Waste Practices Research Articles

Chemistry Learning Innovation in Household Level Entrepreneurship Product Training for The Community of Tidung Island

This community service aims to provide support and training to PKK women on Tidung Island. Service implementation is carried out using presentations, interactive discussions, and direct practice to improve the village's capacity and creativity. The objectives to be achieved by this activity are to increase knowledge about the effects of careless disposal of used cooking oil waste and to improve skills in handling used cooking oil so that it is a valuable useful treatment. Used cooking oil is waste cooking oil that has been used many times and contains carcinogenic compounds that are difficult to decompose. Both of these properties are dangerous to health and the environment if used cooking oil is consumed and discharged into the environment without change. To achieve this goal, the method that will be used in this activity is to provide health education on the effects of careless disposal of used cooking oil waste and subsequent processing practices using cooking oil into candles. The outcome of undertaking this activity is an increased understanding of the impact of used cooking oil waste on health and the environment. In addition, you can also take advantage of used cooking oil scraps to make candles.

Of Practices and (Micro)politics: Challenges of Organic Waste Segregation in Dschang, Cameroon

Waste generation in Sub-Saharan Africa is increasing rapidly. While biodegradable waste remains predominant, it is rarely treated separately by municipal solid waste management systems, thus foregoing the possibility to reduce the volume going to landfills or dumpsites. This paper discusses the unique case of the small city of Dschang, Cameroon, where the municipality operates two central composting plants that treat about 20% of the city’s household and restaurant waste. Using Urban Political Ecology and Social Practice Theory, this article studies waste flows, waste practices, material arrangements, power relations, social norms, institutional dynamics, and policies to identify opportunities and obstacles for organic waste sorting at the level of households and restaurants. Our analysis draws upon qualitative and quantitative data and points to the importance of the availability of multiple waste bins and monetary compensation for organic waste sorting. These factors have also facilitated the development of an informal waste sector, which might use up to 20% of the city’s waste as animal feed and for home/farm composting. However, complex relations between multiple actors and the national policy framework complicate the emergence of organic waste segregation at source as a common practice. In this way, the study shows that solid waste management is also a matter of power and (micro)politics.

Unveiling Effectiveness of Lean Construction Practices: A Comprehensive Study through Surveys and Case Studies

Construction projects frequently encounter challenges such as stagnant productivity, excessive waste, cost overruns, and delays, contributing to sustainability issues. In response to these issues, Lean Construction (LC) has emerged as a methodology aimed at eradicating inefficiencies and wasteful practices. However, the construction industry has been slow to embrace LC, primarily due to a lack of comprehensive evaluations regarding its real-world effectiveness. This study seeks to thoroughly assess the effectiveness of LC when implemented in construction projects in Pakistan. The research involved conducting a survey among experts in the construction industry, utilizing a comprehensive questionnaire to evaluate the extent of LC adoption and its impact on construction project performance. The collected data underwent rigorous statistical analysis to ascertain the influence of LC practices on project outcomes. To validate the survey results, the study selected five case study projects for in-depth analysis. These case studies assessed how well the projects adhered to LC principles and examined the resulting effects on project delays, cost overruns, quality issues, rework, and health-related concerns. The findings consistently confirmed that a higher level of adherence to LC principles led to significant reductions in project delays, cost overruns, quality issues, and health-related problems. This analysis strongly supports the notion that a more extensive adoption of LC practices results in substantial improvements in project performance. By presenting these compelling results, this study offers valuable insights to the construction industry, providing a clearer path for the effective integration of LC practices. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-04-09 Full Text: PDF

Assessing the socio-economic factors affecting household waste generation and recycling behavior in Chennai: A survey-based study

This research paper investigates the socio-economic factors influencing household waste generation and recycling behavior in Chennai, India. The rapid urbanization and economic growth in Chennai have led to increased waste management challenges, making it imperative to understand the specific dynamics at play. The primary objectives of this study are to identify the key socio-economic factors affecting waste generation and recycling and to assess their implications for waste management policies. To achieve these objectives, a cross-sectional survey-based research design was employed. Data was collected through structured questionnaires administered to a sample of 500 households, encompassing various income levels, education backgrounds, and demographics. Statistical analysis, including multiple regression and logistic regression, was used to analyze the data. The key findings of this study indicate that monthly income significantly influences waste generation, with lower-income households producing more waste on average. Education level emerged as a predictor of recycling behavior, with higher-educated households exhibiting higher recycling rates. Additionally, the joint influence of income, education, age group, and gender on waste-related behaviors underscores the complex nature of socio-economic dynamics in waste management. These findings have significant implications for policy development. Tailored interventions are necessary to address income disparities and promote recycling awareness among different socio-economic groups. Furthermore, the study highlights the environmental and health impacts of socio-economic disparities in waste management, emphasizing the need for inclusive and sustainable waste practices.

More-than-transactional circular economies: the café-urban farm nexus and emergent regional food waste circuits

ABSTRACT As governments encourage circular economy (CE) initiatives, markets for waste recirculation are taking shape. But implementation is in its infancy and material circuits are emergent. Early food waste CEs shaped by commercial players emphasise capital investment, routinised forms of waged labour, processing sites distant from food waste sources, and transactional relationships. Less well understood is the potential for vernacular circularity beyond market-based, transactional frames. This paper reports from a collaborative research exercise with a non-profit community farm in nonmetropolitan Australia, seeking to connect with cafés to access food waste for composting. Cafés are a nexus of production and consumption, ubiquitous in the contemporary multicultural Australian context, and therefore ideal for grassroots CEs. Ten local cafes participated, reviewing existing food waste practices, motivations for circularity, and contextual factors including the regional setting. We found that food waste circularity emerges via divergent pathways related to enterprise type and scale, environmental values of actors, place embeddedness, and local relationships. These pathways reflect the place-based attributes and diverse sustainability values of residents and businesses in the coastal, industrial city of Wollongong, where the study is based. Contrasting distant, transactional circuits, are more-than-transactional food waste pathways, developed by microscale actors shaping vernacular material flows and “hacking” public provision of Food Organic and Garden Organic (FOGO) waste services to mobilise environmental values and community relationships. Overlooked by “big policy” more-than-transactional relationships bind producers, intermediaries and consumers in closer loops and, in so doing, enrich place and facilitate an ethic of care for soil and land.

The Contribution of Open Source Software in Identifying Environmental Crimes Caused by Illicit Waste Management in Urban Areas

This study focuses on the analysis, implementation and integration of techniques and methods, also based on mathematical algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), to acquire knowledge of some phenomena that produce pollution with an impact on environmental health, and which start from illicit practices that occur in urban areas. In many urban areas (or agroecosystems), the practice of illegal waste disposing by commercial activities, by abandoning it in the countryside rather than spending economic resources to ensure correct disposal, is widespread. This causes an accumulation of waste in these areas (which can also be protected natural areas), which are then also set on fire to reduce their volume. Obviously, the repercussions of such actions are many. The burning of waste releases contaminants into the environment such as dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls and furans, and deposits other elements on the soil, such as heavy metals, which, by leaching and percolating, contaminate water resources such as rivers and aquifers. The main objective is the design and implementation of monitoring programs against specific illicit activities that take into account territorial peculiarities. This advanced approach leverages AI and GIS environments to interpret environmental states, providing an understanding of ongoing phenomena. The methodology used is based on the implementation of mathematical and AI algorithms, integrated into a GIS environment to address even large-scale environmental issues, improving the spatial and temporal precision of the analyses and allowing the customization of monitoring programs in urban and peri-urban environments based on territorial characteristics. The results of the application of the methodology show the percentages of the different types of waste found in the agroecosystems of the study area and the degree of concentration, allowing the identification of similar areas with greater criticality. Subsequently, through network and nearest neighbour analysis, it is possible to start targeted checks.

Socialization and Practice of Processing Organic Waste into Eco-Enzyme at Sungai Nanam

The village of Sungai Nanam, Lembah Gumanti, is an area in Solok Regency, West Sumatra, that produces significant organic waste from horticultural agriculture. If not managed properly, this waste can cause environmental and aesthetic issues. However, this waste can be converted into an eco-enzyme. An eco-enzyme is a liquid enzyme produced by fermenting organic waste. Eco-enzyme has many benefits, including being used as a liquid organic fertilizer, cleaner, and pest repellent. This community service aims to educate and train the community, especially the women farmers group, named Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) Rimbo Data Sejahtera, on converting organic waste into eco-enzymes. The program used three methods: socialization, demonstration, and mentoring. It has been proven to be an effective way to educate and train the community, particularly KWT Rimbo Data Sejahtera, on proper waste management. This program is a perfect fit for their needs and is very useful in reducing the impact of pollution.

Food Waste Management and Awareness: A survey among Bandar Puncak Alam residents’ community

The escalating food waste issue, notably in Malaysia, prompted this study. The objectives aimed to assess Bandar Puncak Alam residents' knowledge and awareness, understand waste management behaviors, explore current food waste practices, and evaluate concerns about food waste issues. Utilizing questionnaires distributed among 152 residents via convenience sampling, the study revealed robust awareness and commitment to environmental sustainability. However, a notable gap was identified in the understanding of optimal food waste management methods. Despite high awareness levels, there is a need for enhanced education on effective food waste handling in Bandar Puncak Alam.

Trouble with the Bottle Beverage Containers and the Widening Waste Crisis in Socialist Hungary

Recent studies have explored the history of consumerism in communist Eastern Europe, suggesting that socialist consumption followed its own rhythm and logic. However, when it comes to waste-making and recycling existing literature focuses on post-industrial waste practices of the Soviet bloc, paying little attention to post-consumer waste. However, socialist societies did not follow the West's example and refrained from introducing single-use materials, such as disposable beverage containers. Could this also mean that socialists did a better job to deal with their own post-consumer waste than the West? The current scientific knowledge does not answer that question. To cover that gap in the research, this article situates socialist beverage containers and especially recyclable soft drink bottles made of glass in a wider discourse about the meaning of waste, discards, recycling, and material culture in socialism, particularly in Hungary. It suggests that the socialist waste dilemma was unique to Eastern European economies because of its social, ideological, and cultural layers, of which the scientific community has limited understanding. It proposes that despite different ideological foundations, the socialists battled with similar waste problems than in the West, however systematic differences were large enough to produce less post-consumer waste and recycle that waste more efficiently compared to the West.

Workshop Analysis on Behaviour Changes Towards Minimising Food Waste for Waste-Ed

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Waste-Ed with Kate, a community-directed food waste reduction workshop, in instigating behaviour change among participants. This study used a combination of pre-attendance, on the night and both three and six week post attendance surveys to gain insight into participant behaviours. The data collected, focuses on understanding the dynamics of reported food waste amounts. Alongside the focus of investigating change in behaviour following workshop attendance, this study also investigated the best form of communication. The purpose of looking into communication methods, was to determine the most effective way to collect data about household food waste practices following the workshop. Three different communication methods were tested, and reported on to determine the highest response rate, which can be used in future. Graphical representations and Likert scale analyses illustrate participants' behaviour’s pre-attendance and at three and six weeks post-workshop. The findings indicate a significant reduction in reported post-workshop food waste, suggesting a positive impact on participants' practices. The study, commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment, contributes valuable insights into the success of workshops as behaviour change interventions. Continued evaluation of behaviour change initiatives that address the complex issue of food waste is recommended.
 Supervised by: Miranda Mirosa and Grace Clare
 Scholarship Project Funded by: Waste-Ed With Kate

Organic Waste Composting Machine

This abstract presents an innovative approach to organic waste management through the design and implementation of an advanced organic waste composting machine. As the global population continues to grow, managing of organic waste becomes an innovative challenge. The proposed solution aims to address environmental concerns, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Key features of the composting machine include automated temperature and moisture control, ensuring an optimal environment for microbial activity. The organic waste compost produced by the machine serves as a nutrient-rich soil conditioner, promoting soil health and fertility. The implementation of this composting technology contributes to circular economy principles by closing the organic waste loop and reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. Additionally, the composting machine aligns with sustainable development goals by promoting resource efficiency and supporting local agriculture in waste reduction practices. This technology represents a step towards creating more resilient and environmentally conscious communities while supporting the transition to circular economies in the context of waste management.

Transforming Mining Waste to Wealth: A Novel Process for the Sustainable Recovery and Utilization of Iron Tailings through HCl Leaching and MOFs Absorption

Rapid economic development and increased demand for mineral products in China have led to extensive extraction of various ores, resulting in significant environmental challenges associated with the generation of industrial solid waste, particularly iron tailings. Despite being a major mining nation, China faces issues of wasteful practices, with substantial amounts of valuable elements lost during the processing of iron ore. This study addresses the urgent need for sustainable solutions by proposing an innovative approach for the recovery of valuable elements from iron tailings. The proposed process involves a sequential application of acid leaching, chemical precipitation, and Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) ion adsorption. The pre-treated iron tailings were leached in HCl solution with pH 1.5 at 70 °C for 2 h, and the co-leaching efficiency of 98.1% V, 98.2% Mo, 99.3% Fe, and 98.7% Mg was obtained. Chemical precipitation is then employed to isolate Fe, Mg V, and Mo and promote the formation of targeted compounds, ensuring concentration and purity. The integration of MOF ion adsorption, known for its high surface area and tunable pore structures, provides an efficient platform for selectively capturing and recovering target ions. 97.7% V and 96.3% Mo were selectively extracted from Zirconium 1,4-carboxybenzene metal-organic framework (UiO-66) adsorption system with pH 5.0 at 30 °C for 6 h, and 91.7% V and 90.3% Mo were selectively extracted from 2-methylimidazole zinc salt metal-organic framework (ZIF-8) adsorption system with pH 5 at 30 °C for 6.0 h. This three-stage process offers an efficient method for the recovery of valuable elements from iron tailings.

Stability Study of Grid-Connected Power System for Wind Farms Considering Power Control

Wind energy has emerged as a pivotal practice in the contemporary energy landscape, generated through grid-connected power sources aligning with the vernacular principles of systemic approaches. This study explores the surge in initiation rates, offering insights into various factors impacting sustainable electricity production. Intriguingly, this research delves into the intricacies of managing the variability and uncertainty inherent in energy demand, catalysing the integration of grid-based solutions that enhance sustainability. It probes the dynamic nature of power supply paradigms, revealing a journey of continuous enhancement by applying cutting-edge resource methodologies. Amidst the backdrop of global shifts in electricity dynamics, this study uncovers the profound implications of energy depletion and wasteful consumption practices, spotlighting a burgeoning movement towards optimising grid electricity resources on a macro scale. The intricacies and nuances of power supply challenges are comprehensively dissected, offering valuable insights. Furthermore, the study explores the pivotal role played by information technology innovators in consolidating the predictability of wind energy, augmenting its viability. It also aligns with forward-looking reviews, underscoring the actionable strategies taken. The culmination of these efforts not only enhances predictability but also unlocks a spectrum of reflective and adaptive resources in wind energy utilisation.

Decarbonization of waste management practices and GHG accounting for energy transition: evidence from European electricity corporations’ reporting

AbstractThis study advances the understanding about the waste management practices adopted by the electricity sector for meeting the energy transition. Specifically, through the institutional, stakeholder, and legitimacy theory lens, it investigates the decarbonization practices in 11 major electricity producers in Europe trying to understand their sincere concern for enhanced performance and transparency. This study analyzes the content of non-financial disclosures shown by 90 reports, that is 64 sustainability reporting and 26 integrated reporting published between 2015 and 2022. Hence, this study seeks to clarify the linkages between waste management for emissions reduction, GHG accounting and sustainability reports through which the corporations seek legitimacy from stakeholders. The results highlight the commitment of electricity corporations for energy transition using green technologies and renewable energy sources to decarbonize the waste practices. However, they underline the absence of quantitative evidence in the SR for the evaluation of initiatives impact and the reduction of GHG emissions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that conceptualizes the linkages between waste decarbonization for energy transition and the accounting systems i.e. GHG accounting and reporting in the electricity sector towards a cleaner production.

Gendered community-based waste management and the feminization of environmental responsibility in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia

This article investigates gender dynamics in the practices of community-based waste management in households and local communities in the Greater Jakarta region of Indonesia, using a Feminist Political Ecology framework. We argue that community-based waste management, which was established as a decentralized waste management system, reinforces gender inequality by relying on women feeling responsible for waste management in their homes and communities and doing related care work. While our focused ethnographic studies in Bogor District, Tangerang City, and Depok City in 2021–2022 found diverse local waste management systems involving both formal and informal enterprises, the practices across these sites were clearly gendered, with women engaged in underpaid care work. We trace this gendered division of labor to the continued influence of ibuism, the ideology of the Indonesian state that deems women responsible for household and community hygiene, in effect feminizing environmental responsibility. We argue that, to become truly sustainable, waste management practices must be designed with men and women in communities, and address various forms of gender inequality and the gendered impact of community waste practices on health.

The attitudes and practices of United Arab Emirates consumers towards food waste: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

Reducing global food waste is an international environmental, health, and sus-tainability priority. Although significant reductions have been achieved across the food chain, progress by UAE households and consumers remain inadequate. This study seeks to understand the association between consumer attitudes, knowledge, and awareness relating to food waste practice of residents living in the UAE. to help inform policy and action for addressing this national priority. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated semi-structured online questionnaire through stratified sampling (n =1052). The Spearman correlation coefficient was performed to determine the correlations. Two independent regression analysis were used to determine the association between food waste practice with: 1) knowledge and awareness and attitude subdomains, and 2) sociodemographic characteristics. Respondents (n=1072) largely reflect the socio-demographic characteristics and population distribution across the seven Emirates. As expected, a significant and negative correlation was found between food waste practice knowledge and awareness and overall attitude. The regression models showed reduced food waste practice was associated with better knowledge, personal attitude, financial attitude (first model), older age and fewer adults in the household (second model). We found a significant and negative association of personal attitude (a commitment, intention), financial attitude (cost-saving motivation), and (existing) knowledge of Food waste (FW) with practice of food waste, indicating that better knowledge about FW, personal attitude or financial attitude was associated with reduction in undesirable food waste practice. While awareness and emotional attitude (moral concerns) were positively and significantly associated with food waste practice (undesirable behaviour). Food waste poses significant challenges in the UAE, and addressing it requires a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing consumer behavior. By promoting knowledge, fostering positive attitudes, and considering socio-cultural factors, policymakers can develop effective strategies to reduce food waste in households and contribute to sustainable development goals.

Cultural probes: a speculative and creative method for environmental research

ABSTRACT This article considers cultural probes as an experimental qualitative method in promoting collaborative and prefigurative participation in research. While the extant literature tends to frame cultural probes either as the discounted ethnographic tool or the means to gather design inspiration, such a framing also results in an irreconcilable methodological and conceptual dichotomy. Seeking to overcome this binary, this paper draws inspiration from Michel de Certeau’s concept of “poaching” to contemplate how cultural probes may elicit and provoke both inspirational and analytical data. Through an empirical study of the everyday waste practices of 10 young university students in Hong Kong, this study discusses the rationale of different cultural probes designs and participants’ experience in completing the probes. This paper argues that the cultural probes may offer a speculative and creative qualitative inquiry to cultivate one’s “attentiveness”, generate “politics of reconfiguration”, and make sense of “uncertainty” in knowledge production.

Energy analysis of waste heat-powered absorption cooling system for sustainable cooling

Energy wastage from power plants, which typically dissipates into the atmosphere, poses a significant challenge. The environmental consequences of such wasteful practices are manifold, contributing to climate change and resource depletion. The inefficient use of this waste heat contributes to economic and environmental concerns. Harnessing waste heat through integrating heat recovery systems with power plants effectively repurposing untapped energy. Addressing this issue optimizes energy utilization and aligns with the growing need for sustainable practices in the power generation sector. This study aims to harness the available waste heat by integrating an absorption cooling system (ACS) from the flue gas exhaust of a pressurized pulverized combined cycle power plant. Additionally, the thermodynamic performance of ACS with a cooling capacity of 30 tons has been examined. Using waste heat for cooling purposes offers a sustainable and efficient solution, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. The working fluid used in the ACS is a binary mixture comprised of ammonia and water. Modelling and simulation were conducted using cycle tempo software, followed by energy analyses to assess the ACS's thermodynamic performance. The thermodynamic analysis discloses that the ACS achieves a coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.595. Additionally, variations in the temperatures of the generator, absorber, condenser, and evaporator significantly impact the COP of the ACS. This promising COP indicates the effectiveness of the ACS in harnessing waste heat for practical cooling applications, marking a substantial step towards sustainable energy utilization.

Tackling Low-Value Plastics: Environmental and Health Concerns

Plastic pollution, spanning macroplastics to nanoplastics, poses multifaceted challenges. Low-value plastics (LVP), like multi-layered plastics (MLP) and soft plastics, are often discarded, exacerbating environmental issues. LVP's classification, with high collection costs and complex recycling, demands immediate attention. This study explores LVP management solutions, including converting to plastic lumber and RDF products. Anticipated advancements in multilayer plastic recycling offer hope, with downcycling as an option. LVP's environmental and health impacts, including microplastic contamination and toxin release during incineration, underscore the need for sustainable waste practices and plastic alternatives. Addressing LVP is crucial for environmental and human health, ensuring sustainability. Keywords: Low-value plastics, Multi-Layered Plastic (MLP), Health implications, Recycling challenges

Health Care Waste Assessment in a Secondary Health Care Facility in Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Proper management of waste generated in healthcare facilities is very important for patient safety, disease containment, and the general safety of healthcare workers in the facilities. It is important that healthcare workers have a good knowledge of healthcare waste management, develops good attitude towards healthcare waste management and practices standard health care waste management protocols as stipulated by the World Health Organization. Objectives: This study therefore assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care waste management among health care workers in Borromeo Hospital, Anambra State. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out among healthcare workers selected using multistage sampling technique in 6 categories of healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, lab scientists/technicians, pharmacists/technicians, hospital attendants) in Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha, using a pre-tested, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and associations and correlations between dependent and independent variables were tested at the bivariate level using Pearson Chi-square test and t-test as appropriate. The level of statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: A total of 73 healthcare workers were studied. Most of the respondents were female nurses with 0-5 years of working experience.58.9% of respondents had a very good knowledge of health care waste management and 37% had a relatively good knowledge. Majority of respondents (85%) agreed that HBV immunization prevents hospital transmission while 79.4% disagreed that containment of sharps does not help in safe management of hospital wastes.89% of the respondents adheres strictly to waste management regulations while only 2.7% of the respondents do not wear gloves in handling medical waste. Most of the respondents (83.6%) agreed that the number of patients in the facility was the single main factor .......