ABSTRACT Tremendous amounts of generated municipal solid wastes (MSWs) and limited energy sources make utilization of sustainable waste management strategies mandatory. Lower efficiency of recycling practices especially in developing countries compels authorities to search for novel sustainable solutions. Biodrying is a promising technology for producing solid recovered fuel (SRF) from partially stabilized waste. However, accurate evaluation of biodrying performance remains challenging due to the complexity of microbial heat generation processes. On the other hand, basic biodrying indices are found to be insufficient for evaluating the overall efficiency. Multi-criteria decision-making techniques providing accurate and comprehensive information may serve as useful tools to interpret efficiency of such complex systems. The major aim of this work was to observe a meaningful ranking of biodrying efficiency by using AHP-PROMETHEE, considering all treatment and cost parameters. With this aim, first batch biodrying experiments were performed in a pilot-scale reactor with a volume of 0.8 m3 for a 7-day period. Eight trials including varying waste compositions weighing 70 ± 7 kg were tested under different air flow rates (AFR). Temperature and weight loss profiles together with moisture removal and leachate generation rates were determined for each of the trials. Energy contents (lower heating value (LHV)) were also analyzed after and before biodrying. The experimental results indicated that the higher food waste and lower AFR (Trial 4) increased volatile solids (VS) reductions along with the observed peak temperature (up to 60°C). In contrast, high AFR and low organic content (Trial 5), resulted in the lowest VS (6.86%) reduction and provided the highest biodrying index (6.76). The most crucial material in increasing the energy content of the waste matrix was plastic wastes with low biodegradability. As the proportion of plastic waste increased, the bioheat production capacity decreased and applied AFR became the most important factor in obtaining SRF (Trial 1). AHP results highlight energy content increase as the key factor (33% weight), while leachate production had minimal influence (6%). PROMETHEE ranked Trial 1 the first with the highest net flow value (Phi) of 0.32. Briefly, the study offers a novel approach to achieve an easy, informative, and accurate performance assessment for biodrying processes.

Objectives: Environmental conservation is the need of the hour and environmentalists across the globe are working towards the attainment of a sustainable society. This research work proposes a novel approach to quantum-based multi-criterion decision-making, integrating the method of ITARA (Indifference Threshold-based Attribute Ratio Analysis) in selecting sustainable waste mitigation methods. Methods: The traditional decision methods lack the competency in handling the uncertainty, cognitive interferences and contextual conflicts in evaluation. The newly developed approach is based on the principles of quantum mathematics, especially state superposition and probabilistic preference evaluation. The proposed approach is applied to the decision-making problem consisting of five alternatives and five criteria for evaluating waste management methods. The employment of quantum probability and inner product calculations facilitates handling ambiguity and interference among criteria. Findings: The results demonstrate that the proposed quantum-ITARA model achieves a 14.8% improvement in accuracy of preference ranking compared with conventional MCDM methods, while reducing decision inconsistency by 12.3%. Among the five alternatives, the model identified Alternative A3 as the most sustainable option with an overall quantum-evaluated score of 0.842, followed by A2 (0.765) and A5 (0.701). These measurable outcomes substantiate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in deriving an optimal and reliable solution to the problem of selecting a sustainable waste management method. Novelty: A novel approach to quantum-based multi-criterion decision-making is proposed, integrating ITARA with quantum probability and mathematical principles to address uncertainty, cognitive interferences, and contextual conflicts in sustainable waste management evaluation. Keywords: ITARA, Quantum, Optimal, Sustainability, Waste Management

Driven by the high contents of organic materials in municipal solid waste (MSW) by 70% in Iran and the growing demand for mineral fertilizer, refinement of the composting technology is imperative. In the pursuit of environmental sustainability, further investigation into the life cycle assessment of the composting process and end-of-life waste management must be conducted. Hence, this study scrutinized the environmental burdens of the composting plant operation from cradle to gate. Since 50% of the raw MSW was not converted to compost, its final disposal was evaluated based on incineration, landfill, and integrated approaches. The results indicated marine and freshwater ecotoxicity of the composting process (> 50.4 kg 1,4-DB eq). Heavy metal and gas emissions during the MSW decomposition were the pivotal parameters for most impact categories. CO2 emission intensified climate change by 3523 kg CO2 eq; however, waste incineration led to emission savings of 98.75%. The environmental benefits of incineration were observed in 13 impact categories alongside a net-negative value for natural land transformation. Landfilling also induced savings in freshwater eutrophication and metal depletion by 98.67% and 99.08%, respectively. Unlike previous studies relying on generalized data, this study uses detailed, plant-level operational data and scenario-based modeling from Sistan and Baluchestan province. This approach provides realistic impact estimates and decision-relevant insights.

Plastic pollution has become one of the most significant threats to the environment and human health of the twenty-first century, with more than 300 million tons of waste generated annually, and conventional disposal methods are inadequate. To address this challenge, recent research has increasingly shifted toward biodegradation and upcycling as sustainable alternatives. Microbial degradation of synthetic plastics has shown advancement. This includes the introduction of novel strains like Aspergillus niger MG654699 for the 3.6% and 5% degradation of polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene, respectively. Also, Streptomyces sp., Methylobacterium, Arthrobacter, and Sphingomonas have been studied to be responsible for mulch film degradation. Advances in metagenomics have further revealed the complexity of microbial consortia for driving these processes, whereas kinetic modeling has provided insights into degradation rates and conditions. Building on this foundation, artificial intelligence and machine learning are now expediting enzyme discovery, optimizing degradation pathways, and enabling intelligent waste management systems. Similarly, biosensors based on Vibrio fischeri and Escherichia coli improve monitoring by detecting plastic monomers. Beyond degradation, the integration of microbial and chemical processes has enabled the upcycling of plastic monomers into value-added products such as polyhydroxyalkanoates, vanillin, bacterial nanocellulose, fuels, and biochemicals, promoting a circular bioeconomy. These advances highlight a paradigm shift from waste accumulation to resource recovery, underscoring the potential of biotechnology and engineering innovations to transform plastic management. The review concludes by highlighting the challenges of scalability, environmental variability, and policy support while positioning biodegradation and upcycling as integrated strategies for a sustainable and resilient future.

Purpose: The study investigated the effect of green-technology application on financial performance of accredited hospitality facilities in Kenya. The study particularly examined the effect of energy-efficient appliances, water-efficient appliances and waste management appliances on financial performance of accredited hospitality facilities in Kenya. Methodology: Anchored on resource-based view and Porter’s Competitive Advantage theories, a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional survey research design was used to collect and analyze data. A sample size of 216 respondents from 449 targeted hospitality facility managers was obtained via stratification and proportionate sampling technique. Findings: The findings revealed that green-technology application has a significant positive effect on financial performance of accredited hospitality facilities. The energy-efficient appliances had the strongest effect (β = .354, t = 5.73, p < .001) on financial performance of accredited hospitality facilities, followed by waste management appliances (β = .315, t = 5.17, p < .001) and water-efficient appliances (β = .230, t = 3.81, p < .001). Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study isolates the relative financial effect of water-efficient, energy-efficient and waste management appliances empirically, hence advancing the Resource-Based View and Porter’s Competitive Advantage. This establishes a hierarchy of strategic value among green technologies in hospitality facilities. Also, the study gives evidence-based justifications for government agencies and regulators to incentivize energy-efficient technologies, embrace public-private partnerships for training, encourage sustainability standards and align hospitality operations with national sustainability goals. Hospitality managers get actionable guidance from the study to prioritize energy-efficient appliances for immediate financial benefits while integrating water and waste management technologies as a strategic lever for long-term financial performance and competitiveness.

The circular economy has emerged as a key concept for sustainable development, yet measurement frameworks remain inconsistent. In this bibliometric mapping, we conducted an analysis of 701 publications from Web of Science and Scopus to identify current models for evaluating circularity. Results show a concentration of research in China and Europe, with eleven thematic clusters emerging: waste management, resource efficiency, and lifecycle assessment, among others. Despite increasing attention, significant gaps remain in standardized metrics and comprehensive evaluation tools. This review highlights the need for unified methodologies to effectively assess circular economic performance across sectors and geographies.

To address waste management challenges, lignocellulosic industrial co-products can be valorized microbially to propose sustainable and economically viable alternatives to fossil routes. This study advances a bio-based ethyl acetate microbial production by the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus by investigating glucose availability under iron-limiting fed-batch conditions. Two feeding strategies were compared: one that maintained an excess of glucose and one that operated at zero residual glucose to understand their respective effects on ethyl acetate synthesis dynamics. Metabolite productions and kinetics were quantified across both conditions, enabling the evaluation of metabolic flux distributions in K. marxianus, rarely explored in the literature. Our results demonstrate that EA production rates observed under iron deficiency conditions cannot be attributed solely to iron limitation. As this study demonstrates, EA synthesis is multifactorial and depends on respiratory chain efficiency, pyruvate flux distribution and acetyl-CoA management. Herein, ethyl acetate synthesis was modelled via mitochondrial Eat1 enzyme and intracellular fluxes were analyzed under both iron and glucose-controlled culture conditions using a compartmented metabolic model of K. marxianus. Despite iron limitation, excess glucose preserves electron transport chain and tricarboxylic acid cycle activities, favoring metabolic balance over biomass. In contrast, glucose limitation promotes growth, consequently leading to downregulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle flux, constrained oxaloacetate synthesis and mitochondrial acetyl-CoA accumulation, thereby activating EA synthesis. These findings refine existing hypotheses and underscore the necessity of finely tuning electron transport chain and tricarboxylic acid cycle fluxes to induce mitochondrial acetyl-CoA overflow to optimize ethyl acetate production from lignocellulosic substrates.

The growing accumulation of plastic waste in coastal regions like Pangkajene and Islands Regency has become a pressing environmental concern due to inadequate waste management systems. This study proposes an innovative solution by utilizing post-consumer plastic waste (PET, HDPE, and LDPE) combined with local Pinrang sand to produce lightweight, eco-friendly paving blocks. The experimental method involved melting shredded plastic and blending it with sand in various ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3), then molding and testing the compressive strength based on SNI 03-0691-1996 standards. Results showed that the 1:1 composition achieved the highest average compressive strength of 9.84 MPa among plastic-based samples, while conventional blocks reached up to 34.80 MPa. Plastic waste paving blocks met Class D criteria, suitable for light-use pavements, while conventional ones met Class B. Although the mechanical strength of plastic-based blocks was lower, their environmental benefits and lighter weight make them suitable for garden paths and pedestrian areas. This study affirms the potential of integrating plastic waste into construction materials, offering a sustainable and practical response to local waste challenges

Using 3R waste sorting, awareness literacy on waste management aims to raise public awareness on how to manage a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment. The community service implementation method consists of four stages. This consists of an initial stage, a second stage where coordination with waste managers is carried out, a third stage where everything that has been planned and discussed with waste managers is implemented to residents, a third stage where solutions to the most important waste problems in Sanur Kauh village are sought, and a fourth stage where evaluation is carried out. The results of the community service show that awareness literacy on 3R waste sorting is a very important step in creating a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. This program can be very beneficial for the people of Sanur Village and the surrounding environment if it involves all levels of society. In Sanur Village, the 3R waste sorting program has shown very encouraging results. This village has succeeded in reducing the amount of waste disposed of to the landfill and imp

Purpose The purpose of this study is to extract key sustainability attributes specific to the textile supply chains by conducting an adaptive choice-based conjoint (ACBC) analysis identifying the utility scores of these attributes and evaluating supply chain performances of Turkish textile small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by Priority Observed from the Presumption of Gaussian Attitude of Alternatives (PrOPPAGA) technique in terms of sub-attributes with a case study and assigning these SMEs sustainability performance scores so that they can understand their position in the competitive market. Design/methodology/approach The methodology of this research is (1) extracting the important attributes affecting the textile SMEs’ sustainability performance, (2) conducting a dynamic survey via Lighthouse Studio software of the textile SME representatives to define importance degrees (i.e. utility scores) of each textile sustainability performance sub-attributes by conducting ACBC analysis including hierarchical Bayesian (HB) regression, (3) considering these utility scores as the weight of each sub-attribute, (4) evaluating case study participant Turkish textile SMEs by involvement of the company authorities, and (5) ranking and grouping the SMEs and identifying their positions in the market. Findings The findings of this study emphasize the importance of carbon footprint, water usage, waste management, labor practices, community engagement, training, cost efficiency and other sub-attributes such as Extended Producer Responsibility, recycling, upcycling, transparency, traceability and eco-friendly packaging in textile supply chains. Moreover, the Turkish textile SMEs are assessed and grouped in terms of sustainability measures and positioned in the market. Originality/value The outputs of this research provide valuable insights into sustainable practices and offers a comprehensive framework to enhance textile supply chain sustainability (SCS). Besides, this research contributes to the literature by proposing a novel approach integrating ACBC and PrOPPAGA as a performance evaluation framework.

Service preferences and willingness to pay for household waste management to achieve sustainability: A choice experiment from rural China.

We employ density functional theory calculations to investigate the energetics and diffusion mechanisms of alkali metal ions (Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) within the analcime framework. While Na+ preferentially adsorbs at the center of the 8-member ring, DFT calculations show that larger ions, such as Cs+, occupy the center of the cage due to steric constraints. The computed exchange energies indicate that exchange of Na+ by Cs+ is thermodynamically favorable. Migration energy barriers, determined using the climbing image nudged elastic band method, show that Na+ is mobile in analcime, diffusing through both 6-member rings and 8-member rings, with a low migration energy of about 0.3 eV; Cs+ diffusion primarily occurs through the 8-member ring pathway, with a high energy barrier of 1.35 eV, whereas the 6-member ring pathway presents even significantly higher barriers (∼3.37 eV), making it less accessible. These findings suggest that Cs+/Na+ exchange in analcime is thermodynamically feasible but kinetically hindered. Our work provides a theoretical foundation for the application of analcime in nuclear waste management and highlights the need for further experimental validation.

Construction waste management remains one of the pivotal and widely discussed topics within the construction industry. The global demographic surge, escalating land scarcity, and mounting demand for new housing, amenities, and infrastructure, alongside the ongoing trajectory towards liberalization of international trade, have driven a substantial increase in construction activity. Such development necessitates a massive amount of material and energy inputs, imposing intense strain on natural resources. As a dominant consumer of these resources, the construction sector is often criticized for its High-volume generation of construction waste, which adversely degrades the environment, affecting human health, aquatic biodiversity, and air quality. While extant research has primarily centered on physical waste management, limited studies have been conducted on the impact of workflow inefficiencies as the primary causes of waste generation in construction projects. This research addresses this gap by investigating the construction work procedure lifecycle within the predominant public construction sectors, GVMC, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. This study is grounded to explore the primary factors contributing to inefficiencies and waste generation across the span of various construction project work lifecycles by the triangulation method, including general project information, contractual frameworks, planning and scheduling methodologies, workflow and process management, waste management practices, communication and collaboration strategies, technological tools, safety protocols, quality control measures, and performance metrics. Through a meticulous synthesis of project document analysis and semi-structured interviews with construction project managers as well as site visits, the study elucidates that systematic inefficiencies in project workflows critically influence physical waste production. The findings illuminate that establishing a well-structured, context-specific workflow in the project lifecycle is essential for optimizing construction work processes, mitigating waste generation, maximizing value, and elevating overall project efficiency performance in conformity with client mandates and sustainability goals..

This study evaluates the implications of solid waste disposal management on the environment and human health in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the required data. 143 copies of questionnaire was successfully retrieved. Data were analyzed using mean score analysis. Findings revealed that the most common methods of waste disposal in the study area included burning of refuse (64.3%), dumping at landfill sites (58%), and engaging private waste collectors (55.2%). In terms of contributing factors to improper waste disposal include was insufficient waste collection facilities, which ranked highest with a mean score of 4.24. This was followed by poor government policies on waste disposal, ranked second with a mean score of 3.91. The least significant factor was urbanization and population growth, which ranked fifth with a mean score of 3.22. With respect to the environmental and health impacts of improper waste disposal, the most significant consequence identified was the spread of diseases, which ranked first with a mean score of 4.02. This was followed by soil and water contamination (mean = 3.91), air pollution and unpleasant odour (mean = 3.38), and ecosystem disruption (mean = 3.36). The impact with the lowest perceived significance was stigma and shame, which ranked fifth with a mean score of 2.93. The study concludes that for effective solid waste management, the following measures should be prioritized: improvement of waste collection facilities, enforcement of effective waste management policies, public awareness campaigns, use of suitable transportation systems, implementations of waste reduction targets.

This study aims to analyze the optimizationhuman capitalin household waste management through a SWOT analysis approach at Fastco Recycle Genteng, Banyuwangi Regency. The focus of the research is to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that affect the sustainability of the community-based waste management system. The approach used is descriptive qualitative with data collection through in-depth interviews, direct observation, and documentation studies of Fastco Recycle members, participating communities, and local stakeholders. The research instruments include interview guidelines, observation sheets, and a SWOT matrix (IFAS and EFAS) to analyze internal and external factors of the organization. The results show that Fastco Recycle Genteng has strong human capital with transformational leadership characteristics, a strong environmental commitment, and active collaboration with the community and academics. However, limitations in funding, formal training, and digital marketing skills remain obstacles. The SWOT analysis places Fastco Recycle in Quadrant I (Aggressive Strategy) with dominant internal strengths (X=+2.4) and significant external opportunities (Y=+1.3). These findings indicate that strengthening human capital through capacity building, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration are key to supporting a circular economy and realizing the vision of societyzero wastein Genteng District.

The study was based on an analysis of Porter's Five Forces framework focused on the development of an eco-friendly partition-type building block, with an ecological origin, designed to mitigate the environmental impact associated with the construction industry and the management of agricultural waste, specifically sugarcane bagasse. The idea arose in response to the significant pollution problem generated by construction waste, dust, and organic waste that accumulate in large quantities, contributing to the greenhouse effect, the deterioration of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and the respiratory health of the population. Porter's Five Forces methodology was applied to determine the key factors influencing the acquisition of building blocks, in order to analyze not only the current competition in the market but also the trends that could change its potential market. The main objective of this research was to analyze the key factors to determine the viability of marketing eco-friendly blocks; it should be noted that this research successfully identified the key elements that impact this type of product.

Worldwide, one third of waste accumulation was shared by solid waste plastic bags which play a major role in manufacturing and packaging industries. Mismanage of waste plastics results in soil absorption and leads to soil infertility and structural degradation of soil. Biodegradation of plastic films enlighten the microbial activity towards plastic treatment without harming the ecosystem. Advancement towards biodegradation with aid of nanoparticles as degradation enhancer provides a synergistic approach to mitigate the plastic pollution. In this study, plastic degrading microorganisms were isolated from agriculture soil and metal nanoparticles such as Zinc oxide (ZnO) and Zinc-Magnesium oxide (ZnO-MgO) nanoparticles were synthesized using Co-precipitation method. Thus prepared inorganic metal nanoparticles were subsequently added to enhance the microbial degradation action. The synthesised nanoparticles appeared as hexagonal nanoflakes with a size range of 32.8 and 35nm respectively. The isolated strain from the soil Stutzerimonas stutzeri, a gram negative bacterium was identified using 16S rRNA sequencing technique. The plastic films treated with isolated strain, showed 65% of degradation efficiency rate in the presence of synthesised nanoparticles as enhancers. SEM analysis confirmed the bacterial adhesion and revealed significant structural damage such as cracks, pits, holes and erosion in plastic film. FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of functional groups such as carbonyl (C=O) and (-CH) stretching at 1076cm-1 and 719cm-1 as a indication of polymer degradation. Further, simpler metabolic by-products formation such as fatty acids and succinic acid were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Further, metabolic byproducts were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and their toxicity was assessed using the Allium cepa as an invitro plant model. The absence of negative effects on mitotic cell division suggested that no toxic compounds were released during the microbial degradation process. This study reveals about an improved method of nanoparticles assisted biodegradation which may pave a better pathway for sustainable solution in plastic waste management.

Coastal environments worldwide face a significant and growing threat from microplastic pollution. This study quantified microplastic abundance and identified microplastic polymer types in the sand of three beaches in Crucita, Ecuador: Crucita (parish seat), Las Gilces, and La Boca. Sand samples were collected in September 2024 along 100-meter transects in the high tide zone. Ten sampling points were randomly selected per transect, and the subsamples were combined to form three composite samples per beach. The analytical process involved sorting the particles into two-dimensional categories: 1-5 mm (by sieving) and <1 mm (by density separation with NaCl and filtration). Microplastic abundance was quantified in both fractions. Polymer composition of the 1-5 mm fraction was analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy. For the 1-5 mm fraction, mean abundance was between 0.58 and 1.09 items/kg, whereas for the <1 mm fraction, it varied between 653.33 and 1,460 items/kg. Although abundance levels varied, the differences between the beaches were not statistically significant for either size fraction. Polypropylene was the most common polymer in the 1-5 mm fraction, followed by polyethylene and polyurethane. Notably, a terpolymer composed of styrene, acrylonitrile, and methyl methacrylate was identified exclusively at La Boca, the beach located at the mouth of the Portoviejo River. This finding strongly suggests a fluvial transport pathway for less common industrial polymers. These results provide the first baseline assessment of microplastic contamination in this area and highlight the need to implement waste management strategies for both land-based and riverine sources.

Sustainable waste management through constructed wetlands: the role of solid waste substrates in pollutant removal

A sustainable production of ammonia using waste biomass is a new milestone to a low-carbon bioeconomy that is circular. This paper defines an integrated Aspen Plus model which integrates the steam gasification of paper mill sludge and municipal solid waste and the Haber-Bosch process to generate carbon-neutral green ammonia. The synthesis of thermochemical conversion and catalytic synthesis was optimized systematically by altering paper mill sludge feed ratio (20:80, 60:40, and 40:60 wt%), steam toward municipal solid waste ratio and pressures in the synthesis. The highest hydrogen yield (H 2 = 0.4572) and heating value (7.82 MJ/Nm 3 ) was obtained in the 60:40 blend at 800 °C and S/B = 0.025, whereas the highest NH 3 mole fraction in the solution (0.9493) was obtained under 40:60 blend at 500 °C and 250 bar. The addition of cryogenic CO 2 removal and water gas shift optimization greatly improved the purification of hydrogen and total carbon capture. The innovation of the work consists in the combined modelling structure that converts heterogeneous waste flows into a closed-loop, low-emission system of ammonia production, which has two advantages in the value of waste and the synthesis of renewable fertilizers. The results present an upscale able and ecologically friendly pathway to next-generation production of ammonia, between circular waste management and green chemical production.