1
|
Kahupi I, Yakovleva N, Hull CE, Okorie O. Factors affecting the adoption of circular economy in mining companies of developing economies - A Namibian stakeholder perspective. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 361:121214. [PMID: 38805964 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
The factors influencing the adoption and implementation of CE in developing countries are not yet fully examined. By focusing on the Namibian mining sector, this study highlights the perspectives of local stakeholders on CE adoption in a developing country. The mine managers recognized that waste is problematic and that CE practices are beneficial for mining companies and Namibia at large. Our findings also indicated that stronger academic institutions providing CE training and helping develop CE solutions, public awareness campaigns, financial support for CE practices, cooperation among industry stakeholders, and clear CE policy would all help drive the implementation of CE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inamutila Kahupi
- Department of Strategy, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship, KEDGE Business School, 40 Avenue des Terroirs de France, 75012 Paris, France.
| | - Natalia Yakovleva
- Department of Strategy, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship, KEDGE Business School, 40 Avenue des Terroirs de France, 75012 Paris, France.
| | - Clyde Eiríkur Hull
- Saunders College of Business, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA.
| | - Okechukwu Okorie
- Department of Engineering, Faculty of Environment, Science and the Economy, University of Exeter, Hope Hall, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PL, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fei F, Wen Z, Zhang J, Xing Y, Zhang H, Li Y. New multi-source waste co-incineration and clustering park operating model for small- and medium-sized city: A case study in China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 355:120514. [PMID: 38460330 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
With improvements in urban waste management to promote sustainable development, an increasing number of waste types need to be sorted and treated separately. Due to the relatively low amount of waste generated in small- and medium-sized cities, separate treatment facilities for each waste type lack scale, waste is treated at a high cost and low efficiency. Therefore, industrial symbiosis principles are suggested to be used to guide collaborative waste treatment system of multi-source solid wastes, and co-incineration is the most commonly used technology. Most existing studies have focused on co-incineration of one certain waste type (such as sludge or medical waste) with municipal solid waste (MSW), but the systematic design and the comprehensive benefits on a whole city and park level have not been widely studied. Taking the actual operation of a multi-source waste co-incineration park in south-central China as an example, this study conducted a detailed analysis of the waste-energy-water metabolism process of MSW, sludge, food waste, and medical waste co-incineration. The environmental and economic benefits were evaluated and compared with the single decentralized waste treatment mode. The results showed that the multi-source waste co-incineration and clustering park operating model was comprehensively superior to the single treatment mode, greenhouse gases and human toxicity indicators were decreased by 11.87% and 295.74%, respectively, and the internal rate of return of the project was increased by 29.35%. This mainly benefits from the synergy of technical system and the economies of scale. Finally, this research proposed policy suggestions from systematic planning and design, technical route selection, and an innovative management mode in view of the potential challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Fei
- School of Energy and Environment Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Zongguo Wen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10084, China.
| | - Jiayue Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKLESPC), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10084, China.
| | - Yi Xing
- School of Energy and Environment Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Everbright Environmental Protection (China) Ltd, Shenzhen, 518031, China.
| | - You Li
- Everbright Envirotech (China) Ltd, Nanjing, 211100, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yao P, Li B, Zhang S, Song L, Tai J, Zhao J, Cao W, Zhang X, Qian G. Quantifying the effect of socio-economic-geo drivers on the change of municipal waste disposal in China by an integrated TWFE-PRF-SDM methodology. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 343:118213. [PMID: 37229866 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Municipal solid waste management and disposal in China have significantly evolved since 2000. Due to China's vast land area and significant socioeconomic and geographic disparities, nationwide waste management strategies need to be further evaluated. This study quantified the effect of social, economic, and geographic drivers on municipal waste disposal activities in 31 provincial-level administrative regions from 2003 to 2020, by establishing a methodology integrated by two-way fixed effects regression model, panel random forest, and spatial Durbin model. The results showed, in the past two decades, socio-economic-geo indicators significantly co-decided the landfill and incineration activities. In particular, the explanatory ability of GDP per capita was above 45%, while land resources and city size also showed great significance. Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the relationship between landfill/incineration rates and socio-economic-geo drivers changed notably from unobvious to significant with economic growth. Furthermore, the local economy and land resources displayed more impact than those of the neighboring regions, while sci-tech and education showed clear spatial spillover effects. Chinese government would carefully assess the full-scale promotion policy of incineration plants, landfill is still hold as a reasonable option for regions with specific socio-economic-geo conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peifan Yao
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
| | - Bin Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Sen Zhang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Lijie Song
- Shanghai Environmental Sanitation Engineering Design Institute Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200232, China
| | - Jun Tai
- Shanghai Environmental Sanitation Engineering Design Institute Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200232, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
| | - Wei Cao
- Shanghai SUS Environment Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 201703, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801-1645, USA
| | - Guangren Qian
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Suknark P, Buddhawong S, Wangyao K. Investigating the effect of waste age and soil covering on waste characteristics prior to landfill mining using an electrical resistivity tomography technique. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 339:117898. [PMID: 37054595 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
This study analyzed the potential of landfill mining for refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production based on waste electrical resistivity, including the influence of waste age and soil cover. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) was used to determine the resistivity value of landfilled waste in four active and inactive zones, with two to four ERT survey lines collected per zone. Waste samples were collected for composition analysis. Linear and multivariate regression analyses were used to constrain the data correlation based on the waste's physical characteristics. An unexpected finding was that soil cover, rather than the waste's age, influenced the characteristics of the waste. To evaluate the RDF recovery potential, multivariate regression analysis showed a significant correlation between electrical resistivity, conductive materials, and moisture content. However, the obtained correlation between electrical resistivity and RDF fraction using linear regression analysis can be more conveniently used to evaluate RDF production potential in practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Parichat Suknark
- The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Energy Technology and Environment, PERDO, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sasidhorn Buddhawong
- School of Energy, Environmental and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Komsilp Wangyao
- The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Energy Technology and Environment, PERDO, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Bangkok, Thailand.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Khan SAR, Tabish M, Yu Z. Mapping and visualizing of research output on waste management and green technology: A bibliometric review of literature. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2023; 41:1203-1218. [PMID: 37052320 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x221149329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The transition to a circular economy (CE) and environmental protection highly depends on waste management (WM) and green technology (GT). The purpose of this study is to examine the past two decades of WM and GT research to identify the most significant advancements and potential future research areas. Bibliometrics content analysis and text mining were utilized to resolve the subsequent issues: Has WM and GT research developed over time in the CE industry? Does WM and GT research have a clearly defined purpose? How do you foresee the future of WM and GT research in the context of CE evolving? Consequently, 1149 journal articles from the Scopus database were used to create and evaluate bibliometric networks. Therefore, five significant CE-related issues requiring additional research were identified: The first category is bio-based WM, followed by CE transition, GT, ecological impacts, municipal solid WM and lifecycle assessment, and finally, bio-based WM. Future research topics and a tool for the CE transition may be impacted by the investigation of inclusive WM systems, GT practices and their defining highlight patterns (which aim to minimalize waste generation). Future research goals include reducing waste and implementing WM into the CE framework.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zhang Yu
- School of Economics and Management, Chang'an University, Xi'an, China
- Department of Business Administration, ILMA University, Karachi, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Farahbakhsh S, Snellinx S, Mertens A, Belderbos E, Bourgeois L, Meensel JV. What's stopping the waste-treatment industry from adopting emerging circular technologies? An agent-based model revealing drivers and barriers. RESOURCES, CONSERVATION, AND RECYCLING 2023; 190:106792. [PMID: 36874226 PMCID: PMC9936780 DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Many new circular economy technologies are gaining momentum, yet research on the complexity of adoption decisions driven by uncertainties, both at technology and ecosystem level, is lacking. In the present study, an agent-based model was developed to study factors that influence the adoption of emerging circular technologies. The case of the waste treatment industry was chosen, specifically its (non-) adoption of the so-called "Volatile Fatty Acid Platform", a circular economy technology that facilitates both the valorization of organic waste into high-end products as well as their sale on global markets. Model results show adoption rates under 60% due to effects of subsidies, market growth, technological uncertainty and social pressure. Furthermore, the conditions were revealed under which certain parameters have the most effect. An agent-based model enabled use of a systemic approach to reveal the mechanisms of circular emerging technology innovation that are most relevant for researchers and waste treatment stakeholders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siavash Farahbakhsh
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Burg. van Gansberghelaan 115 b2, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium
| | - Stien Snellinx
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Burg. van Gansberghelaan 115 b2, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium
| | - Anouk Mertens
- KU Leuven, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Dept. of Animal and Human Health Engineering, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Edward Belderbos
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Burg. van Gansberghelaan 115 b2, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium
| | - Liselot Bourgeois
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Burg. van Gansberghelaan 115 b2, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium
| | - Jef Van Meensel
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Burg. van Gansberghelaan 115 b2, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sharma G, Sinha B. Future emissions of greenhouse gases, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds from municipal solid waste burning in India. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159708. [PMID: 36302408 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Waste generation projections for the 21st century are important for the investigation of long-term global environmental problems, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste management. This paper presents future waste generation and open waste burning projections for India, which are consistent with the scenarios in the shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs) database. India's waste generation will increase to 547 Tgy-1 and 828 Tgy-1, by 2030 and 2050, respectively, if India's waste generation rates converge to those of developed economies under the fossil fuel based economic growth projections of SSP5. This will increase open waste burning emissions by 140 % and 110 % over 2015 levels by 2030 and 2050, respectively. Business-as-usual projections predict a waste generation of 268 ± 14 Tgy-1 by 2030 and 356 ± 34 Tgy-1 by 2050 and elimination of waste burning other than landfill fires by the mid-2040s. Aggressive promotion of source segregation and treatment of biodegradable waste under a sustainable development scenario (SSP1) can advance this transition despite higher income growth and reduce waste burning from 68 (45-105) Tgy-1 in 2015 to 21-48 Tgy-1 and 2-22 Tgy-1 of waste burning by 2030 and 2050, respectively. The failure of programs targeted at this waste component would result in 31-60 Tgy-1 and 26-108 Tgy-1 of waste burning by 2030 and 2050, respectively. For the SSP5 income trajectory a failure to successfully source segregate and treat biodegradable waste would almost double open waste burning by 2050.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Sharma
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, Manauli PO, SAS Nagar, Punjab 140306, India
| | - Baerbel Sinha
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, Manauli PO, SAS Nagar, Punjab 140306, India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tomić T, Kremer I, Vecchio Ciprioti S, Schneider DR. Efficiency of municipal packaging waste recovery chain and suitability of separated residual waste fractions for use in alternative fuels production. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 322:116056. [PMID: 36070647 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Due to the sheer quantity and quality of material, packaging waste is separately collected by municipal waste management systems, with a primary goal of its use in material recovery. The residual waste, i.e. rejected waste in the separation process can be energy recovered. Both recovery options have specific input material quality requirements. Therefore, it is important to know the characteristics of individual waste streams. This research analysed the composition and morphological characteristics of separately collected packaging waste from municipal waste management system, residual (rejected) waste fractions after separation steps and produced refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The efficiency of primary and secondary (manual) waste separation, as well as of the RDF production step, are tracked. Results show that primary waste separation produces material with under 7% of contaminants and secondary manual waste separation efficiency ranges between 45% and 55%. Physico-chemical comparison of simulated RDF strongly coincides with analysed properties of RDF as a final product which indicates very high separation efficiency in the RDF production. From the energy recovery/conversion standpoint, this can be quantified through deviations in the lower heating value (LHV) and the effective H/C molar ratio between simulated and real RDF samples, which are on the level of 1.8% and 1.1% respectively. The following conclusion can be made from the estimated relation between changes in separation efficiency and RDF energy-related characteristics; the separation efficiency of individual components plays important role in alternative fuel production as chemical compositions directly influence suitability for high-quality liquid fuel production. Results of this analysis shed a light on the connection between aspirations to increase material recovery share and the suitability of produced residual waste for further recovery and valorisation. The material and energetic valorisation are competitors, and further evaluation should be done to understand the investments needed to increase valuable fractions of wastes separation that, in turn, could diminish the energetic value of residual fractions and, therefore, the economic viability of energy recovery facilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tihomir Tomić
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Irma Kremer
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | - Daniel Rolph Schneider
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Tanveer M, Khan SAR, Umar M, Yu Z, Sajid MJ, Haq IU. Waste management and green technology: future trends in circular economy leading towards environmental sustainability. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:80161-80178. [PMID: 36197607 PMCID: PMC9532236 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23238-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The effective treatment of waste to be used as a resource in future has a major role in achieving environmental sustainability and moving towards circular economy. The current research is aimed to provide in-depth detail regarding prominent trends and research themes, evolution, future research orientation, main characteristics, and mapping of research publications on waste management, technological innovation in circular economy domain from the year 2000 to 2021. Different analyses including text mining and bibliometric and content analyses were applied to answer the research question and provide the details on aforementioned variables. From the bibliometric analyses, a total of 1118 articles were drawn out from the Scopus database to conceptualize the core body of research. As a result, the following themes were identified: electronic waste, circular economy transition, plastic waste, bio-based waste management, lifecycle assessment, and ecological impacts, and construction and demolition waste management. The highlighted features, future research orientation, and prominent research perspective can provide guideline for future research to enrich the literature through conducting studies on provided research directions and help lead waste management and technological innovation policymakers, professionals, and practitioners in moving towards circular transition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tanveer
- Department of Business Administration, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Muhammad Umar
- Faculty of Business Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Malaysia
| | - Zhang Yu
- School of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Business Administration, ILMA University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Jawad Sajid
- School of Management and Engineering, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ikram Ul Haq
- Kind Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Effect of Zeolite Catalyst on the Pyrolysis Kinetics of Multi-Layered Plastic Food Packaging. Symmetry (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/sym14071362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyrolysis is gaining more significance as a technology used to produce alternative fuels and chemicals. This study dealt with the catalytic pyrolysis of a realistic waste mixture of multi-layered plastic food packaging. The thermal behavior, kinetic parameters, and kinetic model of multi-layered plastic food packaging pyrolysis were determined to show its potential for process scale-up. In particular, we aimed to evaluate the effect of a ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst, modified with iron(III) oxide. The pyrolysis process on this decagonal structure was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis under nitrogen flow at four heating rates ranging between 40 and 600 °C. The kinetic study was conducted using the model-free isoconversional Friedman method as well as advanced statistical analysis to determine the reaction mechanism of the process. The thermal decomposition occurred in the range of 350–510 °C, with a mass loss greater than 90%. The kinetic study revealed a complex pyrolysis process, which consisted of three decomposition stages, diffusion, and Avrami-Erofeev reaction types. The activation energy values determined by the Friedman method rose with the degree of conversion, from 127 kJ mol−1 at 0.01 to 219 kJ mol−1 at 0.95. The doping of the catalyst lowered the activation energy of the reaction by 44% and 8% in the first and second stages, respectively, and increased the acidity of the zeolites, thus enhancing the reactivity on the surface of the catalysts. Lower activation energy meant less energy was required to heat the pyrolysis reactor since the onset temperature of sample decomposition was reduced.
Collapse
|
11
|
Does Circular Economy Contribute to Smart Cities’ Sustainable Development? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137627. [PMID: 35805283 PMCID: PMC9265689 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this research paper is to investigate and identify the factors which can support the development of one characteristic of smart cities, namely, the smart environment. More specifically, the main goal is to measure the extent to which air pollution may be reduced, taking as determinants several circular economy, fiscal, and environmental factors. The Ordinary Least Squares, the Fixed Effects, and Random Effects regression models using balanced panel data were employed, over the 2011–2019 period, for 28 European states. After rigorously studying the literature, 11 indicators with a predictable impact on the exposure to air pollution were kept. According to current analysis, the most effective methods of reducing air pollution are the use of renewable energy, the investments in educating the population to reduce pollution, the proper implementation of the circular economy, and the adoption of the most suitable policies by the European Union governments. Particular attention needs to be paid to factors such as carbon dioxide-generating activities, which are significantly increasing the air pollution. Another strong value is that of providing information on the assessment of ambient air quality, and on the promotion of appropriate policies to achieve two major objectives: well-being, and sustainable cities.
Collapse
|
12
|
Peura P, Voutilainen O, Kantola J. From garbage to product and service systems: A longitudinal Finnish case study of waste management evolution. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 140:143-153. [PMID: 35081494 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This longitudinal case study analyses the development of the pioneering waste management (WM) system in the Vaasa region of Western Finland, since the late 1980s to the present. It reflects the general features of the evolving WM from the one-bag system and throwaway culture towards today's circular economy and product service systems. The Vaasa region is an excellent example of how WM has evolved in Finland, which also follows the main direction of travel in Europe. The main features have been: (1) closing of dumping sites, minimizing dumping of waste and concentrating dumping to well-organized and environmentally managed sites; (2) development of comprehensive source separation systems for reuse of materials and energy; (3) building of waste treatment systems, consisting of different technical solutions connected with reuse and energy generation solutions. This evolution has resulted in expanding regional collaboration, where large investments are integrated within larger areas and consortia. The share of reused materials has grown significantly and dumping has decreased to close to zero. The practices of the circular economy are emerging and partly established. In this evolution, praxis does not immediately follow after "a brilliant idea", but only after the societal structuring process, including paradigmatic changes in attitudes, social norms, policies and regulation, customer behaviour, economic structures, and separate and systemic technological solutions and value chains. This research can add value both in terms of knowledge and science, and in being a change agents more practically. In the future, a strategic shift from WM to material management, and from public service to feasible businesses will be the next steps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jussi Kantola
- University of Turku, Finland; Poznan University of Technology, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
A Framework to Evaluate the Social Life Cycle Impact of Products under the Circular Economy Thinking. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14042196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Today, the circular economy is regarded as a promising alternative for modern economies to preserve “virgin” natural resources for future generations by valorizing waste materials. The concept is also used to promote the goals of sustainable development, where, apart from the environmental dimension, the economic and social dimensions are also integrated. So far, the largest part of the related research has emphasized the environmental and economic dimensions, while little attention has been paid to the social dimension of circular economy. Thus, this paper develops a framework to evaluate the social impacts of circular products and materials throughout their life cycle, which is based on social life thinking, circular economy principles and strategies and social responsibility principles. Moreover, computational examples are presented to show the functionality and applicability of the proposed framework. Finally, critical points for future research are pinpointed in order to assist scholars in applying and improving such frameworks through case studies, helping them to better understand the social aspects of circular economy.
Collapse
|
14
|
Zhang Z, Malik MZ, Khan A, Ali N, Malik S, Bilal M. Environmental impacts of hazardous waste, and management strategies to reconcile circular economy and eco-sustainability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:150856. [PMID: 34627923 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The rise in living standards and the continuous development in the global economy led to the depletion of resources and increased waste generation per capita. This waste might posture a significant threat to human health or the environmental matrices (water, air, soil) when inadequately treated, transported, stored, or managed/disposed of. Therefore, effective waste management in an economically viable and environmentally friendly way has become meaningful. Prominent technology is the need of the day for circular economy and sustainable development to reduce the speed of depletion in resources and produce an alternative means for the future demands in the different sectors of science and technology. In order to meet the potential requirements for energy production or producing secondary raw material, solid waste may be the prime source. The activities of living organisms convert waste products in one form or another in which electronic waste (e-waste) is a modern-day problem that is growing by leaps and bounds. The disposal protocols of the e-waste management need to be given proper attention to avoid its hazardous impacts. The e-waste is obtained from any equipment or devices that run by electricity or batteries like laptops, palmtops, computers, televisions, mobile phones, digital video discs (DVD), and many more. E-waste is one of the rapidly growing causes of world pollution today. Plenty of research is available in the scientific literature, which shows different approaches being set up and followed to manage and dispose of waste products. These strategies to manage waste products designed by the states all over the globe revolves around minimal production, authentic techniques for the management of waste produced, reuse and recycling, etc. The virtual survey of the available literature on waste management shows that it lacks specificity regarding the management of waste products parallel to ecological sustainability. The presented review covers the sources, potential environmental impacts, and highlights the importance of waste management strategies to provide the latest and updated knowledge. The review also put forward the countermeasures that need to be taken on national and International levels addressing the sensitive issue of waste management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province 318000, China
| | - Muhammad Zeeshan Malik
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Adnan Khan
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Nisar Ali
- Key Laboratory for Palygorskite Science and Applied Technology of Jiangsu Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Deep Utilization Technology of Rock-salt Resource, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, China
| | - Sumeet Malik
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian 223003, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sulich A, Sołoducho-Pelc L. The circular economy and the Green Jobs creation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:14231-14247. [PMID: 34601690 PMCID: PMC8810480 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16562-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The circular economy (CE) is a proposal for a new, more sustainable, and durable economy model. As a consequence, this pro-environmental economic model induces visible changes in the labor market which are Green Jobs (GJs). This paper is focused on the creation of Green Jobs in the CE. The GJs are most visible in the environmental goods and services sector (EGSS). This study aims to investigate EGSS among 28 European Union countries in the years 2009-2019. The adopted method was literature research complemented by the statistical analysis of secondary data from Eurostat in the linear regression method. Then, some Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their measure were used as main indicators reflecting changes in the labor market. Results are presented as a model indicating which of the SDGs can support CE and enhance a number of the Green Jobs. Presented results contribute to the science because combine factors influencing GJs creation in EGSS, in a CE perspective. This study underlines a lack of uniform methods for measuring and forecasting the effects of Green Jobs creation and indicates future research directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Sulich
- Faculty of Management, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, Wrocław, Poland.
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
García-Sánchez IM, Somohano-Rodríguez FM, Amor-Esteban V, Frías-Aceituno JV. Which region and which sector leads the circular economy? CEBIX, a multivariant index based on business actions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 297:113299. [PMID: 34274767 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The circular economy encompasses a sustainable economic model based on a production, consumption, distribution and maintenance process that reuses as much as possible. In this research, the two-step composite Circular Economy Business Index was created, based on 17 environmental practices that companies have implemented to reduce the generation of waste and emissions and to increase the reuse and efficiency of materials and energy, among other actions. The use of a sample of 26,783 companies from 49 countries and 10 sectors for the period 2014-2019 allowed the aggregation of these initiatives at the country and industry levels. In this sense, our results show less progress in the circular transformation worldwide and can be used in the design of policies aimed at promoting changes in production and consumption systems in specific geographic or industrial contexts.
Collapse
|
17
|
Mencía RVDLV, Rojas MF, Martínez-Ramírez S, Fernández-Carrasco L, Cociña EV, García-Giménez R. Reactivity of Binary Construction and Demolition Waste Mix as Supplementary Cementitious Materials. MATERIALS 2021; 14:ma14216481. [PMID: 34772011 PMCID: PMC8585279 DOI: 10.3390/ma14216481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Calcareous and siliceous CDW wastes from concrete and glass wastes when mixed in binary mixtures has been analyzed in this study. Fine CDW fractions (<5 mm) of different sorts are selected: siliceous waste (HsT), calcareous waste (HcG) and laminated glass waste. The binary mixtures HsT/glass and HcG/glass at mix-proportions of 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2, respectively, are analyzed with a range of characterization techniques (XRD, TG/DTA, SEM-EDX, NMR, FT-IR) in the pure pozzolan/lime system over a reaction time of 90 days. The results showed that the incorporation of highly reactive recycled glass modified the pozzolanic reaction of the binary mixtures with respect to each particular concrete waste (of low activity). The principal mineralogical phases of the reaction were calcite and C-S-H gel, the latter modifying the C/S and A/S ratios as a function of either the silica or the lime-based concrete waste and the glass content of the mixtures. A higher degree of polymerization, morphology, and sodium content of C-H-S gel formed when glass was added.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Vigil de la Villa Mencía
- Departamento de Geología y Geoquímica, Geomateriales Unidad Asociada CSIC-UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Moisés Frías Rojas
- Eduardo Torroja Institute for Construction Science (IETcc-CSIC), 28033 Madrid, Spain;
| | | | - Lucía Fernández-Carrasco
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Barcelona TECH, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Ernesto Villar Cociña
- Department of Physics, Central University of Las Villas, Santa Clara 54830, Villa Clara, Cuba;
| | - Rosario García-Giménez
- Departamento de Geología y Geoquímica, Geomateriales Unidad Asociada CSIC-UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Kremer I, Tomić T, Katančić Z, Erceg M, Papuga S, Vuković JP, Schneider DR. Catalytic pyrolysis of mechanically non-recyclable waste plastics mixture: Kinetics and pyrolysis in laboratory-scale reactor. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 296:113145. [PMID: 34271358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Post-consumer waste plastics that cannot be mechanically recycled represent a concerning environmental issue. According to the latest available data for Europe, as much as 25% of collected post-consumer waste plastics are landfilled, 43% is energy recovered, and 32% is recycled. One possible way of recovering non-recyclable plastics is pyrolysis, which is considered environmentally friendly technology for obtaining fuel or chemicals from plastic waste. To tackle the challenge of recovering non-recyclable plastics via pyrolysis, it is necessary to determine their actual composition. Visual separation of collected non-recyclable plastics was performed, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to confirm the accuracy of visual separation. A significant amount of plastics labelled as "other" was found. Since the composition of "other" waste plastics has not been sufficiently investigated, relatively few studies on their pyrolysis have been conducted. Therefore, they were characterised and added to the mixture with other found polymer types of non-recyclable plastics. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to determine thermochemical behaviour and kinetic parameters required for laboratory pyrolysis investigation. Kinetic analysis was conducted using the Friedman isoconversional model-free method and non-linear multivariate regression method. The goal of this paper was to analyse the kinetics, determine the product yield and characteristics of the pyrolysis process of non-recyclable plastics over zeolite catalysts. It was found how the decomposition of non-recyclable plastics occurs in two decomposition steps. The activation energy of non-recyclable plastics was 144 kJ/mol in the first stage of decomposition and 262 kJ/mol in the second stage of decomposition. It decreased by 34% and 6.5% after fresh fluid catalytic cracking catalyst was added and 41% and 18.3% with iron-modified Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 catalyst. The yield of condensate was 55% (wax) for the original sample, and it decreased to 50% (wax and oil) and 27% (mostly oil) with fresh fluid catalytic cracking and iron modified Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 catalysts. Processes with catalysts promoted the formation of olefins and aromatic compounds in pyrolytic oil. All pyrolysis products had a high value of higher heating value ranging from 39 MJ/kg to 43 MJ/kg showing good potential for further energy use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irma Kremer
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Ivana Lučića 5, 10 002, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Tihomir Tomić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Ivana Lučića 5, 10 002, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Zvonimir Katančić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Savska cesta 16, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Matko Erceg
- University of Split, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, Ruđera Boškovića 35, 21 000, Split, Croatia.
| | - Saša Papuga
- University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Technology, Bulevar Vojvode Petra Bojovića 1A, 78 000, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | | | - Daniel Rolph Schneider
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Ivana Lučića 5, 10 002, Zagreb, Croatia.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
An Exploratory State-of-the-Art Review of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Circular Economy using Structural Topic Modeling. OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12063-021-00212-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
20
|
Rosecký M, Šomplák R, Slavík J, Kalina J, Bulková G, Bednář J. Predictive modelling as a tool for effective municipal waste management policy at different territorial levels. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 291:112584. [PMID: 33930635 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, the European municipal waste management policy based on the circular economy paradigm demands the closing of material and financial loops at all territorial levels of public administration. The effective planning of treatment capacities (especially sorting plants, recycling, and energy recovery facilities) and municipal waste management policy requires an accurate prognosis of municipal waste generation, and therefore, the knowledge of behavioral, socio-economic, and demographic factors influencing the waste management (and recycling) behavior of households, and other municipal waste producers. To enable public bodies at different territorial levels to undertake an effective action resulting in circular economy we evaluated various factors influencing the generation of municipal waste fractions at regional, micro-regional and municipal level in the Czech Republic. Principal components were used as input for traditional models (multivariable linear regression, generalized linear model) as well as tree-based machine learning models (regression trees, random forest, gradient boosted regression trees). Study results suggest that the linear regression model usually offers a good trade-off between model accuracy and interpretability. When the most important goal of the prediction is supposed to be accuracy, the random forest is generally the best choice. The quality of developed models depends mostly on the chosen territorial level and municipal waste fraction. The performance of these models deteriorates significantly for lower territorial levels because of worse data quality and bigger variability. Only the age structure seems to be important across territorial levels and municipal waste fractions. Nevertheless, also other factors are of high significance in explaining the generation of municipal waste fractions at different territorial levels (e.g. number of economic subjects, expenditures, population density and the level of education). Therefore, there is not one single effective public policy dealing with circular economy strategy that fits all territorial levels. Public representatives should focus on policies effective at specific territorial level. However, performance of the models is poor for lower territorial levels (municipality and micro-regions). Thus, results for municipalities and micro-regions are weak and should be treated as such.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Rosecký
- Institute of Mathematics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology - VUT Brno, Technická 2896/2, 616 69, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Radovan Šomplák
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology - VUT Brno, Technická 2896/2, 616 69, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Slavík
- IEEP, Institute for Economic and Environmental Policy, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, Moskevska 54, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Kalina
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Gabriela Bulková
- Ministry of the Environment, Vršovická 65, 100 10, Praha 10, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Bednář
- Institute of Mathematics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology - VUT Brno, Technická 2896/2, 616 69, Brno, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Mikulčić H, Baleta J, Wang X, Duić N, Dewil R. Green development challenges within the environmental management framework. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 277:111477. [PMID: 33254843 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Green development of energy, water and environment systems is essential as these three systems represent the basic life needs of humankind. Therefore, environmental problems arising from each of these three systems need to be carefully addressed to preserve the energy, water and environment resources for future generations. This paper discusses some of the latest developments in three main areas of sustainability themes, namely energy, water and environment, that emerged from the 14th Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) Conference held in 2019. As such, it acts as an editorial paper for the virtual special issue of the Journal of Environmental Management, dedicated to the SDEWES 2019 conference.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hrvoje Mikulčić
- MOE Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Ivana Lučića 5, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Jakov Baleta
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Metallurgy, Aleja Narodnih Heroja 3, 44000, Sisak, Croatia.
| | - Xuebin Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China.
| | - Neven Duić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Ivana Lučića 5, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Raf Dewil
- Department of Chemical Engineering (CIT), KU Leuven, Jan De Nayerlaan 5, 2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Addressing the Social Aspects of a Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12197912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Circular Economy (CE) is a growing topic among scholars, industries, and governments, and is aimed at decoupling economic growth and development from the consumption of finite resources. CE incorporates different meanings, from reduce, reuse, and recycle activities, to environmental degradation or resource scarcity, and is supported by specific indicators to attain sustainable development. However, so far, there has been no agreement to measure how effective an industry/product is in making the transition from linear to circular approaches, particularly those that affect society. This research work aims to perform a systematic literature review (n = 60) to analyze and discuss how social aspects have been considered and integrated in CE research so far. Moreover, this review provides an overview of the literature on social impact within the CE, which results in three main outputs: a knowledge map of the CE, an analysis of social aspects within CE, and the theories/frameworks used to evaluate social impact of CE. Finally, this study brings to light how CE implementation can affect society and highlights the importance of social dimension in the domains of CE and a policy-making community, which could help move CE towards a sustainable development.
Collapse
|
23
|
Potentiality of Waste-to-Energy Sector Coupling in the MENA Region: Jordan as a Case Study. ENERGIES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/en13112786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Population growth, urbanization, and changes in lifestyle have led to an increase in waste generation quantities. The waste management system in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is still considered an adolescent system, while developed countries have made great progress in this field, including regulation, financing, administration, separation at source, recycling, and converting waste to energy. At the same time, in the MENA region, the best performance of the recycling process is around 7–10% of total waste. Nowadays, many developed countries like Germany are shifting from waste management to material flow systems, which represent the core of a circular economy. Also, it should be stated here that all countries that have a robust and integrated waste management system include waste-to-energy (W-to-E) incineration plants in their solutions for dealing with residual waste, which is still generated after passing through the entire treatment cycle (hierarchy). Therefore, this paper illustrates the potentiality of embedding waste incineration plants in the MENA region, especially in large cities, and addressing the economic and financial issues for the municipalities. Cities in these countries would like to build and operate waste treatment plants; however, municipalities do not have the sustainable investment and operating costs. The solution is to maximize the income from the output, such as energy, recycling materials, etc. In addition, the MENA region is facing another dilemma, which is water scarcity due to climate change, increasing evaporation, and reduction of precipitation. This research illustrates a simulated model for a waste incineration plant in the MENA region. The EBSILON 13.2 software package was used to achieve this process. Furthermore, the simulated plant applies the concept of waste-to-energy-to-water, so that not only is waste converted to energy but, by efficient usage of multi-stage flash (MSF) technology, this system is able to generate 23 MWe of electric power and 8500 m3/day of potable water. A cost analysis was also implemented to calculate the cost of thermal treatment of each ton of municipal solid waste (MSW) during the life span of the plant. It was found that the average cost of treatment over 30 years would be around US$39/ton.
Collapse
|