Waste Generation Research Articles

Level of Awareness and Practices on Solid Waste Management at Initao College, Misamis Oriental, Philippines

This study examines the awareness and practices related to solid waste management (SWM) among students at Initao College. The findings indicate that students possess adequate knowledge about several key aspects of SWM, including the definition of solid waste, the consequences of improper disposal, relevant laws, prohibited activities, the importance of SWM, and the roles and responsibilities of students.Specifically, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) programs demonstrated a higher level of awareness. These students scored "extremely aware" on most questions, indicating a thorough understanding of SWM concepts. In contrast, students in the Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCRIM) and Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM) programs exhibited moderate awareness of SWM, suggesting room for improvement in their understanding.In terms of SWM practices, the results show that students at Initao College generally engage in good practices. They are active in segregating waste, reducing waste generation, reusing materials, recycling, and properly disposing of waste. This indicates a positive application of their knowledge in everyday activities, contributing to effective SWM at the college.

A Study of the Knowledge, Awareness and Behaviour Regarding Plastic Waste Management in Pune City

Plastic waste is a problem for us all. Even though plastic is one of the wonder products the problem starts when it becomes a waste. As the populations grows so does the amount of waste. The waste generation is much more in the urban areas which creates a problem because of the volume and as the waste is not segregates Keshav Sita Memorial Foundation trust is a one of the leading trust in Pune city the works on plastic waste management wherein they create awareness of segregation at source and also collect waste plastic from various households this plastic is usually the post-consumer plastic which includes mainly packaging wrapping and other traditionally non recycling plastic Around 665 people from various backgrounds from various WhatsApp groups respondent to the questionnaire. The basic statistical analysis was done on a various subject ranging from the behind the participation in plastic Warrior project and to understand the Habit change which has resulted into the long lasting behavioural change. It has been shown in many previous studies that for a sustainable waste management one needs active participation from the garbage producers I the people who generate the waste at their home workplace or other places. The behavioural change takes more time but also has longer lasting affect not only on the behaviour of the person but the behaviour of the householders also.

PENGELOLAAN SAMPAH DI KAWASAN WISATA ALAM PUREKMAS SESAOT KABUPATEN LOMBOK BARAT

Zero waste is the flagship program of the Governor of NTB for the 2018-2023 period. This zero waste activity is an agenda to improve the environmental conditions of the community implemented by the Regency government. For research purposes, analyzing waste generation in the Purekmas Sesaot Nature Tourism Area and analyzing waste management in the Purekmas Sesaot Nature Tourism Area. This research uses qualitative and quantitative descriptive methods, with the collection method referring to SNI 19-396-1994 concerning Methods of Taking and Measuring Examples of Waste Generation and Composition. For waste management using a questionnaire that is analyzed using a Likert scale. The results of this study show that waste generation for 8 consecutive days amounted to 310.22 kg from the overall component. Waste management in the Purekmas Sesaot Nature Tourism Area for types of waste that have no selling value, the waste is managed by burning, stockpiling and letting it accumulate because until now there has been no TPS and TPA in the Purekmas Sesaot Nature Tourism Area.

Using crushed stone dust as a substitute for fine aggregates in concrete

Generation of waste from mining and high consumption of natural aggregates resulting from civil construction works have significant economic and environmental impacts. Aiming to use the stone dust residue from the rock crushing process, this study experimentally evaluates the use of crushed stone dust as a partial substitute for fine aggregates in concrete with a compressive strength of 30 MPa, thus providing an alternative in civil construction activities. Crushed stone dust was evaluated through physical, chemical, mineralogical, petrographic, and micromorphological characterization tests. The characterization results indicated that the material is classified as medium and fine sand, with 68.2% silicon dioxide and quartz peaks, i.e., similar to natural sand. Axial compression tests were performed on twenty cylindrical specimens with diameters of 100 mm and heights of 200 mm, broken at 28 days. Five of such specimens were made of reference concrete, without stone dust, while fifteen contained concretes with stone dust. In this approach, the percentage of stone dust in the concrete specimens ranged between 20%, 50%, and 100%, and compressive strength was kept constant at 30 MPa, with five cylinders with stone dust for each percentage of sand replacement. The results show the contribution of stone dust to the mechanical behavior of the concrete specimens, which corroborate the possibility of applying it as a substitute for fine aggregates, as compressive strength was higher in the concrete specimens with 20% and 50% stone dust compared to the reference concrete.

Waste management from dental clinics: A case study in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Healthcare waste management is a critical aspect of public health and environmental protection, particularly in establishments such as dental clinics. This study examined the dental clinic waste (DCW) management processes in clinics within the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Utilizing data from Healthcare Waste Management Plans (HCWMP) provided by the Urban Cleaning Superintendence, the study investigated waste generation, segregation, storage, collection, treatment, and final disposal practices. The results revealed that hazardous DCW represented a significant portion (26.5 %) of waste generated in dental clinics, exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold. Biological waste (22.9 %), mainly consisting of cotton, gauze, and gloves contaminated with blood or body fluids, was the most generated hazardous waste group, followed by chemical (2.2 %) and sharps waste (1.3 %). Incineration was the predominant treatment method for hazardous DCW, raising concerns about environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions. Non-hazardous waste, primarily destined for landfills, had limited recycling rates (2.4 %), emphasizing the need for improved waste management strategies to minimize environmental impacts and increase circular economy. Challenges in DCW management included inadequate segregation practices, limited recycling initiatives, and incomplete HCWMPs lacking descriptions of waste management beyond establishment boundaries. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive training programs, strengthened regulations, and increased environmental awareness among healthcare professionals. In conclusion, improving DCW management in dental clinics is crucial for mitigating occupational and environmental risks. Collective efforts are needed to enhance waste segregation, promote recycling, and ensure compliance with regulations, ultimately safeguarding public health and the environment.

Application of new green evaluation tools to assess the environmental impact of analytical procedures based on solid phase microextraction techniques

In this comparative study, four green evaluation tools, blue applicability grade index (BAGI), Analytical GREEnness (AGREE), Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI), and Analytical Eco-Scale were evaluated to assess 16 selected analytical methods including fiber-solid phase microextraction, stir bar sorptive extraction, and thin film microextraction joint to gas and liquid chromatographic as well as spectrofluorimetry techniques. The required parameters and data were extracted from the selected articles and calculations were performed based on the unique evaluation protocol of each tool. A uniform approach was applied in calculations and evaluations. A comparison of selected methods was done by determining the factors affecting greenness. High energy consumption, organic solvents, waste generation, analysis throughput, and the number of determined analytes, are among the crucial parameters that require improvement in the selected methods. The results show that using more than one evaluation tool in evaluating the greenness of analytical methods is very effective in obtaining synergistic results and increasing the understanding of the greenness of analytical methods.

Food waste: analysis of the complex and variable composition of a promising feedstock for valorisation

There are global concerns about the environmental, social, and economic consequences associated with the generation of food waste. To effectively address this challenge, and particularly to develop food waste valorisation approaches, it is necessary to acquire understanding of the physicochemical and biochemical characteristics of food waste. This study comprises a systematic overview and quantitative assessment of the characteristics of food waste biomass, and this was achieved through a comprehensive literature review. The resulting database encompasses the physicochemical, biochemical, and elemental composition of food waste. The study evaluates food waste variability, analyses correlations between components, and highlights patterns in composition. Overall, food waste is a rather variable material. Typology, collection source and geographical origin of food waste streams are the main contributing factors to variation in physicochemical, biochemical and elemental compositions of food waste, while collection season and storage temperature appear not to be contributing substantially to variation. A clear distinction between plant-based and animal-based food waste biomass can be observed with animal-matter enriched food waste having high contents of protein, lipid and ash, but a low starch content. On the other hand, plant-based food waste can be either high in lignin and low in starch or high in carbohydrates, starch and higher heating value. Fibre content appears an indicative parameter, distinguishing plant from animal enriched food waste, and correlating strongly with lignin-rich, starch-poor plant biomass. The heterogeneity of food waste biomass composition will create challenges in developing and scaling up appropriate food waste management. The current study shows that the analysis of specific food waste parameters, such as fibre content, can be used, to inform the choice of the most appropriate valorisation route.

Behavior of controlled low-strength material incorporating industrial by-products fly ash, quarry waste and concrete waste

The widespread generation of concrete waste from demolished structures presents a significant challenge in construction waste management. However, its integration into Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) presents a promising avenue for sustainable construction for utility fill or backfilling applications when suitable granular fills are not available. A low strength flowable fill mix necessitates a mix design that achieves a compressive strength below 0.7 MPa after 28 days for easy excavatability using hand tools. This study delves into the feasibility of replacing fly ash by incorporating concrete waste and quarry waste into CLSM formulations with minimal amounts of cement through laboratory investigations to engineer CLSM blends optimized for easy excavation, particularly for utility fills. Results indicate that the inclusion of concrete waste reduces the water demand and mitigates bleeding in CLSM, thereby enhancing the overall stability of the mix. Moreover, CLSM compositions exhibit densities akin to the density of sand. The addition of 10 % and 20 % of concrete waste led to substantial increases in unconfined compressive strength (UCS). The impact was more pronounced at lower cement contents, with significant early strength development observed when concrete waste was included.The split tensile strength was found to have a linear correlation with the UCS and the dry density of the mix. The formation of pozzolanic hydration products, particularly in mixes with higher fly ash content, was identified as a key factor contributing to strength development, while increased friction between particles of quarry waste further increased the strength and the same has been confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The findings also revealed that a CLSM blend composed of, 30 % fly ash, 50 % quarry waste and 20 % concrete waste supplemented with an extra 3 % cement at 250 mm flowability could be used for backfilling applications where sufficient strength and excavatablity with hand tools is required.

Development of flexible nanocellulose-based composites with enhanced hydrophobicity and improved haze for efficient light management in solar cells

The proliferation of flexible electronic products derived from petroleum substrates in the market has exacerbated environmental pollution stemming from electronic waste generation. As a result, there is an increasing demand for cellulose nanofiber substrates that are green and degradable. However, substantial challenges remain in addressing the hydrophilicity of nanocellulose substrates and optimizing their optical properties for commercial viability. In this study, we propose a multifunctional composite film material through the use of amidation modification and biomineralization technology. We successfully grafted highly carboxylated transparent oxide nanocellulose (TCNF) and octadecylamine (ODA) using carefully designed amidation conditions. Through the carboxyl group after amination, we were able to generate amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) in situ, resulting in the creation of a flexible, sustainable, and transparent TCNF/ODA/CaCO3 composite film with high hydrophobicity and haze. This was confirmed by a water contact angle value of 138.21° and a haze value of 84.8%. The composite film exhibits low surface energy and high dual-scale surface roughness, while its internal structure is relatively porous and loose, but still possesses multi-scale interface interactions. We demonstrate a strong correlation between the multifunctional properties and structural properties of the composite films in this work, thereby achieving effective light management applications in solar cells. Our findings are expected to provide new insights and ideas for the design of multifunctional green flexible solar cell device substrate materials.

Green and sustainable fabrication of DES-pretreated high-strength densified wood

Wood is a sustainable, benign, and high-performing green structural material readily available in nature that can be used to replace structural materials. However, insufficient mechanical performance (compared to metals and plastic), moisture sensitivity, and susceptibility to microorganism attack make it challenging to use wood as it is for advanced engineering applications. We here present an efficient approach to fabricating densified wood with minimal time and waste generation, demonstrating high mechanical strength, and decreased water penetration on the surface. Wood slabs were treated with deep eutectic solvents (DESs) to solubilize the lignin, followed by in-situ regeneration of dissolved lignin in the wood. Then, the slabs were densified with heat and pressure, turning the wood into a functionalized densified material. Lignin regeneration and morphological changes were observed via two-photon microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. The final product is less susceptible to water absorption on the surface and has enhanced flexural strength (> 50% higher), surface hardness (100% increased), and minimal set recovery compared to natural wood. The improved mechanical performance is due to regenerated lignin which acts as a glue and fills spaces present within the interconnected cellulose network inside the wood, forming a highly dense composite during densification. Such enhancement in the properties of DES-densified wood composite makes it a favorable candidate for advanced structural and engineering applications.

The circular bioeconomy of the olive oil industry: Deterministic and probabilistic profitability of olive mill by-product gasification

In the novel paradigm of the circular economy the value of products, materials, and resources is retained in the economy for as long as possible, thereby minimizing waste generation. In this context, the olive oil producing countries are presented with a new opportunity that lies in the large amount of by-products generated by the olive oil industry, in particular olive pomace. Among the existing options for valorizing it, gasification is a technically proven and economically viable process, especially for moderately high energy prices. This research aims to analyze the profitability of olive pomace gasification, identifying the main uncertainty factors that determine said profitability. To that end, sensitivity analyses and probabilistic scenario analyses using the Monte Carlo method are conducted for the first time in this research context. The results show a positive profit margin of €19.27 per ton of milled olives, a Net Present Value (NPV) of €453,067, and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 9.7 %. The sensitivity analysis indicates that the electricity price is the main determinant of profitability, while other factors, such as the biomass price or the sale of by-products (biochar), are less important. The Monte Carlo analysis reveals the uncertainty involved in these types of projects, showing that the probability of the investment being profitable (NPV>0) is only 25.1 %. The assessment evidences that this kind of projects presents high capital needs and strongly uncertain profitability, recommending the implementation of public and private green finance instruments to overcome high-capital barriers and de-risk these investments.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices towards food waste management among Nigeria dwellers

Annually, approximately 40 % of food intended for human consumption is either wasted or lost, contributing to increased hunger and global food insecurity. Nigeria faces challenges related to food insecurity and diseases, which are linked directly and indirectly to food waste. Although food waste is a complex issue, proactive steps can be taken to reduce it. Most often, food waste occurs towards the end of the production chain, particularly during meal preparation and consumption.Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices among households regarding food waste management in Nigeria. The aim was to identify the factors contributing to food waste generation, enabling the implementation of suitable corrective measures. A survey was conducted, engaging 401 households across six geographic regions of Nigeria, employing an online self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 20, with significance set at a p-value of less than 0.05.The majority of participants were male, under the age of 44, and had tertiary education. Findings indicated that most participants demonstrated a good level of knowledge and moderate attitude and behavior, except regarding inappropriate waste disposal. Nearly all respondents (97 %) were aware that infrequent waste disposal can attract flies, and 95 % recognized that inadequate disposal can lead to diseases. A significant proportion (72.5 %) strongly agreed that sufficient knowledge of food preservation could reduce waste, while 71 % believed improper disposal of food waste harmed the environment. Analysis of the relationship between the three variables of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) concerning food waste management revealed a weak positive correlation. These findings emphasize the need for sustainable improvement in knowledge and awareness of food waste management to positively influence attitudes and practices.

International Legal Regulation and Management of Space Waste on Celestial Bodies

The present article explores the international legal regulation of space waste on celestial bodies and the ecological challenges that space missions will pose in the near future. The lack of a shared vision of whether space waste production should be minimized on celestial bodies is causing uncertainty in the planning of future space missions. Leading private space companies are proposing the transfer of dangerous space waste produced from Earth into outer space. The excessive generation of space waste would increase the risks of activities such as space tourism, and space research and will threaten scientific fields such as radio astronomy. The political alliances that exclude a priori third parties will increase the risk of a generation of unnecessary orbital space debris and space waste on celestial bodies because of the development of several space missions in the same field. The sustainability of space missions on celestial bodies and the protection of the outer space environment should become a guiding principle for both national and international legal regulation of space activities. This article argues for the urgent need to establish comprehensive international regulations and monitoring mechanisms to manage space waste on celestial bodies, emphasizing sustainability and cooperation among space-faring nations.

Solid health care waste management practice in Ethiopia, a convergent mixed method study

IntroductionHealthcare waste is any waste generated by healthcare facilities that is considered potentially hazardous to health. Solid healthcare waste is categorized into infectious and non-infectious wastes. Infectious waste is material suspected of containing pathogens and potentially causing disease. Non-infectious waste includes wastes that have not been in contact with infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, or radioactive substances, similar to household waste, i.e. plastic, papers and leftover foods.This study aimed to investigate solid healthcare waste management practices and develop guidelines to improve solid healthcare waste management practices in Ethiopia. The setting was all health facilities found in Hossaena town.MethodA mixed-method study design was used. For the qualitative phase of this study, eight FGDs were conducted from 4 government health facilities, one FGD from each private health facility (which is 37 in number), and forty-five FGDs were conducted. Four FGDs were executed with cleaners; another four were only health care providers because using homogeneous groups promotes discussion. The remaining 37 FGDs in private health facilities were mixed from health professionals and cleaners because of the number of workers in the private facilities. For the quantitative phase, all health facilities and health facility workers who have direct contact with healthcare waste management practice participated in this study. Both qualitative and quantitative study participants were taken from the health facilities found in Hossaena town.ResultSeventeen (3.1%) health facility workers have hand washing facilities. Three hundred ninety-two (72.6%) of the participants agree on the availability of one or more personal protective equipment (PPE) in the facility ‘‘the reason for the absence of some of the PPEs, like boots and goggles, and the shortage of disposable gloves owes to cost inflation from time to time and sometimes absent from the market’’. The observational finding shows that colour-coded waste bins are available in 23 (9.6%) rooms. 90% of the sharp containers were reusable, and 100% of the waste storage bins were plastic buckets that were easily cleanable. In 40 (97.56%) health facilities, infectious wastes were collected daily from the waste generation areas to the final disposal points. Two hundred seventy-one (50.2%) of the respondents were satisfied or agreed that satisfactory procedures are available in case of an accident. Only 220 (40.8%) respondents were vaccinated for the Hepatitis B virus.ConclusionHand washing facilities, personal protective equipment and preventive vaccinations are not readily available for health workers. Solid waste segregation practices are poor and showed that solid waste management practices (SWMP) are below the acceptable level.

Microplastics characterization, abundance and distribution on the coast of Ordu province (Türkiye)

Plastics, one of the most common materials polluting our seas, are now a serious global problem. These plastics persist in our environment for a long time and gradually turn into much smaller particles that we call microplastics (MPs). In this study, the MPs profile of sand and seawater samples taken from 6 different stations from the coasts of Ordu Province was analysed in detail. As a result of MPs and μ FTIR spectroscopic analyses, the presence of MPs in sand and seawater samples was determined and their characterisation, abundance and distribution characteristics were revealed. In this study, 291.11 items kg-1 MPs was found in sediment samples and 0.263 items L-1 MPs in water samples. A total of 420 MP fragments were detected from seawater and sand samples on the coasts of Ordu Province and analysed for colour, shape, size and species. Fibre and film type MPs fragments were found the most and it was determined that these fragments were generally blue and transparent in colour. It was observed that MPs were commonly in the size range of 0-50µm (50.71%) and the detected MPs were not larger than 800 µm. Most of the MPs observed were polyethylene (56%), followed by polypropylene (19%), polystyrene (15%), polyvinyl acetate (7%) and polytylene tereftelate (3%). In conclusion, MPs pose serious threats to human health and the environment, and it is recommended that waste generation should be reduced, necessary precautions should be taken, monitoring studies should be carried out and necessary removal methods should be applied in order to reduce the risk caused by wastes released into the seas.

Environmental Assessment of Solid Recovered Fuel Production from Screening Waste Using a Life Cycle Assessment Approach

The circular economy, as a new model of waste management through energy self-sufficiency and valorisation, can be applied to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Screening waste from WWTP pretreatment is the only waste that is not energetically recovered and thus constrains the achievement of zero waste. Previous studies demonstrated the technical feasibility of producing solid recovered fuel (SRF) from this waste. Environmental benefits, including waste reduction, resource conservation, or reduced greenhouse gas emissions are analysed in this work. Environmental impact is quantified using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology through the SimaPro 9.2. software and the CML-IA baseline v3.08 impact methodology, that propose 11 impact categories. Five scenarios were established to compare current landfill disposal with the production of densified and non-densified SRF using solar and thermal drying. Within the system boundaries studied, from waste generation to SRF production, results show that landfill is the most environmentally damaging option while producing non-densified SRF using solar drying is the most environmentally viable scenario.

Jakarta's Readiness for the Waste Reduction Program at the Source

DKI Jakarta as the capital of Indonesia has a policy to manage waste (recycling) in a decentralized manner, namely that waste is managed as close as possible to its source, without relying on disposal in landfills anymore. This pro-environment policy targets reducing and handling waste by 30% and 70% respectively by 2030. Currently the program is being implemented, non-residual waste will be processed and recycled in decentralized processing or TPS 3R. In order to achieve this target, the community and government must work together to make changes and must have a sense of ownership, responsiveness, concern and responsibility for the waste produced. This research uses a qualitative approach with observations, questionnaires to 330 respondents and interviews with the community and local government. And this research found that TPS and TP3R public facilities still do not comply with existing regulations and do not meet the criteria for accommodating recycling activities. From 2018-2022, the reduction in waste generation was 9% from the target of 26% and the amount of waste handling was 1.66% from the target of 70%. People still don't recycle for various reasons and there is also a lack of consistency in implementing recycling behaviour due to rational attitudes such as just paying money for waste. The government is obliged to facilitate these recycling activities together with various stakeholders, by carrying out various innovations and outreach to the community, by implementing waste management based on community participation.

High purity alumina production by leaching-ion exchange process: Design and flowchart proposal

Growing demand for high-purity Al2O3 for the electronic market and green energy production, allied with the need to decrease waste generation and dam use, will impact the future of mining, and new processes should be developed. The present study aimed to develop a hydrometallurgical process to obtain high-purity Al2O3 from bauxite. Among the samples studied, BX03 had the highest Al2O3 (63.8 %) and lowest Fe2O3 content (4.3 %). Different acids were evaluated – H2SO4, HCl, HNO3, and H3PO4 – and the H2SO4 reaction achieved all Al leaching with the best technical–economic analysis (TEA). Purification experiments were carried out with ion exchange resins in batch reactions. The best purification parameters were 4 h of contacting time and mass of resin/volume of solution ratio as 1/10 at 45 °C in two stages. The iminodiacetate resin (Lewatit TP 207) achieved the best results and removed all Fe ions without losses. High-purity Al2O3 was further obtained by precipitation with NH4OH after calcination. Considering the leaching step costs, the proposed process may achieve up to US$ 63,022.91 in profit.

Studying the current situation of waste generation and collection from aluminium cans in Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi

Studying the current situation of waste generation and collection from aluminium cans in Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi

Effects of ultrasonic treatment on the structure and functional characteristics of myofibrillar proteins from black soldier fly

In the process of utilizing black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) lipids to develop biodiesel, many by-products will be produced, especially the underutilized protein components. These proteins can be recycled through appropriate treatment and technology, such as the preparation of feed, biofertilizers or other kinds of bio-products, so as to achieve the efficient use of resources and reduce the generation of waste. Myofibrillar protein (MP), as the most important component of protein, is highly susceptible to environmental influences, leading to oxidation and deterioration, which ultimately affects the overall performance of the protein and product quality. For it to be high-quality and fully exploited, in this study, black soldier fly myofibrillar protein (BMP) was extracted and primarily subjected to ultrasonic treatment to investigate the impact of varying ultrasonic powers (300, 500, 700, 900 W) on the structure and functional properties of BMP. The results indicated that as ultrasonic power increased, the sulfhydryl content and turbidity of BMP decreased, leading to a notable improvement in the stability of the protein emulsion system. SEM images corroborated the changes in the microstructure of BMP. Moreover, the enhancement of ultrasound power induced modifications in the intrinsic fluorescence spectra and FTIR spectra of BMP. Additionally, ultrasonic treatment resulted in an increase in carbonyl content and emulsifying activity of BMP, with both peaking at 500 W. It was noteworthy that BMP treated with ultrasound exhibited stronger digestibility compared to the untreated. In summary, 500 W was determined as the optimal ultrasound parameter for this study. Overall, ultrasound modification of insect MPs emerges as a dependable technique capable of altering the structure and functionality of BMP.