Consumption Waste Research Articles

Digital Image Correlation and Reliability-Based Methods for the Design of Structural Beams Made from Recycled Concrete Using Aggregates from Precast Rejects

The use of recycled aggregates in the manufacture of concrete is presented as a solution to reduce the consumption of resources and waste in the construction sector and contribute to a lower environmental impact. This work aims to explore the possibility of producing structural beams from recycled concrete using aggregates from precast concrete rejects and to improve their design using advanced characterisation techniques. To this end, the experimental data coming from mechanical test and the use of the digital image correlation approach are combined with a robust reliability-based method. The full-field data provided by the digital image correlation approach allow to determine the probabilistic density functions of the mechanical data. From these data, a predictive analysis of the maximum strength and deflection of flexural beams is carried out based on robust design techniques. This approach uses analytical theoretical models and a Monte Carlo-based simulation strategy that allows the prediction of the behaviour of the beams. This methodology was validated by manufacturing six beams with the previously analysed recycled concrete, HA-30, and testing them in the laboratory. All the beams showed behaviour within the predicted range: around 49.7 kN maximum load and just over 9.3 mm maximum deflection. These results demonstrate the robustness of the approach as well as the feasibility of using precast rejects for the manufacture of structural elements.

How does meditation relate to quality of life, positive lifestyle habits and carbon footprint?

There is increasing scientific interest in the potential links between meditation practice and pro-environmental behaviours. The present research investigates relationships between Vipassana meditation experience (temporal variables of meditation, five facets of trait mindfulness), positive lifestyle habits (PLH), quality of life (QoL) and per-head carbon footprint (CF) among 25 skilled meditators. Self-reported validated questionnaires were given to a group of native speakers of Sri Lanka to collect data on meditation experience, PLH, and perceived QoL. In estimating CF four domains (food and beverage consumption, electricity consumption, traveling and solid waste disposal) were considered. Correlation analyses revealed that trait mindfulness showed strong associations (r>0.4) with PLH. None of the temporal variables of meditation experience was significantly correlated with any domain of CF. Two facets of mindfulness (observing and non-reactivity to present-moment experience) demonstrated statistically strong associations (p<0.05) with perceived QoL. It was found that the PLH significantly mediates the relationship between the observing facet of trait mindfulness and CF associated with food and beverage consumption (indirect effect - 0.002, SE=0.001 95% CI [0.010, 0.417]). Further, the relationship between acting with awareness and CF associated with solid waste disposal at landfill sites was significantly mediated by the PLH (indirect effect - (-0.003), SE=0.003 95% CI [-0.012, -0.0001]). The current study will serve as a foundation for future longitudinal studies on the same subject by providing evidence for the relationships between meditation experience and PLH, perceived QoL and CF.

Contribution à la lutte contre l’insalubrité liée aux bouteilles en plastique dans la ville de Kisangani en République Démocratique du Congo. Etude menée dans la commune de Tshopo

The town of Kisangani, in the Tshopo province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is facing a major sanitation challenge due to the accumulation of plastic waste, particularly plastic bottles. Not only does this waste pollute the environment, it also poses a risk to public health and harms biodiversity. To combat this problem, a number of initiatives can be put in place. First and foremost, it's essential to raise public awareness of the dangers of plastic waste and the importance of recycling it. Educational campaigns can also be organized in schools and communities to encourage responsible behavior in terms of waste consumption and disposal. This study was carried out to determine the sources of insalubrity linked to plastic bottles in the city of Kisangani, to identify the consequences of insalubrity in the city of Kisangani and to develop methods, techniques and strategies to combat this type of insalubrity in the city of Kisangani. This is a cross-sectional qualitative descriptive study. The study population consisted of randomly selected residents of six of the city's communes. Interviews were used to collect data on the basis of a pre-established questionnaire. In addition, the data was supplemented by an analysis of documents from the roads and drainage department and the urban planning and housing department. The data collected showed that the causes of insalubrity linked to plastic bottles in the city of Kisangani are shared between the public services and the population. Insalubrity linked to plastic also presents a number of dangers for human health, the environment and biodiversity, including air and water pollution, soil defertilization, insect proliferation and certain pathogens facilitating the transmission of certain infectious diseases. Several solutions were proposed by the respondents, such as the use of SALONGO every Wednesday and Saturday, a forced sanitation program advocated by the public authorities, the installation of public garbage cans, the organization of a state-run waste collection and disposal system on every avenue; and some were founded to the public authorities, notably the valorization of plastic waste into products with energy value, the valorization of plastic waste into building materials to make the commune of Tshopo salubrious.

Global Plastic Waste Management: Analyzing Trends, Economic and Social Implications, and Predictive Modeling Using Artificial Intelligence

Plastic waste, which is a result of human activities in America, has become one of the most critical environmental issues in the 21st century, and this calls for an urgent prescription of strategies at a global management level. The pervasiveness of plastic in modern life has created an unparalleled surge in plastic waste, which, unless adequately managed, is poised to pose severe threats to ecosystems, human health, and the global economy. The utmost objective of this study was to perform an extensive analysis of global plastic waste management practices in the USA, with a specific concentration on pinpointing the economic and social implications of these practices. This research project therefore intends to probe into the waste management practice applied in different countries for understanding the various best practices, challenges, and areas of improvement. The research project also aimed to employ AI-driven predictive models, notably, gradient boosting algorithm, linear regression, and random forest to predict the future trends in plastic wastes generated. Diverse datasets were used, to ensure that the study of global plastic waste management practices was comprehensive. Primary data on the conditions of global plastic waste generation was obtained through the World Bank's database, which provides detailed data on waste composition, generation rate, and methods of disposal in many countries. Also, the sources of economic indicators were OECD reports and UNEP publications on the hidden economic costs of plastic waste to municipal budgets. Data on its social impact, such as health effects and metrics involving environmental pollution, were provided by the World Health Organization through studies it conducted along with reports from environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace. The Gradient Boosting model performed the best with relatively high accuracy, followed by Logistic Regression and Random Forest Classifier. Besides, the Gradient Boosting model offered the highest Macro Average F1-score, which suggests better overall performance in balancing precision and recall for all classes. Predictive insights provided by the proposed models are valuable tools to expect future trends and patterns in plastic waste generation. Advanced analytics and machine learning can help predict the volume of plastic waste generated across different geographies and sectors. Application of the predictive models in plastic waste management contexts has huge potential about information and shaping of policy decisions. Predictive analytics can use historical trends on production, consumption, and generation of waste and recycling rates of plastics to create forecasts about the future and define high-risk areas.

How does ICT Diffusion and Renewable Energy Consumption affect CO2 Emissions?

This study investigates the impact of renewable energy consumption (REC), information and communication technology (ICT), and gross domestic product (GDP) on CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia over the period 1990-2020. Utilizing an ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lag) model, the results reveal that GDP exerts a positive and significant effect on emissions in both the short and long term, suggesting that economic growth is associated with higher emissions. In contrast, REC has a negative impact, indicating that increased renewable energy consumption contributes to reducing emissions over time. However, the negative effect of REC on emissions in the short term suggests that transitioning to renewable energy may involve initial costs or disruptions that temporarily affect emissions. ICT also shows a negative influence on emissions in the long term, but its short-term effects are less consistent, reflecting the potential environmental costs associated with rapid technological expansion, such as increased energy consumption and electronic waste. The interaction terms between GDP and REC, as well as GDP and ICT, reveal that higher levels of renewable energy and technological development moderate the positive relationship between GDP and emissions, highlighting the complex trade-offs between economic growth, energy transition, and technological advancement. The findings emphasize the importance of expanding renewable energy infrastructure and fostering sustainable technological innovation to mitigate emissions while sustaining economic growth in Saudi Arabia.

On secondary recycling of high-density polyethylene with reinforcement of stubble powder by a material extrusion process for construction applications

In the past two decades, several studies have been reported using agricultural waste as reinforcement in thermoplastic matrices for lightweight and tunable mechanical properties. However, the recycling of thermoplastic with reinforcement of agricultural waste has constraints in the form of the volume of recycled material to support the concept of a circular economy. One of the solutions for bulk consumption of such agricultural and thermoplastic waste is its use in construction applications. In the present study, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was secondary (2°) recycled by reinforcement of stubble waste powder (SWP) through the material extrusion (MEX) process for possible applications in the construction industry. The melt flow index (MFI) investigation suggested the maximum loading of 15% SWP with the recycled HDPE matrix in the present case study. Further, the filament was prepared by using the design of experiment (DoE) with input parameters (heat treatment (pre-heat treatment (PreHT) and post-heat treatment (PostHT), barrel temperature (170–180°C) and screw speed (3–5 RPM) on single screw extruder). The results suggest that the combination of PreHT, 170°C-barrel temperature and 4 RPM screws speed resulted in a maximum Young’s modulus (E) of 1386.57 MPa. The PreHT has promoted the recrystallization of the HDPE-SWP blend, which has significantly increased E. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) reveals that the HDPE-SWP composite was more thermally stable after each thermal cycle. In addition, the results of this study were also supported and correlated with the observation of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface profiling and 3D printability with MEX.

Assessment of type and quantities of food and beverage plastic packaging: A case study.

Plastic pollution has been identified as one of the most pressing environmental issues of the 21st century, driven by excessive consumption and inadequate plastic waste management. This issue is particularly reflected in short lifespan of plastic products, particularly plastic packaging within the food and beverage (F&B) industry. Urgent and relevant policy actions are needed to promote plastic circularity and improve waste management practices. Developing countries such as Montenegro face significant challenges in managing plastic waste flows due to legal, institutional and infrastructural gaps. This research addresses these challenges by employing material flow analysis (MFA) and advanced techniques like artificial neural networks to estimate the quantities and types of plastic packaging used in the F&B sector in Montenegro. The findings reveal that over 21,300 tonnes of F&B plastic packaging were placed on the market in Montenegro in 2018. Approximately 11% of this amount ends up directly littered in the environment or dumpsites, whereas the remaining 89% is predominantly collected and deposited in controlled landfills. Detailed MFA models were developed separately for the eight most common polymer types used in the F&B sector, along with specific models for plastic bags and polyethene terephthalate bottles to explore closed-loop recycling systems. It was found that only a small fraction of all analysed types of plastic packaging placed on the market can be effectively treated and recycled. This research contributes to the understanding of plastic waste management in Montenegro and facilitates the formulation of effective strategies to mitigate plastic pollution in the F&B industry.

Sustainable Coloration Technologies

The textile industry is witnessing significant transformations in dyeing methods due to technological advancements. Innovations in dyeing techniques have not only revolutionized the way fabrics are colored but also paved the way for more sustainable and efficient practices. This article explores the innovations and advancements in dyeing methods brought about by technology, the impact of these advancements on the industry, and the implications for the future of textile dyeing processes. The successful substitution of hazardous chemicals with more sustainable alternatives like salt-free dyeing, urea replacement, use of natural dyes, and low-temperature soaping enhances efficiency, reduces waste, minimizes environmental impact, and promotes sustainable practices having eco-friendly solutions. These methods reduce water consumption and chemical waste, making them more sustainable alternatives to conventional dyeing processes.

Efficient Light-Driven Ion Pumping for Deep Desalination via the Vertical Gradient Protonation of Covalent Organic Framework Membranes.

Traditional desalination methods face criticism due to high energy requirements and inadequate trace ion removal, whereas natural light-driven ion pumps offer superior efficiency. Current synthetic systems are constrained by short exciton lifetimes, which limit their ability to generate sufficient electric fields for effective ion pumping. We introduce an innovative approach utilizing covalent-organic framework membranes that enhance light absorption and reduce charge recombination through vertical gradient protonation of imine linkages during acid-catalyzed liquid-liquid interfacial polymerization. This technique creates intralayer and interlayer heterojunctions, facilitating interlayer hybridization and establishing a robust built-in electric field under illumination. These improvements enable the membranes to achieve remarkable ion transport across extreme concentration gradients (2000:1), with a transport rate of approximately 3.2 × 1012 ions per second per square centimeter and reduce ion concentrations to parts per billion. This performance significantly surpasses that of conventional reverse osmosis systems, representing a major advancement in solar-powered desalination technology by substantially reducing energy consumption and secondary waste.

Waste management system: sanitary-epidemiological and environmental aspects

Introduction. Despite the positive trends in the field of industrial and consumer waste management, issues related to the legal regulation of activities to eliminate objects of accumulated damage to the environment and its relationship with activities to eliminate unauthorized landfills remain unresolved. A separate and important problematic aspect is the assignment of waste to a certain hazard class and their subsequent accounting and neutralization. The study aims to consider the established practice of using sanitary-epidemiological and environmental legislation in the management of industrial and consumer waste, including in assessing their toxicity. Materials and methods. The authors conducted the study using an information and analytical method for analyzing regulatory documentation and scientific publications from the databases Elibrary, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Techexpert, Consultant, etc. They also compared the topical issues of assessing the toxicity of production and consumption waste and identified the specifics of the methodology for calculating the amount of damage as a result of unauthorized waste disposal. Results. It has been established that one of the optimal solutions in the issue of assessing the hazard class of waste may be to bring the criteria for their classification according to the degree of toxicity to uniformity, as well as the development of a single document carried out by institutions regardless of departmental subordination. Studies conducted to determine the amount of damage as a result of unauthorized disposal of production and consumption waste and to establish the hazard class of waste must comply with the requirements of uniformity of measurements and accreditation in the national system, respectively. To correctly calculate the amount of harm, you need to use the value of the mass of waste with the same hazard class. The availability of separate documents in sanitary-epidemiological and environmental legislation can significantly affect the calculation of the amount of harm due to various methods of determining the hazard class of waste, as well as the timeliness of identifying the long-term impact of waste on the environment and public health. Limitations. The study is limited to the analysis of law enforcement practice in the field of waste management, as well as the results of research in domestic and international literature. The analysis will allow researchers to consider non-obvious and controversial issues in the planning of activities. Conclusion. Updating documents on the establishment of the hazard class of waste should be carried out considering law enforcement practice. The absence of duality in compliance with the established requirements in both the field of environmental and sanitary-epidemiological legislation can be a guarantee of the reliability and truthfulness of research. This will allow you to make the right management decisions. Ethics. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee.

How do trade-offs between ecological construction and urbanization affect regional carbon balance? A case study from China’s Yellow River Basin

Anthropogenic activities, including trade-offs between ecological construction and urbanization, alter land use by either adding or subtracting from the carbon balance. Therefore, it is unknown how the trade-offs between ecological construction and urbanization impact the regional carbon balance. We selected the Yellow River Basin for this study to shed light on how human activity affects the carbon balance and promote the advancement of the objective of becoming carbon–neutral. Using panel data, soil respiration data, and GEM-CO2 models, carbon emissions and sinks in multiple fields were quantified on a raster scale based on multi-source remote sensing data. The trade-offs between urbanization and ecological construction were then spatially illustrated through changes in ground cover. Finally, a raster-scale study was conducted to investigate the ways in which trade-offs between urbanization and ecological construction impact the regional carbon balance. The basin was able to maintain a carbon balance in 2001; however, by 2019, it experienced a severe carbon imbalance. The primary causes of this were rapid growth in energy consumption and direct household waste incineration. By 2019, 84.79% of rasters had a trade-off connection, indicating an increasing trend in the degree of trade-off between ecological construction and urbanization. This affected the pattern of land use in the basin, which in turn affected the carbon balance. Rapid urbanization has exacerbated the carbon imbalance, but ecological construction can reverse this trend. The carbon balance was negatively correlated with the trade-off between ecological construction and urbanization, and the conversion of natural resources by human activity hastened the spread of regional carbon imbalances.

Converting lignocellulosic biomass into valuable end products for decentralized energy solutions: A comprehensive overview

This review manuscript delves into lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) as a sustainable energy source, addressing the global demand for renewable alternatives amidst increasing oil and gas consumption and solid waste production. LCB, consisting of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, is versatile for biochemical and thermochemical conversions like anaerobic digestion, fermentation, gasification, and pyrolysis. Recent advancements have led to a 25 % increase in bioethanol yields through alkali pre-treatment and optimized fermentation, a 20 % enhancement in microbial delignification efficiency, and a 35 % improvement in enzyme efficiency via nanobiotechnology. These innovations enhance biofuel production sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Decentralized energy systems utilizing locally produced biomass can reduce transmission losses and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 %, fostering community energy independence. These developments significantly contribute to global sustainability and socio-economic development by converting waste into valuable energy, promoting environmental stewardship, and supporting economic resilience. Furthermore, this review also discusses innovative strategies to address technological, economic, and environmental challenges and highlights the role of decentralized solutions in promoting sustainable energy production.

Chemical and Rheological Evaluation of the Ageing Behaviour of High-Content Crumb Rubber Asphalt Binder.

High-Content Crumb Rubber Asphalt (HCRA) binder improves road performance and address waste tyre pollution, yet its ageing behaviour is not fully understood. In this study, 70# neat asphalt binder and HCRA with rubber contents of 35% and 50% were selected and aged through the Thin Film Oven Test (TFOT) and Pressure Ageing Vessel (PAV) tests. FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and DSR (Dynamic Shear Rheometer) were employed to investigate their chemical composition and rheological properties. The FTIR results show that HCRA's chemical test results are similar to those of 70#, but HCRA is more susceptible to ageing. I(C=C) strength decreases with age. The DSR results show that HCRA outperforms 70# neat asphalt binder in terms of viscoelasticity, high temperature performance and fatigue resistance, and exhibits greater resistance to ageing. The ageing index (AI) was obtained through a calculation using the formula, and overall, 70# neat asphalt binder is more sensitive to ageing behaviour and less resistant to ageing, and HCRA is particularly outstanding for fatigue resistance. A strong correlation is observed between chemical composition and some rheological property indicators. Therefore, we are able to predict the rheological properties using chemical composition indicators. This study provides insight into the ageing behaviour of a neat asphalt binder and an HCRA binder and demonstrates that the HCRA binder outperforms conventional asphalt in several performance areas. It also provides theoretical support for the consumption of waste tyres to prepare high content crumb rubber asphalt.

Sustainability-driven electrical engineering optimizing energy efficiency through ai and developing eco-friendly electronics

This paper explores the transformative potential of AI-driven solutions in optimizing energy efficiency and the development of eco-friendly materials for electronics. As global energy consumption and electronic waste continue to rise, innovative technologies are essential to mitigate their environmental impact. AI models have shown significant promise in enhancing the performance of smart grids and residential and industrial energy systems by predicting and adjusting energy usage in real time. Additionally, the research and development of sustainable materials for semiconductors and electronic components offer an important pathway to reducing the environmental footprint of electronics manufacturing. By aligning these advancements with national sustainability and climate goals, this paper highlights the critical role of AI and sustainable materials in creating a more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible future. The paper concludes by suggesting areas for future research, emphasizing the long-term impact of these technologies on the electrical engineering field and their contribution to sustainability.

Green IT and BYOD: driving sustainability, job performance, and well-being in remote work

Purpose This study aims to explore the impact of bring your own device (BYOD) practices on teleworkers’ job performance, work–life conflict and their implications for environmental sustainability, with a particular focus on Green IT in the post-pandemic remote work context. Drawing on the job demands–resources (JD-R) model, it examines the relationships between private technology adoption, job demands, job resources, job performance and work–life conflict, while also assessing how BYOD impacts environmental outcomes such as electronic waste reduction and carbon emissions. Design/methodology/approach The study used confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS version 22 to evaluate seven hypotheses among 424 full-time teleworkers from various occupational sectors in Mauritius, a developing country. Findings SEM results confirm that BYOD enhances job performance and work–life conflict through increased job autonomy, workload and work pressure. BYOD and teleworking also contribute to Green IT and environmental sustainability by reducing energy consumption and electronic waste, indirectly supporting broader sustainability goals through reduced corporate device demand and lower commuting-related emissions. Practical implications Organisations should leverage BYOD policies to advance Green IT practices and improve work performance in remote settings, focusing on balancing job demands with resources like work autonomy to enhance productivity and well-being. Originality/value The findings strongly support the JD-R model in the context of remote work and BYOD, particularly in developing economies with limited infrastructure, offering insights for policies that enhance both employee well-being, Green IT and environmental sustainability.

Leveraging Machine Learning for Advancing Circular Supply Chains: A Systematic Literature Review

Background: Circular supply chains (CSCs) aim to minimize waste, extend product lifecycles, and optimize resource efficiency, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable practices. Machine learning (ML) can potentially enhance CSCs by improving resource management, optimizing processes, and addressing complexities inherent in CSCs. ML can be a powerful tool to support CSC operations by offering data-driven insights and enhancing decision-making capabilities. Methods: This paper conducts a systematic literature review, analyzing 66 relevant studies to examine the role of ML across various stages of CSCs, from supply and manufacturing to waste management. Results: The findings reveal that ML contributes significantly to CSC performance, improving supplier selection, operational optimization, and waste reduction. ML-driven approaches in manufacturing, consumer behavior forecasting, logistics, and waste management enable companies to optimize resources and minimize waste. Integrating ML with emerging technologies such as IoT, blockchain, and computer vision further enhances CSC operations, fostering transparency and automation. Conclusions: ML applications in CSCs align with broader sustainability goals, contributing to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The review identifies opportunities for future research, such as the development of real-world case studies further to enhance the effects of ML on CSC efficiency.

Evironmentally friendly comprehensive utilization of retired waste electrolytes of aluminum electrolysis by calcification leaching

Low energy consumption and environmentally friendly recycling methods can extract high-added value and high-demand elements from retired waste fluorinated aluminum electrolytes (RWE-Al), which is crucial for alleviating resource shortages and environmental hazards. This study aims to develop a method for recovering fluorine and aluminum from RWE-Al through calcium leaching transformation combined with acid leaching. Compared to the traditional high-temperature roasting transformation and high-concentration alkali-metal-salt leaching process, this new process only involves one step of low-temperature leaching, purification of fluorine, carbonization of excess calcium, and evaporation extraction of aluminum, avoiding the generation of high energy consumption and secondary hazardous waste (F-containing liquid/ residue). Fluorine and aluminum are effectively separated and purified with extraction rates exceeding 96%. The effects of leaching temperature, CaO addition coefficient, liquid–solid ratio, and leaching time on the leaching process were systematically studied. The effects of acid concentration, liquid–solid ratio, time, and temperature on the acid-leaching process were also investigated. In summary, the comprehensive utilization of RWE-Al by this new process has proved to be feasible.

Trace analysis of taste and odour compounds in drinking water by stir bar sorptive extraction followed by thermal desorption - gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (SBSE-TD-GC-MS)

Because of negative tap water quality perception, people often prefer bottled water over tap water despite the higher energy consumption and production of plastic waste. Taste and odour (T&O) deviations in tap water are an important aspect of this issue and should be avoided. However, T&O compounds typically occur at low concentrations (≤ ng.L−1) and are numerous, originating from various sources, ranging from source water to kitchen taps. Consequently, unravelling T&O events is challenging and causing compounds may remain unknown. Therefore, a multi-compound method (SBSE-TD-GC–MS) was developed, optimised and validated for the simultaneous trace analysis of 45 T&O compounds in drinking water. It covers key compounds of different odour categories with a wide range of physical-chemical properties and originating from the different steps of production and distribution. The intra- and interday precision of the method was shown by relative standard deviations (RSD) lower than 15 % and 23 %, respectively, for 75 % of the measured concentrations. For most of the compounds (>75 %), the detection capability (CCβ) was below 1/3rd of their lowest reported odour threshold concentration (OTC), while for the other 6 compounds, the CCβ was within the reported OTC range. Additionally, the CCβs were comparable to or lower than those in literature. As a proof of concept, the method was used to investigate the occurrence and concentrations of T&O compounds before (surface water) and after drinking water production. The results show a clear removal of compounds related to microbial activity (e.g. geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, 2,4,6-tribromoanisole) after treatment and an increase of compounds related to disinfection. Although rarely investigated, 3-methylbutanal showed concentrations similar to its OTC in treated drinking water, emphasizing the necessity of a broad ultra-trace analysis to ultimately prevent the occurrence of T&O compounds and guarantee tap water quality.

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH THROUGH GREEN ECONOMY: AN ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Objective: In recent years, the growing interest and awareness of environmental issues have once again brought the issue of population growth to the forefront, exerting significant pressure on production. The increased pressure on production and the resultant rise in production have led to a faster trend in consumption. As a natural consequence of both trends, detrimental effects on ecological balance and the environment have begun to emerge. The concept of "green economy" has emerged as an approach to restore the disrupted ecological balance and operationalize this order. This widely spreading concept has begun to generate significant policies at both national and international levels. Method: This study aims to examine the relationship between renewable energy production, consumption, wastewater, and solid waste data, covering the years 1980-2022, using econometric methods to explore the relationship between green economy and economic growth in the context of Turkey. The objective is to analyze the impact of the recent and rapidly increasing transformation towards "green economy" on the long-term trajectory of economic growth in Turkey. Result and Discussion: Based on the findings of the study, it has been determined that, at the 0.05 level of statistical significance, there is no long-term relationship between the variables and economic growth, as well as no long-term significant relationship between any of the variables. When the statistical significance is accepted at the 0.10 level, a significant long-term relationship is identified between the amount of wastewater and renewable energy, with a 1% increase in wastewater leading to a 0.82% increase in renewable energy. Implications: The findings of this study and the transformation towards a green economy, widely covered in the literature, have been recognized in Turkey and an unnamed green transformation movement has begun. As the results of the analysis of the study indicate, the policies introduced for the transition to a green economy and transformation efforts have a positive and significant impact on economic growth in the long term, but the same cannot be claimed for the short term, but in the future, advances in scientific and technological progress and over-specialization will inevitably have positive consequences on global and domestic sustainable development in the short term. Originality/Value: The distinctive feature of this study from similar studies in the literature is that the relationship between the green economy and sustainable growth was analyzed empirically and with five separate econometric models. Recommendations: Turkey needs serious reforms in education in its transition to a green economy. In addition, there is a need for political determination to use environmentally friendly sectors that are more open to innovation and competition, such as renewable energy and green building sectors.

Reducing Food Waste in Restaurants Using Machine Learning

By using machine learning to manage materials based on their expiration dates and recommend new recipes, this initiative seeks to reduce food waste in restaurants. In order to anticipate any waste, the system analyse data on inventory levels and expiration dates in real time. It then makes innovative new dish recommendations using components that are almost out of date based on this information. This method not only minimizes food waste and maximizes inventory, but it also lowers expenses and improves menu diversity. The idea encourages economic efficiency and sustainability in restaurant operations by converting excess ingredients into culinary potential. Keywords Food waste · Wasteful behavior · Restaurant waste · Consumer waste ·Restaurant management Out-of- home waste.