An approach to tackling the environmental and health impacts of municipal solid waste disposal in developing countries

Indiscriminate disposal of municipal solid waste in developing countries poses severe environmental and health threats. The study proposes a new method for dealing with these problems. The hybrid structural interaction matrix (HSIM) was used to prioritise major identifiable environmental health factors arising from improper solid waste disposal. The simplistic resource allocation model was adopted to ensure optimality in the allocation of resources to prioritised factors. The study indicates that tackling environmental health impacts from the most prioritised negative disposal factors through optimal allocation of resources, will either reduce or eliminate the impacts associated with subsequent less prioritised factors that are direct consequences of the highly prioritised negative factors. The method proposed will aid decision makers in knowing which set of systemic factors are to be given preference and to what extent at given periods in time.     

Utilization of municipal solid waste (MSW) ash in cement and mortar

Solid waste management is gaining significant importance with the ever-increasing quantities of waste materials generated these days. With increased environmental awareness and its potential hazardous effects, recycling/utilization of these materials have become an attractive alternative to disposal. Some of these waste and hazardous materials could possible be used in cement-based materials. One of such waste is municipal solid waste. Ash is obtained after incineration of MSW.This paper presents comprehensive details of the physical, chemical, and mineralogical composition, elemental analysis of ash obtained from MSW. It also covers the effect of MSW ash on the hydration characteristics, setting times, compressive strength, sulfate resistance and mass loss of cement and mortar. It also deals with the leachate analysis of MSW ash.     

Multiple regression models for the lower heating value of municipal solid waste in Taiwan

A multiple regression analysis was used to develop two predictive models of lower heating value (LHV) for municipal solid waste (MSW), using 180 samples gathered from cities and counties in Taiwan during 2001-2002. These models are referred to as the original proposed model (OPM) and the simplified model (SM). The coefficients of multiple determinations for the OPM and SM were 0.983 and 0.975, respectively. To verify the feasibility of the models, a demonstration program based on sampling of MSW in Kaohsiung City was conducted. As a result, the OPM showed superior precision in terms of relative percentage deviation (RPD) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), when compared to the conventional models based on the proximate analysis, physical composition and ultimate analysis. The SM was derived by neglecting the three minor physical components used in the OPM. The resulting SM was less precise when compared to the OPM, but it was still acceptable, with a precision level better than the conventional models. It was concluded that the predictability of empirical models could be improved significantly through selection of the appropriate physical components and multiple regression analysis.     

An inexact dynamic optimization model for municipal solid waste management in association with greenhouse gas emission control

Municipal solid waste (MSW) should be properly disposed in order to help protect environmental quality and human health, as well as to preserve natural resources. During MSW disposal processes, a large amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) is emitted, leading to a significant impact on climate change. In this study, an inexact dynamic optimization model (IDOM) is developed for MSW-management systems under uncertainty. It grounds upon conventional mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) approaches, and integrates GHG components into the modeling framework. Compared with the existing models, IDOM can not only deal with the complex tradeoff between system cost minimization and GHG-emission mitigation, but also provide optimal allocation strategies under various emission-control standards. A case study is then provided for demonstrating applicability of the developed model. The results indicate that desired waste-flow patterns with a minimized system cost and GHG-emission amount can be obtained. Of more importance, the IDOM solution is associated with over 5.5 million tonnes of TEC reduction, which is of significant economic implication for real implementations. Therefore, the proposed model could be regarded as a useful tool for realizing comprehensive MSW management with regard to mitigating climate-change impacts.     

Community modelling: a tool for correlating estimates of exposure with perception of odour from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills

Odours from municipal solid waste landfills have the potential to cause significant annoyance and impact to amenity in the environment surrounding sites. In order to assess the impact of odorous emissions on surrounding communities a quantitative model to predict annoyance was developed. The overall objective of this research was to develop the major components of the model namely, assessment of odorous emissions, dispersion and reception by the surrounding community around the landfill site. This study used community modelling as a tool to find a link between dispersion and perception of odour. The research completed a year-round monitoring program engaging people within the local community as regular odour monitors. Estimates of exposure from dispersion analysis were used to compare incidents causing complaint and intensity-concentration plots were fitted for each monitor whose reports were found to be logically consistent with regard to the intensity scaling. Human responses to the vast range of odour intensities, from highly intense source odours through to less intense dispersed odours at monitors' locations, were found to differ greatly. It was observed that the psychophysical models based on the Weber-Fechner law and Power law fitted the data consistently well for the entire range of the intensity scale used, 1-7. However, the other two models, based on Beidler's law and Laffort's equation showed an inconsistency with the intensity scales >3.     

Alternative treatments for the municipal solid waste and domestic sewage in Campinas,Brazil

The treatments of municipal solid waste (MSW) and the domestic sewage (DS) are critical issues of the current political and environment discussions. These concerns are due to the lack of dumping areas, the continuous increase of the population, and public health issues. The adequate treatment and management of MSW and DS can produce many benefits such as financial funds, heat and energy production, reduction of emissions and recuperation of water for reuse. Currently in Campinas MSW and DS are deposited in landfills or discharged into rivers and other sites. In the present study two scenarios are evaluated for the treatment of MSW and DS in Campinas: recycling with biological treatment and recycling with thermal treatment. The most suitable treatments for Campinas, based on the data from the present analysis and taking into consideration the local conditions, maximization of energy potential and environmental benefits, are incineration for the MSW and biological treatment for DS, both with energy recuperation. The main gains of this option are substantial environmental benefits, generated energy which can reach 18% of the total electrical energy consumed in Campinas while about 53% recuperation of the total amount of water treated for Campinas in 2010.     

A statistical study of the quality of surface water intended for human consumption near Valencia (Spain)

Water quality in the European Union is subject to legislation through directives that are applicable in all Member States. The directives specify a set of physical and chemical parameters that should be regularly controlled using a network of sampling points, with sampling based on the intended use of the water. This paper presents the results of a statistical comparison of the quality of water intended for human consumption at two different locations (the Canal de Benagéber and the Canal Júcar-Turia) near the town of Valencia (Spain). These are currently the only canals that could supply Valencia and other nearby towns with drinking water. The parameters considered in this paper are the ones specified in the European directives for determining the quality of water intended for human consumption. These directives specify that the 95th percentile of the distribution of each parameter should be used to assess water quality, so accurate estimation of these percentiles was essential in this paper. We found statistically significant differences among locations in chlorides, sulfates, temperature, coloration, and manganese, but the results varied depending on the statistical tests that we used; parametric methods gave better results than nonparametric methods.     

Management Objective Importance in Fisheries: An Evaluation Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

In determining the importance of criteria in the management of fisheries, two key issues stand out—the definition of a succinct set of criteria and the determination of which interest groups play a defining role in the management development process. This is indeed the case for all natural resource management problems, and many other environmental problems as well. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) provides an effective framework for such an analysis. The AHP is generally used to evaluate importance amongst criteria based on the concept of paired comparison. This paper considers the development of a representative criteria hierarchy, and uses data obtained from a pairwise comparison survey based on the UK fisheries of the English Channel to investigate priorities that exist among different interest groups in the fisheries. The implementation of the AHP in this application provides a useful tool for analysis of criteria amongst groups involved in the management process with diverse interests.     

A two-stage support-vector-regression optimization model for municipal solid waste management - a case study of Beijing, China

In this study, a two-stage support-vector-regression optimization model (TSOM) is developed for the planning of municipal solid waste (MSW) management in the urban districts of Beijing, China. It represents a new effort to enhance the analysis accuracy in optimizing the MSW management system through coupling the support-vector-regression (SVR) model with an interval-parameter mixed integer linear programming (IMILP). The developed TSOM can not only predict the city's future waste generation amount, but also reflect dynamic, interactive, and uncertain characteristics of the MSW management system. Four kernel functions such as linear kernel, polynomial kernel, radial basis function, and multi-layer perception kernel are chosen based on three quantitative simulation performance criteria [i.e. prediction accuracy (PA), fitting accuracy (FA) and over all accuracy (OA)]. The SVR with polynomial kernel has accurate prediction performance for MSW generation rate, with all of the three quantitative simulation performance criteria being over 96%. Two cases are considered based on different waste management policies. The results are valuable for supporting the adjustment of the existing waste-allocation patterns to raise the city's waste diversion rate, as well as the capacity planning of waste management system to satisfy the city's increasing waste treatment/disposal demands.     

Evaluating sustainable forest management strategies with the Analytic Network Process in a Pressure-State-Response framework

Nowadays forestry faces a complex management situation; the understanding of sustainable forest management (SFM) has gone far beyond the original meaning of sustainable yield of timber. SFM strategies should fulfil ecological, economic and social functions without causing damage to other ecosystems. In this understanding, forest management actions cannot be seen as isolated or mono-causal. In this case study, indicators for SFM are arranged in a Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework at forest management unit level. This framework links pressures on the environment caused by human activities with changes of environmental state (condition) parameters. Forest management also responds to these changes by instituting environmental and economic measures to reduce pressures and restore natural resources. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) is utilized to evaluate the performance of four management strategies with regard to the PSR framework on SFM. Priorities of indicators and alternatives are modelled with the ANP resulting from the interconnections to other indicators and their respective cumulative importance. The approach allows for more detailed information on the network of human influences and their impacts on forest ecosystems and goes beyond the limitations of flat-dimensioned indicator sets.     

Options for management of municipal solid waste in New York City: a preliminary comparison of health risks and policy implications

Landfill disposal and waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration remain the two principal options for managing municipal solid waste (MSW). One critical determinant of the acceptability of these options is the different health risks associated with each. In this analysis relying on published data and exposure modeling, we have performed health risk assessments for landfill disposal versus WTE treatment options for the management of New York City's MSW. These are based on the realistic scenario of using a waste transfer station (WTS) in Brooklyn and then transporting the untreated MSW by truck to a landfill in Pennsylvania or using a WTE facility in Brooklyn and then transporting the resultant ash by truck to a landfill in Pennsylvania. The overall results indicate that the individual cancer risks for both options would be considered generally acceptable, although the risk from landfilling is approximately 5 times greater than from WTE treatment; the individual non-cancer health risks for both options would be considered generally unacceptable, although once again the risk from landfilling is approximately 5 times greater than from WTE treatment. If one considers only the population in Brooklyn that would be directly affected by the siting of either a WTS or a WTE facility in their immediate neighborhood, individual cancer and non-cancer health risks for both options would be considered generally acceptable, but risks for the former remain considerably higher than for the latter. These results should be considered preliminary due to several limitations of this study such as: consideration of risks only from inhalation exposures; assumption that only volume and not composition of the waste stream is altered by WTE treatment; reliance on data from the literature rather than actual measurements of the sites considered, assuming comparability of the sites. However, the results of studies such as this, in conjunction with ecological, socioeconomic and equity considerations, should prove useful to environmental managers, regulators, policy makers, community representatives and other stakeholders in making sound and acceptable decisions regarding the optimal handling of MSW.     

Combining a participatory planning approach with a virtual landscape model for the siting of wind turbines

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zürich is planning to build three wind turbines for the production of renewable energy. Their proposed location is near the campus of ETH Hönggerberg in the Käferberg open space. This open space is of high importance for the recreation of the local residents. It is one of the last open spaces in Zürich that is used agriculturally. In order to provide a broad forum for discussion and to examine the level of acceptance of the proposed wind turbines a new approach to participatory planning is pursued by introducing a virtual landscape model to a participatory planning workshop for which the different interest groups and stakeholders were invited. During the workshop different alternatives were discussed and suggested changes by the participants were incorporated in the 3D model and visualized. The results of the workshop show that 3D visualization is an important means of communication among the different interest groups. The workshop also shows that an early integration of 3D visualization combined with a participatory approach is an effective way to elucidate potential conflicts at an early stage of the planning process.     

Dispersion of odour: a case study with a municipal solid waste landfill site in North London,United Kingdom

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are a potential source of offensive odours that can create annoyance within communities. Dispersion modelling was used to quantify the potential odour strength causing an impact on the community around a particular MSW landfill site north of the London area in the United Kingdom. The case studies were completed with the short-term mode of COMPLEX-I, software developed by the US-EPA. The year 1998 was chosen as a source of baseline data. It was observed that by 2004, when the landfill will progress towards the west and a big band of the area towards the north would be partly/fully restored, the maximum contribution of the new sources giving higher odour concentrations would be in the southwesterly regions away from the landfill. Concentrations as high as 25.0 ou(E)/m(3) were observed with 3 min averaging time in the southwesterly areas as compared to concentrations of 20.0 ou(E)/m(3) at 10 min averaging times. However, the percentage frequency of such critical events occurring would be low. All other surrounding farms and small villages would be exposed to the concentration of 3.0 ou(E)/m(3) on certain occasions. In the year 2008, the majority of the filling fronts would be filled with wastes with no contributions from the active and operational cells. The maximum odour concentration around the landfill site for 1 h averaging time would be approximately 3 ou(E)/m(3) about 1.0 km north and 500 m west of the landfill site. For 3 min averaging time, the stretch of 5 ou(E)/m(3) band would be up to 2.5 km towards the north of the landfill site. It is argued that further analysis of the model calculations considering effects of wind direction, frequency of wind direction, stability of the atmosphere, selected odour threshold, integration time of the model, etc. would form a basis for calculating the separation distances of the landfill site from the surrounding community.     

A hybrid inexact optimization approach for solid waste management in the city of Foshan,China

An interval-parameter two-stage chance-constraint mixed integer linear programming (ITCMILP) model is provided for supporting long-term planning of solid waste management in the City of Foshan, China. The ITCMILP is formulated by integrating interval-parameter, two-stage, mixed integer, and chance-constraint programming methods into a general framework, and can thus deal with multiple uncertainties associated with model parameters, constraints and objectives. Three scenarios are examined, covering combinations of various system conditions and waste management policies. Scenario 1 is designed for comparison purposes. Scenarios 2 and 3 correspond to situations when the existing landfill's life is to be extended. The results demonstrate that the centralized composting and incinerating facilities are desired for treating the organic waste flows. The tradeoff among system cost, violation risk, and the related policy implications are also analyzed. The results obtained could help decision makers gain in-depth insights into the impact of uncertainties on long-term solid waste management in the City of Foshan.     

Variation in some chemical parameters and organic matter in soils regenerated by the addition of municipal solid waste

The organic fraction of a municipal solid waste was added in different doses to an eroded soil formed of loam and with no vegetal cover. After three years, the changes in macronutrient content and the chemical-structural composition of its organic matter were studied. The addition of the organic fraction from a municipal solid waste had a positive effect on soil regeneration, the treated soils being covered with spontaneous vegetation from 1 yr onwards. An increase in electrical conductivity and a fall in pH were noted in the treated soils as were increases in macronutrients, particularly N and available P and the different carbon fractions. Optical density measurements of the organic matter extracted with sodium pyrophosphate showed that the treated soils contained an organic matter with less condensed compounds and with a greater tendency to evolve than the control. A pyrolysis-gas chromatography study of the organic matter extracted with pyrophosphate showed large quantities of benzene both in the treated soils and control; pyrrole was also relatively abundant, although this fragment decreased as the dose rose. Xylenes and pyridine were present in greater quantities in the control and furfural in the treated soils. Three years after addition to the soil, the organic matter had a higher proportion of fragments derived from aromatic compounds and a smaller proportion derived from hydrocarbons. Similarity indices showed that, although the added and newly formed organic matter 3 yr after addition continued to differ from that of the original soil and to be more mineralizable, the transformations it has undergone made it more similar to the original organic matter of the soil than it was at the moment of being added.     

Suitability of the vegetation types in Mexico's Tamaulipas state for the siting of hazardous waste treatment plants

A land suitability study was carried out by applying a multiple-criteria technique to 12 different vegetation types in Mexico's Tamaulipas state to help select potentially suitable sites for hazardous waste treatment plants. Species richness, spatial distribution, and uniqueness were selected as the criteria for estimating a vegetation type's suitability. Using the analytical hierarchy process, we ranked and mapped vegetation types, then compared the results with rankings of the same vegetation types based only on their number of endemic species. The suitabilities of the various vegetation types were ordered in more or less the same way by both methods, except in two cases for which the results were very different. The method proved to be a useful tool despite the availability of only partial (mostly qualitative) information; under such circumstances, expert experience can be incorporated in the evaluation process to a limited degree. The technique described in this paper has a high potential to aid decisions when many opinions and options must be considered simultaneously.     

Evaluation of unmitigated options for municipal waste disposal site in Tehran,Iran using an integrated assessment approach

It can be difficult for assessors and decision-makers to compare different options for a project, and thus come to a reasoned and objective decision concerning the impacts and its sustainability at the local level. Therefore, using integrated assessment becomes crucially important for evaluating proposed different options. In this paper, we apply the Rapid Integrated Sustainability Assessment Method (RISAM) to evaluate the proposed unmitigated options for a municipal waste disposal site in Tehran, Iran. The results obtained showed that all of the alternative unmitigated options to the current method of open dumping were indicated as being consistent with very weak sustainability. The RISAM method demonstrated offers potential considerable benefits with respect to improved efficiency, reduced need for resources, and improved consistency and transparency in evaluation and reporting.     

层次分析法在城市生态环境质量评价中的应用

根据层次分析法的基本原理，在城市生态环境质量评价中建立各层次模型，并以福州市为例，通过对该市近年来城市生态环境质量的评价结果分析，对今后城市规划提出建议，为以后建设生态城市提供直接服务。     

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.