Assessment of key parameters in municipal solid waste management: a prerequisite for sustainability

Municipal solid waste management was studied for 1 year in a representative urban area of Lahore city for environmental sustainability. The effects of financial status of the household and the seasonal variations on generation rate and compositions of municipal solid waste (MSW) were determined. MSW generation rate and the economic status of the households were positively correlated (p < 0.05). Seasonal variations observed were significant only for organics (p = 0.001), plastics (p = 0.008) and food waste fractions (p = 0.009) in MSW. Response surface regression model developed and analysed by Minitab-15® showed that the interaction of season and different economic zones of the town on the MSW generation rate was non-significant (p = 0.334). Elemental and heating value analyses of the mixed organic fractions in kitchen waste had carbon 47.93%, hydrogen 6.20%, nitrogen 2.24%, sulphur 0.23%, oxygen 39.01%, and C and N ratio 27.78. Findings concluded that food waste was 56% of total MSW with 71.03% moisture content and a modest heating value of 5566 J/g. Existing temporary storage capacity of MSW is 51% of the total MSW generated considering the weighted MSW generation rate of 0.57 kg/person/day calculated in this study. Composting could be a possible final disposal option due to high moisture and organic content and can be studied in future research. Development of a transfer station, introduction of home composting programmes and awareness towards proper segregation and reduction of waste at the household level is suggested to attain sustainability in the MSW management system.     

Environmental effects and risk control of antibiotic resistance genes in the organic solid waste aerobic composting system: A review

• ARGs were detected in livestock manure, sludge, food waste and fermentation dregs. • The succession of microbial community is an important factor affecting ARGs. • Horizontal transfer mechanism of ARGs during composting should be further studied. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been diffusely detected in several kinds of organic solid waste, such as livestock manure, sludge, antibiotic fermentation residues, and food waste, thus attracting great attention. Aerobic composting, which is an effective, harmless treatment method for organic solid waste to promote recycling, has been identified to also aid in ARG reduction. However, the effect of composting in removing ARGs from organic solid waste has recently become controversial. Thus, this article summarizes and reviews the research on ARGs in relation to composting in the past 5 years. ARGs in organic solid waste could spread in different environmental media, including soil and the atmosphere, which could widen environmental risks. However, the conventional composting technology had limited effect on ARGs removal from organic solid waste. Improved composting processes, such as hyperthermophilic temperature composting, could effectively remove ARGs, and the HGT of ARGs and the microbial communities are identified as vital influencing factors. Currently, during the composting process, ARGs were mainly affected by three response pathways, (I) “Microenvironment-ARGs”; (II) “Microenvironment-microorganisms-ARGs”; (III) “Microorganisms-horizontal gene transfer-ARGs”, respectively. Response pathway II had been studied the most which was believed that microbial community was an important factor affecting ARGs. In response pathway III, mainly believed that MGEs played an important role and paid less attention to eARGs. Further research on the role and impact of eARGs in ARGs may be considered in the future. It aims to provide support for further research on environmental risk control of ARGs in organic solid waste.     

Turnover and loss of nitrogenous compounds during composting of food wastes

Few people have so far explored into the research of the dynamics of various nitrogenous compounds (including water-soluble nitrogen) in composting of food wastes. This study aimed to investigate the solid-phase nitrogen, water-soluble nitrogen, nitrogen loss together with ammonia volatilization in the process of food wastes composting. A laboratory scale static aerobic reactor in the experiment was employed in the composting process of a synthetic food waste, in which sawdust was used as the litter amendment. In the experiment, oxygen was supplied by continuous forced ventilation for 15 days. The results have shown that the concentrations of total nitrogen and organic nitrogen decrease significantly in the composting process, whereas NH₄ ⁺-N concentration increases together with little fluctuation in NO₃ ^?-N. After composting, the total content of the water-soluble nitrogen compounds in the compost greatly increased, the total nitrogen loss amounted to 50% of the initial nitrogen, mainly attributed to ammonia volatilization. 56.7% of the total ammonia volatilization occurred in the middle and late composting of the thermophilic stage. This suggested that the control at the middle and late composting of thermophilic stage is the key to nitrogen loss in the food waste compost.     

Insights into the changes of amino acids,microbial community,and enzymatic activities related with the nutrient quality of product during the composting of food waste

● The highest seed germination index was achieved at 0.3 g/g total solids of food waste. ● Proline was identified as the key amino acid related with the composting process. ● Amino acid metabolism sequences predominated during the whole composting process. This study systematically investigated the changes of amino acids as the composting process of food waste proceeded. It is found that the addition of 0.3 g/g total solids of food waste achieved the highest seed germination index of the product (268 %). The microbial community results indicated that the abundance of amino acid metabolism sequences remained at high levels during the whole composting process. Proline was identified as the key amino acid related with the nutrient quality of product during the composting of food waste. Further plant germination and hydroponic experiments found, that compared with those without the addition of proline, the addition of 50 mg/L proline increased seed germination rate by 20 %, increased shoot length by 3 %, increased root biomass of seedlings by 82 %, and increased leaf biomass of seedlings by 76 %, respectively. Firmicutes, γ-Pseudomonadota, Chloroflexi and Planctomycetes were the key identified bacteria related with the increase of proline during the composting of food waste. Meanwhile, the enzymatic tests of the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and malondialdehyde indicated that proline did not cause oxidative damage on the growth of plants. This study provided novel insights into the changes of amino acids, microbial community, and enzymatic activities related with the nutrient quality of product during the composting of food waste.     

木薯渣堆肥及其对难溶性磷的活化试验研究

试验以干鸡粪、米糠、堆肥返料作调理剂,同时加入不同含量的磷矿粉,对木薯渣进行好氧堆肥,研究木薯渣堆肥过程中堆肥理化性质的变化及木薯渣堆肥对难溶性磷的活化作用。试验设置磷矿粉加入量10%(T1)、15%(T2)、20%(T3)和不加磷矿粉(CK)四个处理,干鸡粪、米糠、堆肥返料的添加量均为10%、15%和20%。在堆肥过程中,四个处理均在55℃以上高温持续了25d,超过了国家规定的标准。在堆肥结束时,各处理水分含量均降至30%左右,pH升高至弱碱性,淀粉降解率均在90%以上,水溶性碳(DOC)含量均降至10g·kg-1以下,达到了基本腐熟的标准。证明木薯渣通过堆肥能达到稳定无害化状态。在堆肥结束时,T1、T2、T3有效磷增加量分别为12.58、12.81、12.96g·kg-1,对磷矿粉的活化率分别为23.53%、17.07%、14.50%,T1活化效果最好。研究结果表明木薯渣堆肥对难溶性磷有一定的活化作用,可为解决堆肥资源化产品中植物可利用磷含量偏低的难题开拓一条生物学途径。     

城市固体废弃物堆肥化处理的影响因素

城市固体废弃物的堆肥化处理已经成为各国越来越重视的方法。堆肥化处理是通过控制堆腐过程条件,使废弃物在短时间内最有效地达到稳定,杀灭病原菌,使产品可以安全地使用。本文对堆肥的原理及基本机理进行了介绍,同时对堆肥过程的重要参数（ 水分含量、有机质含量、 Ｃ／ Ｎ 比、ｐ Ｈ 值、通气量等） 进行了综述。     

河北省承德地区秸秆堆肥特性及腐熟度评价

以河北省承德地区的油葵秸秆、玉米秸秆、大豆秸秆与鸡粪为原料,设置4种不同配比（F1、F2、F3、F4）,于2009年秋末接种EM菌进行堆肥试验.通过对堆肥过程中堆体的温度、含水率、NH4＋-N、NO3--N、pH值、C/N、T值的测定,研究了不同配比对堆肥腐熟度的影响.采用大白菜种子发芽指数（GI）评价了堆肥的腐熟度和...     

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.     

一株耐盐嗜热菌Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus H7的分离及其油脂降解特性

针对高盐、高油餐厨垃圾高温堆肥功能菌株缺乏的问题,以大豆油为唯一碳源,通过测定生物量、脂肪酶活性和油脂降解率,从餐厨垃圾堆积处的土壤样品中分离筛选出一株嗜热油脂降解菌H7.通过形态特征、生理生化特征和16SrDNA序列分析,对筛选的菌株进行鉴定,考察其耐盐能力、油脂降解和生长特性.结果表明,菌株H7为嗜热嗜气解硫胺素芽孢杆菌(Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus),最高耐盐浓度为30 g/L.菌株H7在油脂浓度为15 g/L的发酵培养基中发酵72 h,油脂降解率为60.11%,菌体浓度OD600为1.88,脂肪酶活性为11.65 U/mL.菌株H7可生长的温度为40-60℃,pH值为5-8,摇床转速为120-240 r/min,最适生长的温度为50℃,pH值为6,摇床转速为220 r/min.本研究获得了具有耐盐性和能降解高浓度油脂的嗜热菌株H7,可为高盐高油脂含量的餐厨垃圾堆肥提供微生物菌种资源.(图8表2参34)     

废弃塑料包装物的管理及资源、环境评价

由于塑料包装材料具有明显的资源优势,而获得广泛应用。但塑料材料的原料——石油,目前面临枯竭窘境。同时,塑料包装废弃物的处理存在巨大的环境压力。焚烧包括塑料包装废弃物在内的生活垃圾,用于发电,是日本曾经采取的方法。近年来,因存在难以逾越的生态环境问题,而逐渐废止。工业生态学的材料流的循环利用模式,是解决资源耗尽、废物充斥的理想方法。源头分离是城市固体废弃物资源化的前提条件。按塑料品种分类回收,以材料形式重复利用,保留了塑料的材料价值,还需要解决,再加工过程造成材料力学性能下降的问题。将单一品种塑料转化成单体,不同塑料品种的单体转化率有很大差距,缩合聚合物较高,而PP、PE等则不然。混合塑料的热裂解可获得化工原料和燃料,又达到减少垃圾总量和石油资源循环利用的效果,具有开发潜力。填埋方式占用土地又人为阻碍了有机垃圾回归生物圈。控制性堆肥对避免大量使用化肥、农药造成的生态环境灾难,再建农业生产的可持续性模式,发挥重要作用。生物降解塑料袋对堆肥的实施,具有特殊价值。PET和E-CO在食品包装某些应用领域有优势,而PVC食品包装物的使用和废弃后再利用都存在问题。     

Preliminary techno-economic analysis of three typical decentralized composting technologies treating rural kitchen waste: a case study in China

● Decentralized composting (DC) is a profitable KW treating technology. ● SAC and BEC were economically attractive in rural area, while HDC was unprofitable. ● KW handling subsidy plays a vital role in making DC profitable. ● SAC and BEC have great potential in promoting rural KW treatment. This study was designed to evaluate whether the decentralized rural kitchen waste (KW) composting technologies used in China can be widely applied. To this end, we completed a techno-economic analysis of three typical types of KW compositing, namely solar-assisted (SAC), bio-enhanced (BEC), and heat-dewatering composting (HDC). These evaluations revealed that all three technologies produce composting products that meet China’s organic fertilizer standard and that both SAC and BEC are economically self-sustaining and generate net profits (18824.94 and 17791.52 US$/a) and positive net present values (32133.11 and 25035.93 US$). Subsequent sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the KW-handling subsidy plays a critical role in making decentralized composting economically attractive. Based on these analyses, we believe that reducing the coverage area of SAC, reducing the operating cost of BEC and HDC, upgrading composting products, and strengthening secondary pollution control would aid in supporting the technological improvement of these processes. Moreover, providing appropriate subsidies and promulgating specific standards and policies for KW fertilizer are key strategies for decentralized rural KW composting management.     

Towards a sustainable future: a holistic inquiry of waste management behaviors of Singapore households

ABSTRACT

In 2018, Singapore produced a 7.7 million tonnes of waste, which is a significant amount of waste for a small nation-state. In line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) targets 11.6 and 12.5 of the 2030 Agenda, which addresses cities’ waste generation and management impacts, we ask the question of why Singapore households are not more proactively engaged in waste minimization, despite the presence of local waste minimization public campaigns. This study is the first known study to comparatively apply and test three major theories – social psychological, social-structural, and sociocultural theories, to explain household waste management behavior in Singapore. A national survey followed by regression analysis of 303 households was conducted. In our findings, we firstly describe current trends in household waste management behaviors. Secondly, we compared each applied theory’s ability to predict households’: (1) reuse and (2) recycling of a variety of household items; and (3) recycling frequency. We obtained partial evidence supporting the role of future-orientedness and environmental identity on householders’ variety reuse and recycling. Social-structural (age cohort x income, education) and situational variables (the convenience thesis), also predicted various waste minimization behaviors. Finally, householders’ knowledge of what is recyclable affected all forms of waste minimization behaviors. In view of the study’s findings, we propose a need for targeted planning and policy interventions for different segments of the Singapore population, and different short- and longer-term measures to initiate and achieve sustained household waste minimization.     

Biomanagement of sago-sludge using an earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae

Sago, the tapioca starch is manufactured by over 800 small-scale units located in the Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India. During the processing of sago it generates huge quantities of biodegradable solid waste, as crushed tubers. In present study an attempt was made to convert these biodegradable solid sago tubers into value added compost using an exotic earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae. The experiments were carried out in a plastic tray at various concentrations of sago-sludge (50% 75% and 100%) for a period of 90 days. During the vermicomposting, data were collected on life form (cocoon, non clitellates, clitellates) of earthworm and it was found to be high in 50% followed by 75% and 100% concentrations. Chemical analysis of worked substrates showed a step wise increase of nitrogen and phosphorus. The fold increase of phosphorus and nitrogen were found to be high for sago-sludge undergoing vermicomposting than the control. During the composting period the organic carbon decreased from its initial value of 58, 76 and 107 mg/kg to 21, 24 and 65 mg/kg for 50, 70 and 100%, respectively The microbial analysis showed that after 75 days of composting, their population stabilized and further increase in composting period did not increase their population size. The results indicate that 50% and 75% concentration of sludge mixed with bedding material was ideal for the vermicomposting.     

木薯渣堆肥及其对难溶性磷的活化试验研究

试验以干鸡粪、米糠、堆肥返料作调理剂,同时加入不同含量的磷矿粉,对木薯渣进行好氧堆肥,研究木薯渣堆肥过程中堆肥理化性质的变化及木薯渣堆肥对难溶性磷的活化作用。试验设置磷矿粉加入量10％（T1）、15％（T2）、20％（T3）和不加磷矿粉（CK）四个处理,干鸡粪、米糠、堆肥返料的添加量均为10％、15％和20％。在堆肥过程中,四个处理均在55℃以上高温持续了25d,超过了国家规定的标准。在堆肥结束时,各处理水分含量均降至30％左右,pH升高至弱碱性,淀粉降解率均在90％以上,水溶性碳（DOC）含量均降至10g.kg。以下,达到了基本腐熟的标准。证明木薯渣通过堆肥能达到稳定无害化状态。在堆肥结束时,T1、T2、T3有效磷增加量分别为12．58、12．81、12．96g.kg-1,对磷矿粉的活化率分别为23．53％、17．07％、14．50％,T1活化效果最好。研究结果表明木薯渣堆肥对难溶性磷有一定的活化作用,可为解决堆肥资源化产品中植物可利用磷含量偏低的难题开拓一条生物学途径：     

Characterization and variation of dissolved organic matter in composting: a critical review

● Effect of composting approaches on dissolved organic matter (DOM). ● Effect of composting conditions on the properties of DOM. ● Character indexes of DOM varied in composting. ● The size, hydrophobicity, humification, and electron transfer capacity increased. ● The hydrophilicity, protein-like materials, and aliphatic components reduced. As the most motive organic fraction in composting, dissolved organic matter (DOM) can contribute to the transfer and dispersal of pollutants and facilitate the global carbon cycle in aquatic ecosystems. However, it is still unclear how composting approaches and conditions influence the properties of compost-derived DOM. Further details on the shift of DOM character indexes are required. In this study, the change in properties of compost-derived DOM at different composting approaches and the effect of composting conditions on the DOM characteristics are summarized. Thereafter, the change in DOM character indexes’ in composting was comprehensively reviewed. Along with composting, the elements and spectral properties (chromophoric DOM (CDOM) and fluorescent DOM (FDOM)) were altered, size and hydrophobicity increased, and aromatic-C and electron transfer capacity were promoted. Finally, some prospects to improve this study were put forward. This paper should facilitate the people who have an interest in tracing the fate of DOM in composting.     

高温堆肥碳氮循环及腐殖质变化特征研究

堆肥化处理，是指依靠自然界广泛分布的细菌、放线菌、真菌等微生物，对有机物有控制地进行生物降解，使之转化为腐殖质的生物化学处理技术。作者采用畜禽粪便条垛式高温堆肥实验方法，研究了堆肥过程中碳氮循环及腐殖质变化特征。结果表明，堆肥过程中，碳素和氮素变化最大，表现为二者总量的减少，其中以碳素总量减少较多，氮素总量次之，从而导致碳氮质量分数比降低。腐殖酸总量、胡敏酸和富里酸总量均呈下降趋势，但腐殖酸占有机碳的比例以及胡敏酸与富里酸质量分数比却在提高，速效养分含量也在升高，表明堆肥过程是一个有机质数量减少、有机质质量提高的过程。     

Will unit‐pricing enhance recycling?

Unit pricing is a program in solid waste management that integrates market instruments to encourage households to reduce waste generation and increase recycling. Many studies have shown that unit pricing is effective, especially when the evaluation is based on comparing outcomes before and after implementation. In this paper, we use the so-called difference-in-differences approach to evaluate unit pricing. This approach can provide a less-biased estimation, and can help to examine whether a unit pricing program generates less waste and higher recycling or results in illegal dumping in neighboring regions. Using the fee-per-bag program implemented in Taipei City, Taiwan, as a case study, we found that unit pricing does reduce the amount of garbage but its impact on recycling is not as significant as the current literature suggests. Moreover, the program causes a serious negative externality: more than 60%?of the garbage reduction in the city is due to increased dumping of waste in neighboring regions. As the impact of unit‐pricing on recycling is limited, policy-makers cannot rely solely on this program to enhance recycling in the management of municipal solid waste.     

Characterization of fulvic acids during olive mill waste composting (Elemental,Thermal and fluorescence analyses)

Elemental analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were applied to the study of fulvic acids isolated from different stages during olive mill waste composting. The fulvic extracted acids are characterized by a high nitrogen content and O/C ratio values that may result from the high degree of humification and the synthesis of more condensed humic complexes. This was confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy in the synchronous-scan mode by the decrease of shoulder intensities at intermediate wavelengths indicating the increase of polycondensation and conjugation of unsaturated structures and the greater uniformity of fluorophores. Fluorescence spectra in the emission, excitation and synchronous modes became simpler with compost maturation. This was confirmed by DSC results which proved the high degree of polycondensation of aromatic nuclei of fulvic acid molecules during olive mill waste composting.     

浅谈堆肥设备

随着堆肥技术在不同固体废弃物处理中的广泛应用,与之相关的堆肥设备得到了极大的发展,堆肥设备包括物料处理、翻堆、反应器和除臭设备。家庭堆肥器和小容量反应器堆肥系统是堆肥设备新的发展趋势。     

Characterization of fulvic acids during olive mill waste composting (Elemental, Thermal and fluorescence analyses)

Elemental analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were applied to the study of fulvic acids isolated from different stages during olive mill waste composting. The fulvic extracted acids are characterized by a high nitrogen content and O/C ratio values that may result from the high degree of humification and the synthesis of more condensed humic complexes. This was confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy in the synchronous-scan mode by the decrease of shoulder intensities at intermediate wavelengths indicating the increase of polycondensation and conjugation of unsaturated structures and the greater uniformity of fluorophores. Fluorescence spectra in the emission, excitation and synchronous modes became simpler with compost maturation. This was confirmed by DSC results which proved the high degree of polycondensation of aromatic nuclei of fulvic acid molecules during olive mill waste composting.