Sustainable Waste Management Solution Research Articles

Moving up the Waste Hierarchy in Maine: Learning from “Best Practice” State-Level Policy for Waste Reduction and Recovery

As Maine residents look toward the future, it is increasingly clear that more sustainable waste and materials management solutions will be necessary. A recent stakeholder engagement process involving nearly 200 industry professionals, municipal representatives and citizen groups confirmed this point. As we move together toward a more sustainable waste management system, participants in the engagement process identified an outstanding need to learn more about policies options. This article responds to that need with a review of state level policies designed to reduce waste generation and increase material recovery rates. We find there are a wide variety of state-level policy tools available, each of which involves a series of complex tradeoffs to balance decision criteria ranging from diversion potential and cost to social acceptability and environmental protection. While there is no magic formula, it is clear that the most successful state-level programs are those that utilize a variety of tools, selected as part of a comprehensive and data-driven long term planning process.

Energy production from piggery waste using anaerobic digestion: Current status and potential in Cyprus

In this work the current status and the potential of biogas production and energy generation through the anaerobic digestion of piggery waste in Cyprus are presented. The onsite use of anaerobic digestion for treating piggery waste not only generates renewable energy, but it is also a sustainable waste management solution. The actual values of the biogas production (20,475 m3/day) and the energy generation are compared with the theoretical values, which are in line with several units. The value 20 m3/tonne of pig waste was found to predict more accurately the biogas, heat and electricity production compared to the value of 36 m3/tonne of pig waste. Moreover, an empirical equation (R2=0.9939) is proposed for calculating the biogas production per day, according to the volume of pig waste treated per day BGP=14.64 (PWT)+535. The potential biogas production from the total pig population of Cyprus equals to 29,734,356 m3/yr and the potential thermal and electrical energy are calculated to be 90.85GWhth/yr and 63.59GWhel/yr, respectively. Finally future alternatives on anaerobic digestion in Cyprus are presented such as co-digestion, centralized anaerobic digestion, hydrothermal pre-treatment, possible use of fuel cells and efficient utilization of pig slurry.

Synthesis and Characterization of Biomodified Rubber Asphalt: Sustainable Waste Management Solution for Scrap Tire and Swine Manure

This paper investigates the feasibility of the application of scrap tire and swine manure to produce a sustainable alternative for bituminous asphalt used in pavement construction. Biobinder is produced from swine manure by using a thermochemical conversion process; biobinder is then blended with crumb rubber and asphalt binder (PG 64-22) to produce biomodified rubber (BMR) asphalt. In addition to offering a renewable alternative for petroleum-based binder, BMR can be a hybrid environmental solution for the management of swine manure and scrap tire. To study the merit of application of BMR in the asphalt industry, this paper compares the rheological properties of BMR with a crumb rubber–modified (CRM) binder commonly being used in the United States. The authors found that BMR has comparable properties with the CRM binder. In addition, the authors found that the introduction of the biobinder to the CRM binder was beneficial in improving the low temperature property of the CRM binder while also reducing the CRM binder’s overall viscosity. In turn, this would allow for lower mixing and compaction temperatures of CRM asphalt while alleviating crumb rubber’s stiffening effect and enhancing the CRM asphalt’s pumpability. A lower mixing and compaction temperature will reduce the greenhouse gas emission during application of the CRM binder in pavement construction.

Environmental management accounting in local government

PurposeThis study aims to explore the state of environmental management accounting practice and the motivations for its use with a view to improving waste and recycling management by local government. The focus is on practice in local governments situated in the state of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Prior studies suggest the need for environmental management accounting as a supporting tool for waste management.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory case study method was applied in 12 NSW local government organisations. In each local government interviews were conducted with managers responsible for waste and recycling issues.FindingsContrary to prior research this study found that, in the local governments investigated, an increasing amount of environmental management accounting information is being made available. The case studies found two main motivations encouraging the development of environmental management accounting in local government: first, social structural influences, such as regulatory pressures from different environmental regulatory bodies, environmental expectations from local communities, and pressures from peer councils; second, organisational contextual influences reflecting situational needs in the organisational contexts, such as complex waste operations and service designs, changes and uncertainties in waste and recycling management, and the council's strategic position for waste management.Research limitations/implicationsThe results imply that institutional theory and contingency theory provide different but complementary explanations for the development of environmental management accounting in waste management. Although previous environmental studies are overwhelmingly in favour of social system‐based theories, such as institutional theory, to explain environmental changes in organisations, an organisation's contextual dynamics seem to be equally important.Originality/valueThe findings about motivations provide useful information for environmental strategists and government regulators to make policies that improve accountability and the efficiency of waste and recycling management as well as promote future development of environmental management accounting to support sustainable waste management solutions.

MANAGEMENT OF WASTE FROM ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT IN CYPRUS - A CASE STUDY

Waste from Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) constitute one of the most complicated solid waste streams, in terms of its composition, and, as a result, it is difficult to be effectively managed. In addition, there is a lack of an organized mechanism for the official recording of its quantities in the European Union. Thus, the available quantitative data derive from certain evaluation projects and estimation models. This paper analyses the current waste management practices in Cyprus as a case study and presents the estimated quantities of WEEE. All this data is considered valuable and can be used as a basis for making the most suitable recommendations, in order to deal with the problem effectively and promote sustainable waste management solutions, such as its reuse and recycling.

Sustainable solutions for solid waste management in Southeast Asian countries

Human activities generate waste and the amounts tend to increase as the demand for quality of life increases. Today's rate in the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEANs) is alarming, posing a challenge to governments regarding environmental pollution in the recent years. The expectation is that eventually waste treatment and waste prevention approaches will develop towards sustainable waste management solutions. This expectation is for instance reflected in the term 'zero emission systems'. The concept of zero emissions can be applied successfully with today's technical possibilities in the agro-based processing industry. First, the state-of-the-art of waste management in Southeast Asian countries will be outlined in this paper, followed by waste generation rates, sources, and composition, as well as future trends of waste. Further on, solutions for solid waste management will be reviewed in the discussions of sustainable waste management. The paper emphasizes the concept of waste prevention through utilization of all wastes as process inputs, leading to the possibility of creating an ecosystem in a loop of materials. Also, a case study, focusing on the citrus processing industry, is displayed to illustrate the application of the aggregated material input-output model in a widespread processing industry in ASEAN. The model can be shown as a closed cluster, which permits an identification of opportunities for reducing environmental impacts at the process level in the food processing industry. Throughout the discussion in this paper, the utilization of renewable energy and economic aspects are considered to adapt to environmental and economic issues and the aim of eco-efficiency. Additionally, the opportunities and constraints of waste management will be discussed.

Beneficial reuse of precast concrete industry sludge to produce alkaline stabilized biosolids

The precast concrete industry generates waste called concrete sludge during routine mixer tank washing. It is highly alkaline and hazardous, and typically disposed of by landfilling. This study examined the stabilization of municipal sewage sludge using concrete sludge as an alkaline agent. Sewage sludge was amended with 10 to 40% of concrete sludge by wet weight, and 10 and 20% of lime by dry weight of the sludge mix. Mixes containing 30 and 40% of concrete sludge with 20% lime fulfilled the primary requirements of Category 1 and 2 (Canada) biosolids of maintaining a pH of 12 for at least 72 hours. The heavy metals were below Category 1 regulatory limits. The 40% concrete sludge mix was incubated at 52 degrees C for 12 of the 72 hours to achieve the Category 1 and 2 regulations of less than 1000 fecal coliform/g solids. The nutrient content of the biosolids was 8.2, 10 and 0.6 g/kg of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium respectively. It can be used as a top soil or augmented with potassium for use as fertilizer. The study demonstrates that concrete sludge waste can be beneficially reused to produce biosolids, providing a long-term sustainable waste management solution for the concrete industry.

Waste management in Cameroon: A new policy perspective?

Towns and cities in Cameroon exhibit the burdens of waste management which characterise so many African cities. Several factors including inadequate financial resources, low levels of enforcement of regulations and poor governance often lead to poor solid waste management services. This paper presents a critical analysis of the state of solid waste management regulations in Cameroon and constraints this places on the delivery of sustainable waste management solutions. A case study of the Limbe Municipal Council is used to highlight some of the waste management related problems in the country. Results indicate that solid waste management services are rudimentary; essentially collect and dump. Current regulations do not adequately address waste handling or disposal. There are inefficiencies in the implementation of waste management policy due to the devolved responsibilities between several governmental agencies and the local councils. The paper discusses some of these constraints and concludes with suggestions for improving the delivery of sustainable waste management solutions.

Generation and management of construction and demolition waste in Greece—an existing challenge

In Greece, the construction industry has been developing rapidly over the past decades and the Olympic Games that, will be held in Athens in 2004 have made this development even more intense. The stream of construction and demolition (C&D) waste must be dealt with special attention because of the shortage of landfill space for disposal and the various dangerous substances contained in it, which, can potentially affect the environment and human life if not managed properly. The working group of the NTUA was provided with a grant by Eurostat in order to collect data and illustrate the current status in the country in regards to C&D waste. This paper presents the results of the study and analyses the generation sources, the estimated quantities of C&D waste as well as the current waste management practices in Greece. Recommendations are made in order to deal with this problem effectively and promote sustainable waste management solutions such as reuse and recycling.

Use of Composted Greenhouse Waste as a Growing Medium Component Will Contribute to a Sustainable Waste Management Solution for Vegetable Greenhouses

ABSTRACT As part of a study in sustainable greenhouse waste management, a growing medium component made from composted greenhouse waste was investigated and compared with the conventional sawdust growing medium used in most vegetable greenhouses in British Columbia, Canada. The compost provided higher moisture retention and density, and lower porosity; for optimal growing conditions, irrigation should be adjusted to take this into account. In a commercial tomato greenhouse trial setting, a mixture of 2:1 sawdust to compost by volume was found to be suitable as a growing medium, providing similar yield, crop health and fruit quality, and additional pH buffering compared with the conventional system. Since the waste processing is carried out on site, quality and consistency of the compost can be ensured. Successful application of compost in the growing medium can help provide a more sustainable waste management strategy through on-site recycling and conservation of organic resources, and may offer the grower disease suppression benefits.