ABSTRACT
Plastic waste causes severe environmental impacts worldwide and threatens the lives of all creatures. In the medical field, most of the equipment, especially personal protective equipment (PPE), is made from single-use plastic. During COVID-19, the usage of PPE has increased, and is disposed of in landfills after being used once. Worldwide, millions of tons of waste syringes are generated from COVID-19 vaccination. A practical alternative to utilizing this waste is recycling it to reinforce building materials. This research introduces an approach to using COVID-19 syringe plastic waste to reinforce building material as composite concrete. Reinforced fiber polymer (FRP) concrete materials were used to mold cylindrical specimens, which underwent mechanical tests for mechanical properties. This study used four compositions with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of FRP to create cylindrical samples for optimum results. Sequential mechanical tests were carried out on the created samples. These specimens were cured for a long period to obtain water absorption capability. After several investigations, the highest tensile and compressive strengths, approximately 2.0 MPa and 10.5 MPa, were found for the 5% FRP composition samples. From the curing test, the lowest water absorbability of around 5% was found for the 5% FRP composition samples.
ABSTRACT
There is a great deficiency in the collection and disposal of solid waste, with a considerable amount disposed of in dumps instead of in landfills. In this sense, the objective of this research is to propose a solid waste mitigation plan through recovery in the District of Santa Rosa, Ayacucho. For this, a solid waste characterization plan was executed in eight days, and through ANOVA it was shown that there is a significant difference in means between business pairs except between a bakery and a hotel. Through clustering, zones A and B are highly correlated, reflecting that the amount of organic waste was greater than inorganic waste. In the organic waste valorization plan, the results through ANOVA indicate a significant difference for monthly and daily averages, and the clustering shows the different behavior of each month, drawing attention to August, concluding that the valorization pilot plan is viable due to the contribution of a large amount of organic solid waste to the valorization plant.
ABSTRACT
In recent years, the global outbreak of COVID-19 has aroused public attention to the potential risks of bioaerosols and the studies about the potential health hazards of bioaerosols from anthropogenic sources have been increasing. We introduced the research status of four main anthropogenic bioaerosols in recent years, compared the distribution and composition characteristics of bioaerosols from different anthropogenic sources, and analyzed the main factors affecting the characteristics and potential risks of bioaerosols. The average concentration of bioaerosol is high in animal farms, moderate in wastewater treatment plants and landfills, and low in hospitals. The microbial composition of bioaerosols at different sites is closely associated with the bioaerosol source and affected by the environmental conditions. Furthermore, this work prospected the main research directions of anthropogenic bioaerosols in the future, aiming to lay a foundation for the establishment of bioaerosol control standards and the development of control technology.
ABSTRACT
As a result of the global pandemic of Covid-19, there was a need to adjust to the sanitary tragedy that occurred during this time, which stimulated the construction of emergency support units to support the existing health system. In the study presented in this paper, the authors evaluate the potential environmental impacts of modular typologies through quantification and analysis of carbon emissions of a typical hospitalar module throughout its life cycle. A systematic Life Cycle Assessment analysis was carried out to quantify GHG emissions related to the construction of a module of the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Brazil and understand the benefits of reuse and recycling processes by comparing a single-use scenario to a cradle-to-cradle approach. Another objective is to compare Polyisocyanurate (PIR), Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Rock wool when used as insulation, given that their thermal performance is similar but their density influences the impact rates. Overall, EPS panels present a better environmental performance while maintaining thermal comfort standards found in comparison to rock wool and PIR boards. Lastly, concrete for the slab was responsible for the highest emission rates of kg CO2eq/module year, followed by the rigid PIR foam and steel in the production and sanitary landfill disposal stages.
ABSTRACT
In a resource-constrained world, there is ongoing concern over the exploitation and potential future shortage of Earth’s natural resources. In this paper, we present the results of two pilot studies in which we used drone technology with spatial mapping tools and environmental and economic analysis to map illegal waste sites. Besides the technical feasibility, we aimed at understanding the benefits, costs, and tradeoffs of extracting the materials stocked therein, transforming illegal waste sites into valuable resources. The innovation of our work is reflected in the integration of existing technologies for aerial mapping and economic\environmental assessment methodologies for promoting a local circular economy. The pilot results suggest that it is feasible to identify valuable materials left on the ground in the form of unattended, illegally disposed waste. Our initial national estimates for the illegal waste cleanup based on the pilot results suggest that the treatment cost in Israel can be reduced by 58 million USD and even reach zero, with the potential to generate up to 82.8 million USD profits. Finally, we link our results to the Sustainable Development Goals framework and suggest how mapping and implementing the recycling potential can promote achieving some of the goals. Our work provides missing data that the state, local authorities, contractors, and companies that monitor and manage waste and recycled raw materials may find useful.
ABSTRACT
Increased fashion consumption spurred by fast fashion has led to excessive textile waste, giving rise to a global crisis as textile waste pollutes land and waterways, while landfill and incineration contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. Extending a product’s life for as long as possible is a core principle of the circular economy (CE) to ensure that the maximum value of the original product is realized over its lifetime. As such, repair is an essential component of a CE because it supports the preferred waste hierarchy elements of reduce and reuse, with recycling being the last resort in a CE necessary to close resource loops. Consumers are an essential enabler of a CE;therefore, it is critical to understand consumers’ characteristics in the context of behaviors such as repair. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of gender on engagement in clothing repair practices;women have often only been the focus of clothing repair studies. An online survey was conducted to collect responses from Canadian and U.S. consumers (n = 512). Findings showed that self-repair was the most common form of clothing repair, with women being more highly engaged in self-repair practices, increasing with age. Paid repair is the type of repair that has the lowest level of engagement, and there are only negligible differences between the genders. Men utilize unpaid forms of repair more than women. However, among the youngest age group (18–24), both genders are equally likely to have clothing repaired for free. Gender gaps exist, but opportunities for increased utilization in repair can be created to encourage full participation within a CE. In particular, the findings point to the importance of increasing repair activities amongst men and younger consumers.
ABSTRACT
Wales is one of the world leaders in household waste recycling with a steady recent recycling rate of ~65%. The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) set a statutory target of achieving a 70% recycling rate by 2024/25. We reviewed historical trends in waste management in Wales from 2006 to 2020, with a focus on recycling. Authoritative, official data were obtained from WasteDataFlow, an Internet system for municipal waste data reporting by UK local authorities to government. Data are collected quarterly allowing the generation of time series plots, trendlines and like-for-like comparisons between groupings of various characteristics, such as number of separate kerbside collections, income, political preference, and impact of policy changes. Results showed that the approach taken by the WAG to politically prioritise and encourage participation in household recycling has achieved impressive results that contrast starkly with the recycling performance of other UK countries. In Wales, household waste disposed annually per person via landfill decreased from ~410 kg to <50 kg and household waste recycled increased from to ~150 kg to ~310 kg, with a recent increase in incineration with energy recovery to ~135 kg as infrastructure has come online. Recycling rates show a seasonal variation due to increases in garden waste sent for composting in the summer. There are variations in local authority performance across Wales, mainly caused by variations in the number of separate collections. Co-mingled collections tend to lead to higher contamination of recyclates that are then not able to be sold for recycling. Deprivation, as indicated by differences in income, also influences total waste arisings and recycling rates. A plateau of ~65% recycling rate was reached in 2020, with incineration reaching a rate of >25%. The recycling rate plateaus at exactly the same time as incineration comes on stream. Evidence demonstrates that improvements to recycling rates can become more difficult when incineration becomes available. Whilst further reductions and improvements to recycling in Wales will be more challenging, the WAG’s track record of focused proactive political and policy support shows what can be achieved when there is suitable political will. The WAG has demonstrated that it tends to deliver on its waste-related plans, and it clearly has the best chance of any of the UK’s four countries of achieving its aims.
ABSTRACT
WHO declared a novel coronavirus in humans as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on February 2020, and Indonesia as well as Bandung City have been suffering from COVID-19 since the first case in March, 2020. Currently, the outbreak of COVID-19 has occurred for more than a year. The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the environment, like the enhancement of household solid waste as a result of work and school from home policies to decrease the rates of COVID-19 cases. This study aimed to predict the amount of household solid waste generation and analyze the waste management during COVID-19 in Bandung City using a system dynamics model. Data for model input was obtained from questionnaire to 200 respondents from Bandung spread across the sub-districts. The results revealed that the household solid waste generation was increased by 1.3 to 3.8% compared to the year before the COVID-19 pandemic. The composition of household solid waste was dominated by food and plastic waste, which have increased to 76.43% and 25.81%, respectively. The system dynamics model has predicted the household waste generation from three management scenarios for 30 years of model simulation. Scenario I: the household solid waste was totally managed by a local sanitary agency (existing condition);Scenario II: each household manage their waste by recycling;and Scenario III: the utilization of a local waste bank to manage the waste. The scenario III showed the most effective waste management to reduce the amount of household solid waste generation up to 24% by using waste bank. This scenario can be applied for more prolonged landfill operations up to 17 years.
ABSTRACT
In China, environmental pollution due to municipal solid waste (MSW) over-generation is one of the country’s priority concerns. The increasing volume and complexity of the waste poses serious risks to the environment and public health. Currently, the annual growth of MSW generation is estimated to be approximately 8–10% and will increase to 323 million metric tons (Mt) by 2030. Based on the secondary data collected from a literature survey, this article critically evaluates the recent progress of MSW management (MSWM) in China and offers new insights into the waste sector in the era of Industry 4.0. This helps decision makers in China to plan a smooth transition nationwide to a circular economy (CE) in the waste sector. It is evident that digitalization is a driving force for China to move towards low-carbon development strategies within the framework of CE. Through digitalization, the waste sector has promoted prevention, reduction, reuse, and recycling (3Rs) of waste before waste disposal in landfills. A proper implementation of digitalization-based waste recycling has contributed to an efficient cooperation between the government and private sector, increased job opportunities, and promoted the conservation of resources. It is anticipated that this work not only contributes to the establishment of an integrated MSWM system in China, but also improves local MSWM through digitalization in the framework of a CE.
ABSTRACT
Cemeteries are sites for the final disposal of human bodies that constitute a source of contamination of soil and water as a result of the cadaveric decomposition generated. The current research performed an initial study on the contamination of soil and water due to the influence of cemeteries and verified compliance with the legislation regulating land use and occupation of Central Ecuador (PUGS) with the aim of proposing an environmental and territorial solution to the problems generated by the mismanagement of cemeteries, through the physicochemical analysis of soil and water and studies of land use compatibility. The results indicate the tendency of contamination caused by the studied cemeteries, since the samples taken in both the rainy and dry season for the measurement of parameters BOD5, COD, DO, pH and electrical conductivity fail to meet the established requirements of the Ecuadorian and international environmental regulations. In addition, land use conflicts were encountered in the cemetery grounds. It is concluded that the existing cemeteries should be subjected to more detailed environmental analysis and subsequently should be treated as security landfills in the closure and post-closure stage. Also, it has been concluded that the cemeteries should not be located in urban or peri-urban areas.
ABSTRACT
The trending need for smarter electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is surging globally by the year and is giving rise to huge amounts of outdated EEE going into landfills. This has caused enormous threats to our environment and the health of living beings due to its unsustainable ways of collection, treatment and disposal of waste EEE or E-waste. With increasing E-waste, the formal sectors lack infrastructure, technology and expertise required to collect and process the E-waste in an environmentally sound manner. This article is intended to bring out the global best practices in the field of E-waste management, to shed light on the importance of policy implementation, technology requirement and social awareness to arrive at a sustainable and circular economy. Although about 71% of the world’s populace has incorporated E-waste legislation, there is a need to enforce and implement a common legal framework across the globe. The article explains the gap created among the stakeholders and their knowledge on the roles and responsibilities towards a legalized E-waste management. It further explains the lack of awareness on extended producer responsibility (EPR) and producer responsibility schemes. Despite various legislations in force, numerous illegal practices such as acid leaching, open incineration, illegal dumping carried out by the informal sector are causing harm to the environment, natural resources and the safety of unorganized and unskilled labor. The article discusses the crucial need for awareness amongst stakeholders, consumer behavior and the global challenges and opportunities in this field to achieve a low-carbon, circular economy. To conclude, the article highlights the importance of common legal framework, EPR and licenses, transformation of the informal sector, benchmark technologies, responsibilities of various stakeholders and entrepreneurial opportunities to enhance the formal capacity. The article wholly advocates for transparency, accountability and traceability in the E-waste recycling chain, thus creating a greener environment and protecting our planet and natural resources for future generations.
ABSTRACT
The main problems of the city of Nitra (Slovak Republic) in the field of municipal waste management include: 1. High production of municipal waste per capita;2. Low rate of its separation;3. High landfill rate;4. No opportunity for composting;5. Establishment of illegal landfills in the city;6. Low waste prevention rate. To identify the attitudes and opinions of the respondents, and to evaluate certain behavioural practices of the inhabitants of Nitra in the management of municipal solid waste, we used a structured questionnaire (realized in 2020). The results of the questionnaire correspond to the behaviour of 4911 inhabitants of the city (6.46%). This paper evaluates the respondents’ answers, which could be utilised by the local government—not only for a more appropriate setting of municipal waste management and separation, but also in waste prevention and monitoring changes in the consumer behaviour of city residents. The degree of separation in individual housing construction (IHC) and complex housing construction (CHC) was statistically evaluated and compared separately. For paper and glass, a higher degree of separation was reflected in CHC;while conversely, households living in CHC avoided bio-waste and kitchen waste more than IHC households. The most common reason for not participating in the separate collection was the lack of collection containers, the distance of containers from their households, or the low frequency of their collection. The results of the questionnaire show the need for more rigorous education about waste generation, its proper separation, and its prevention.
ABSTRACT
The pandemic of COVID -19 has brought many changes to wildlife globally positively or negatively. During lock downs the abundance of many wild species has increased due to decease in human disturbance in area. This study is designed to compare two landfills situated 22 km apart in the Gujranwala, Punjab in terms of avifauna diversity, abundance and foraging behavior during COVID-19 pandemic. The field observations using the total count method of population census revealed the abundance of contrasting avian species at both sites with a very low values of the diversity index (H= 1.146 Chianwali & H=1.697 Gondalawala ) and species evenness (E= 0.423 Chianwali & E= 0.587 Gondalawala). A large variation in bird's population was recorded at both landfills, i.e. N > 17,300 at one landfill (Chianwali) and N> 26,200 at the other (Gondalawala). Time dependent variation in population was also observed. Cattle egret was dominant species (~75% of population) at the Chianwali landfill site while the Black kite (~55% of population) was the dominant species at Gondalawala landfill. House crow was the second dominant species at both sites. Birds were grouped into categories based on ecological behaviors such as dominance, opportunists, insectivory etc. The study finds that each landfill has its own specific character depending upon the geographical location, accessibility of birds to landfills, and management practices such as presence of boundary wall and artificial lights. Moreover, it also finds that COVID -19 lockdown provided an opportunity to wild avian species to exploit human rehabilitated areas abundantly where there presence was very few because of dominance of human beings and their activities.