solid wastes). The economic feasibility of the options can similarly be ranked according to the monetary values of resources (such as clean water or energy) that are saved by lowered urban consumption or that are recovered (such as biofuels or fertilizer) for beneficial re-circulation and re-use. All four candidate technological innovations are associated with the water and waste management sectors of urban infrastructure. We show that the trio of urine-separating technology, cultivation of algal biomass in wastewater treatment, and pyrolysis of animal manure can achieve an expected net annual economic benefit of 1.4B Yuan, together with the potential to recover some 31 Gg N yr−1. Notably, our computational assessment accounts for uncertainty, using Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity testing. In particular, we examine how uncertainty may significantly undermine the conclusions we may draw about the promise of any given technological innovation vis à vis another alternative.

Insights on Harnessing Domestic Biowaste for Greening the Green City of Benguerir in Morocco

As the human population grows, the amount of household-generated waste is projected to grow. However, data on the amounts of household-generated waste are lacking in many regions. Uncertainties in the amounts and fractions of biowaste make it challenging to manage actions that reduce its environmental impacts and generate value. The current observational study sought to quantify and characterize the household waste generated in the green city of Benguerir. To achieve this objective, we surveyed waste generation rates in 68 randomly selected households. The results showed that, on average, 0.69 kg of waste was generated per person per day. An average of 80% of the household-generated waste was biowaste, which, if managed appropriately, represents a valuable source of plant nutrients. We estimated that shifting from the current landfill disposal of biowaste to its utilization for compost and biogas production will result in up to an 88% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. These findings suggest that managing household waste will be vital for reducing city-wide carbon emissions and simultaneously creating employment in the waste management sector.

Evolution of Solid Waste Management System in Lahore: A Step towards Sustainability of the Sector in Pakistan

Solid Waste Management (SWM) is a technical subject which requires comprehensive planning, execution, and effective operational monitoring under cost-effective modes compatible with environmentally sound technologies. The policymakers made some enormous efforts for the sustainability of this sector as well as setting a benchmark for other municipalities and Waste Management Companies (WMCs) in the country. Provincial Government prioritizes its focus on SWM, i.e., waste collection, transportation, treatment, and final disposal. The waste management sector in Lahore has achieved sustainability in waste collection and haulage components by gaining experience from international outsourcing and, now, sharing its knowledge with other municipalities to strengthen the sector in the country. Lahore has emerged with the highest collection efficiency (84%) in SAARC countries and placed fifth in rank in comparison to 54 low–middle-income countries/cities worldwide. The sectorial interventions in Lahore reveal an aspiration for the sustainability of the SWM sector in Pakistan. However, there is an urgent need to focus and invest in waste-related infrastructure development, i.e., permanent/mobile transfer stations, semi-underground containers for commercial and planned areas, material recovery facilities (MRF), and landfill. Environmental and economic sustainability in this sector can be achieved through public–private partnership (PPP) modality in compost, anaerobic digestion, recycling, and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) as it is a more feasible option to strengthen the industry in the country.

НАСТАВНИЧЕСТВО КАК СТРАТЕГИЯ РАЗВИТИЯ У СТУДЕНТОВ ИНТЕРЕСА К БУДУЩЕЙ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ

The article dwells on the issues that arise while young professionals are being onboarded at ecologically oriented organizations. A training system that allows students to acquire professional skills transferred to them by experienced mentors, to find and eliminate a problem, is proposed in the article. Plans developed for teacher education students based on the results of job-training programmes implemented in 2023 include all job functions of environmental engineers in the waste management sector. This experience is recommended to be used in environmental organi-zations in order to develop interest of recent graduates in their future professional activities and to train competent personnel.

Selection of a Suitable Waste to Energy Technology for Greater Beirut Area Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Waste to Energy (WtE) is becoming an interesting option for many countries as an effective waste management solution. The goal of this study is the selection of a suitable WtE technology for the treatment of municipal solid waste in Greater Beirut Area (GBA). In adopting a potential WtE technology for solid waste treatment in GBA, the protection of the environment and citizens health is mandatory, but it is also evident the pressing need for economically feasible new electrical energy sources. For a well and an efficient functioning of a WtE plant, an appropriate supply chain system of municipal solid waste should be guaranteed. The selection of a suitable WtE technology is a complex decision and to achieve the stated objective the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was employed and experts in the waste management sector were consulted to formulate the model. AHP analysis was performed using SpiceLogic software. Results indicate that Composting is the best choice with a global score of 0.33, followed by Anaerobic Digestion which acquired 0.21 and Incineration ranked as the third preferred technology obtaining 0.14. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to ensure the results consistency, assessing the reliability of the experts’ judgments.

Waste Management and Private Sector Participation- Operational and Behavioural Perspectives

Waste Management and Private Sector Participation- Operational and Behavioural Perspectives

A Study of Barriers in Healthcare Waste Management Sector

A Study of Barriers in Healthcare Waste Management Sector