Waste Cleanup Research Articles

Community re-education on the urgency of keeping the river clean and sorting waste in Desa Cikole Kec. Lembang

Lembang area is one of the contributors to water pollution in the Cibeureum and Cikapundung rivers which empties into the Citarum river. One of the things that pollute it is animal waste because some residents habitually throw it directly into the river. The program's dedication in the form of Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN), published in this article, aims to increase the awareness of residents and students about the importance of sorting and processing waste. Also, providing education that maintaining cleanliness in Cikole has helped reduce the problem of the Citarum river. It includes education about composting as a way to process animal manure. The method used is value planting and a synergy approach. Some of the programs carried out are the Harum Citarum Seminar by the TNI SATGAS, river carcasses, composting, making organic, inorganic, and B3 trash cans, social services or cooperation, and the commemoration of the Republic of Indonesia's anniversary. After implementing the program, most residents and school students realized the importance of protecting the environment, as seen by the amount of waste disposed of carelessly in several areas. The community has also understood the importance of keeping the environment clean, especially around the river.

Coastal Tourism Enhancement and Waste Management Initiative in Negeri Ureng, Central Maluku

This study assesses the implementation of a community-led tourism exploration and beach cleaning initiative in Negeri Ureng, Central Maluku, particularly in Island 3 Nusa Ela. Our goal was twofold: firstly, to explore and identify new tourism sites and, secondly, to foster a greater understanding and action towards coastal waste management. The adopted method incorporated community engagement, direct observation, and active participation in waste cleanup activities. Findings highlighted picturesque sites around Island 3 Nusa Ela, such as the vicinity near the villa at the island's end, and a unique fresh water source in a large cave. However, the cleanup activities revealed a significant amount of poorly managed waste, predominantly plastic, along the coastline, thus necessitating immediate waste management strategies. As a result, signage was installed to educate both locals and visitors about the adverse impacts of improper waste disposal on the ecosystem and coastal aesthetics. The study underscores the vital role of community involvement in preserving and enhancing coastal areas while showcasing its potential for sustainable tourism. This initiative bears significant implications for other coastal communities worldwide striving to strike a balance between tourism development and environmental conservation.Highlights:
 
 Tourism Locations: The study identified scenic tourism sites in Island 3 Nusa Ela.
 Waste Management: The cleanup revealed significant plastic waste along the coastline, necessitating immediate intervention.
 Environmental Education: Signage was used to educate locals and visitors on the importance of proper waste disposal.
 
 Keywords: Coastal Tourism, Waste Management, Negeri Ureng, Community Initiative, Environmental Preservation.

Biohydrogen production through dark fermentation: Recent trends and advances in transition to a circular bioeconomy

Fossil fuel reserves have drastically decreased over the past two decades, contributing to a worldwide decline in energy sources. The volatility of energy prices and their serious ecological consequences have drawn the attention of researchers to alternative carbon-neutral renewable energy sources. Furthermore, ineffective waste management contributes to environmental contamination, harms human health, and negatively affects the global economy. Biohydrogen (Bio-H2) derived from waste biomass via dark fermentation is a valuable green fuel to solve the issues of clean energy production and waste management. Bio-H2 has several advantages over other biofuels, including carbon-neutral production, ease of generation, low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and high energy efficiency. Besides, by using biowaste to produce bio-H2, global warming and CO2 emissions associated with biowaste incineration can be reduced. Although dark fermentation produces the most efficient and clean bio-H2, the yield and rate of production of the process are very low. This review article summarizes the recent developments in dark fermentation processes to enhance bio-H2 yield and productivity, including pre-treatment, additives inclusion, and integrated solutions. Additionally, this article highlights the metabolic pathways of Bio-H2 production and inhibitory substances that negatively affect dark fermentation. Challenges related to bio-H2 technology transfer from lab to industry are discussed, and prospects for future research to realize the technology transfer are briefed. Further, an integrated carbon-neutral approach by dark fermentation-assisted bio-H2 production is also discussed as a contribution to circular bioeconomy.

Screening of Conditions for Manganese Peroxidase Production from White Rot Fungi (Pleurotus djamor)

The need for alternative and environmentally friendly methods for waste clean-up has led to the use of enzymes in bioremediation. In this study, white rot fungi were isolated from decaying plant parts using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. The isolated fungi were identified and screened using standard substrates (2, 6-DMP) to determine their capability to produce manganese peroxidase. Pure manganese peroxidase was achieved after four distinct purification phases. Crude extract of the homogenate proteins obtained through optimized submerged fermentation system were precipitated using ammonium sulfate. Ammonium sulfate used at 60% concentration at pH 4.5 precipitated proteins with highest Manganese peroxidase activity (322 U/mg). The precipitated proteins were desalted through dialysis for twelve hours with buffer exchange at interval of six hours and activity of 343.91 U/mg was recorded afterwards. DEAE-cellulose was used for the ion exchange purification of the dialyzed protein, NaCl gradients of 0.3-0.6 M was found to be best in washing off bound protein from the exchange resin and activity of 434.18 U/mg was recorded from the pooled fraction tubes. Sephadex G-100 was used for separation of the proteins into molecular sizes and weights. 2.8 purification folds of the enzyme were achieved after ion exchange (DEAE-cellulose) and gel filtration (sephadex G-100) with percentage yield of 2.20%. Specific activity of the enzyme increased to 602.00% after gel filtration. The partial purified enzyme was further characterized for determination of optimal pH (4.5), temperature (40 OC) and kinetic properties Km of 3.4 mM and Vmax of 250µmol/min.

Study of the Briquetting Process of Walnut Shells for Pyrolysis and Combustion

Walnut shells can be used as fuels in power plants directly or as biochars obtained by pyrolysis or torrefaction. They are an example of clean waste biomass which shows a low ash content and a high Net Calorific Value, making them excellent for energy recovery in industrial and non-industrial applications, such as in bakeries, restaurants, and homes. Their main inconvenience is their low bulk density. Densification is a possible solution that reduces the costs of transportation, handling, and storage. In this work, after the characterization of the walnut shells, briquettes were obtained using a hydraulic piston press briquette machine under different conditions to find the best quality without the need for previous grinding for pelletizing. This method features easy operation and maintenance, and the briquette shape could be adapted as desired. The quality of the briquettes was measured through their density and durability. After fixing a compaction pressure to obtain acceptable briquettes, the factors affecting their quality were studied: operating temperature, moisture content, and the presence of small amounts of walnuts. Good quality briquettes were obtained with a compaction pressure of 66 MPa, with densities around 1040 kg/m3, and durabilities higher than 94% when the process was carried at 140 °C. The greatest increase in durability was observed between briquettes obtained at room temperature and those obtained at 80 °C. The presence of small amounts of walnuts, common after the shelling process, improved the durability. Although water is necessary, briquettes obtained from biomass with only 1% of moisture showed better durabilities. Therefore, walnut shells are suitable for obtaining good quality briquettes according to the specifications of solid biofuels established in the standards, without the need for any pretreatment.

Analysis Of The Main Factor In The Implementation of Open Defecation Free Using The AHP Method

Environmental sanitation refers to an environment's health status, including housing, sewage disposal, clean water supply, waste management, and other factors. Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) ensures people access proper environmental sanitation. Based on the monitoring and evaluation results of Community-Based Total Sanitation (STBM) in 2022, it was found that 100% of open defecation had been stopped for Pillar 1 of STBM. This study aims to identify the factors that influence the success of implementing Open Defecation Free (ODF) programs in Depok City. The study used the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to identify data from Contextual, Psychosocial, and Technological aspects. The results of this study indicate that three main aspects are critical to implementing ODF programs in Depok City: Contextual, Psychosocial, and Technological. Each aspect has a main factor that is highly influential. Those influential factors are a unique background for the contextual aspect, knowledge of the importance of community sanitation for the psychosocial aspect, ownership, and maintenance of the physical product for the technological aspect. In conclusion, to successfully implement ODF programs in Depok City, it is crucial to consider the three main aspects of Contextual, Psychosocial, and Technological factors. Addressing these aspects' main influential factors, such as personal background, knowledge of the importance of community sanitation, and ownership/maintenance of physical products, can lead to the effective implementation of ODF programs. However, it is essential to note that the success of ODF programs may vary depending on the specific context in which they are implemented. Thus a tailored approach may be necessary.

Tunable H2/CO syngas production from co-gasification integrated with steam reforming of sewage sludge and agricultural biomass: A experimental study

Biowastes to tunable H2/CO syngas is a promising way to produce clean energy carrier. This study proposed a new concept of improving the production of tunable H2/CO syngas and tar abatement via co-gasification integrated with inline steam reforming (co-GSR) of wheat straw (WS) and sewage sludge (SS) over self-derived gasification/co-gasification carbon materials (G/CGCMs). Binary mixtures with varying WS/SS mass ratios were initially subjected to steam co-gasification, achieving H2-enriched syngas with the tunable H2/CO molar ratio of 1.77 – 3.35. By introducing C[WS] in co-GSR process, the synergistic interactions between binary mixture and C[WS] on the cumulative gas yield, H2 yield, and syngas yield were more predominant by using WS/SS-9/1 as the feedstock, reaching 94.74, 51.53, and 77.99 mmol/g. Moreover, co-GSR of WS/SS-9/1 presented the highest CCE (98.77C%) and CGE (121.63%), suggesting the C content in the binary mixture and C[WS] was almost entirely converted and reformed into gaseous product. Correspondingly, WS/SS-9/1 subjected to co-GSR was also found to gain the lowest tar yield (5.99 g/Nm3). These observations were possibly because the addition of 10% of SS in the blend could not only assure the sufficient C and volatile contents in the blend, but also ensure the sufficient supply of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) from SS as a catalyst to facilitate catalytic cracking and reforming of intermediate tar from decomposition of 90% of WS. When G/CGCMs were applied in both GSR and co-GSR processes, co-biocarbon C[WS + SS] used in the GSR of SS could garner a higher H2 concentration (57.79vol%) and H2/CO ratio (2.89). In addition, plausible reaction pathways and mechanisms regarding co-GSR of binary WS/SS mixture in the presence of G/CGCMs were discussed and elucidated. Simply put, this study provides a newly sustainable route to produce tunable H2/CO syngas towards a clean and sustainable waste management way.

Environment and Health Impact of Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries: A Review

The subject of Solid Waste Management has attained global attention over recent years. This issue is observed to be more prominent in developing countries than in developed countries due to inadequate funds and resources. Solid waste generation, segregation practices, storage facilities, collection frequencies and disposal methods are evidenced to be unsustainable in developing countries. Uncontrolled dumping and open burning are common scenarios in these countries. Open dumping and burning of waste pose serious environmental and health risks. They have led to severe forms of air, water and soil pollution. Municipal Solid Waste pollution increases the mortality as well as morbidity of diseases. Thus, the present study reviews the environmental consequences and subsequent health jeopardies due to improper and inefficient Solid Waste Management. The study focuses more on environmental sustainability of Solid Waste Management than economic and social sustainability. Hence, a paradigm shift towards green and clean Solid Waste Management is vital as it safeguards the ecosystem while preserving a green economy and social equity amongst present and future generations.

Use of an extremophile red microalga (Galdieria sulphuraria) to produce phycocyanin from tangerine peel waste

To enhance the economic feasibility and secure the stable production of algal value-added product, relatively fresh and clean tangerine peel waste was tested as a nutrient source for the production of phycocyanin (a value-added pigment) by an extremophile red microalga, Galdieria sulphuraria. First, tangerine peel extract was compared with conventional growth medium, and then, the adjustments of the pH (3.5) and nutrient balance (1119.30 mg/L NH4-N and 45.53 mg/L PO4-P) were applied to prepare a tangerine peel-based medium for cultivation of G. sulphuraria. Then phototrophic seed culture was adopted to increase the maximized phycocyanin yield up to 2-fold. In the final stage, optimized tangerine peel medium had a 1.7-fold increased phycocyanin yield (159.00 ± 14.55 mg/L) on day 6 compared with the conventional glucose medium (93.67 ± 8.81 mg/L) due to the combination of diverse sugars (glucose, xylose, and fructose) in tangerine peel medium.

Competitiveness of Gross Regional Domestic Product and Its Effect on Economic Development in Palopo City, South Sulawesi Province


 The research aims to analyze the sub-sectors which are the basis of the economy and the competitiveness of the Gross Regional Domestic Product of the City of Palopo and to analyze the Effects of Economic Growth on the Economic Development Index of the City of Palopo, Province of Sulawesi. This research is a descriptive study with a quantitative approach. The data needed in this study are secondary in the form of a time series from 2011 to 2021. This research uses the documentation method from the Central Bureau of Statistics and other related agencies to collect data and information. The techniques used are Location Quotient analysis, Klassen typology, Shift Share, and regression. The findings of this study are that Palopo City has an economic base of electricity, gas, and clean water, Water Procurement, Waste Management, and Recycling, Construction, Trade, Hotels, and Restaurants, Transportation and Warehousing, Financial and Insurance Services Real Estate, Government Administration, Defense, and Compulsory Social Security, Health Services and Social Activities, Other Services. Even though the competitive sub-sectors in Palopo City are the processing industry, gas, electricity and clean water, commerce, hotels, restaurants, transportation, and warehousing, this research also concludes that economic growth in Palopo City does not influence Human Development Index.
 Keyword: Gross Domestic Product, Location Quotient, Klassen Typology, Shift Share, IPM

Gasification of uric acid in supercritical water: Reaction characteristics, nitrogen transformation mechanisms, and kinetics analysis

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of biomass waste as a new clean waste conversion technology is increasingly valued worldwide attributable to the unique properties of supercritical water (water: T > 374 °C, P > 22.1 MPa). However, the fate of conventionally contaminated elements such as nitrogen in this process still warrants further research to control potential contamination. In this work, uric acid was used as the model compound of nitrogenous components in chicken manure to investigate the transformation mechanism of nitrogen during the SCWG process. The effects of different temperatures (550–650 °C) and residence times (2–30 min) on the gasification characteristic of uric acid and the behaviour of nitrogen were experimentally explored. The results indicated that the higher temperatures and longer residence time significantly facilitated the uric acid gasification and nitrogen transformation. The maximum nitrogen conversion efficiency was 84.83%, and the maximum yield of NH3, H2, and CO2 reached 20.20 mol/kg, 23.78 mol/kg, and 20.10 mol/kg at 650 °C and 30 min, respectively. Subsequently, the reaction pathways of nitrogen in uric acid were proposed in detail according to the product analysis. Finally, a kinetic model was developed to describe the SCWG process, especially the reaction kinetic of nitrogenous products. The results revealed that the hydrolysis reactions of uric acid led to a rapid increase in NH3 yield in the initial stage of the SCWG process. As the process continued, the increase in NH3 was mainly due to the deamidation reaction of small-molecule nitrogenous intermediates. Notably, NOx, NO2−, and NO3− were not detected in products, validating the inhibitory effects of the reducing environment of supercritical water on the generation of nitrogen oxides.

Research progress in the co-pyrolysis of renewable biomass with plastic wastes for the synergetic production of chemicals and biofuels: A review

The quantity of plastic waste generated by the public has increased dramatically over the years. Biomass is an abundant and substantial energy resource found in diverse forms all over the planet. In this regard, the co-pyrolysis of plastic and biomass wastes is an attractive option to mitigate the issue of waste accumulation and viable fuel production. This review focuses on progress in waste disposal and energy generation through co-pyrolysis. The properties of common solid feedstock combinations are addressed with an emphasis on proximate analysis, elemental composition, and heating value. Subsequently, state-of-the-art kinetics is reviewed and compared for the efficacies of various kinetic models, which could be applied to understand decomposition mechanisms. The synergy between biomass and plastics was analyzed, and the impact of decomposition mechanisms on the bio-oil, char, and gas yield and composition was discussed. In addition, this study unveiled various reaction pathways for non-catalytic and catalytic co-pyrolysis. Finally, a summary of the economics in co-pyrolysis with knowledge gaps concerning waste management and energy production is addressed. The main goal of this review is to provide a feasible, practical pathway for clean and effective plastic waste disposal by using biomass waste to increase the synergistic effect.

Pharmaceutical waste disposal practices: a case study of an Australian public hospital pharmacy department

AbstractBackgroundIn Queensland, each hospital and health service (local hospital network) has its own waste reduction and recycling plan to comply with the Queensland Government's Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 (Qld). The aim is to reduce both the hospital's carbon footprint and waste handling costs. Hospital environmental waste services staff do not audit pharmaceutical waste bins as this requires the presence of a registered pharmacist.AimSince previous published studies of healthcare waste disposal practices have not included pharmacy waste bin audits, this study aimed to investigate waste disposal behaviours in a hospital pharmacy department.MethodThis sequential, two‐phase mixed methods study was conducted in a metropolitan, tertiary public hospital's pharmacy department in Queensland. Phase I involved semi‐structured interviews of hospital pharmacists and pharmacy technicians while Phase II comprised bin audits of the pharmacy department's waste streams.ResultsThe bin audits revealed 36.1%, 23.8%, and 4.9% of recyclable waste in the clinical waste stream for each of the three bin audits respectively. In the general waste stream, the two bin audits of this stream revealed 14.3% and 44.4%, respectively. The reasons were identified in the interviews: there were no recycling bins in the main dispensing areas and there was confusion surrounding correct disposal of original containers and non‐contaminated packaging waste. Non‐paper waste was found in the confidential (shredded) waste stream in the two bin audits of this stream (10.1% and 16.7%, respectively).ConclusionProvision of commingled recycling bins and clean office paper waste bins in dispensing areas and education of staff on correct waste segregation processes will improve waste segregation in hospital pharmacy departments with both financial and environmental benefits for the hospital and the general population.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among urban cleaning and solid waste management workers during transmission of the Omicron variant in Brazil.

This study estimated the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in urban cleaning and solid waste management workers during the transmission of the Omicron variant in one of the poorest regions of Brazil (the state of Sergipe). Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 494 workers, and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was tested by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, vaccination status, mask use, and use of public transport to commute to the workplace were collected. The prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated from the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases among the total number of individuals tested. The prevalence ratio (PR) with a 95% CI was the measure of association used to evaluate the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the exposure variables. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 22.5% (95% CI, 19.0 to 26.4). Individuals under the age of 40 had a higher prevalence of infection (PR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.30) as well as those who did not believe in the protective effect of vaccines (PR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.89). Our results indicate the need for better guidance on preventive measures against coronavirus disease 2019 among urban cleaning and solid waste management workers.

Gambaran Sanitasi Lingkungan Pada Balita Stunting Usia 24-59 Bulan di Kelurahan Kopo UPT Puskesmas Citarip Wilayah Bojongloa Kaler Tahun 2021

Sanitation The environment affects health, including the ownership of healthy latrines and the provision of clean water and waste management. Poor environmental sanitation practices can increase the risk of infectious diseases that can affect nutritional problems in toddlers. In 2020 the number of stunting events in Kopo Village is still high. This study was to find out how the description of environmental sanitation in stunting toddlers aged 24 - 59 months in Kopo Village UPT Citarip Health Center. This research uses descriptive quantitative research by collecting data through the distribution of questionnaires given online. The population in this study were parents who had stunting toddlers totaling 167 people. The samples taken in this study were 70 people using stratified random sampling technique. The results of the study on the description of environmental sanitation in stunting toddlers aged 24-59 months in Kopo village with clean and healthy categories as many as 69 people (98.4%) and unsanitary and unhealthy categories as many as 1 person (1.4%). Based on the results of the study, most of the respondents already had good environmental sanitation but their toddlers were stunted, this was because environmental sanitation factors were an indirect cause of stunting and the direct factors that became the risk of stunting were lack of nutritional intake and infectious diseases.

Child Stunting Reduction in Aceh Province: Challenges and a Way Ahead.

Indonesia ranks the fifth highest in child stunting among Asian countries. Aceh, a westernmost province in Indonesia recorded the highest prevalence of stunting in children under two years old in the nation. Our study investigated the current government efforts on child stunting reduction activities since the introduction of Governor Regulation No. 14/2019. The study investigated the current efforts of Aceh governments and relevant actors on child stunting reduction using in-depth interviews, document reviews and focus group discussions. Thirty-five (35) respondents including policy makers were interviewed, four focus group discussions (15 each group) were conducted, and various official documents were reviewed. Various challenges for reducing child stunting in Aceh were identified: inadequate knowledge and skills of Posyandu cadres on child stunting; reluctance to consume iron and folic acid (IFA), and supplementary foods (PMT Bumil) by many pregnant women due to perceived annoying effects and unappetizing taste; work engagement, insufficient breast milk production and inadequate support from husbands failing to achieve exclusive breastfeeding among nursing women; inadequate provision of complementary fortified foods for children 6-23 months; lack of clean water, waste management and WASH practices. The intervention on both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive factors was found to be insufficient in Aceh. Although WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) practices are the most important contributors to child stunting, only the health agency plays a singular role in reduction efforts by focussing on specific factors. Coordination between relevant agencies to address both factors is required to achieve the effectiveness of child stunting reduction and prevention in Aceh.

PEMBANGUNAN JURASSIC PARK DI PULAU KOMODO BERDASARKAN WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION 1972

In 2020 a Geopark will be built that carries the Jurassic Park concept which has caused a lot of polemic in the community, whether the development is said to violate the provisions of the World Heritage Convention. This requires the government to make efforts to preserve the Komodo dragon as an endangered species. The problem is whether the construction of the Komodo Island Jurassic Park violates the provisions of the 1972 World Heritage Convention and what efforts need to be made to protect and preserve Komodo dragons? The article is normative research methods were carried out. Data processing is done qualitatively and conclusions is done using deductive methods. The results of the research and discussion are that the development of the Komodo National Park is an integrated and well-planned planned infrastructure regeneration which includes the design of areas, routes, supply of clean water, waste management, cleaning, and rejuvenation of human settlements. Jurassic Park Komodo National Park will not have a negative impact but a positive impact because the goal is to protect the diversity of the earth through conservation. 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Living Natural Resources and their Ecosystems.

Direct Electrical Sensing of Iodine Gas by a Covalent Organic Framework-Based Sensor

Rapid and highly sensitive detection of iodine gaseous species is crucial as the first response in case of nuclear accidents and nuclear waste clean-up. A robust and user-friendly sensor-based technology that allows online monitoring is highly desirable. Herein, we report the success of using a covalent organic framework (AQ-COF)-based sensor for real-time iodine gas adsorption and detection by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. The sensor exhibits a high sensitivity and a pronounced electrical response to trace amounts of iodine vapor. Gaseous iodine was readily detected with a significant change in resistance (104×) at 70 °C within 5 min exposure to air. Notably, the EIS response is quite chemoselective to iodine over other common species such as air, methanol, ethanol, and water, with a selectivity of 320, 14, 49, and 1030, respectively. A mechanical study shows that the adsorption of iodine can reduce the optical bandgap of the AQ-COF, causing the impedance to drop significantly. This study demonstrates how the adsorption enrichment effect of selective I2 adsorption by a covalent organic framework can be leveraged to create a highly selective sensor for the direct online electrical detection of radioactive gaseous toxins.

Sustainable Thermal Insulation Derived from Recycled Textile Waste

The textile industry is one of the oldest industries and the third most important industry branch in Macedonia. It has had a steady increase in production over the years. Growing production line proportionally generates textile waste. Although it is terminologically categorized as waste, textile waste can be a valuable resource and is one of the textile industry’s main challenges. Textile waste, appropriately treated with the possibilities offered by the recycling process or used as a clean waste, can find multi-faced application in different construction areas. This paper covers research that examines the possibilities of applying textile waste in the field of thermal insulations in buildings. The focus is on developing thermal insulation solutions applied in sustainable and ecologic buildings. Applied thermal insulation has a primary impact on reducing electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with indoor air conditioning. That would mean that buildings incorporating appropriate thermal insulation offer greater comfort, directly increasing the quality of life. This is an additional economic-environmental dimension. According to the experimental testing, the thermal conductivity coefficient of the textile waste is obtained at 0.039 W/m·K. Its value defines a thermal insulation material suitable for the purpose and has approximate values to the other materials usually used for thermal insulation in buildings. Implementing a product made of textile waste with appropriate performance would bring economic benefits to the industry and open new job opportunities.

Two-phase COVID-19 medical waste transport optimisation considering sustainability and infection probability

A safe and effective medical waste transport network is beneficial to control the COVID-19 pandemic and at least decelerate the spread of novel coronavirus. Seldom studies concentrated on a two-phase COVID-19 medical waste transport in the presence of multi-type vehicle selection, sustainability, and infection probability, which is the focus of this paper. This paper aims to identify the priority of sustainable objectives and observe the impacts of multi-phase and infection probability on the results. Thus, such a problem is formulated as a mixed-integer programming model to minimise total potential infection risks, minimise total environmental risks, and maximise total economic benefits. Then, a hybrid solution strategy is designed, incorporating a lexicographic optimisation approach and a linear weighted sum method. A real-world case study from Chongqing is used to illustrate this methodology. Results indicate that the solution strategy guides a good COVID-19 medical waste transport scheme within 1 min. The priority of sustainable objectives is society, economy, and environment in the first and second phases because the total Gap of case No.35 is 3.20%. A decentralised decision mode is preferred to design a COVID-19 medical waste transport network at the province level. Whatever the infection probability is, infection risk is the most critical concern in the COVID-19 medical waste clean-up activities. Environmental and economic sustainability performance also should be considered when infection probability is more than a certain threshold.