Waste Flows Research Articles

Climate protection or privilege? A whole systems justice milieu of twenty negative emissions and solar geoengineering technologies

In this study, we utilize a large and diverse expert interview exercise (N = 125) to critically examine the whole systems justice issues associated with ten negative emissions and ten solar geoengineering technologies. We ask: What equity and justice concerns arise with these 20 options? What particular vulnerable groups could be affected? What risks do these options entail for communities or the climate? Utilizing a “claims making” approach, we examine existing and prospective injustices across a pluralistic whole systems framework analyzing (i) resource extraction issues including minerals, chemicals, and fertilizers (ii) manufacturing, labor and ownership concerns, (iii) transportation-network and land-grabbing dynamics, (iv) unfair and exclusionary policymaking and planning, (v) operational injustices resulting from deployment and use, and (vi) waste flows, liabilities and disposal requirements. We then explore how these potential concerns culminate in a milieu of injustice cutting across the dimensions of distribution (who gets what), recognition (who counts), participation (who gets heard), capabilities (what matters), and responsibility (who does what). We conclude with insights for both policy and future research.

Life-cycle assessment for municipal waste management systems

One of the important tasks of the environmental policy of the Russian Federation is to implement an integrated regional waste management system through the active involvement of production and consumption waste in the economic turnover, the use of environmentally sound recycling methods, the solution of environmental problems related to waste management and resource conservation. Environmental assessment of the existing municipal waste management system is carried out by analyzing the environmental impact and alternative waste management scenarios in order to develop an integrated waste management system for Irkutsk region. Modelling of production and consumption waste flows and their potential impact on the environment was performed. The method of material flow analysis using STAN software was used to estimate the fractional composition of waste. The method of life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to determine the environmental indicators, using the EASETECH software package, which allows for creating various scenarios of environmental impacts, comparing them and choosing the most optimal and environmentally safe one. The modelling of alternative future waste management scenarios for Irkutsk Region showed that all alternatives can improve the current waste management system, which primarily involves landfilling in an uncontrolled landfill without environmental measures. Construction of a new landfill with gas disposal and leachate treatment is a significant improvement, and recycling of secondary raw materials can reduce the environmental pressure. From an environmental point of view, the current waste disposal system is not efficient. Uncontrolled landfill is the main impact on global warming. Although a new landfill could significantly reduce this impact, it is worth reconsidering the waste management systems paying more attention to recycling rather than to landfilling.

Bottom-up analysis of energy conservation and carbon dioxide mitigation potentials by extended marginal abatement cost curves for pulp and paper industry

The energy-intensive pulp and paper industry is a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. The potential to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions is generally assessed using energy conservation supply curves and marginal abatement cost curves; however, both of these methods have inherent faults. For a given negative cost, conventional marginal abatement cost curves tend to favor options that lead to small reductions in carbon dioxide emissions over options that produce larger reductions. In the current study, we employed extended versions of energy conservation supply curves and marginal abatement cost curves to analyze the various options to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The technical potential energy savings and carbon dioxide abatement were respectively estimated at 5.05% of the final energy use in the sector and 6.32% of carbon dioxide emissions in 2019. We determined that 52.3% of the electricity savings and 82.8% of fuel savings could be achieved in a cost-effective manner. Additionally, the utilization of solid recovered fuels remains a largely untapped opportunity to reduce carbon dioxide emissions for the Taiwanese pulp and paper industry. Thus, efforts should be made to establish a comprehensive database pertaining to the direction and volume of waste flows and improve waste collection networks with corresponding standards pertaining to solid recovered fuels quality and air pollution.

Ensuring the economic and environmental efficiency in managing the flows of construction and demolition waste by using tools of economic and mathematical modeling

This paper argues that in the context of transformation from the linear to circular model of the economy, the issues of managing the flow of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) are becoming increasingly relevant, which is primarily due to the increase in prices for building materials, as well as resource saving and interest of stakeholders in the creation of eco-cities. The tools and methods to manage C&DW flows have been examined in the context of simultaneous ensuring the environmental and economic efficiency of the process. It is substantiated that the expediency of implementing the C&DW flow management process exists only within the framework of the system of integrated management of waste flows from construction and demolition of real estate in compliance with logistical principles and coverage of the interests of all stakeholders of the process. Tools, methods to forecast and plan C&DW volumes within IFMS have been proposed, which contributed to the construction of a model for forecasting the volume of C&DW formation and, therefore, determining the amount of total costs for the creation of appropriate technological capacities; the development of a model for assessing information risks in the process of logistics management of C&DW flows (based on solving the transport problem according to Kolmogorov's differentiated equations) and constructing an algorithm for its application, the introduction of which in practice will ensure the balancing of the interests of each stakeholder interested in the processing of C&DW; solving the problem of synthesis of reducing the cost of managing C&DW flows and reducing environmental pressure. In order to combine the goals of minimizing costs and minimizing environmental damage within the framework of SIWFM, a two-purpose dynamic optimization model is proposed, as well as restrictions on the possibility of its introduction and validation of this study's results. It is substantiated that the tools and methods of economic and mathematical modeling proposed in the current study could solve an important scientific and practical task to effectively manage C&DW flows

Developing a method for estimation of plastic waste leaked into the ocean

The Vietnamese Government has committed to fighting against plastic waste and reducing 75% of marine plastic debris by 2030. However, the information on the actual amount of plastic waste released into the sea in Vietnam is still uncertain. Estimates of plastic waste leaks into the ocean become essential for assessing baseline data and monitoring marine plastic litter reduction. The lack of standardised methods reliably be applied worldwide due to local conditions of the waste management system is a constraint for plastic waste management. The study developed a method for simulating plastic waste flow in solid waste management system based on material flow approach, which can estimate the amount of plastic waste mismanaged and leaked into the ocean. The estimation model was applied to Quang Ninh, a famous tourist province in Vietnam. The mismanaged plastic waste accounts for 25% of total plastic waste generation and approximately 4.5% of generated plastic waste leaking into the ocean. The results of the study also indicated the source of plastic waste leakage and possible interventions for solving the problem.

Transboundary movement of waste review: From binary towards a contextual framing.

Multiple cases of toxic waste dumping from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries to non-OECD countries in the 1980s led to scholarly attention to transboundary waste movements. The Basel Convention was established to provide an international legal framework to tackle such problems in the early 1990s, focusing on hazardous waste. However, the transboundary movement of all waste, not just hazardous waste, remains a societal challenge globally, frequently surfacing as an ethical question on the one hand and a story of resource management/trade on the other. This phenomenon has been studied across disciplines resulting in diverse, scattered and often contested understandings. Despite previous and ongoing efforts, waste production, management and transboundary movements are increasing and are predicted to grow significantly with global social, environmental and economic implications. This literature review uses a research synthesis and problematisation approach to critically analyse the transboundary waste literature since 1985. The findings highlight research trends, the need for data reliability and policy coherence, and the sustainability implications of the phenomenon. One recurring theme in the literature is the reduction of the complex phenomenon involving multiple countries, policies, actors and waste streams into simple opposite narratives, which we called transboundary waste binaries. We have identified and then challenged assumptions behind transboundary waste binaries and discussed the implications of such assumptions on the broader discourse. We have concluded with future research recommendations to look past the transboundary waste binaries towards a nuanced and contextual understanding of transboundary waste flows.

Waste flow of wet wipes and decision-making mechanism for consumers’ discarding behaviors

Wet wipes have been widely used in consumers' daily lives, especially confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic. Most wet wipes contain plastic components, which cause salient plastic consumption and environmental pollution after their usage. In the current study, the discarding stage of wet wipes in China is investigated systematically. The waste flow of wet wipes is described in detail for the first time, based on the results of domestic waste composition field survey and 2461 consumer questionnaires. The decision-making mechanism for consumers’ wet wipes discarding behavior has been established, and the impacts of various factors have been quantified and analyzed by using structural equation modeling. Results show that waste wet wipes account for 0.2% of all domestic waste in China. Consumer behavior, which is determined by 12 influencing factors, will affect the flow of waste wet wipes substantially. All factors are divided into three categories, including “consumption habit”, “cost” and “incentive”. Among all factors, “time cost” is the most crucial one which indicates matching the convenient solid waste treatment infrastructure is an effective way to ameliorate environmental leakage. Popularizing the knowledge that wet wipes contain plastic through various ways such as printing the composition on packaging bags is a feasible approach. In order to mitigate the environmental impacts, a systematic solution integrating production, consumption and disposal processes of wet wipes is necessary.

Analysis of the Influence of Temperature on the Anaerobic Digestion Process in a Plug Flow Reactor

The production of biogas by means of the anaerobic digestion process is becoming increasingly attractive in the green economy context. When municipal organic waste is used to produce biogas, a further positive effect on urban waste disposal is obtained. Starting from the anaerobic digestion model n.1, an accurate analysis of the temperature effects on the anaerobic digestion process in a plug flow reactor is performed. This paper aims at presenting a comprehensive and integrated one-dimensional biological and thermal model for a plug flow reactor. Partial differential equations with respect to time and space are considered to model the heat transfer between the reactor and the internal heat exchanger and between the reactor and the environment. In this scope, a suitable simulation code was developed in MATLAB and validated using the data available in literature. The results of the calculations show that temperature plays a crucial role in the anaerobic digestion process, since it strongly affects the kinetic rates of the microbial species and the methane production. The results obtained in terms of temperature fields and biogas production are compared with the ones available in literature, dealing with a continuously stirred tank reactor. The comparison is conducted considering that both reactors process a volumetric waste flow rate of 20 m3/d and have the same structural characteristics. The plug flow reactor resulted better performance with a produced biogas flow rate equal to 2300 Nm3/year.

Material flow analysis of single-use plastics in healthcare: A case study of a surgical hospital in Germany

Plastics have become omnipresent in healthcare but quantitative data on mass flows are scarce. This study, therefore, performed a material flow analysis of single-use medical plastics and their packaging in a surgical hospital in Germany. We quantified the flows of eight different polymers across six product categories of medical consumables, based on the evaluation of the consumption data for 2018 and 2019. A total of 619 g of medical consumables were used per patient per day, of which 86% were polymers (531 g/patient/day). Plastic packaging contributed an additional 16 g/patient/day. The major product categories were personal protective equipment (49%) and incontinence products (22%). Polypropylene with 45 % and latex with 25% were the major polymers, both of which are tied to the use of personal protective equipment. The detailed analysis of the material and waste flows may serve to highlight potential steps for the plastic reduction in hospitals.

FLOWSA: A Python Package Attributing Resource Use, Waste, Emissions, and Other Flows to Industries.

Quantifying industry consumption or production of resources, wastes, emissions, and losses-collectively called flows-is a complex and evolving process. The attribution of flows to industries often requires allocating multiple data sources that span spatial and temporal scopes and contain varied levels of aggregation. Once calculated, datasets can quickly become outdated with new releases of source data. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) developed the open-source Flow Sector Attribution (FLOWSA) Python package to address the challenges surrounding attributing flows to US industrial and final-use sectors. Models capture flows drawn from or released to the environment by sectors, as well as flow transfers between sectors. Data on flow use and generation by source-defined activities are imported from providers and transformed into standardized tables but are otherwise numerically unchanged in preparation for modeling. FLOWSA sector attribution models allocate primary data sources to industries using secondary data sources and file mapping activities to sectors. Users can modify methodological, spatial, and temporal parameters to explore and compare the impact of sector attribution methodological changes on model results. The standardized data outputs from these models are used as the environmental data inputs into the latest version of USEPA's US Environmentally Extended Input-Output (USEEIO) models, life cycle models of US goods and services for ~400 categories. This communication demonstrates FLOWSA's capability by describing how to build models and providing select model results for US industry use of water, land, and employment. FLOWSA is available on GitHub, and many of the data outputs are available on the USEPA's Data Commons.

The evaluation of energy consumption in transportation and processing of municipal waste for recovery in a waste-to-energy plant: a case study of Poland.

Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) can be produced from combustible materials contained in municipal waste. This article investigates energy and material flow of waste in different scenarios for production of RDF from bulky waste, separately collected waste, and mixed municipal solid waste (MSW). We compare the proportion of energy consumption in transportation, handling waste, and processing using data from the waste collection company in South Poland. The findings show the components of the reverse supply chain consuming the highest value of energy. A model of material and energy flow has taken into consideration collection of waste and transportation by two categories of waste collection vehicles: light commercial vehicles and garbage trucks. The shipping of RDF from pre-treatment facilities uses tipper semi-trailers and walking floor trailers. The findings of the study show production of RDF from municipal solid waste consumes almost 10% of energy potential in RDF. Less energy is required for the production of RDF from bulky waste (2.2-4.8%) or separately collected waste (1.7-4.1%) depending on the efficiency of collection and selected vehicles. Transportation consumes the greatest portion of energy. For mixed municipal solid waste (MSW), it can reach 79%; for separated collection waste, 90%; and for bulky waste, up to 92% of the total energy consumed. Comparing emissions for two categories of the collection vehicles, no significant difference was found for the bulky waste collections. For mixed MSW and separately collected waste, the emissions are higher for garbage trucks. A recommendation for practitioners is optimization of routing to achieve a higher collection rate at a minimized route length. For transportation of RDF to WtE plants, vehicles with higher loading capacity are essential.

Nanomaterial Inhalation During Pregnancy Alters Systemic Vascular Function in a Cyclooxygenase-Dependent Manner.

Pregnancy requires rapid adaptations in the uterine microcirculation to support fetal development. Nanomaterial inhalation is associated with cardiovascular dysfunction, which may impair gestation. We have shown that maternal nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) inhalation impairs microvascular endothelial function in response to arachidonic acid and thromboxane (TXA2) mimetics. However, the mechanisms underpinning this process are unknown. Therefore, we hypothesize that maternal nano-TiO2 inhalation during gestation results in uterine microvascular prostacyclin (PGI2) and TXA2 dysfunction. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed from gestational day 10-19 to nano-TiO2 aerosols (12.17 ± 1.67 mg/m3) or filtered air (sham-control). Dams were euthanized on gestational day 20, and serum, uterine radial arterioles, implantation sites, and lungs were collected. Serum was assessed for PGI2 and TXA2 metabolites. TXB2, the stable TXA2 metabolite, was significantly decreased in nano-TiO2 exposed dams (597.3 ± 84.4 vs 667.6 ± 45.6 pg/ml), whereas no difference was observed for 6-keto-PGF1α, the stable PGI2 metabolite. Radial arteriole pressure myography revealed that nano-TiO2 exposure caused increased vasoconstriction to the TXA2 mimetic, U46619, compared with sham-controls (-41.3% ± 4.3% vs -16.8% ± 3.4%). Nano-TiO2 exposure diminished endothelium-dependent vasodilation to carbaprostacyclin, a PGI2 receptor agonist, compared with sham-controls (30.0% ± 9.0% vs 53.7% ± 6.0%). Maternal nano-TiO2 inhalation during gestation decreased nano-TiO2 female pup weight when compared with sham-control males (3.633 ± 0.064 vs 3.995 ± 0.124 g). Augmented TXA2 vasoconstriction and decreased PGI2 vasodilation may lead to decreased placental blood flow and compromise maternofetal exchange of waste and nutrients, which could ultimately impact fetal health outcomes.

Regional Impact Assessment of Trans-Sectoral Planning of Waste Flows in Da Nang, Vietnam

Regional Impact Assessment of Trans-Sectoral Planning of Waste Flows in Da Nang, Vietnam

An Optimization Model for the Design of a Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management System

Solid waste management is critical to sustainable, healthy, and eco-friendly cities and societies. In developing countries, only a small percentage of municipal solid waste is disposed safely, while the majority remains in the streets or disposed in open landfills. Most countries seek to establish effective and efficient solid waste management system (SWMS) that can handle and dispose of the daily generated waste at minimum cost and in a sustainable manner. Those systems usually consist of waste sources, waste collection stations, landfills, incinerators, and recycling plants, in addition to the transportation system that integrates the different sub-systems. The problem facing decision-makers while designing or reconfiguring a SWMS is to determine the optimal supply chain network design for such systems in a way that ensures the treatment and disposal of all daily generated waste at the lowest cost. In this context, this paper aims to develop a generic optimization model suitable for application in SWMS optimization in developing countries. A new mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is formulated for a SWMS configuration that integrates waste generation sources, collection/transfer stations, recycling plants, incinerators, and landfills. The proposed MILP model is formulated to determine the optimal number and locations of the different facilities, and the optimal flow of waste in the system that minimizes the net daily cost incurred in the system. The model has been applied in a case study on the SWMS in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt. The main contribution of this research refers both to the theoretical development of a generic MILP model that can be applied to optimally design the SWMS in developing countries, and to its operational counterpart, as per the design solutions provided in the SWMS of Fayoum Governorate (Egypt).

Reshaping global policies for circular economy

Circular economy is recognized as a powerful integrative framework envisioned to solve societal problems linked to environmental pollution and resource depletion. Its adoption is rapidly reforming manufacturing, production, consumption, and recycling across various segments of the economy. However, circular economy may not always be effective or even desirable owing to the spatiotemporal dimensions of environmental risk of materials, and variability of global policies. Circular flows involving toxic materials may impose a high risk on the environment and public health such that overemphasis on anthropogenic circularity is not desirable. Moreover, waste flows at a global scale might result in an uneven distribution of risks and costs associated with a circular economy. Among other benefits, circular economy needs to generate environmental advantages, energy savings, and reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. Recent attempts to implement the carbon neutrality strategy globally will likely push the circular economy further into more economic sectors, but challenges remain in implementing and enforcing international policies across national boundaries. The United Nations Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their disposal is used here as an example to illustrate the challenges and to propose a way forward for anthropogenic circularity.

A model for visualizing cost shifts when introducing construction logistics setups

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify how the responsibilities and costs of planning, controlling and executing the material, resource and waste flows are shifted between actors when introducing a construction logistics setup (CLS) as a product innovation in a construction project, compared to the traditional way of organizing these activities.Design/methodology/approachThis study is an analytical conceptual research study which aims to bring new insights into a problem through logical relationship building. Empirical data are gathered in two cases where CLSs are used, through observations and interviews regarding how the activities within the order-to-delivery process are performed. The results have been discussed at workshops with suppliers, installation companies, contractor firms and trade unions.FindingsThe outcome of this study is a model for illustrating how costs and responsibilities are shifted in the construction project and supply chain when a CLS is introduced. The cost shift is dependent on the activity shift that accompanies the services included in the setup.Practical implicationsThe practical contribution of this work is twofold. First, this study provides a methodology of how to evaluate the impact of logistics services on the actors in the construction project. Second, this study shows shifts in costs and responsibilities in logistics activities with the introduction of construction logistics services.Originality/valueThe theoretical contributions of the model and this study lie in the inclusion of a multi-actor perspective in total cost modelling in supply chains.

Sanitation potpourri: Criteria for planning mix of sanitation systems for citywide inclusive sanitation

Sanitation is a universal need and thus requires universal access. Despite having the world’s largest sanitation campaign, only 37% of urban India has access to safely managed sanitation systems. Due to the heterogeneity of Indian cities, a mix of different sanitation systems is required to meet the demands of these rapidly urbanising cities. The Manila principles on Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) propose a mix of technologies as a key pillar in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on urban sanitation. However, there is a lack of understanding on the criteria to consider when planning the technological options for CWIS. The mega-city of Chennai is chosen as a case study, and mixed methods including a Faecal Waste Flow diagram (SFD), Social Network Analysis (SNA) and interviews are applied. This study then presents a set of 14 contextually relevant criteria for the implementation of sewered and non-sewered technologies in the city. The SFD shows that 35% of Chennai’s faecal waste remains unsafely managed while using SNA identified that the water and sanitation utility, the municipal corporation and the slum clearance board are the best placed stakeholders in the city to create a change in the sanitation situation. Furthermore, 17 drivers and barriers for the implementation of non-sewered technologies are identified. The criteria catalogue was also theoretically tested for an example ward in Chennai. The findings of the study show that a catalogue of physical, technical, institutional and financial criteria is useful for planning a mix of technologies with the CWIS approach.

PELATIHAN PEMBUATAN KERAJINAN DAUR ULANG SAMPAH DI BANK SAMPAH SRI REJEKI KELURAHAN BENDA BARU KECAMATAN PAMULANG TANGERANG SELATAN

So far, the waste problem has not been resolved. Environmentally unfriendly behavior, public awareness and participation about waste management is still low. This service aims to conduct training in the manufacture of waste recycling crafts at the Sri Rejeki waste bank, Benda Baru Village, Pamulang sub-district, South Tangerang. The method used in this study started from field observations related to collecting data about communities and society as seen from the spirit of work and concern for the environment and in-depth interviews by conducting discussions with the participants. Then do a direct practice method to make crafts from waste products. Data analysis uses data presentation techniques and conclusions. The results of this service show that participants in the training are more enthusiastic and highly motivated because they get enlightenment about waste recycling. Besides that, participants have a higher level of concern for protecting the environment and obtaining results to be exchanged into use value (money). Participants can gain knowledge about strategies in waste flow from customers as waste management management

Wholesaler echelon and Industry 4.0 in circular supply chains – a systematic review

PurposeThis paper aims to analyse systematically previous literature that sought to understand the formation of circular supply chains (CSCs) and propose a research agenda for implementing circular economy 4.0 in the wholesale industry.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a systematic literature review.FindingsThere is a prevalence of research related to manufacturing and how industrial complexes can establish practices linked to the circular economy. The reviewed papers in this study can be classified into three perspectives: systemic analysis, institutional perspective and operational perspective. Considering these categories and the wholesaler perspective, there is a scope to explore Industry 4.0 technologies applications with wholesale distributors and their contributions to the reverse flow of waste along the CSC. In addition, it is interesting to examine the interpretation of wholesale distributors on circularity, and how these members can contribute to filling the information gaps between industries and retailers based on the concepts of circular economy and Industry 4.0, and how they can contribute to establishing public policies for proper waste recycling methods.Originality/valueFirst, this research considers the wholesaler the exclusive supply chain member under the influence of Industry 4.0 and highlights its importance in firms' circular operations. Second, it provides an inclusive plan for the other stakeholders to interact with the wholesaler echelon to design and operate under 4.0 technologies to consolidate effective CSCs.

Construction, renovation, and demolition waste in landfill: a review of waste characteristics, environmental impacts, and mitigation measures.

With the increase in global population, industrialization, and urbanization, waste from construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) activities has grown rapidly. There are some issues associated with the disposal of CRD waste in landfills. Depositing in landfills is still the main method for CRD waste disposal from the global perspective. The objective of this study is to comprehensively review the environmental impacts and management technologies for CRD waste in landfills. It includes the overview of the current CRD waste flow and relevant policies worldwide. The main environmental problems caused by CRD waste in landfills include leachate and H2S gas emission. This paper summarizes the primary environmental impacts caused by landfilling CRD waste and the available mitigation technologies. It also includes the use of CRD waste as an alternative material in landfill barriers. Although many technologies can help mitigate the environmental impacts caused by landfilling CRD waste, the optimal solution is to divert the waste flow from landfills using the "3R" principle. In the end, the existing research gaps in CRD waste and landfill management are also discussed.