Policy Barriers To 50% Diversion Of Municipal Solid Waste

A number of policy barriers must be addressed by the governments in Europe and North America which have adopted objectives of diverting from disposal something like 50% of the solid waste stream by means of reduction, re-use and recycling. These include: the need for clarification of responsibilities of all levels of government and of private sector product manufacturers and waste disposers; putting in place incentives for source separation; ensuring markets for recyclables; and allocating the increased cost of waste management. This paper reports on findings of a research project undertaken in 1991-92 on steps being taken by different jurisdictions to overcome such barriers.     

Composting Of <100 mm Fraction Of Municipal Solid Waste

A low cost solution for management of municipal solid waste in small municipalities was investigated; composting experiments were done using domestic waste. Particles >100 mm were removed, the screened substrate (<100 mm) was used for composting experiments on static piles. The results have shown that the size of waste does not affect composting. Though the inert material left greatly adds to the porosity, rainfall does not markedly affect the process; in fact excessive dryness gave the least stable end product, and total nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen and phosphorus content were the best pointers to the instability.     

Use Of Mixed Probability Distributions For The Analysis Of Solid Waste Generation Data

The issues associated with the statistical analysis of municipal solid waste generation patterns are addressed in this paper. A methodology for determining a mixed probability distribution for daily waste generation data is developed. This methodology is then applied to data from two Canadian municipalities.     

The Origin And Fate Of Volatile Trace Components In Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

The content of readily volatile halogenated hydrocarbons (chlorinated and chlorinated, fluorinated hydrocarbons (VCCs/CFCs)) and the BTEX aromatic substances (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) in municipal solid waste (MSW) was determined by two different methods. Moreover, the emission potential of these substances via the gas and leachate phase was investigated during the different biological degradation phases in the landfill. Trichlorofluoromethane (R11), dichlorodifluoromethane (R12) and dichloromethane (R30) were the dominating halogenated trace substances detected in the MSW. In the acid phase, with some VCCs/CFCs the emittance may take place up to 30% via the water phase. Hexane, benzene, and toluene could be detected in all tests. Toluene often occurred in relatively high concentrations in MSW. It could be shown that R11 degraded into dichlorofluoromethane (R21).     

A historical perspective of Global Warming Potential from Municipal Solid Waste Management

The Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) sector has developed considerably during the past century, paving the way for maximum resource (materials and energy) recovery and minimising environmental impacts such as global warming associated with it. The current study is assessing the historical development of MSWM in the municipality of Aalborg, Denmark throughout the period of 1970 to 2010, and its implications regarding Global Warming Potential (GWP₁₀₀), using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. Historical data regarding MSW composition, and different treatment technologies such as incineration, recycling and composting has been used in order to perform the analysis. The LCA results show a continuous improvement in environmental performance of MSWM from 1970 to 2010 mainly due to the changes in treatment options, improved efficiency of various treatment technologies and increasing focus on recycling, resulting in a shift from net emission of 618 kg CO₂-eq. tonne^?1 to net saving of 670 kg CO₂-eq. tonne^?1 of MSWM.     

Poultry Waste Management For Crop Production: Nigerian Experience

Poultry wastes are posing serious environmental pollution problems in Nigeria through offensive odours and promotion of fly and rodent breeding. Farmers normally dispose of their poultry wastes through heaping and burning or dumping on the farm in the fresh state. Experiments were conducted to stabilize the waste for 12 weeks by a bag process similar to static pile composting either singly or amended with sawdust or leaves. Sawdust seems to be ideal for the production of a well stabilized product which is environmentally safe. However, even the raw waste or leaf amended waste if kept for 8 to 12 weeks produced a product which has no adverse effect on the maize yield when applied at 20 tonnes/hectare. The soils were improved through organic matter and retention of plant nutrients.     

Environmental impacts of residual Municipal Solid Waste incineration: A comparison of 110 French incinerators using a life cycle approach

Incineration is the main option for residual Municipal Solid Waste treatment in France. This study compares the environmental performances of 110 French incinerators (i.e. 85% of the total number of plants currently in activity in France) in a Life Cycle Assessment perspective, considering 5 non-toxic impact categories: climate change, photochemical oxidant formation, particulate matter formation, terrestrial acidification and marine eutrophication. Mean, median and lower/upper impact potentials are determined considering the incineration of 1 tonne of French residual Municipal Solid Waste. The results highlight the relatively large variability of the impact potentials as a function of the plant technical performances. In particular, the climate change impact potential of the incineration of 1 tonne of waste ranges from a benefit of ?58 kg CO₂-eq to a relatively large burden of 408 kg CO₂-eq, with 294 kg CO₂-eq as the average impact. Two main plant-specific parameters drive the impact potentials regarding the 5 non-toxic impact categories under study: the energy recovery and delivery rate and the NO_x process-specific emissions. The variability of the impact potentials as a function of incinerator characteristics therefore calls for the use of site-specific data when required by the LCA goal and scope definition phase, in particular when the study focuses on a specific incinerator or on a local waste management plan, and when these data are available.     

Sustainable Waste Management of Engineering Plastics Generated from E-Waste: A Critical Evaluation of Mechanical,Thermal and Morphological Properties

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The major roadblock for recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipments (WEEE) depends on the viability of sorting process, which is a complex...     

Short-term/Long-term Solutions In Waste Management: Economics And The Transition Process

Cleaner technology and recycling, as the preferred solution to waste management, is increasing in implementation but not at the rate expected given the successes and paybacks associated with those strategies. The reasons for the delay in implementation lie in the conflict between short-term and long-term solutions. The factors that contribute to hindrance or facilitation of the transition are found in: a) the distinction between the short-term and the long-term at a technical level; b) the distinction between the short-term and the long-term at a political level; c) the investment decision at the firm level; and d) related investments in infrastructure, organization, and institutions. This article identifies which constraints will disappear with time, which constraints are institutional and will require deliberate modification, and which constraints are permanent and must be considered part of the costs of the long-term solution. The goal is not to argue against short-term solutions, but for the need to acknowledge unavoidable costs associated with the transition from the short-term to the long-term solution.     

Evaluating Demand Management Aspects of Urban Water Policy. The City of Volos Case,Greece

This paper examines the perspectives of the implementation of a demand-oriented policy concerning residential water use, which covers almost 70% of urban water. Water demand, water pricing policy, as well as building capacity are examined and evaluated in order to investigate the current situation in urban water management in the city of Volos with reference to residential water use. The application of IWR-MAIN model in order to estimate future water needs and form different scenarios for sustainable water resources management together with a field survey in various water issues conducted in 966 citizens of the city of Volos justify the urgent need for the adoption of a demand driven policy.