An economic analysis of different types of formal and informal entrepreneurs, recovering urban solid waste in Bangalore (India)

The recycling sector in India, which consists of a comprehensive trade and production sector, is rather complex. Nevertheless, it creates important benefits for both the economy and the environment. In order to comprehend the system, a case study has been performed on the recycling sector (paper, plastic, glass and non-ferrous metal) in Bangalore (India), focussing on the market structure, the scale of operation, employment effects, constraints, and recent developments. It was found that this highly competitive and labour-intensive industry is largely dependent on cheap labour and the supply of solid waste from the local trade system. Its mostly informal nature results from the ‘unregisteredness’ of the materials. Consequently, government involvement is avoided as much as possible. With present growth rates, prospects of recycling in Bangalore are advancing. Yet, problems such as lack of supply and loss of quality emerge. Therefore, quality control and market conditions should be improved.     

WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER DISPOSAL IN RURAL AREAS OF INDIA1

ABSTRACT: Piped water supply and sewerage have been taken almost for granted in the developed countries. However, most people in the United States have little knowledge of the condition of public health amenities in the developing countries. The paper reviews the importance, background and current status of water and wastewater facilities in India. The relative situation in urban and rural areas, conventional practices in environmental hygiene, the programs for improvement and the problems involved with possible solutions are given. The case history of a town is also included for illustrative purposes.     

Factors affecting energy saving behaviour: a prospective research

The purpose of this study is to outline the theme of saving energy resources and its relationship with the preservation of the environment, as well as the importance of green marketing in achieving sustainability. The model of data collection was a survey conducted by self-administered questionnaire. After collection, the data were statistically analysed and interpreted. Most individuals claim to be concerned about environmental problems, with 68% of these belonging to the ‘Savers’ group. However, even though they may be concerned with environmental problems, the vast majority of individuals do not have any system of renewable energy in their homes, despite claiming that renewable energies are a viable option for protecting the environment. Women display behaviour that is more favourable to the saving of energy resources than do men. Educational levels are not significant for distinguishing the more pro-environmental individuals from the others.     

我国城市生活垃圾处理行业2010年发展综述

简述了2010年我国城市生活垃圾处理的总体状况;归纳了2010年国家发布和实施的有关标准和政策;介绍了2010年新批准申请CDM的填埋气体利用项目和垃圾焚烧发电项目、垃圾堆肥项目,以及新投入运行的生活垃圾焚烧发电厂;对城市生活垃圾处理行业的发展进行了展望。     

日本促进可持续消费经验的启示

日本相对丰富的促进可持续消费经验对我国正在大力推动绿色生活方式的形成有较好的参考价值。本文介绍了日本循环社会法律框架下循环再生利用法和绿色采购促进法对促进可持续消费的作用,以及可持续消费的最新实践活动,并从循环再生利用法律法规建立、深化公共绿色采购评估、发布面向普通消费者产品清单、建立消费者发声通道、提升消费者意识、促进消费者导向管理等方面提出对我国推动绿色消费的启示。     

Goodbye to natural resource-based livelihoods? Crossing the rural/urban divide

Life in proximity to a growing city can be especially difficult for those rural people who are poor. Findings from sustained research around three cities of the South illustrate how peri-urban conditions can create pressure for livelihood change. People were pressed further into a cash-based economy for which they were ill prepared. Surprisingly, agriculture remained important, even though urban expansion changed natural resource-based livelihoods, especially by taking land. The inevitable livelihood transitions were easier if there was support for both familiar and new natural resource-based activities, orienting production towards urban markets. Successful change was associated with greater diversification of income strands, rapid cash returns and bridging opportunities. Participatory planning of livelihood changes and local NGO inputs were advantageous. These findings are important for pro-poor development policy affecting peri-urban populations and may inform rural to urban migration policy.     

Who's greener? Comparing urban and suburban residents' environmental behaviour and concern

While various studies have compared metropolitan and rural residents' displays of environmentalism, recent shifts in the housing and energy markets make intra-metropolitan differences in urban and suburban attitudes and actions more interesting. The housing market crash and accompanying rise in fuel costs are prompting a return of centralisation to many communities and, it is believed, are drawing environmentally conscious residents downtown closer to work and play. Past research has found that this trend – demonstrated by a re-centralising housing market – was already underway, pre-crash, in Louisville, Kentucky over the “boom” period from 2000 to 2006. Drawing on original 2006 survey data for Louisville, this study regresses two components of environmentalism (behaviour and concern) on socio-demographics and residence. Findings show urbanites in Louisville are indeed significantly more environmentally friendly in their behaviour but not in their concern. Countering some claims, residents of single-family homes also exhibit significantly higher levels of environmental behaviour and concern than those residing in apartments and condominiums. Finally, in a surprise finding, recent movers from the suburbs to the city do not differ in their behaviour and are significantly less concerned about the environment than urbanites, suburbanites, and all metropolitan residents.     

浙江台州典型电子废弃物无序拆解区土壤多环芳烃污染风险评估

电子废弃物的无序拆解会导致其中多环芳烃(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs)的无规律释放,进而对周边生态环境和人体健康构成威胁。为了量化电子废弃物无序拆解区土壤中PAHs的含量及其对人体健康的风险,本研究从浙江省台州市路桥区某典型电子废弃物无序拆解区采集了3个作坊式电子废弃物拆解点、3个作坊式塑料或金属加工点和1个电子废弃物拆解尾渣倾倒点的土壤样品,以气相色谱-质谱联用法和美国环保署规定的暴露量化及风险表征方法为分析手段开展PAHs含量分析及其风险评估。结果发现:上述7个土壤样品PAHs的总量范围为32.62～1053.71μg/kg,平均为414.05μg/kg,其中一个作坊式电子废弃物拆解点的PAHs含量属于重污染级别,土壤存在强烈的环境风险,单体菲(Phe)、蒽(Ant)、荧蒽(Fla)和芘(Pyr)对环境风险的贡献率最大。此外,PAHs通过不同途径对人体造成的健康风险程度为呼吸途径﹥皮肤接触﹥经口途径。结果表明,电子废弃物无序拆解区土壤PAHs污染急需建立相关环境管理措施及污染控制标准,逐步规范电子废弃物无序拆解活动。     

How much e-waste is there in US basements and attics? Results from a national survey

The fate of used electronic products (e-waste) is of increasing concern because of their toxicity and the growing volume of e-waste. Addressing these concerns requires developing the recycling infrastructure, but good estimates of the volume of e-waste stored by US households are still unavailable. In this context, we make two contributions based on a national random survey of 2136 US households. First, we explain how much e-waste is stored by US households using count models. Significant explanatory variables include age, marital and employment status, ethnicity, household size, previous e-waste recycling behavior, and to some extent education, home ownership, and understanding the consequences of recycling, but neither income nor knowledge of e-waste recycling laws. Second, we estimate that on average, each US household has 4.1 small (≤10 pounds) and 2.4 large e-waste items in storage. Although these numbers are likely lower bounds, they are higher than recent US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates (based on narrower product categories). This suggests that the backlog of e-waste in the US is likely larger than generally believed; it calls for developing the recycling infrastructure but also for targeted recycling campaigns.     

海洋排污不容乐观--浅论海洋排污及海洋排污观

海洋容纳和消化污染物是有限的,而我们继续排放污染却是长久的,为了子孙后代和人类的可持续发展,应该从现在就在海洋能够自净的基础上控制污染物的排放。并且要认识到污染物在海洋中会损害和破坏海洋生态环境,也会影响到人类自身的生存安全。大海是人类最后的退路,保护海洋环境就是保护人类自己。大海不是没有被污染,而是正在被加速地污染。     

污泥减量热解机热解焚烧技术概述

针对目前我国城市污水处理厂产生大量污泥,二次污染现象日益严重的状况,阐述了污泥的性质特点及主要处理处置方法,介绍并分析了污泥减量热解机热解焚烧技术的工作原理、工作流程、技术特点,以及污泥热解处理系统的主要设备。     

乌昌地区城镇污水处理方式探讨

随着乌昌经济的发展,城市人口快速增长,生活污水的排放量剧增,对环境造成直接和潜在威胁。通过对乌昌地区城镇污水处理现状,昌吉州人工防护林建设状况分析,结合防护林用水量及地下水资源现状分析。探讨城镇污水处理的全新模式,从其生态效益、环境效益、社会效益和经济效益做了分析阐述。     

Factors affecting adolescents’ use of urban public spaces in their leisure time: an exploratory study from the city of Vienna

Urban public spaces are important areas for leisure, recreation and physical activity and therefore contribute to the quality of life in cities. In particular, for adolescents they provide important spaces to meet with their peers, away from parental or school control. In many cities worldwide, public spaces have undergone severe developmental processes, and often a withdrawal from public space is noted. With regard to the opportunities those spaces provide for adolescents, it is necessary to investigate their current meaning for adolescents in a leisure context. In this article, qualitative research methods were used to investigate factors affecting adolescents’ use of public spaces in Vienna, Austria. In total 45 adolescents were interviewed. Results show that public open spaces are not regarded as important leisure spaces, and data reveal a strong retreat to private areas for leisure purposes. Perceived insecurities and fears support these processes and often result in avoidance of public spaces but also the wish for more control by authorities.     

消费者敌意和消费者民族中心主义对旅游意愿的影响

以中国为客源国,以日本为目的地国,通过问卷调查收集了477份有效问卷调查结果,并采用结构方程模型、中介效应分析了消费者敌意、消费者民族中心主义、国家形象对旅游意愿的影响。结果发现:(1)消费者敌意对国家形象有显著负向影响,对旅游意愿的影响不显著。(2)消费者民族中心主义对国家形象和旅游意愿有显著负向影响。(3)国家形象对中国消费者的赴日旅游意愿有显著正向影响。(4)消费者敌意与消费者民族中心主义呈正相关。(5)国家形象在消费者敌意、消费者民族中心主义与旅游意愿之间具有中介作用。     

四川省生活垃圾处理设施运行现状及存在问题分析

根据对四川省生活垃圾处理设施运行情况的现场调研,对全省生活垃圾的处理概况和垃圾处理设施的建设运行现状以及目前四川省生活垃圾无害化处理存在的问题和形成原因进行了分析,并提出建议,为政府决策提供参考,为同行实施建设、管理提供帮助。     

污泥处理与处置技术研究

通过污泥的综合利用、填埋、投海等世界各国通常采用的几种主要的污泥处置方式的分析,对各种污泥利用方案进行比较,找出适合我国污泥无害化处理的先进技术以及制约我国污泥处理的因素.污泥的资源化利用应立足于各地实际,在兼顾环境生态效益、社会效益和经济效益平衡的前提下,选择最佳处置与利用方案.