Environmental issues such as pollution, waste, and climate change demand collective awareness. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13 (Climate Action), emphasize adaptation, mitigation, and climate literacy. In the digital era, TikTok has proven effective in disseminating sustainability messages. This study analyzes the representation of climate action on the @pandawaragroup account using a descriptive qualitative approach and a case study method. Fifteen videos were purposively selected based on high engagement and relevance to Climate Action indicators. Content analysis was conducted through stages of selection, analysis, interpretation, and conclusion, combined with interactive analysis to understand meaning and social context. The results show that @pandawaragroup’s content aligns with the targets of Climate Action, particularly by depicting environmental crises such as floods caused by waste accumulation, educating the public on waste management, and encouraging community participation in clean-up activities. The representation of climate action is also reflected through collaborations with communities and government institutions in mitigation efforts and environmental preservation campaigns. The use of simple and emotional communication effectively raises awareness among younger generations, expands sustainable public advocacy, and encourages community participation in local environmental actions.

Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir is the best visited religious site in India with millions of pilgrims every year thronging this site. Although its religious and economic importance is beyond measure, the sheer number of pilgrimage tourism traffic has already presented a lot of environmental pressure on the location. Among the serious issues are challenges of waste production, water preservation, land degradation and quality of air. The research will look at the effects of pilgrimage tourism on the environment of the shrine environment and suggest a competency model of sustainable tourism growth towards introduction of technological advancements and community integration consideration. The study uses a qualitative method to examine both environmental tasks, the fieldwork, and the interviews conducted with the stakeholders. It singles out practices of proper waste management, water recycling, and energy efficiency such as the adoption of smart waste system, solar energy solution, and control with RFID features. The paper is applicable to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) and it can be used to provide a transferable construct on sustainable pilgrimage tourism. In the paper policy recommendations are offered that can come into place by the local authorities and they are mainly concerned with controlling the number of pilgrims, the management of waste products as well as fully capitalising on water and energy consumption. This study will make a contribution to the overall discussion regarding sustainable tourism practices in pilgrimage destinations by providing practical remedies to the reduction of any environmental impact without compromising on culture and spiritual heritage.

Spatial patterns of macro-debris and microplastic pollution in Sri Lankan mangrove ecosystems: Insights from Rekawa and Negombo.

Microplastics (MPs) are contaminants of high concern due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and their ability to adsorb and release other pollutants. Sediments, as final sinks of contaminants in coastal environments, are good indicators of the presence of MPs in estuaries. This study aims to investigate the abundance, geographical/ temporal trends and characteristics of MPs present in the Urdaibai estuary, located in an area protected by UNESCO. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the presence of MPs is reported in this area. Sediment samples were collected at five points in the estuary every three months for a year. The fraction between 250μm and 2000μm of the dry sediments was analysed by imaging-Raman microscopy, with tuned parameters and using a 785nm laser, following an innovative methodology developed in our research group. The concentration of the MPs found ranges from 16 to 165 items per kilogram of dry sediment, being polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) the most abundant. Only fragments and fibres were encountered, and PET was only found in the form of fibres. Although no general temporal trend was observed, one sampling site presented a significantly higher amount of MPs than the rest of sites, probably due to geomorphic and hydrodynamic reasons. This work highlights the importance of monitoring MPs in coastal environments, which will provide us with information to improve plastic waste management, develop clear regulations on the manufacture and use of plastic materials, and implement public awareness programmes.

A decision-making model for more sustainable municipal solid waste management

Construction generates substantial material waste with environmental and economic impacts, yet current methods rarely integrate waste estimation with project schedules. This study develops and validates semi-automated 4D BIM framework that links element-level quantities to standardized resource specifications — CSI MasterFormat and the Iranian Cost Estimation Standard (ICES) — and propagates material-specific waste factors into a time-phased (Autodesk Navisworks Timeliner) analysis. Two custom applications (“Material-DB” and “Waste-Estimation”) import ICES items, map them to MasterFormat codes, compute waste by unit (area/volume/mass), and populate BIM parameters that are visualized over the construction programme. A municipal office project in Tehran ( ≈ 6800 m 2 , four floors) is used for validation. BIM-based estimates align with observed site waste within ≤ 17% deviation across key streams (e.g., concrete −7.6%, masonry −14.0%, tiles +8.0%, iron −16.7%), with concrete waste peaking early during foundations and primary envelopes. Five design/material scenarios demonstrate how the method supports fast scenario testing and cost appraisal; for example, Scenario 3 yields the lowest waste cost, whereas Scenarios 5 and 2 are highest. The framework enables schedule-aware waste planning, targeted design changes (e.g., exterior wall systems, stone/tile use), and routine waste audits, offering a replicable path towards time-cost-waste trade-off decisions in early project phases. • 4D BIM links element-level waste to the construction schedule. • Dual mapping to MasterFormat and ICES standardizes waste codes. • Time-phased waste charts reveal material peaks for site logistics. • Scenarios compare material options by waste volume and waste cost.

Waste management–related trust, acceptance, and reputation: A multidisciplinary big data analysis across knowledge domains

Efficiency and sustainability in municipal waste management: A comparative study of five rural municipalities in Slovakia

Multifaceted environmental footprints of spent coffee grounds valorization: from waste management to fuel and material production

Polyethylene represents a particularly recalcitrant class of plastics that persist for decades in the natural environment when released as the result of failed waste management policies. In this report, we present a detailed survey of microbes with varying abilities to degrade either branched or linear waxy hydrocarbons that serve as a surrogate for the study of polyethylene biodegradation. This analysis includes measurement of the degree of branching for the surrogates. We further monitored the growth of individual isolates as an indication of substrate preference. We sequenced the genomes for each of our isolates that showed significant rates of growth to accommodate future biochemical studies, and provide a general characterisation of each strain. The vast majority of microbes that we isolated and identified as part of this study were Actinomycetes. However, a small selection of gram-negative microbes were identified that resulted in degradation of the surrogates. Importantly, our results further identified the model microbes Acinetobacter baylyi and Rhodococcus jostii as strains that were particularly good at degrading all three of the model polyethylene surrogates employed in this study. The results of this study should serve as a detailed genetic and biochemical resource to the research community investigating polyethylene biodegradation.

The world relies heavily on plastic use in daily life, leading to increased global concern over mismanagement of plastic waste, its entry into natural environments, and impacts on living organisms. Over time, plastic in the environment will break down into microplastics (5mm-1µm) and eventually into nanoplastics (<1µm), which are found in many living organisms, including insects. Insects are also of particular interest in plastic waste management because of their potential role in degrading plastic waste. However, these applications have not yet been scalable, and the ubiquity and consequences of plastic ingestion are unclear. Further, insect-plastic interactions are complicated by the seemingly endless combinations of shapes, types, sizes, and concentrations of plastics. As a result, we have a fragmented body of literature and unclear patterns that raise questions about whether resources put toward studying insect-plastic interactions should be placed elsewhere and why, or how much, we should care. Nevertheless, insects are vital members of almost all ecosystems, and their populations are already threatened by numerous stressors; thus, ignoring another potential threat would be unwise. To reveal clear patterns that can shape how we invest in mitigating and harnessing insect-plastic interactions, we pose six major questions. We also present a matrix of 'care' that combines the likelihood of exposure with the strength of the outcome of the interaction. We aim for these questions and matrix to serve as tools to guide broader participation, research priorities, and allocation of resources, to tackle what is currently a prodigious, but worthy, pursuit.

This study analyzes the financial impact of environmental taxation on waste management at the Doura Refinery from 2015 to 2018, focusing on four production units: hydrogenation, wax removal, furfural dealing, and distillation. Results indicate a direct relationship between waste generation and tax liabilities, with the Furfural Dealing Unit contributing the highest waste output (27.4\%) and incurring the most significant tax burden. Environmental tax revenue increased from 1,723,688 dinars in 2015 to 4,160,935 dinars in 2018, yet its share in total refinery revenue remained minimal at 0.0376\%. The study emphasizes the need for improved cost allocation methods to effectively integrate tax liabilities into financial reporting. Policy recommendations include adopting progressive tax structures, enhancing transparency in tax reporting, and introducing incentives for waste reduction. Future research should explore differentiated tax rates based on waste type and conduct comparative studies across multiple refineries to assess broader applicability. This study provides key insights for policymakers and accountants on leveraging environmental taxation for financial transparency and sustainability in industrial operations.

Scenario analysis of environmental and climate impacts of solid waste management in Davao City, Philippines

Nudge waste out: Understanding the impacts of green nudges on on-site construction waste management based on metaverse serious game

Toward sustainable waste systems: Does China's mandatory waste separation pilot policy promote the eco-efficiency of municipal solid waste management?

Synergistic valorisation of red mud and biomass: Enhanced dye adsorption and environmental safety via co-pyrolysis for sustainable waste management

Advancing sustainable organic waste management: A comparative analysis of fixed media and conventional anaerobic digestion systems

Exposure to environmental contaminants, such as halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and trace elements, has been associated with a several health effects, including neurotoxicity. However, information on contaminant concentrations in brain tissue and factors influencing their accumulation and exposure-related effects are limited in wild birds. We quantified 45 HFRs and 16 trace elements in brain of ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) breeding in a highly urbanized environment and related their concentrations to foraging habitat use and a range of coarse and fine-scale neuroanatomical measures. Ten polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromobenzene (HBB), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), and anti-dechlorane plus (anti-DP) were detected in over 80% of brain samples, as well as cobalt, nickel, copper, selenium, silver, cadmium, lead, and mercury. For certain compounds or elements, brain concentrations correlated with foraging habitat use, for example, PBDEs and lead increased with the proportion of time gulls spent foraging in waste management facilities. Additionally, we found correlations between brain contaminant concentrations and certain brain measures. For example, the number of immature neurons in the nucleus pretectalis principalis (Pt), a region in the visual system in birds, correlated negatively with brain concentrations of PBDEs and lead. Our results showed that urban-adapted ring-billed gulls accumulate a wide range of HFRs and trace elements in brain tissue, and that some of these contaminants might be associated with variations in selected neural measures. Although the present correlative study cannot establish causality, these findings highlight potential toxicity pathways in the avian brain that warrant mechanistic investigation under controlled conditions.

The transition toward a sustainable and green aconomy has increased the demand for green jobs that are supported by skilled and digitally ready human resources. In Indonesia, particulary in semi-urban areas such as Cirebon City, challenges related to environmental pressures, limited digital adoption, and workforce capability gaps remain significant. This study aims to examine the effect of green skill investment on green job labor productivity, with digital technology adoption readiness serving as a mediating variable. A quantitative survey approach was employed, collecting primary data from workers engaged in green job sectors, including environmental agencies, the departement of manpower, and waste management units in Cirebon City. Data were analyzed using a structural modelling approach to explore direct and mediated relationships among variables. The finding indicate that investment in green skills enchances labor productivity and strengthens workers’ readiness to adopt digital teknology. Digital Technology adoption readiness also plays an important role in translating green skills into productive work outcomes, highlighting the interconnected nature of green competencies and digital transformation. These results suggest that policies and training programs aimed at developing green jobs should integrate environmental skill development with digital readiness to support sustainable and inclusive workforce transformation.

Rapid urbanization, economic expansion and population growth have led to a significant increase in global solid waste production, which threatens ecosystems, depletes natural resources, and negatively affects human health. Textile waste has reached 150 million tons per year and constitutes a significant portion of this growing waste stream. At this point, interest in the use of recycled materials as an alternative raw material has increased, and composite materials have emerged as a promising area for the evaluation of textile waste, offering sustainable solutions for resource recovery and waste management. In this study, hybrid composites are developed by introducing various fibrous waste groups (denim and human hair) and bio-resin (acrylated epoxidized soybean oil, AESO) to E-glass reinforced epoxy composites, and the effects of waste type and bio-resin addition on the flexural strengths of the structures are examined using a full factorial experimental design. In this regard, three different sandwich structures are designed, with the outer layers made of E-glass woven fabric and the middle layers made of either E-glass fabric for control samples or different waste groups, and the productions are carried out using the vacuum infusion method. Pure epoxy or an epoxy system with 30% AESO additive is used as matrix material. Statistical results indicate that reinforcement type has a huge effect on the flexural properties individually and in binary interactions of of other factors. The performance results show that the flexural strength is improved with addition of waste regardless of their type and the best flexural properties are seen in samples with denim waste reinforcement containing cotton fiber, while the addition of AESO appears to have a negative effect. The composite structures developed within this study have the potential to replace particle boards, thus contributing to solid waste management and producing innovative solutions to resource scarcity.