Solid Waste Minimization Research Articles

The Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization Research Project-A Collaborative Economic Stimulus and Environmental Protection Initiative in Northwest OHIO, USA

The Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization Research Project-A Collaborative Economic Stimulus and Environmental Protection Initiative in Northwest OHIO, USA

Treatment of olive mill wastewater by different physicochemical methods and utilization of their liquid effluents for biological hydrogen production

Abstract In this study various two-stage processes were investigated for biological hydrogen production from olive mill wastewater (OMW) by Rhodobacter sphaeroides O.U.001. Two-stage processes consist of physicochemical pretreatment of OMW followed by photofermentation for hydrogen production. Explored pretreatment methods were chemical oxidation with ozone and Fenton's reagent, photodegradation by UV radiation, and adsorption with clay or zeolite. Among these different two-stage processes, strong chemical oxidants like ozone and Fenton's reagent have the highest color removal (90%). However, their effluents were observed to be unsuitable for both hydrogen production and bacterial growth. On the other hand, clay treatment method was selected as the optimum process that allows fast and low-cost treatment as well as its effluent found to have the highest hydrogen production potential (31.5 m 3 m −3 ). Spent-clay regeneration was also investigated on the grounds that solid waste minimization is important for the overall efficiency of this process.

Business excellence through resource efficiency (betre): East Sussex waste minimisation programme

The East Sussex business excellence through resource efficiency (ES betre) waste minimisation club (programme) aimed to increase awareness of the benefits of improved resource efficiency and achieve reductions in waste, energy and water for SMEs in East Sussex, in South East England. The programme was delivered by EcoSys in partnership with the East Sussex Sustainable Business Partnership, a collaboration of all East Sussex Local Authorities, the Environment Agency and EcoSys. ES betre provided a range of free support and advice over a 2-year period including: 54 workshops, 6 newsletters, 30 environmental audits, 16 grants and 312 technical helpline enquiries. Information on environmental compliance and best practice for solid waste minimisation and recycling, energy and water efficiency was disseminated and activities linked with the government's best practice programmes, e.g. Envirowise, Action Energy and The Carbon Trust. Marketing activities were extremely successful in attracting businesses to join with 757 signing up, 60% of which then went onto become active service users. This is the most successful recruitment rate in the UK to date, making ES betre some 40 times larger than the average UK waste minimisation club. Excellent links with local business support/trade associations were built up and recruitment by personal recommendation became a feature. The project had a strong focus on smaller businesses (<250 employees). Of the businesses that signed up to the project, 56% were Micro (<9 employees) and 86% employed less than 50 employees (Small). The project reached 4000 local businesses regularly via newsletters and event mailings. Some 60% of the 757 businesses became actively involved and attended training events or had environmental audits. A total of 189 businesses identified improvement actions (1226) and of these, 123 businesses had implemented at least one improvement action by the end of the programme. These resulted in estimated cost savings of at least £263,000 per annum and just over half of these savings have already been achieved (March 2005). In addition, actions taken to prevent pollution and ensure compliance with environmental legislation will save businesses a further £297,000 in fines. These cost savings were larger than the cost of the project (£298,000). The environmental impact of the programme has been significant with reductions identified in waste (1915 t), water (17,352 m 3) and energy (1.2 million kWh). The savings quantified are thought to be conservative as it was found that many Micro and SMEs did not measure the impact of their actions. Previous experience indicates that, for projects involving smaller companies, cost savings are likely to be underestimated by at least 50%. As well as making it difficult to measure outputs, this lack of measurement means it is harder to demonstrate the need for change with the benefits of improved practice.

Policy incentives to minimize generation of municipal solid waste

Municipal solid waste minimization involves decisions by product manufacturers, government institutions, private businesses, and householders to reduce the amount of waste placed in the waste stream ('source-reduction') and to divert waste entering the waste stream toward benign purposes ('waste diversion') - rather than toward disposal through incineration or landfilling. Three basic types of policy incentives can be used to prompt waste generators, handlers, and managers to minimize waste generation: command-and-control regulations, social-psychological incentives, and economic incentives. The likelihood of command-and-control regulations being successfully implemented depends importantly on the social-psychological and economic incentives for waste minimization provided in the regulations. Experience from various parts of the world shows that, when such incentives are provided, agencies and individual householders can learn to change their attitudes and behavior toward generation and disposal of waste. However, fully achieving this result will require considerable time and much purposeful attention to the wide array of interrelated matters required in minimizing waste generation.

Policy incentives to minimize generation of municipal solid waste

Municipal solid waste minimization involves decisions by product manufacturers, government institutions, private businesses, and householders to reduce the amount of waste placed in the waste stream (‘source-reduction’) and to divert waste entering the waste stream toward benign purposes (‘waste diversion’) – rather than toward disposal through incineration or landfilling. Three basic types of policy incentives can be used to prompt waste generators, handlers, and managers to minimize waste generation: command-and-control regulations, social-psychological incentives, and economic incentives. The likelihood of command-and-control regulations being successfully implemented depends importantly on the social-psychological and economic incentives for waste minimization provided in the regulations. Experience from various parts of the world shows that, when such incentives are provided, agencies and individual householders can learn to change their attitudes and behavior toward generation and disposal of waste. However, fully achieving this result will require considerable time and much purposeful attention to the wide array of interrelated matters required in minimizing waste generation.

Waste Minimisation Supporting Urban Tourism Sustainability: A Mega-Resort Case Study

This paper documents major solid waste minimisation (SWM) practices, challenges, and recommendations identified in an environmental sustainability case study. The analysis was performed in the 3,530 room Flamingo Hilton Resort and Casino (LVFH) in Las Vegas,Nevada,USA.The city's 29 million tourists a year leave behind mountains of dollars... and garbage. The main research contributions are the SWM hierarchy, and the study's documentation of corporate actions and attitudes relating to waste minimisation in an urban tourism setting. Resort areas studied ranged from reprographics to guest rooms. Selected findings and recommendations of this study are presented according to a five level hierarchy for waste minimisation, from most to least critical. The first and most fundamental hierarchy level is commitment to environmental goals such as conservation and environmental protection from tourism's negative impacts. Levels two through four are critical sub-strategies of source reduction. Level two necessitates applying eco-intelligence within purchasing policies and activities. Level three involves the source reduction principles of using and wasting less through such practices as using electronic communications. Re-fillable packaging is an example of level four; re-use. To avoid final disposal, level five requires recycling.

The effect of multiple extrusion passes during recycling of high density polyethylene

High density polyethylene blow modling resins have been identified as a primary material for solid waste minimization and recycling. An experimental study into the effect of multiple extrusion cycles on the properties of a virgin homopolymer, virgin copolymer, natural post consumer, and mixed color post consumer blow molding resin was conducted. Rheological properties such as shear and elongational viscosity and elastic modulus were studied in the context of changes experienced during recycling. The G′-G′ (elastic storage and loss modulus) crossover point was used to measure relative changes in the polydispersity index and molecular weight distribution (MWD). It is also shown that extrudate swell and sag change after multiple extrusion passes. Environmental stress crack resistance was also measured. A rationale for the significant decrease in the environmental stress crack resistance of the virgin copolymer resin is presented. The results are analyzed in terms of known degradation mechanisms such as chain scission and crosslinking, and their relationship to the molecular structure. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Adv in Polym Techn 16: 11–24, 1997

Hospitality solid waste minimization: a global frame

Environmentally responsive hospitality solid waste minimization (SWM) programs and practices are urgently needed. A strategic SWM approach means first implementing material elimination or reduction. Second, institute procedures to reuse and extend product life. Third, seek avenues to recycle waste prior to resorting to disposal. Two perspectives to guide SWM efforts are described. The biosphere perspective highlights the interdependent nature of our global environment. The life-cycle analysis perspective assesses cradle-to-grave impacts of SWM alternatives. Together, these views and practices can result in cost avoidance, can enhance consumer image and employee morale, and can lessen environmental impacts.

ANALISIS MINIMISASI LIMBAH PADAT MEDIS DI RS PB

This research was conducted between February and April 2016 and is housed in RS PB. This study aims to analyze the medical solid waste minimization. The method used is survey method with qualitative descriptive research. Based on this research, medical solid waste minimization efforts that have been done of medical waste segregation, House keeping, preventive maintenance, and management of materials, while only limited efforts to use waste reuse (reuse). Recycling (recycle) and recovery (recovery) of medical waste has not done RS PB. Based on 2004 and 1204 Kepmenkes PP 18 jo 85, 1999, sorting and storage of medical waste is not eligible.