The Reuse of Urban and Industrial Waste in Tai-Lin-Pu Reclamation Project, Taiwan

This study introduces the principles of KMG's (Kaoshiung Municipal Government) dealing with the non-poisonous urban and industrial waste through reclamation of shore land in reinforcing a sense of coastal protection and land development in Tai-Lin-Pu coastal area, southern Taiwan.

Through a series of experimental studies, we found that substitutes of coarse aggregate with a broad spectrum of integrating slag powder, fly ash, and cementitious material can be obtained with a benefit up to 80% saving of cement. the integrated aggregates from the non-poisonous industrial wastes were subsequently made into armour units and used in the field tests at Tai-Lin-Pu coastal area, where the shorelines are seriously eroded. After being subjected to several severe typhoon advents, the results showed that the waste-made units used as the protection breakwater, together with construction wastes and excavated soil as the filling material, prove to be an effective practice in utilizing recycled urban waste to reclaim erosive shore lands. Moreover, this study also demonstrates that through detailed analysis of the waste characteristics, scrap material could be turned into valuable construction aggregates, and highlights the value of non-poisonous urban and industrial waste as a alternative resource for the shore protection engineering.     

Landbased Pollution Sources and Marine Environmental Quality in the Caribbean

Abstract

The near shore coastal and marine environment of several Caribbean islands is their most biologically productive and economically important zone. However, almost all landbased activities possess the real potential of degrading the quality of near shore waters and ultimately diminishing the utility of the marine resource. This condition is largely attributed to the individual smallness of the islands and their geographic proximity to each other.

Available sanitary water quality data from across the region indicated that while recreational areas are in general safe for water contact activities, bacterial densities in excess of several international criteria are consistently recorded in harbours. Organochlorine pesticide residues were generally in the 5 ng l^?1 range in unfiltered sea water but were significantly higher (1–100) ng g^?1 in limited samples of sediment and biota. Additional data requirements to gain further insight into the current state of the Caribbean environment are also identified.

A summary of the major land based sources of marine pollution (including sewage, industrial effluents and agricultural run-off) in the insular Caribbean is presented.     

Coastal erosion and shore protection: A brief historical analysis

Since the Neolithic, humans have gathered along coastal plains, where they had to face sea level rise and subsidence without the technology to oppose these processes. When sea level stabilized, approx. 6.000 yr. B.P., coastal colonization was allowed, but where mountain deforestation was carried out river sediment input increased tremendously: settlements were disconnected from the shore and harbour siltation occurred. Shore erosion was a limited process at the time and local solutions were adopted: clay dikes, wood piles, fascinates and rock revetments. Along the Mediterranean, in China and Japan the construction of more complex structures has been documented since the Middle Ages. Further human development, with river bed quarrying, wetland reclamation, dam construction and mountain re-afforestation, favoured a coastal erosion that nowadays threatens most world coasts. From the Venetian “Murazzi” to the recent 114-km-long concrete element defence at the Yellow river delta, shore protection structures evolved following the different needs (protect coastal communication routes, urban and industrial settlements, tourist resorts). Beach nourishment, previously performed with inland quarried materials, is now intensively carried out with marine aggregates. The vernacular solution, left to undeveloped countries, has been recently revaluated by “green engineering”. However, with Sea Level Rise, the debate of whether to defend, accommodate or retreat is open.     

Evaluation of recycling waste materials and by-products in highway construction

SUMMARY

The generation, handling, and safe disposal of waste materials has become a major concern in North America. Approval of facilities for waste processing and proper disposal is becoming more difficult to obtain. Furthermore, there is a growing public awareness of the importance of conserving and preserving our valuable natural resources. This expanding awareness has given rise to the trend towards recycling or reuse of awide variety of solid wastes. Experiences with using waste materials in highway construction can vary considerably, depending on material characteristics, construction processes, and climatic differences. A number of waste materials may be suitable for use in highway construction, but others may not. The objective of this paper is introduced in two tasks. The first is to include a survey of the waste materials and by-products that have been used successfully, or may be used, as materials for highway construction or maintenance work. This also includes determination of the state of practice concerning economic and technical factors for these wastes. The second is to rank these materials based on three criteria: number of uses by State agencies, economic uses and performance aspects.     

The bridge between diversity and adaptivity: Answering McIntosh and Jeffrey

SUMMARY

The emerging concept of industrial ecology (IE) has been applied in practice in few case studies on local/regional industrial recycling networks. Analogously to a natural ecosystem, the aim is to develop material cycles and energy cascades between local cooperative actors. An optimal resource basis of an industrial ecosystem is the sustainable use of local renewable natural resources. In this paper, we consider the region of North Karelia in Finland, with 19 municipalities, and hence somewhat expand the system boundaries of an industrial ecosystem case study. The current situation and two scenarios of municipal heating energy production are presented. The heating system consists of individual, district and electric heating. The heat production and related greenhouse gas emissions are considered. The current fuel use is based on imported oil and regional fuels (peat, wood wastes). Also, shares for co-production of heat and electricity (CHP) are shown. In scenario one, we assume the majority of the fuel basis in oil and absence of CHP. Scenario two illustrates nearly complete dependence on regional wood wastes and firewood with the current share of CHP. The North Karelia region provides the IE theory with a fruitful case study because the supply of waste fuels and local renewables is vast and waste utilisation technologies (CHP, fluidized bed burning) constitute a significant part of energy production. Implications of the applied scenario approach are discussed in the context of regional decision making and, in particular, for its implementation with the concepts of a regional environmental management system (EMS) and a regional industrial ecosystem management system (RIEMS).     

Practices,attitudes and motives for domestic waste recycling

SUMMARY

Solid household waste management in Malaysia has reached a critical stage. Increasing population, urbanization and changing patterns of lifestyle have instigated the phenomenon. The 15 000 tonnes of garbage produced daily are thrown into 230 landfills nationwide, where 80% of them have only two years of life span left. Although recycling programmes were launched as early as 1990, only 5% of the wastes are recycled. The purpose of the present research was to ascertain the current management of household solid waste, attitude and motivational factors towards recycling. Data were collected using interview survey on 150 households in an urban residential area. The findings demonstrated that the respondents had very low awareness and knowledge regarding local domestic waste management. Separation of organic and non-organic wastes was rarely practised by 76% of the respondents. Most waste was thrown away, except for newspaper and aluminium cans which were regularly recycled, while furniture, and electrical items were reused by giving away or trading-in. The attitude of the respondents towards recycling was modest. Of the five motivational factors, intrinsic satisfaction and individual commitment were more important reasons for recycling than convenience, economic motivation and societal commitment. The results of the study indicated that, in order to overcome the solid waste crisis, the conscience of the individual needs to be raised through environmental awareness and concern, inculcation of sustainable consumption practices and education on waste management.     

The Coastal Environmental Characteristics of Taiwan

Abstract

There are three major factors affecting the coastal environment in Taiwan: tidal current, long-shore current and land subsidence. in Taiwan, most industrial areas are located on the southwestern coast. Most of the pollutants from the factories are discharged directly to the ocean, harbours or rivers. the pollutants in harbours or rivers will eventually be delivered to coastal waters. There, the tidal current is the major force dispersing the pollutants nearshore. the polluted water extends to an area about 5 km on both sides from the discharge source, and within about 3–4 km off-shore. in this study, Hsien-Da Harbour in southwestern Taiwan is cited to explain the effects of tidal current on the coastal environment. the long-shore current induced by breaking waves is the major force shaping the coastal morphology. Along the western coast of Taiwan, the long-shore current mainly flows northward along the southern section, and southward along the northern section. in the last one hundred years, in general, the coast has been eroded along the northern and southern sections of western coast, and some reclaimed lands were formed in the middle section. Recently, erosion in some coastal zones is quite serious because of excess groundwater extraction, especially along the southwestern coast. Groundwater extraction might also induce land subsidence. There are some areas near the coast which suffer serious land subsidence problems.     

21世纪城市生活垃圾生态化处理展望

我国目前由于管理,经济,技术以及公众环境意识的薄弱,城市生活垃圾已成为污染环境的一大公富,大致使大量有用资源浪费,就生态城市建设中垃圾生态化处理的重要性和对策进行了探讨,以期推动我国城市生活垃圾生态化处理和生态城市建设工作的开展。     

Industrial ecosystems — some conditions for success

SUMMARY

The development of Industrial Ecology (IE) is based on the philosophy that the two systems, the industrial system and the ecosystem operate through different principles of system development and on the philosophy that IE can serve to reduce the conflict between the two systems as it learns from the model of an ecosystem. In an IE, following the roundput analogy of a natural ecosystem, the industrial actors co-operate by utilising each other's waste material and energy flows and try and reduce the system virgin material and energy input as well as the waste and emission output. In a successful IE, a business-environment win-win might be possible because the raw material and energy costs, waste management costs, costs resulting from environmental legislation, as well as the image costs of the companies in the system and of the system as a whole, can be reduced. In this paper, the IE analogy includes the four basic principles of system development of ecosystems; roundput, diversity, locality and gradual change. The principles are understood as a potential direction in which Regional Industrial Ecosystem Management (RIEM) can be developed.     

Remote sensing of global change: growth in China's Jiangsu Province

SUMMARY

This paper examines how remote-sensing data and regional social and economic data can be used together to identify changes in land-use patterns in particular regions. Study of the spatiotemporal dynamics of remote-sensing data can identify trends in competing uses of land, water and other natural resources for agriculture, industrial development and urban settlements. When combined with information on trends in industrial production, population, agricultural production, pollutant releases, water usage and natural forest coverage, these data reveal patterns of anthropogenic disturbance that can provide early signals of problems in resource decline or land-use management. This study focuses on land-cover changes in southern Jiangsu Province of the People's Republic of China between 1976 and 1984. This region, to the west of Shanghai and to the south of the Yangtze River, experienced unprecedented economic growth after the end of the Cultural Revolution. Remote-sensing imagery reveals the rapid growth of urban centres, commensurate declines in surface water area, and changing patterns of agriculture. The observed changes cast doubt on the ability of the region to sustain such rapid and intense land-use conflicts over a long period.     

Heavy Metal Pollution in Sediment from the Eastern Adriatic Coast,Croatia

Abstract

Sediment samples were collected from the Adriatic Sea in areas near large coastal towns along the eastern Adriatic coast (Zadar, [Ncirc]ibenik, Split, Plo?e and Dubrovnik).

Considerable quantities of untreated effluents are discharged via freshwater runoff and a variety of industrial waste waters, significantly affecting the quality of marine sediments.

Distribution of some trace metals (Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, Zn, Mn, Cd, and Al) involved in problems related to metal pollution in Adriatic sediment were examined. Values are expressed as a total concentration of heavy metals of sediment dry weight.

Spatial distribution of some trace metal values in sediments and correlation of results for grain size effect were examined. the trace elements in marine sediments generally remain in the fine grained fraction, often in the silt-clay fraction. Higher values of heavy metals in some areas (Split, Sibenik) could be attributed to anthropogenic effects, i.e. to land-based activities. the main cause of higher values of some metals at open sea sites and in some coastal areas are probably caused naturally by sedimentation processes in those areas. Our results show that the sediments undoubtedly play a key role in determining the transport and ultimate fate of contaminants.     

Use Impairments and Ecosystem Impacts of the New York Bight

The New York Bight is perhaps one of the most used and abused coastal areas in the world as a consequence of urbanization and the disposal of the waste of some 20 million people who reside by its shores and surrounding bays and estuaries. A variety of sources, including those associated with sewage wastes, industrial wastes, contaminated dredged material, urban runoff, and atmospheric fallout contaminate these coastal waters. Many of the stresses of excess population and industrialization as measured by pollutant loadings and ecosystem impacts can be crudely quantified in terms of use impairments-use impairments that have measurable social and economic relevance. Five broad categories of impairment attributed to pollution in the Bight that are causing significant losses of ecological, economic, or social values are: beach closures, unsafe seafoods, hazards to commercial and recreational navigation, loss of commercial and recreational fisheries, and declines in birds, mammals and turtles. These impairments are generally caused by floatable wastes, nutrients, toxicants, pathogens and habitat loss. Measures of such impairments are not standard, nor in many cases totally quantifiable. We have examined specific subsets of these impairments in terms of their spatial and temporal changes and as a first approximation determined the economic and social significance of these changes. the cost of these impaired uses of the Bight are measured in terms of billions of dollars annually for New York and New Jersey.     

Use Impairments and Ecosystem Impacts of the New York Bight

The New York Bight is perhaps one of the most used and abused coastal areas in the world as a consequence of urbanization and the disposal of the waste of some 20 million people who reside by its shores and surrounding bays and estuaries. A variety of sources, including those associated with sewage wastes, industrial wastes, contaminated dredged material, urban runoff, and atmospheric fallout contaminate these coastal waters. Many of the stresses of excess population and industrialization as measured by pollutant loadings and ecosystem impacts can be crudely quantified in terms of use impairments-use impairments that have measurable social and economic relevance. Five broad categories of impairment attributed to pollution in the Bight that are causing significant losses of ecological, economic, or social values are: beach closures, unsafe seafoods, hazards to commercial and recreational navigation, loss of commercial and recreational fisheries, and declines in birds, mammals and turtles. These impairments are generally caused by floatable wastes, nutrients, toxicants, pathogens and habitat loss. Measures of such impairments are not standard, nor in many cases totally quantifiable. We have examined specific subsets of these impairments in terms of their spatial and temporal changes and as a first approximation determined the economic and social significance of these changes. the cost of these impaired uses of the Bight are measured in terms of billions of dollars annually for New York and New Jersey.     

Source and Effect of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Coastal Taiwan Sediments

Coastal sediments and oyster farming is severely affected by the industrial effluents in the coastal region near LuGong, Taiwan. Surficial sediments and oyster samples were collected from a coastal area near a major electro-plating industry. Spatial variation in heavy metal contents in sediments was studied in relationship to the main pathway of contamination and geochemical association with natural constituents of the sediments.

Spatial trends of heavy metals in the sediment reflected inputs of pollutants from the poorly-treated electro-plating effluents in the surrounding county and transported downstream by the Yang-tse-tru River. Effluent related heavy metal (Zn, Cu, Cd) is extremely high in the study region sediments. the highest concentrations were observed near shore, especially upstream in the Yang-tse-tru River sediments. Heavy metal concentrations decreased rapidly in a seaward direction. Heavy metal concentrations in near shore sediments were as high as some highly industrialized harbour sediments in the USA (e.g. Boston and San Diego).

Significant differences and high concentrations of heavy metals were also observed in oysters from the study region. Heavy metals from the study region were two to five times higher than in oysters from other pristine areas in Taiwan.     

Multi-temporal land use and cover changing analysis: the environmental impact in Mediterranean area

ABSTRACT

Human activity shapes the levels of anthropogenic pressure that depend on the land management method adopted. This has a fundamental role in the transformation of traditional landscapes. This study focuses on a representative region of the Mediterranean area with the objective to analyse the landscape’s dynamics, to detect the spatial arrangement of class patches, to identify the main agroecosystem characters and to provide a framework to assess ecosystems services. In order to assess land use/land cover changes and landscape persistence, the period between 1960 and 2012 was analysed, taking into consideration the years 1960, 2000 and 2012 using comparable land use maps. Land use and land cover analysis show an urban area growth of 24% during 2000–2012 and of 523% over between 1960 and 2012. The very high levels of land abandonment up to the year 2000 (+7216%) have reversed their trend between 2000 and 2012 (?95%). The orchards showed a relevant increase, particularly after 2000, while the vineyards were linked to the highest value of surface erosion (?74%). The outcomes showed that urban settlements can damage the ecological network with negative effects on the landscape’s environmental sustainability in proximity of significant urban centres. Instead, the ecological network is well preserved and highly associated to the agricultural areas when there is the persistence of many land uses and low urban density, despite the presence of dynamic changes.     

Control Criteria and Activities in Dumping Management in Italy

In Italy, two different types of wastes can be dumped in the seas: industrial wastes and dredged material. There are no cases of sludges from urban treatment plants being discharged into the sea.

The sea dumping of harbour dredging sludges is a long standing practice, while the disposal of industrial wastes dates back to 1965.

Two specific laws regulate these two activities, although they do not establish quality standards for the receiving sea environment. Careful evaluation must be made, case by case, of possible effects of discharge with regard to physico-chemical characteristics of materials, to general oceanological characteristics of the dumpsite and to the uses to which such a dumpsite is designated.

The analysis of different cases of industrial waste dumping, carried out at the pre-operational level and during discharge, revealed some potential for negative long-term effects on the sea environment. This, as well as the increasing public sensitivity to environmental problems, led the management agencies in Italy to take several measures aimed to stop all forms of sea dumping of industrial wastes and to revise the general criteria in issuing permits for the discharge of dredged material.     

Population biology of the annual grass Triplasis purpurea in relation to distance from shore on Staten Island, New York

Four populations of the native annual grassTriplasis purpurea were surveyed on coastal beaches along the south shore of Staten Island, NY, to determine the potential of this species to colonize shoreline habitats mostly devoid of other vegetation. If the species can establish and maintain dense populations, it may have conservation value for urban beaches disturbed by human activities. For two populations, survivorship, growth, and reproduction were monitored at different distances from shore to determine the ability of this species to maintain viable populations. At three sites,T. purpurea occurred in >75% of all quadrats and the highest density was 1195 plants/m² at 74 m from shore in one recently disturbed site. Density generally increased with increasing distances from shore at low tide (from ca. 40–90 m). Plants showed the greatest growth and reproduction at close distances to shore (30–40 m); part of this effect was due to density in one population, but when density effects were removed statistically, there still remained a decline in growth and reproduction with increasing distance from shore. Improved vigor nearest to shore may be due to continual sand deposition. Survivorship showed a Type I pattern, with low mortality throughout the growing season. By colonizing newly-deposited and continually shifting sands,T. purpurea can contribute to the earliest stages of ecological succession along disturbed beaches in eastern North America and may be valuable to the development and management of urban coastal plant communities.     

Population biology of the annual grassTriplasis purpurea in relation to distance from shore on Staten Island, New York

Four populations of the native annual grassTriplasis purpurea were surveyed on coastal beaches along the south shore of Staten Island, NY, to determine the potential of this species to colonize shoreline habitats mostly devoid of other vegetation. If the species can establish and maintain dense populations, it may have conservation value for urban beaches disturbed by human activities. For two populations, survivorship, growth, and reproduction were monitored at different distances from shore to determine the ability of this species to maintain viable populations. At three sites,T. purpurea occurred in >75% of all quadrats and the highest density was 1195 plants/m² at 74 m from shore in one recently disturbed site. Density generally increased with increasing distances from shore at low tide (from ca. 40 – 90 m). Plants showed the greatest growth and reproduction at close distances to shore (30 – 40 m); part of this effect was due to density in one population, but when density effects were removed statistically, there still remained a decline in growth and reproduction with increasing distance from shore. Improved vigor nearest to shore may be due to continual sand deposition. Survivorship showed a Type I pattern, with low mortality throughout the growing season. By colonizing newly-deposited and continually shifting sands,T. purpurea can contribute to the earliest stages of ecological succession along disturbed beaches in eastern North America and may be valuable to the development and management of urban coastal plant communities.     

A Review of Waste Tyre Utilisation in the Marine Environment

Waste tyres pose a major disposal problem on land creating a fire hazard and, in warmer climates, providing breeding pools for mosquitoes. the void space in tyres makes them unsuitable for land burial. Schemes to use shredded tyres for road bases and asphalt filler are being pursued in the USA. Tyre combustion for electricity production is being investigated in the UK.

The widespread availability and durability of tyres has led to their use in the marine environment for breakwaters/coastal defence structures and as artificial reefs for promoting fisheries.

Tyres have a low density and have been used in floating breakwaters. Schemes have been proposed to protect and strengthen shorelines with tyre structures.

The void space in tyres facilitates the construction of artificial reefs to attract fish. the most intensive use is in the south west Pacific and Australia. Tyre surfaces are colonised by algae and a wide range of faunal species, including corals and shellfish. the wide acceptance of tyres as a suitable reef construction material appears to be based largely on these observations. Experience of initial poor deployment practices in the USA led to tyres washing ashore after storms and resulted in the banning or restriction of their use in coastal states of the USA. A review of the scientific literature has yielded limited information on the environmental impact of tyres and in particular the leaching of heavy metals and organic compounds from tyres into sea water.

Preliminary results of tyre dust/sea water leaching studies are presented. These identify zinc as the major leachate (totalling 10mg/tyre after 3 months). Diluted leachates have not shown significant effects of the growth of the phytoplankton Phaeodactylum and Isocrysis.

Further work to characterise the sea water leaching of tyre compounds is recommended.     

Climate change and urban land systems: bridging the gaps between urbanism and land science

ABSTRACT

Land science has generated critical knowledge about how humans modify Earth’s surface and has advanced our understanding of land as a coupled human–environment system. However, to date, most work has been in frontier environments with less attention – both conceptually and empirically – on how urban land systems affect the carbon cycle. Much of what is known about urban areas and the carbon cycle is limited to aggregate levels of activities within urban areas, usually by sector, with little focus on how the spatial configuration of urban land systems affects carbon-emitting activities. Given that urban areas produce about 70% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions, it is crucial to understand the relationship between urban environments, the activities they influence, and the resulting carbon emissions. This paper summarizes the current state of knowledge of how urban land systems affect carbon emissions and vulnerability, and identifies research gaps and opportunities for urban land science to contribute to climate change science, particularly through land architecture. We argue that more attention to urban land science conceptualization, measurement, and analysis would contribute to both fundamental knowledge about urban systems, as well as help identify policies and strategies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change at the urban scale.