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Galavote T, Chaves GDLD, Yamane LH, Siman RR. Municipal solid waste management instruments that influence the use of the refuse as fuel in developing countries: A critical review. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2024:734242X241231402. [PMID: 38385333 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x241231402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Landfills are the destination of most of the refuse generated whereas composting, material recycling, and Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies are not commonly employed in developing countries. However, the destination for energy purposes could be supplied with this refuse, improving the viability of energy use. Thus, this article raises some questions to identify aspects that could encourage its use as refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in these countries. Among them, does environmental education affect the municipal solid waste (MSW) source separation with emphasis on a destination? Can selective collection and extended producer responsibility (EPR) affect the MSW for energy recovery? Is there competition between the recycling market and the energy market for RDF? A systematic review of the literature was conducted to gather data and provide answers to such questions. This enabled to observe that EPR, selective collect expansion and source separation influence the quantity and quality of waste sent for energy use. Both internal and external factors impact on source separation. Additionally, there is evidence to support that despite several studies showing their technical, economic, environmental and social viability, the methods of energy usage of the refuse still need to improve their deployment in developing countries. In addition to identifying the main research gaps to be filled in future studies, the article also identified the instruments of MSW management that are to be applied in developing countries to divert recyclable and organic waste from landfill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Galavote
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | | | - Luciana Harue Yamane
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Renato Ribeiro Siman
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Espírito Santo, Brazil
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2
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Cecere G, Bottausci S, Esposti AD, Magrini C, Mazzi A, Camana D, Cappucci GM, Demichelis F, Miranda G, Carollo F, Sciarrone M, Fedele A, Rigamonti L. The role of life cycle thinking-based methodologies in the development of waste management plans. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 173:109-117. [PMID: 37989010 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.11.005] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this article is to examine how Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) contributes to the development of Waste Management Plans (WMPs). The case of Italy has been deeply investigated. The article first analyses whether and how the LCT methodologies were applied to the 21 regional WMPs; then, it draws indications for using LCT in the preparation of a WMP. Moreover, it outlines why the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology could be used as a powerful tool for regional planning in the waste field, analysing the indications for preparing a WMP that already exist at the European level and in the Italian National WM Programme. Results reveal that only four of the 21 regional WMPs include comprehensive and site-specific LCA studies. Building on these case study results, insights into the opportunities and benefits associated with incorporating LCT methodologies into WMP development and implementation are provided. This study underscores the critical importance of LCT and LCA in promoting sustainable waste management practices, ensuring compliance with European directives, and offering a foundation for more informed regional planning strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cecere
- Associazione Rete Italiana LCA, Italy; Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
| | - Sara Bottausci
- Associazione Rete Italiana LCA, Italy; Università di Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Magrini
- Associazione Rete Italiana LCA, Italy; Università di Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Mazzi
- Associazione Rete Italiana LCA, Italy; Università di Padova, Italy
| | - Daniela Camana
- Associazione Rete Italiana LCA, Italy; Università di Padova, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Federica Carollo
- Associazione Rete Italiana LCA, Italy; Politecnico di Milano, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Fedele
- Associazione Rete Italiana LCA, Italy; Università di Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Rigamonti
- Associazione Rete Italiana LCA, Italy; Politecnico di Milano, Italy
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3
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Tushar SR, Alam MFB, Bari ABMM, Karmaker CL. Assessing the challenges to medical waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for the environmental sustainability in the emerging economies. SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING SCIENCES 2023; 87:101513. [PMID: 36687378 PMCID: PMC9846901 DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2023.101513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Emerging economies are struggling with proper and efficient management of waste due to their constrained resources and weak management. In recent days, this crisis has worsened due to the outbreak of the highly contagious COVID-19 pandemic. To avoid building up stockpiles and contaminating communities with potentially contagious medical waste (MW), and to ensure sustainability in the current and post-COVID-19 era, it is a dire need to develop and implement a safe and efficient medical waste management (MWM) system. This research, thereby, aims to identify, assess, and prioritize the key challenges to efficient and sustainable MWM to mitigate the impacts of the disruptions caused by situations like the pandemic in emerging economies. An integrated approach consisting of the Best-Worst Method (BWM), Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), and Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification (MICMAC) has been proposed to achieve the objectives. Based on the literature review and expert feedback, a total of seventeen challenges were identified and later prioritized by using BWM. The top twelve challenges have been further analyzed using ISM-MICMAC to examine their interrelationships. This study reveals that lack of proper law enforcement and insufficient financial support from investors and the government are two crucial challenges for efficient MWM implementation. The research insights can assist healthcare facility administrators, practitioners, and city managers in identifying the associated challenges and shaping strategic decisions for establishing and managing efficient MWM systems to ensure sustainable development in the post-COVID-19 era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saifur Rahman Tushar
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Fahim Bin Alam
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - A B M Mainul Bari
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Chitra Lekha Karmaker
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
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4
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Zlati ML, Georgescu LP, Iticescu C, Ionescu RV, Antohi VM. New Approach to Modelling the Impact of Heavy Metals on the European Union's Water Resources. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:45. [PMID: 36612367 PMCID: PMC9819128 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The present research aims to address the highly topical issue of heavy metal water pollution from an integrated European perspective, i.e., to quantify through modelling a general model of water pollution reduction in the EU. The objectives of the study are mainly aimed at identifying effective solutions to reduce heavy metal water pollution and providing supranational decision-makers with public policy directions in the field. The research methods consist of the foundation of working hypotheses based on the study of the literature, the consolidation of official statistical databases in the field, econometric modelling and the conceptualisation of a general model and its testing and validation by statistical methods. The results of the analysis consist of the following marginal contributions: the identification of a general model for combating heavy metal pollution; the calculation of the degree of contribution of regional policies to the general model; and the identification of effective solutions to improve the combating of heavy metal water pollution in Europe. The main conclusion of the analysis shows that significant progress has been achieved at the EU level in the field of combating heavy metal water pollution. However, the level of disparity and poor policy coordination are real vulnerabilities for the EU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Laura Zlati
- Department of Business Administration, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, 800001 Galați, Romania
| | - Lucian Puiu Georgescu
- Department of Chemistry, Physics and Environment, REXDAN Research Infrastructure, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, 800008 Galați, Romania
| | - Catalina Iticescu
- Department of Chemistry, Physics and Environment, REXDAN Research Infrastructure, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, 800008 Galați, Romania
| | - Romeo Victor Ionescu
- Department of Administrative Sciences and Regional Studies, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, 800201 Galați, Romania
| | - Valentin Marian Antohi
- Department of Business Administration, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, 800001 Galați, Romania
- Department of Finance, Accounting and Economic Theory, Transylvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania
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5
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Mazzarano M, Quatrosi M, Pronti A. Waste management and Italian provinces: Why pay more for less? WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 154:340-349. [PMID: 36326544 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This work investigates the role of waste treatment methods and separation policies in explaining the Total Waste Management Costs (TWMC) at NUTS 3 level, Italy, between 2015 and 2018. In this context, northern provinces generally have high efficiency and circularity, while central and southern provinces lag behind. It is unclear how much of the difference is motivated by socioeconomic factors and how much by political entrenchment in low circularity policies. Panel data models have been estimated using provincial and regional fixed effects targeting TWMC as the dependent variable. Two main independent variables are considered as drivers. One is a composite policy indicator that gives higher weight to circular methods and waste-to-energy treatments. Lower weights have been given to increase landfill, generic incineration, and biological and mixed treatments. The second independent variable is the ratio between separated waste and total municipal waste flow. The estimations' results indicate that the composite indicator of circular policies reduces TWMC while separation policies increase them. Furthermore, it is estimated that provinces need to improve their composite performance significantly to offset the cost increases derived by separation policies. Thus, perseverance in pursuing an incomplete circular policy might be a driver of TWMC at the local level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Mazzarano
- Department of Political and International Sciences, Università degli Studi di Siena, Italy; SEEDS (Sustainability, Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies) Interuniversity Research Centre, Italy
| | - Marco Quatrosi
- Department of Economics and Management, Università degli studi di Ferrara, Italy; SEEDS (Sustainability, Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies) Interuniversity Research Centre, Italy
| | - Andrea Pronti
- Department of International Economics, Institutions and Development, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy; SEEDS (Sustainability, Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies) Interuniversity Research Centre, Italy
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6
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Cenci MP, Dal Berto FC, Castillo BW, Veit HM. Precious and critical metals from wasted LED lamps: characterization and evaluation. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 43:1870-1881. [PMID: 33241733 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2020.1856939] [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: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
LED lamps already conquered the market of general lighting and are expected to generate a substantial stream of e-waste in the coming years. The challenge of recycling LED lamps have emerged, and it is essential to address both environmental and economic aspects to achieve a circular economy. LED lamps contain precious and critical metals, which can be found in electrical components and in the LED itself, making them a prospective waste for recycling initiatives. However, data about the concentration and distribution of these metals in the LED lamp's components are still scarce and uncertain. This work aims to characterise the various components of different brands of LED lamps to provide novel data on the precious and critical metals' amounts. Gold and silver were found in all brands of lamp, and we highlight the occurrence of gold in all analysed components, in concentrations between 0.01% and 0.07%, which is relevant to the economic viability of future recycling routes (gold and silver can contribute with USD 4340.00 per ton of LED lamps). The critical metals gallium, yttrium, and cerium were found in LEDs, while cobalt, barium, gallium, antimony, and manganese were found in printed circuit boards (PCBs). Additionally, the elements lead, cadmium, and arsenic were characterised due to their association with environmental and human toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Pilotto Cenci
- LACOR, Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Frederico Christ Dal Berto
- LACOR, Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Bianca Wurlitzer Castillo
- LACOR, Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Hugo Marcelo Veit
- LACOR, Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
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7
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Lee MY, Cho NH, Lee SJ, Um N, Jeon TW, Kang YY. Application of material flow analysis for plastic waste management in the Republic of Korea. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 299:113625. [PMID: 34482109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113625] [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: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The indiscriminate use of plastics and careless management of plastic waste have caused serious environmental challenges globally. The Republic of Korea (ROK) aims to address the issue by reducing plastic waste generation by up to 50%, and increasing recycling rate by up to 70%, by 2030. To determine the status and future directions for plastic waste management in the ROK, the present study undertook two tasks: (i) a material flow analysis of plastic waste material from industrial sectors to assess the current status of plastic waste recycling and treatment, (ii) an analysis of the material flow of plastic waste based on the "Waste Classification Code." According to the findings, 6.202 million metric tons of plastic waste were generated in 2018, out of which 69%, 25%, and 0.5% was recycled, incinerated, and landfilled, respectively. The recycling rate of synthetic resin waste, which accounts for 96% of synthetic waste polymers discharged in the industrial sector, was 69%, which is a very high rate. However, the closed-loop recycling rate was only 33%. Therefore, the system of management of synthetic resin waste discharge without classification of raw materials should be improved to increase the closed-loop recycling rate of synthetic waste polymers. Furthermore, to increase the closed-loop recycling rate, we suggest the subdivision of synthetic resin waste (51-03-01) in plastic waste classification to improve the discharge separation system, which has been mismanaged. Furthermore, we suggest the formulation of a new management strategy for plastic waste, in accordance with those of other hazardous substances, as regulated by the Waste Control Act.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Yong Lee
- Department of Environmental Resources Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Seogu, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Na-Hyeon Cho
- Department of Environmental Resources Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Seogu, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Ju Lee
- Department of Environmental Resources Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Seogu, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Namil Um
- Department of Environmental Resources Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Seogu, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Wan Jeon
- Department of Environmental Resources Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Seogu, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Yeul Kang
- Department of Environmental Resources Research, National Institute of Environmental Research, Seogu, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea.
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8
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Degli Esposti A, Magrini C, Bonoli A. Municipal solid waste collection systems: An indicator to assess the reusability of products. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2021; 39:1200-1209. [PMID: 34362275 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x211038195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
[Formula: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Degli Esposti
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Magrini
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bonoli
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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9
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Jiang H, Jin Q, Cheng P, Hua M, Ye Z. How are typical urban sewage treatment technologies going in China: from the perspective of life cycle environmental and economic coupled assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:45109-45120. [PMID: 33864217 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13910-w] [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: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sewage treatment is an important public service, but it consumes a lot of energy and chemicals in the process of removing wastewater pollutants, which may cause the risk of pollution transfer. To find the corresponding hot issues, this paper took the lead in integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) with life cycle costing (LCC) to evaluate four most typical sewage treatment technologies with more than 85% share in China. It is found that anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (AAO) was the optimal treatment scheme with relatively small potential environmental impact and economic load. The normalized results show that the trends of the four technologies on eleven environmental impact categories were basically the same. Marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential accounted for more than 70% of the overall environmental impact. Contribution analysis indicates that electricity and flocculant consumption were the main processes responsible for the environmental and economic burden. Overall, electricity consumption was the biggest hot spot. Sensitivity analysis verifies that a 10% reduction in electricity could bring high benefits to both the economy and the environment. These findings are expected to provide effective feedback on the operation and improvement of sewage treatment. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jiang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Qiang Jin
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recovery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Panpan Cheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Ming Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zhen Ye
- The Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, University College London, WC1E 6BT, London, UK
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10
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Camana D, Toniolo S, Manzardo A, Piron M, Scipioni A. Life cycle assessment applied to waste management in Italy: A mini-review of characteristics and methodological perspectives for local assessment. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2021; 39:1007-1026. [PMID: 33988038 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x211017979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Life cycle assessment (LCA) and related tools are commonly used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of waste treatment scenarios. This manuscript presents a mini-review of studies published over the last 10 years in Italy and aims to investigate how life cycle thinking tools are applied to assess the environmental sustainability of local-level waste policies. Results reveal that different waste flows, technologies and policies have been investigated independently and in varying detail. Review suggests that boundary selection significantly affects LCA results; integration of different waste systems is therefore crucial to avoid spatial or temporal shifts of environmental impacts. Moreover, the description of methodological characteristics, limitations and transversal aspects of Italian waste management studies allows various stakeholders to assess the reliability of past and future research for waste policy planning and rebound effects prevention. This review also highlights the need to define minimum requirements of transparency and ease of reporting of the studies to private and public stakeholders. Finally, the paper investigates whether using both the organisational LCA and the life cycle sustainability approach for the overall waste management process may be useful to develop a standard method to address multi-functionalities and multiple sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Camana
- CESQA, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Sara Toniolo
- CESQA, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Manzardo
- CESQA, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mirco Piron
- CESQA, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Antonio Scipioni
- CESQA, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Di Maria F, Mastrantonio M, Uccelli R. The life cycle approach for assessing the impact of municipal solid waste incineration on the environment and on human health. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 776:145785. [PMID: 33647657 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The impact of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) on the environment and on human health was assessed by a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. Even if risk assessment and epidemiologic analyses are specifically indicated for the investigation of the health outcomes, they resulted costly, time intensive and generally focused only on the effects caused by pollutant compounds directly emitted by the facility. Differently, LCA approaches are less time and cost intensive and able to account also for other indirect and direct emission of MSWI. However, results returned by LCA are based on average pollutant diffusion and individual exposure models limiting their representativeness for the specific context investigated. Furthermore, LCA is not able to return information about the final health outcomes caused by the pollutants emitted. The LCA performed for the Italian MSWI detected avoided impacts of about -0.11 kgPM2,5eq/tonne of MSW and of about -2.5 × 10-3 kgSbeq/tonne MSW for particulate matters and resource depletion, respectively. Positive impacts of about 900 kgCO2eq/tonne MSW and about 15,000 CTUe/tonne MSW were detected for global warming and freshwater ecotoxicity indicators, respectively. Avoided impacts of about -1 × 10-6 CTUh/tonne MSW and of about -2 × 10-4 DALY/tonne MSW were also detected for human toxicity cancer and human health indicators, respectively. Epidemiologic studies referred to different Italian and EU reported some correlations among MSWI and some specific cancer and non-cancer health outcomes. By the way, these resulted affected by some methodological limitation preventing the definitive identification of causal nexus. In any case, a general coherence between LCA and epidemiologic approaches was detected. Furthermore, a particular correspondence was found between LCA results and biomonitoring studies concerning the concentration of heavy metals in blood and urinary samples of exposed individuals. All this highlighted the important role that LCA can have in supporting health impact assessment of MSWI in combination with epidemiologic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Di Maria
- LAR(5) Laboratory - Dipartimento di Ingegneria, University of Perugia, via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Marina Mastrantonio
- ENEA, National Agency for New technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Laboratory of Health and Environment, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Uccelli
- ENEA, National Agency for New technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Laboratory of Health and Environment, Rome, Italy
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Teymourian T, Teymoorian T, Kowsari E, Ramakrishna S. Challenges, Strategies, and Recommendations for the Huge Surge in Plastic and Medical Waste during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic with Circular Economy Approach. MATERIALS CIRCULAR ECONOMY 2021. [PMCID: PMC8016656 DOI: 10.1007/s42824-021-00020-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
After December 2019, the globe was affected by a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes severe respiratory illnesses, which is responsible for increasing environmental problem consequences related to the extra consumption of medical waste and single-use plastics (such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and packaging plastics). Although the consumption of these plastics protects our life during this crisis, it is pivotal to move toward plastic recycling processes and environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives, like bio-based degradable plastics with a circular economy perspective. This review article collected scattered information and provided a future perspective on how worldwide COVID-19 disruption can perform as a catalyst to improve plastic and medical waste management. Additionally, this paper illustrates the most effective disinfection technologies for COVID-19 wastes, such as high/low heat technologies and chemical disinfection, and PPE reusing processes, including dry heat, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and UV light during the outbreak. In this vein, medical waste treatment facilities must be more automatic, with a minimum of personnel involved. Moreover, some recent valid guidelines from different international organizations and countries, future outlook, and practical recommendations that could be effective during this epidemic or even in the post-pandemic world for plastic and medical waste management were provided. Ultimately, governments should improve their waste management because of the potential of pathogen transmission or increased plastic and medical waste generation and try to enhance the environmental knowledge of society. People also should revise their viewpoints on plastic consumption by elevating sustainable behaviors, abandoning old habits, and adjusting to novel ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Targol Teymourian
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Hafez St., Tehran, 15875-4413 Iran
| | - Termeh Teymoorian
- Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Hafez St., Tehran, 15875-4413 Iran
| | - Elaheh Kowsari
- Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Hafez St., Tehran, 15875-4413 Iran
| | - Seeram Ramakrishna
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Rd, Singapore, 119260 Singapore
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13
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The Energy and Carbon Footprint of an Urban Waste Collection Fleet: A Case Study in Central Italy. RECYCLING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/recycling5040025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Municipal solid waste collection and transport are functional activities in waste management, with a significant energy and carbon footprint and a significant effect on the urban environment. An issue related to municipal solid waste collection and transport is their regional and municipal implementation, affected by sorting and recycling strategies at local level. An efficient collection is necessary to optimize the whole recycling process. The present paper shows the results of an energy, environmental, and economic evaluation of a case study, analyzing the fleet used for municipal solid waste collection and transport in 10 municipalities in Central Italy. The current scenario was compared with alternative scenarios on the basis of some parameters for performance evaluation: vehicles’ energy consumption, carbon footprint, routes, and costs. Results show that for passenger cars, the alternative scenario based on an entire fleet of dual compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles led to a reduction of the CO2 emissions (−2675 kgCO2eq) in the analyzed period (January–August 2019) and a reduction of the energy consumption (−1.96 MJ km−1). An entire fleet of CNG vehicles led to an increase of CO2 emissions: +0.02 kgCO2eqkgwaste−1 (+110%) for compactors (35–75 q) and +0.09 kgCO2eqkgwaste−1 (+377%) for compactors (80–180 q). Moreover, both categories report a higher fuel consumption and specific energy consumption. For waste transport high-capacity vehicles, we propose the installation of a Stop-Start System, which leads to environmental and energy benefits (a saving of 38,332 kgCO2eq and 8.8 × 10−7 MJ km−1kgwaste−1). On three-wheeler vehicles, the installation of the Stop-Start System is completely disadvantageous.
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Alcay A, Montañés A, Simón-Fernández MB. Waste generation in Spain. Do Spanish regions exhibit a similar behavior? WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 112:66-73. [PMID: 32471683 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2020.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We analyze waste generation differences across Spanish regions by studying the evolution of two complementary indicators: municipal solid waste per unit of GDP as well as in per capita terms. To that end, we apply the recent statistic developed by Phillips and Sul (2007) which allows us to test for the null hypothesis of convergence. In the present case, this hypothesis is equivalent to admitting that the waste generation follows a similar path across the Spanish regions. Our results lead us to reject this hypothesis, which implies that Spanish regional waste generation is quite heterogenous and exhibits several patterns of behavior. We observe that the northern regions exhibit the lowest waste ratios while the insular and Mediterranean coast regions have the highest waste generation. This different behavior is also explained by some socioeconomic factors. Per capita income, environmental spending and education level are helpful in this regard. The population dispersion and the number of years that a region has been governed by a left-wing party are also associated with lower levels of waste generation. Finally, we can also observe that the regions with the highest levels of waste generation are greatly dependent on the tourism industry. Then, strategies targeting the transit towards a more sustainable economy in Spain should take into account this fact. In particular, the adoption of methods for the reduction of the waste levels generated by tourism activities in these areas can be very useful.
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Cenci MP, Dal Berto FC, Schneider EL, Veit HM. Assessment of LED lamps components and materials for a recycling perspective. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 107:285-293. [PMID: 32330828 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2020.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
LED lamps have already conquered the market of general lighting. This new product will generate a substantial flow of e-waste requiring studies for the correct management, especially concerning recycling alternatives. This study proposes a material characterization of all the tubular and bulb LED lamp components (carcass, LEDs, printed circuit board and LED module). After manual disassembling, polymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the metals by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and acid leaching followed by ICP-OES analysis. By the novelty of separating and characterizing the LED lamp's components, a process which has not yet been studied, the results allow for a better interpretation of the different materials distribution within the lamps which is essential to improve the efficiency of a recycling route. To exemplify, the element gallium, which has a recycling appeal from the LEDs, is present in a larger quantity in the printed circuit boards. The study also provides an analysis of the materials recycling rates and economic values, and the comparison with the concentration of natural ores. Thus, it was possible to discuss about target components and materials and the recycling alternatives for each component. LED lamps contain interesting materials, with even higher concentrations than natural ores, such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, tin and gallium. If recycled, tubular lamps and bulb lamps would have the economic recovery of USD 2405.99 and USD 2595.02 per ton, respectively. The gold was found to be the most valuable material, and the LEDs the most valuable component of the LED lamps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Pilotto Cenci
- LACOR, Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Frederico Christ Dal Berto
- LACOR, Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Eduardo Luis Schneider
- LACAR, Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Hugo Marcelo Veit
- LACOR, Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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