Extended producer responsibility for waste tyres in the EU: Lessons learnt from three case studies - Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands.

The article compares the performance of three Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems for tyres and discusses the respective policy context that leads to these results. It aims to give insight into the varied implementation of EPR policy through the presentation of case studies. The EPR systems for tyres in Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands are described and common success factors as well as weaknesses are examined. The systems mainly differ in respect of scope and targets for material and energy recovery. The presented case studies assign physical (through a take-back obligation) as well as financial (through an advanced disposal fee) responsibility to the producers. EPR for tyres has been found to reduce flytipping and illegal stockpiling of tyres; increase resource efficiency by increased recycling; and move waste tyre management up the waste hierarchy. It is found that best results for recycling are achieved, if the legislation sets quantitative targets and clearly defines waste status of tyres to maximise local reuse/retread. It is argued however, that recycling is favourable over reuse/retread in the case of waste tyres. The case studies show that an EPR system is no guarantee for waste treatment in the most environmentally sound way. An EPR system will only achieve its objectives if properly designed, implemented and enforced. If legislation allows, Producer Responsibility Organisations will find the cheapest, not the environmentally most favourable, solution for waste management.

Improving phosphorus removal in a surface flow wetland and land application system by geochemical augmentation with alum.

Constructed surface flow (SF) wetlands are commonly used for phosphorus (P) removal. Geochemistry of wetlands provides explicit mechanisms for permanent P-sequestration in sediments. This study had two goals: (1) Find P removal performance and rate at the highest alum doses that do not produce floc in an SF wetland; and (2) Determine potential improvements to P removal performance with low alum doses in a 140-ha land application system downstream from the wetland. The study started with a small fraction of a conventional, flocculation/sedimentation alum dose, then progressively increased the dose to observe initiation of floc formation and removal of P. For flows near 10 megaliters per day in an 0.8 ha SF wetland, doses started 189 L d-1 for two weeks, then increasing by 189 L d-1 every two weeks until the final two weeks at 946 L d-1. At an alum dosing rate of 189 L d-1 (alum concentration of 9.5 mg L-1), there was an order of magnitude improvement in P removal rates over literature values. Floc formation in the wetland was observed at 567 L d-1, but no significant improvement in P removal rates were observed until a conventional alum dose of 946 L d-1 was applied. Alum addition improved P removal performance in the land application system. In 2014, during which there was no alum dosing, the median effluent total P (TP) during the July-September dry season (groundwater dominated outflow) was 0.43 mg L-1. In 2015, (alum dosing August-October) median dry weather TP of 0.18 mg L-1 was significantly lower (p < 0.0001). Alum dosing in 2016 at 189 L d-1 produced a dry weather median of 0.28 mg L-1, which was significantly lower (p = 0.015) than in the 2014 median. Mean daily dry weather TP loads to the land application system were 44 kg d-1 in 2014, 45 kg d-1 in 2015, and 41 kg d-1 in 2016.

Development and application of a multiple linear regression model to consider the impact of weekly waste container capacity on the yield from kerbside recycling programmes in Scotland.

This article describes the development and application of a multiple linear regression model to identify how the key elements of waste and recycling infrastructure, namely container capacity and frequency of collection, affect the yield from municipal kerbside recycling programmes. The overall aim of the research was to gain an understanding of the factors affecting the yield from municipal kerbside recycling programmes in Scotland with an underlying objective to evaluate the efficacy of the model as a decision-support tool for informing the design of kerbside recycling programmes. The study isolates the principal kerbside collection service offered by all 32 councils across Scotland, eliminating those recycling programmes associated with flatted properties or multi-occupancies. The results of the regression analysis model have identified three principal factors which explain 80% of the variability in the average yield of the principal dry recyclate services: weekly residual waste capacity, number of materials collected and the weekly recycling capacity. The use of the model has been evaluated and recommendations made on ongoing methodological development and the use of the results in informing the design of kerbside recycling programmes. We hope that the research can provide insights for the further development of methods to optimise the design and operation of kerbside recycling programmes.

Anaerobic co-digestion of mechanically biologically treated municipal waste with primary sewage sludge - a feasibility study.

This bench scale study investigated the suitability of MBT material for treatment by anaerobic digestion and the impacts of co-digestion of these wastes with sewage sludge. The results suggest that MBT material is amenable to anaerobic digestion with sewage sludge. The main problems for scale-up are related to the physical composition of the MBT material, the accumulation of heavy metals and other inert contaminants and the impact of both of these factors on final sludge quality. Full-scale trials would be required to assess the long-term impacts of MBT waste on anaerobic digestion, if this form of co-digestion were to be pursued. The material contamination that presents a barrier to the direct recycling of MBT material in land-applications is also a major hurdle in commercial co-digestion. Better quality input material would be likely to result in higher methane yields and fewer restrictions on the utilisation of the product in recycling.

Assessment of the quantities of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in Scotland.

The EC Directives on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment forms the basis of legislative control over the ultimate recovery and disposal of electronic and electrical products. Understanding the quantities and composition of WEEE arising will be critical in the development of an appropriate collection and recovery infrastructure to meet the requirements of the directive. However in advance of implementation of the directive only limited information is currently available. This paper reviews recent estimates of WEEE arisings, considers the results of trial collection schemes, and presents the findings of the authors own analysis of WEEE arisings in Scotland. The results cover the period of 1998-2008 and suggest that the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment will increase until 300,000-350,000 metric tons per annum is reached.

Taking the tricks out of trauma.

Decisions must be made rapidly in the field when assessing trauma patients. Acronyms, such as ESCAPE, can help you remember important facts and aid your assessment. The important thing to remember about the MAPP system is that a score is assigned only after you evaluate patient and scene circumstances. The next time you meet a shell master, spend some time figuring out his system and beat him at his own game. But don't play guessing games with trauma victims. Use a systematic approach to quickly assess your trauma patients and determine the need to transport them to a trauma center.