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Processing of cast-iron castings by machining is associated with a large amount of post-production waste in the form of cast-iron chips, which constitute up to about 5% of the weight of the entire casting. In the case of serial production, this generates large amounts of post-production waste, constituting a constantly growing scale of environmental problems. The aim of this research was to develop a simple and cheap method of utilizing post-production waste of gray cast-iron chips from the machining process for the production of small structural elements of water supply fittings. The analysis of the state of knowledge indicates that the simplest method of managing waste chips is to use them as a starting material in the process of manufacturing polymer composites. The most frequently chosen material for the matrix of polymer composites reinforced with metal powders is epoxy resin. The epoxy composite was produced by the vacuum-assisted casting method. This paper presents the results of tests of morphological, mechanical, and corrosion properties of epoxy composites filled with grey cast-iron powder with a grain size below 0.075 mm and a mass content in the composite of 65%. The composite cured at 130 °C for 90 min had the best mechanical properties. The sample cured at 130 °C for 90 min was observed to have the optimum effect, with a tensile strength of 28.35 MPa, a flexural strength of 55.4 MPa, and a compressive strength of 53.8 MPa. All tested composites were characterized by very good thermal resistance and, in comparison to gray cast iron, over 2.5 times lower weight and an over three times lower corrosion rate in the tap water environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the environment and human health on a global level. This study aimed to investigate plastic pollution in the Harari region of Ethiopia. The result indicated that 62% of respondents demonstrated good knowledge about plastic waste, and 59% of them perceived plastic waste as harmful. Polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polycarbonates were the types of plastic waste identified. Being female (AOR = 1.82), aged 15–45 (AOR = 1.82), married (AOR = 1.83), and having families >3 (AOR = 2.15) were significantly positively associated with good plastic waste management practice. Being illiterate (AOR = 0.52), and having poor knowledge about plastic waste (AOR = 0.54) were significantly negatively associated with poor management practice. The findings indicated that the Harari region is prone to adverse health and environmental effects from plastic pollution. Policies restricting plastic use, training municipal waste collectors and health extension workers, and improving public awareness are indispensable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brunei, similar to other nations, encounters difficulties in effectively managing solid waste, with 70% of the waste ending up in landfills, 2% through composting, and the remainder being disposed of through conventional methods. The current landfill site is anticipated to reach its maximum capacity in 2025. Energy recovery from waste is crucial for Brunei since it can improve waste management, mitigate environmental consequences, produce economic advantages, bolster energy security, and promote a circular economy. This study aims to identify the potential for energy recovery through landfill gas generated from solid waste disposal in Brunei Darussalam. The study finds that Brunei Darussalam can produce 129 thousand tonnes of CO2e/year landfill gas. Utilising gas to generate electricity of 367 GWh could save 1.6 million USD annually. In addition, it also identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the existing solid waste management in Brunei Darussalam. Furthermore, it formulates a waste management policy in Brunei Darussalam by identifying relevant stakeholders to overcome the weakness. Lastly, the framework for waste management is designed to consider short-, intermediate- and long-term goals and targets, with actions to be taken by respective stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Agent-based modelling is a powerful tool for evaluating the impact of the circular economy (CE). • Agent-based CE literature is fragmented and lacks a comprehensive framework. • Our systemic review finds three main themes in the literature. • We develop an integrated framework for agent-based model that complements general equilibrium models. • Our insights contribute to the theory and open future avenues of research. Circular Economy (CE) is a popular topic for governments and businesses around the world; yet, only a few comprehensive and economy-wide frameworks exist, and the consequences of the CE on economic systems stay unclear. With this systematic review, we put under scrutiny the existing contributions to Circular Economy (CE) that apply the Agent-based modelling methodology. There is an open gap in the CE literature regarding the use of ABM. The research question that guides this systematic review concerns the potential benefit of ABM for CE and how to use this methodology in the context of CE. We put in evidence three thematic areas, two agents and one process, namely producers , i.e. firms and industrial systems, consumers , i.e. households and waste disposal, and the diffusion of innovation. We infer that the former three thematic strands of literature can be further synthetized together to form a general model of the Circular Economy. This development is crucial to properly evaluate how the agent's heterogeneity affects the diffusion and the consequences of the adoption of CE practices on the economy. Research has widely applied ABM simulations to consider the impact of heterogeneity amongst individuals and their behavioural interactions on the evolution of complex systems, yet very little did it systematically about CE. Our results complement those of Computable General Equilibrium models. The review provides an interpretative framework, suggests valuable future research directions within the new comprehensive thematic area, and contributes to the theoretical and managerial discussion on agent-based modelling in the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A route preparing SiOC/SiC nanocomposites directly by pyrolysis of organosilane slurry residue was investigated. Organosilane slurry residue's unique composition, containing both silicon and carbon, offers an intriguing platform for developing advanced ceramic materials. The pyrolysis process is examined comprehensively, revealing the chemical reactions and structural changes leading to SiC crystals formation. The phase evolution at various annealing temperatures was revealed. Crystallization behavior in the process were studied. The results reveal that SiOC matrix was generated at annealed temperature 800°C and SiC nanoparticles were formed at 1300°C. In comparison to phase separation of SiOC, carbothermal reduction of SiO2 was domain in SiC formation. This research advances the understanding of SiOC/SiC nanocomposites, highlighting the value of repurposing industrial byproducts for sustainable and innovative materials development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish scale waste can be used as a precursor of hydroxyapatite (HAp). In this work, HAp was extracted from white seabass (Lates calcarifer) scale waste by using an alkali heat treatment. The fish scale was pretreated with hydrochloric acid (HCl) concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 1 M. The pretreated fish scale was then treated with 2% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution at 70°C for 5 h and again (20% NaOH solution) for 1 h to extract HAp. The effects of each pretreatment on the properties of the extracted HAp were investigated. HAp produced after pretreatment with 1 M HCl had the smallest particle size (28.24 ± 5.20 μm), the highest degree of crystallinity (79%), the highest thermal stability, the largest BET surface area (90.80 m2/g), and the highest whiteness value (97.360 ± 0.01). 1 M HCl could eliminate more protein, collagen, and other organic compounds than lower HCl concentrations without destroying the crystalline domains of the fish scale. Waste L. calcarifer scale is therefore a potential source of HAp. Furthermore, in a preliminary study for further research, HAp extracted in the proposed procedure was used as a filler in a biodegradable starch foam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart city projects have been criticized for their technocratic approach, often seen as prioritizing technology over other essential aspects of society. The digital solutions developed by technology firms fail to address the needs of deprived and vulnerable communities in society because the dominating sociotechnical imaginary that emerges from outsourced solutions ends up ignoring localized ones. Using a preference-based model to address the crucial problem of choosing the right technology for waste treatment, the paper highlights the importance of taking into account a variety of imaginaries and urban futures when choosing a waste disposal method for urban local bodies. In order to reduce uncertainty in the choice of waste disposal methods in Indian cities, the paper suggests a method based on grey theory which is modified for preference-based analysis. This approach lessens the requirement for cost and benefit attributes by incorporating the significance of design criteria in decision-making. The approach is contrasted with earlier approaches and demonstrated with a waste disposal issue in Indore, India. For socio-technical transformations in cities to be successful, the study highlights the significance of localized solutions and diverse imaginaries. The approach that involves choosing and allocating weights to criteria is strongly supported by the quantitative methodology, which involves interviews with officials, NGOs, experts, citizens, and traders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective of the study: Hospitals, especially surgical departments, are among the largest producers of waste in Germany. Data on waste management in the operating room (OR) are largely lacking. The aim of this study was to assess and discuss the possibilities of reducing waste and recovering recyclable materials in general surgery against the background of current practice. Methodology: Surgical departments throughout Germany were surveyed on waste management. First, the theoretical waste separation possibilities for laparoscopic appendectomy were determined. Subsequently, a simple system for the separation of recyclables was established and practically tested in 35 operations. These were compared with 35 appendectomies without separation. Results: Only 25.7% of hospitals perform waste separation. Theoretically, 20.7% of waste can be recycled, in practice up to 18.9%. Paper, cardboard and plastics, especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were separated. This leads to a significant reduction in residual waste without extending the operation time. Discussion: Separation of recyclables can contribute to more sustainable waste management in the OR. High-value recyclables can be recycled and the residual waste mass can be significantly reduced. This is possible without special effort and does not delay the processes in the OR. The opportunities for this have hardly been used in Germany to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cementitious–glass composite bricks (CGCBs) with 3D-printed reinforcement structures made of PET-G could be an innovative production method that relies on recycling glass waste (78%) and PET-G (8%). These bricks offer a promising solution for the construction industry, which has a significant impact on climate change due to its greenhouse gas emissions and extensive use of natural aggregates. The approach presented in this article serves as an alternative to using conventional building materials that are not only costlier but also less environmentally friendly. The conducted research included mechanical tests using digital image correlation (DIC), utilized for measuring deformations in specimens subjected to three-point bending and compression tests, as well as thermal investigations covering measurements of their thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat. The results highlighted the superior thermal properties of the CGCBs with PET-G reinforcements compared to traditional cementitious–glass mortar (CGM). The CGCBs exhibited a 12% lower thermal conductivity and a 17% lower specific heat. Additionally, the use of specially designed reinforcement substantially enhanced the mechanical properties of the bricks. There was a remarkable 72% increase in flexural strength in the vertical direction and a 32% increase in the horizontal direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents selected properties of mixtures produced from two types of fly ashes from one coal-fired power plant. Mixtures made of fly ashes from a conventional boiler without flue gas desulfurization products (10 01 02) and from a fluidized bed boiler with flue gas desulfurization products (10 01 82) are subjected to testing. The mixtures are prepared using mine water. The tested mixtures are characterized by a liquid consistency in terms of flowability in a range from 160 mm to 280 mm. The mixtures made of 10 01 82 ashes show twice as much water demand, shorter setting time, and higher strength than those made of 10 01 02 ashes, but, unfortunately, they have a much higher volume of excess water. Moreover, the mixtures of 10 01 82 ash do not undergo full slaking, in contrast to the mixtures of 10 01 02 ash (conventional boiler). The requirements of the PN-G 11011:1998 standard, relative to the discussed parameters, are met by the mixtures made on the basis of ash 10 01 82 originating from a fluidized bed boiler in terms of flowability of up to 240 mm. This is the ash type useable in sealing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the research was to determine the relationship between solid waste management and the administrative management of an educational institution in Peru. The type of research is non-experimental and the methods applied were inductive, deductive and statistical. The sample consisted of 30 students from an educational institution; likewise, the documentary analysis technique was used. It is concluded that there is a significant relationship between solid waste management and administrative management of an educational institution in Peru, by means of the Pearson coefficient statistical test of 0.895 at a significance level of 5%. With a p=0.000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article was to identify the strategies applied in solid waste management in Latin America. A descriptive documentary research with bibliographic design was developed in a population of 24 scientific articles. Adequate solid waste management is presented as an essential component to face current environmental challenges, requiring an effective and efficient approach. Strategies implemented in various regions of Latin America have underlined the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors, as well as the need to implement public policies aimed at environmental preservation. The importance of reducing waste generation and favoring recycling as an integral part of these strategies is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The harmless treatment and resource utilization of the high boiling chlorosilane produced by products in the process of polycrystalline silicon production can be realized by using organic amine catalyst. The effects of reaction temperature and catalyst type on the catalytic cracking of high-boiling chlorosilane was investigated and the reaction mechanism was analyzed. The results showed that, using N,N-dimethylbenzylamine as the catalyst, at a reaction temperature of 130 ~ 135 °C, a reaction time of 1.5 h, and a catalyst amount of 8%, the yield of monosilane product could reach 79.99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the effect of kitchen waste addition ratio on the aerobic co-composting process of chicken manure and wheat straw, different proportions of kitchen waste were added to the mixed system with a dry weight ratio of chicken manure to wheat straw of 1∶ 5, and aerobic co-composting was performed using a forced intermittent ventilation aerobic composting device. The results showed that in the mixed system of chicken manure and wheat straw, when the proportion of kitchen waste was 0. 05 and 1, the com- posting pile entered the high temperature period ( > 50 ℃ ) earlier than other treatments and maintained for 8 days, with higher organic matter removal rate (13. 35% and 18. 20%, respectively) and germination index (116. 3% and 120. 6%, respectively) . When the addition ratio of kitchen waste was higher than 1, the pile achieve the high temperature period was later and the time maintained was shorter. Adding kitchen waste reduced pH and EC value of the pile, and improved the removal rate of organic matter (13. 35% ~ 20. 63% ) . Also, scanning electron microscope showed the straw surface was obviously broken then others. Redundancy analysis ( RDA) showed that pH, zinc, EC were the key environmental factors affecting the changes of GI and VS during composting and showed positive relationship. Therefore, appropriate addition of kitchen waste can promote the composting of chicken manure and wheat straw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strains of micromycetes and bacteria with lipolytic activity were isolated from oil palm biomass waste. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the obtained micromycetes are closely related to Penicillium chrysogenum, P. goetzii, P. citreosulfuratum, P. citrinum, Paecilomyces lilacinus, and Aspergillus hortae. Opportunistic microorganisms prevailed among the bacterial isolates. The non-opportunistic isolate Pseudomonas sp. Z-M-7T2 exhibited lipolytic activity but did not show active utilization of palm oil. The study showed that micromycete strains related to P.chrysogenum and P.goetzii are most promising for decomposition of oil palm biomass waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of radioactive waste management, particularly the geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste, support for the longevity of engineering solutions in the repository is partly based on studies of natural systems, especially geological examples, often referred to as natural analogues (NA). Since the radioactive waste can be hazardous over hundreds of thousands of years, the long-term safety has to be assessed to very far future, e.g. up to 1 Ma from now. NA studies cover and exceed the time spans of interest. Despite of the long-acknowledged importance of NAs in the safety case for the geological disposal of radioactive waste, there is a lack of guidance and strategic planning to incorporate this information to the safety cases that assess the overall safety of the repositories – this leads to a certain lack of resilience. This paper presents the work undertaken to develop a strategy for utilising natural analogues (NAs) in Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), UK, geological disposal facility (GDF) programme. The work is largely based on the extensive review of the strategic use of NAs in the international context, lessons learnt from various past programmes and by considering how the strategy could look like in the current framework of the UK's GDF programme. The strategy presented aims to support this programme. The main message is that NA information and projects can and should be handled through the same procedures as any research utilising existing and upcoming NWS protocols. This means that NAs need to be a part of knowledge management, rather than, for example, a stagnant database. Including NAs as part of the data screening allows the knowledge base to be updated according to needs arising from the changes in the GDF programme when moving from generic stage towards more site and design specific phases. It is foreseen that key to the best utilisation of NA information is to include it in the NWS' digital safety case, making the information and the related methodology transparent. This paper refers to NWS' GDF siting programme as at September 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste from clinical analysis laboratories poses risks to health and the environment and therefore requires specific care. São Tomé and Príncipe clinical analysis laboratories contribute approximately 0.35% of all waste produced in the country. These wastes are important, not necessarily because of the quantities generated but because of the potential risk to health and the environment. In most laboratories, 64.28% of waste is discarded in the Penha dumpsite and burned in the open air. Only the sharps are separated and incinerated. The objective of this work was to mention the impacts that waste deposited in the Penha dumpsite have on health, the economy and the environment. For this, a documentary analysis and direct observation were carried out. Among the environmental impacts we can mention: increase in the amount of waste in the Penha dumpsite, soil and water contamination and air pollution, while the health impacts include the intoxication of the population and the development of resistant pathogenic microorganisms, finally, the impact on the country's economy is the decrease in local tourism and the decrease in agricultural areas. It is concluded that the final destination of STP clinical analysis laboratory waste represents an economic and environmental public health problem. Measures such as waste segregation at source and recycling must be implemented to reduce the amount of waste deposited in Penha dumpsite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic proppants are preferred in hydraulic fracturing because of their high strength, good sphericity, and excellent acid corrosion resistance. Bauxite is the main raw material of ceramic proppants, but with the increasing depletion of bauxite resources, substitutes for bauxite need to be sought. Coal gangue is a solid waste that is rich in SiO2 and Al2O3, making it a potential substitute for the preparation of ceramic proppants. The use of coal gangue to prepare ceramic proppants can reduce the cost of ceramic proppants and benefit environmental protection. Studies on using coal gangue to prepare ceramic proppants have been conducted and achieved progress, but further improvement can still be obtained. Here, the basic principle, progress, and prospects of coal gangue ceramic proppants are reviewed. First, coal gangue ceramic proppants are divided into two categories, namely, proppants prepared using coal gangue as an auxiliary material and proppants prepared using coal gangue as the main material. Second, the progress of research of coal gangue ceramic proppants is summarized from the perspective of additives, and the influence of different kinds of additives on the sintering temperature and performance of proppants is discussed. Lastly, the future prospects of coal gangue ceramic proppants are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the twentieth century, inadequate management of mine waste at the Mount Lyell Copper Mine affected the ecology of the Queen–King Rivers and Macquarie Harbour, western Tasmania, Australia. Over the past two decades, the water quality of the river system has been measured semi-annually to investigate the long-term hydrochemical and environmental impacts caused by these historical mine practices and the waste associated with the Mount Lyell mine to the Queen–King Rivers. At sample sites below the confluence of Haulage Creek, the water pH was below pH 3.5, remaining below pH 5 across all sites to Macquarie Harbour. Local baseline rivers ranged from pH 4.0 to 8.4. Elemental concentrations of dissolved metals in water samples downstream of Haulage Creek were above the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) water quality guidelines. Copper, Fe, and Zn were not attenuated along the length of the river, with concentrations remaining elevated to the King River Delta. Mineralogical analyses demonstrated secondary minerals in sediments at Haulage Creek and pyrite concentrated at the King River Delta. Static tests on mining-affected sediments indicated risk of AMD and metal(loid) leaching in the river system. Since 2016, after flooding of the Prince Lyell mine, dissolved metal levels in the Queen–King Rivers have decreased; however, concentrations remain above guidelines. Almost three decades after legacy mine waste disposal ended, it still poses a long-term risk to the downstream environment, implying that without effective management of these historical mine wastes, the Queen–King Rivers will continue to be severely impacted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To find the correlation of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital for 1 year. One hundred cases (CIN or cervical cancer) and 135 controls (normal cervical cytology, Swede's score below 5, or normal cervical histology) were surveyed about MHM practices through a predesigned, semi-structured questionnaire by interview method. Data were analyzed on SPSS version 17.0 statistical analysis software through Chi-square test and bivariate regression analysis. Results: All Poor MHM practices except frequency of change of absorbent were significantly more commonly seen in women with CIN or Cervical cancer as compared to controls (P < 0.001). The bivariate regression analysis showed that old age, illiteracy, and the use of old cloth are significant risk factors for cervical cancer. Conclusion: Poor menstrual hygiene practices of using old cloth and disposal in open are significant risk factors of cervical cancer. Good MHM practices should be widely publicized and implemented in the community to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to analyze solid waste management in order to develop investment projects. We worked with a descriptive documentary type of research through a systematic review of 18 original articles related to public management and investment projects. There is much to be understood about solid waste and public management; the authors mention both elements bilaterally and some general aspects, making it possible to search in different search media (library) and original scientific journals and review journals to identify relevant aspects of some topics of great interest in terms of recognizing the methodological processes used for their development by those responsible for the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective is to analyze solid waste management in municipal management from a systemic review. The methodology was congruent with the quantitative, exploratorybibliometric approach. The studies reviewed aim to diagnose and evaluate the impact of solid waste generated by various cities and economic sectors on the environment, ecotourism activities, public health; also in this process it is possible to identify the most common domestic waste and determine the properties of materials in landfills and industrial waste deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indiscriminate waste disposal practices and open defecation put pressure on environmental and human health in developing countries. Environmental sanitation laws have been enacted in those countries in an attempt to change sanitation behavior, but enforcement has been weak. This study examined the causes of poor enforcement of environmental sanitation laws in Ghana and the effects of the phenomenon on environmental and public health. Qualitative data were collected from 83 sanitation-related experts, informants, and workers, and analyzed using the thematic approach. It became evident that the main causes were the weak political will of the government, low commitment of enforcement institutions, mild sanctions regime, inadequate funding for enforcement, pervasive corruption, poor sanitation culture, and low capacity of the enforcement institutions. The environmental health effects were polluted air and water bodies, choked drainage systems, seasonal flooding, and dirty community landscapes. The public health effects were the incidence of diseases including, diarrhea, malaria, typhoid, and neglected tropical diseases. The government should build a mix of committed political, cultural, religious, legal, and social institutions, comprising relevant sector ministries and local governments, traditional authorities, churches and mosques, sanitation tribunals, vibrant civil society organizations, and mass media for enforcement management through advocacy and public education on sanitation and the laws. The government should provide funding, fight corruption, equip the relevant institutions, and hold the frontline enforcement institutions—sector ministries and local governments—accountable for the lapses in enforcement. The socio-cultural behavior change approach to enforcement should be strengthened in support of the traditional prosecutorial and sanctions regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the utilization of animal wastes and by‐products in the production of low‐energy and low‐CO2 clinkers and cements in order to preserve natural resources, such as limestone, while reducing CO2 emissions released from the cement manufacturing process and reducing potential health risk to the world population (such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or other health issues...). Pure calcium sulfoaluminate clinker was produced with calcium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, and calcium sulfate hemihydrate; followed by additional clinkers produced from substituting calcium hydroxide with bone ash (from 0 to 100% of the calcium hydroxide replaced). The final clinkers contained various amounts of ye'elimite, calcium aluminate phases, as well as tricalcium phosphate, depending on the firing temperature. Finally, some preliminary results on the hydration process and compressive strength are provided for the production of these binders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KIT-6 is a typical three-dimensional ordered mesoporous silica, which has a wide range of applications in the fields of catalysis and adsorption. By doping the framework Al to endow the KIT-6 material with acid sites, the adsorption performance of the Al-KIT-6 material for basic dye molecules can be significantly improved. However, it is difficult to controllably synthesize Al-KIT-6 with inorganic silicon and aluminum sources. In this study, a series of Al-KIT-6 materials were directly synthesized by a pH-controlled hydrothermal method with fly ash-based sodium silicate, which can induce Al atoms doping into the KIT-6 silicon framework. The texture properties of Al-KIT-6 were characterized by N2-physical adsorption, XRD, TEM, Al NMR, XPS and NH3-TPD. The results showed that the synthesized Al-KIT-6 material had an ordered mesoporous structure. Al was mainly doped into the framework of KIT-6 material, thereby significantly increasing the acid content and acid strength. The adsorption experiments of the synthesized Al-KIT-6 materials on basic methylene blue molecules showed that the adsorption capacity of the Al-KIT-6 materials increased with the increase of Al incorporation. The adsorption kinetic experiments showed that the adsorption process conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetics, and the adsorption isotherm model fitting results showed that the adsorption process conformed to the Langmuir adsorption model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the transformation of the proper site of waste disposal across ecosocial landscapes throughout twentieth century Mongolian history to today. As Western ecological discourses became dominant in public space, they were not set up in a vacuum but rather mixed with vernacular ideas of waste from pre-socialist times as well as socialist cultural campaigns. If Mongolian zero-waste and waste recycling associations claim to belong to international movements and adopt a globalized upper-class eco-habitus, their discourses also reinterpret two imperial and idealized parts of Mongolian history: socialist modernity, when proper waste management was a sign of modernity and culture, and the Mongol Empire, when even Genghis Khan would not have left permanent traces along his path. This article is therefore about the present reinventing the past through ecologist discourses that allow Mongolians to define themselves both as modern and as true Mongols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing can represent an important instrument for monitoring landfills and their evolution over time. In general, remote sensing can offer a global and rapid view of the Earth's surface. Thanks to a wide variety of heterogeneous sensors, it can provide high-level information, making it a useful technology for many applications. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a review of relevant methods based on remote sensing for landfill identification and monitoring. The methods found in the literature make use of measurements acquired from both multi-spectral and radar sensors and exploit vegetation indexes, land surface temperature, and backscatter information, either separately or in combination. Moreover, additional information can be provided by atmospheric sounders able to detect gas emissions (e.g., methane) and hyperspectral sensors. In order to provide a comprehensive overview of the full potential of Earth observation data for landfill monitoring, this article also provides applications of the main procedures presented to selected test sites. These applications highlight the potentialities of satellite-borne sensors for improving the detection and delimitation of landfills and enhancing the evaluation of waste disposal effects on environmental health. The results revealed that a single-sensor-based analysis can provide significant information on the landfill evolution. However, a data fusion approach that incorporates data acquired from heterogeneous sensors, including visible/near infrared, thermal infrared, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR), can result in a more effective instrument to fully support the monitoring of landfills and their effect on the surrounding area. In particular, the results show that a synergistic use of multispectral indexes, land surface temperature, and the backscatter coefficient retrieved from SAR sensors can improve the sensitivity to changes in the spatial geometry of the considered site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Food-processing sludge with extremely high moisture is treated by smouldering. • Sand: Food-processing sludge: Sawdust = 25:5:1 may be a reasonable mixing ratio. • Continuous self-sustaining smoldering is volumetrically scaled up to the pilot-scale. • O 2 , CO, NO x , SO 2 , VOC, and dioxin concentrations of flue gas are measured. • Heavy metal element is low in ash, good self-healing of smouldering is validated. Although smouldering of solid waste with high moisture has shown strong promise in laboratory studies, there are fewer reports about the larger-scale device and continuous operation. This work studies a self-sustaining smouldering treatment of food-processing sludge (FPS) with extremely high moisture (over 85 %) in laboratory- and pilot-scale devices. Results from laboratory-scale experiments show that adding auxiliary fuel is necessary to maintain FPS self-sustaining smouldering, Sand: FPS: Sawdust = 25:5:1 is a reasonable mixing ratio. Then, the self-sustaining smouldering is volumetrically scaled up to the pilot-scale. The smouldering asynchrony in the feedstock is observed due to the non-uniform air flux. Compared to the laboratory-scale, the pilot-scale device presents a similar temperature level but a higher smouldering velocity. Furthermore, a continuous process in the pilot-scale device is successfully performed, and the flue gas concentrations are measured: 15.0 ∼ 16.5 % for O 2 , 4000 ∼ 5500 ppm for CO, 155 ∼ 195 ppm for NO x , 210 ∼ 250 ppm for VOC s , 55 ∼ 70 ppm for SO 2 , 0.0138 ∼ 0.0317 ngTEQ/m3 (at 11 % O 2) for dioxin. These studied results can provide useful information for continuous, low-energy solid waste treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reusing organic wastes in land applications would enhance the recovery of resources, following the concepts of the circular economy. The sugarcane-based sugar industry produces various by-products (e.g., sugarcane filter mud, molasses, and bagasse) that have the potential to contribute to crop production and soil fertility, owing to their high contents of organic matter and nutrients. Although the agricultural benefits of compost utilization in agriculture have been well-documented, to the best of our knowledge, few scientific data are currently available on the effects of sugarcane filter mud combined with the application of compost for increasing crop production. Thus, a field experiment was carried out to study how sugarcane filter mud, in combination with two compost sources, affected the growth and yield of sweet maize (Zea mays var. saccharata). We compared (i) two types of compost made from brassica residue and household waste applied at a rate of 9 t ha−1, and (ii) two application rates of sugarcane filter mud: 0 and 2 t ha−1 to two controls without any compost application: one with (+SFM) and one without (−SFM) sugar filter mud. The results highlighted that all crop growth and yield parameters benefited more from the domestic waste compost than from the brassica straw compost. Moreover, the addition of sugar filter mud to the compost further boosted the crop performance. Based on the above results, we concluded that the addition of sugarcane filter mud to locally available composts is a feasible approach for more sustainable production of sweet maize, combining efficient waste disposal and the provision of organic matter to the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an alternative to traditional masonry materials: a cement–glass composite brick (CGCB), with a printed polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) internal scaffolding (gyroidal structure). This newly designed building material consists of 86% waste (78% glass waste, and 8% recycled PET-G). It can respond to the construction market's needs and provide a cheaper alternative to traditional materials. Performed tests showed an improvement in thermal properties after the use of an internal grate in the brick matrix, i.e., an increase in thermal conductivity (5%), and a decrease in thermal diffusivity (8%) and specific heat (10%). The obtained anisotropy of the CGCB's mechanical properties was much lower than the non-scaffolded parts, indicating a very positive effect of using this type of scaffolding in CGCB bricks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ever-increasing human population, there is a need to develop new urban settlements for human habitation. For these new settlements, it is imperative to optimally site different land-use zones, including solid waste disposal sites. The aim of this article is to determine suitable sites for locating a landfill in a new developed city in Zimbabwe around Mt. Hampden, named the New City. The New City will have various residential, commercial, and industrial areas. This entails the need for a proper site selection of a landfill to reduce the negative social and environmental effects such as contamination of water bodies and proliferation of diseases such as malaria. GIS and remote sensing were the major methods used in mapping the suitable areas. Multi-criteria evaluation and weighted overlay analysis methods were used in the landfill site selection process. Factors used for landfill site selection were rivers, settlements, roads, protected areas, and soils. A suitability map was generated, showing five potential sites that are suitable for landfill siting in the New City. Moderately suitable areas cover approximately 8%. A further 73% of the total land area in the study area is highly unsuitable for siting a landfill. A real-time Web-GIS monitoring interface was developed to monitor land use on the selected area, because the New City is a new area under development. Using a Web-GIS interface makes data easily accessible to environment planners, ecologists, spatial land planners, and other decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work seeks throughout its contents to highlight the importance of the correct disposal of domestic waste, consolidating which aspects can be improved or environmental impacts that can be minimized with procedures for an efficient disposal of waste developed in the home environment. The general objective of the research presented is to show how the efficient disposal of domestic waste occurs, as for the specific objectives, they are: to analyze the main impacts promoted by the incorrect disposal of domestic waste, to present the characteristics of solid waste highlighted by the households Brazilians, highlight the procedures involved in the process of disposal of domestic waste. In order to consolidate the contents presented, a descriptive and exploratory research was carried out, highlighting relevant concepts and describing the vision of some individuals regarding the procedure for the disposal of domestic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a comprehensive study on lanthanide monouranate–based glass–ceramic (GC) composites as potential waste forms for the immobilization of the lanthanide actinide fraction waste arising from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Although the crystalline LnUO4 precursor prepared via a nitrate route can be well stabilized in a sodium aluminoborosilicate glass, the in situ crystallization of EuUO4 in glass from oxide precursors (Eu2O3 and U3O8) is rather robust with regards to various processing conditions such as waste loadings, ceramic‐to‐glass ratios, and cooling rates. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed the detailed microstructures, where ∼1–5‐μm spheres for NdUO4 and EuUO4, and ∼1–5‐μm rectangular crystals for DyUO4 and HoUO4 were observed in residual glasses. As designed, the pentavalent uranium has been confirmed by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Overall, LnUO4‐based GC composite waste forms are chemically durable, offering flexible processing options with wide operating windows for SNF and process waste stream management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic and social progress in the Republic of Korea resulted in an increased standard of living, which subsequently produced more waste. The Korean government implemented a volume-based trash disposal system that may modify waste disposal characteristics to handle vast volumes of waste efficiently. However, the inconvenience of having to purchase standard garbage bags on one's own led to passive participation by citizens and instances of illegally dumping waste in non-standard plastic bags. As a result, there is a need for the development of automatic detection and reporting of illegal acts of garbage dumping. To achieve this, we suggest a system for tracking unlawful rubbish disposal that is based on deep neural networks. The proposed monitoring approach obtains the articulation points (joints) of a dumper through OpenPose and identifies the type of garbage bag through the object detection model, You Only Look Once (YOLO), to determine the distance of the dumper's wrist to the garbage bag and decide whether it is illegal dumping. Additionally, we introduced a method of tracking the IDs issued to the waste bags using the multi-object tracking (MOT) model to reduce the false detection of illegal dumping. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed illegal dumping monitoring system, we compared it with the other systems based on behavior recognition. As a result, it was validated that the suggested approach had a higher degree of accuracy and a lower percentage of false alarms, making it useful for a variety of upcoming applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of agro residues has turn out to be a rising problem in most of the agro-based countries, subsequently leading the farmers to burn the residues in-situ. Burning biomass not only pollutes environment but also results in loss of appreciable amount of plant essential nutrients. Despite lacking practical management options, open-field burning of crop residue contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. This, along with climate change, has led the agricultural sector to explore more sustainable ways to use crop residues. As agriculture, being the centric for food production globally, the authors review the insightful techniques adopted in effective utilization of agro residues generated in various parts of the world. This review manuscript discusses the possible strategies and utilization techniques of agro residues in conventional and un-conventional methods for numerous applications. Among convention methods, techniques adopted in agro residue waste management into a) Bio-Energy and Bio-Fuel generation; b) Biogas; c) Composting Manures; d) Pulping of Papers & e) Plywoods are discussed elaboratively. Likewise, in regard to the non-conventional methods the article converses the usage of agro residues towards a) Construction; b) Adsorption and Water Purification; c) Hydrogen gas production; d) 5-hydroxymethyfurfural (HMF); e) Levulinic acid & f) Diesel Bio- Blendstock. Furthermore, it provides a detailed analysis of major barriers hindering the effective utilization of agro residues and remedies for overcoming the same with focus on sustainable future. The techniques reviewed in this manuscript, will be of utmost importance for any other agricultural depended nation to integrated the same for remarkable contribution towards sustainable development goals. [Display omitted] • Recent advance in utilisation of sustainable agro residue is critically reviewed. • The review is intended for the agro residue waste generated across countries. • Usage of agro residue is listed based on conventional & unconventional methods. • Analysis on barriers hindering effective utilization of agro residues is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classification of biomedical wastes based on the source from which they are created includes many risk factor related to their handling and eventual disposal. A tertiary care hospital's compliance with various categories of biomedical waste management was assessed. A checklist with 17 biomedical waste management-related criteria, including "condition of waste containers," "segregation of waste," and "mutilation of recyclable waste," was created and compliance was monitored in 70 different patient care settings, including wards, casualty departments, operating rooms, and intensive care units. During the two-month study period from 1 November to 31 December 2021, any three non-consecutive days were used to visit each area. Thus, a total of 30 visits were made to area and mean percentage score was analysed for each area and each category of biomedical waste management. For Medicity Hospital OTs, Wards, Casualty, and ICU the mean percentage was 90%, 90.67%, 94.64 and 92.17% respectively. In Ram Ganga Hospital, the mean percentage was 88.67%, 91.34%, 92.34 and 91% respectively. For Vaidic Hospital, the mean percentage for these categories was 74.67%, 85.34%, 73.34% and 78% respectively. It was determined that more importance needs to be rested for 'mutilation of recyclable waste' especially in wards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to determine the influence of biomaterial in the binder composition on the quality of reclaim from furan no-bake sands. The biomaterial is introduced into the moulding sand in order to accelerate the biodegradation of post-regeneration dust and thus to reduce the amount of harmful waste from foundries in landfills. This addition, however, can't deteriorate the technological properties of the moulding sand, including its ability to mechanical regeneration. Chemically bonded moulding sands are characterized by high ability to mechanical regeneration, which reduces the consumption of the raw material and costs related to their transport and storage. A side effect of the regeneration process is the formation of a large amount of post-regeneration dusts. According to the tendencies observed in recent years, moulding processes must meet high requirements connected to environmental protection including problems related to the disposal of generated wastes. A partial replacement of synthetic binding materials with biomaterials may be one of scientific research directions on the production of innovative foundry moulding and core sands. The conducted regeneration tests presented in this paper initially proved that biomaterial slightly decreases the quality of reclaim from moulding sand with its addition. However, its ability to regeneration increases with time of the process. In previous research authors tested biodegradability of the dust remaining after the regeneration process. The tests proved that moulding sand with biomaterial added at the stage of the production process is characterized by about three times better biodegradability than the same moulding sand without additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, in geotechnical engineering, waste utilization and management have become immensely important in terms of reducing the ratios of environmentally harmful and relatively expensive chemical soil strengthening additives. Glass manufacturing waste (GMW), among the above-stated waste materials, comes to existence as the mineralogical part required to produce glass is separated from the mined material. GMW leads to serious environmental pollution incessantly. This study aims to investigate the effects of GMW to the bearing capacity and time-dependent consolidation settlements of clayey soils (CS) in an environmentally friendly approach. In this regard, GMW, which has not yet been considered in the relevant literature, was activated with KOH, NaOH and CaO alkali activators to form geopolymer mortars. Large-scale model experiments were performed on geopolymer-CS mixtures and up to 7.35 times bearing capacity increments along with 6.90 times settlement reductions were reached compared to unimproved CS. Optimum GMW ratio was found as 25% and CaO was determined to be the most ideal alkali activator. Curing temperature and durations were examined and it was deduced that both affected the results significantly. Results were compared to those of cement and remarkably close bearing capacity and settlement improvements were achieved in an environmentally friendly approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of computational and experimental studies of the electroplasma gasification of carbon-containing technogenic wastes to obtain high-calorific-value syngas (H2 + CO) for power-generating devices. The composition of the syngas produced by gasification of organic wastes was experimentally determined. The change in the composition and calorific value of the syngas depending on the gasification time of organic materials was studied. The change in the calorific value of the syngas during waste gasification is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of the excess excavated soft soils produced in construction is a contemporary engineering challenge. A win-win solution could be found through utilising much excavated soil during reclamation of abandoned mines, and an evaluation model is necessary to realise this solution. This study aimed to propose a decision-making framework for large-scale disposal of excavated soft soil during mine reclamation using a Bayesian network (BN). Utilising multi-facet information, a decision-making path considering engineering and economic factors, and engineering risks was established. Thereafter, the practicability of backfilling much excavated soft soil into 215 abandoned opencast mines located in Wenzhou, China was evaluated. Based on the decision-making path and information of the 215 mines, a BN including 22 nodes was established with the practicability of large-scale soil disposal in mines as the decision node. Consequently, 40 valid mines were evaluated to be able to absorb 5 × 107 m3 soil, around 50% of the total excavated soil from the municipal districts of Wenzhou during 2020–2024. The BN evaluation showed high reliability with accuracy of all the nodes >70% and that of the decision node >90%. Five input nodes were identified to be high-impact for evaluation of the practicability and total fill volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the effect of improving waste collection services on waste disposal behaviour and exposure to environmental risk factors in urban, low‐income communities in Pakistan. Methods: We enrolled six low‐income communities in Islamabad (Pakistan), four of which received an intervention consisting of a door‐to‐door low‐cost waste collection service with centralised waste processing and recycling sites. Intervention communities underwent community‐level and household‐level mobilisation. The effect of the intervention on waste disposal behaviour, exposure to waste and synanthropic fly counts was measured using two cross‐sectional surveys in 180 households per community. Results: Intervention communities had less favourable socio‐economic indicators and poorer access to waste disposal services at baseline than control communities. Use of any waste collection service increased from 5% to 49% in the intervention communities (difference 44%, 95% CI 41%, 48%), but the increase was largely confined to two communities where post‐intervention coverage exceeded 80% and 90%, respectively. An increase in the use of waste collection services was also found in the two control communities (from 21% to 67%, difference 47%, 95% CI 41%, 53%). Fly counts decreased by about 60% in the intervention communities (rate ratio 0.4, 95% CI 0.3, 0.4) but not in the control communities (rate ratio 1.52, 95% CI 1.1, 2.2). The decrease in fly counts was largely confined to the two high‐coverage intervention communities. Conclusion: Introduction of a low‐cost waste collection service has the potential for high uptake in low‐income communities and for decreasing the exposure to waste and synanthropic flies at household level. Intervention success was constrained by low uptake in half of the intervention communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the expansion of human activities, the volume of waste and hazardous waste produced has increased dramatically. Increasing the volume of waste has created challenges such as transportation hazards, cleanup, disposal, energy consumption, and most important environmental problems. The difficulty of unsafe waste control is one of the critical studies topics. Finding the optimal location of hazardous waste disposal is one of the issues that, if done properly, can significantly reduce the aforementioned challenges. The increasing volume of information, the complexity of multivariate decision criteria, have led to the lack of conventional methods for finding the optimal location. Machine learning methods have proven to be effective and superior in many areas. In this paper, a new method based on machine learning for finding the optimal location of hazardous waste disposal is presented. In the proposed method, after applying clustering in the separation of the desired areas, the gray wolf algorithm optimization is used to find the optimal location of waste disposal. In order to apply the gray wolf optimization algorithm, a multivariate target function is defined. Cluster centers as were chosen as location of waste disposal. Proposed method is performed on collected data from the study area in Iran, Tehran province. Proposed clustering method is evaluated and compared with some metaheuristics algorithm. The simulation results of the proposed method show cost reduction in finding the desired locations compared to similar researches. Also, Xi and Separation index was used for evaluation of the proposed clustering method to select the best location. The number of best locations using Xi and Separation index claim the superiority of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective disposal of organic wastes has been one of the most important issues for the resource utilization of solid wastes. The degradation rate of organic components as a key factor can pose a serious impact on the composting process. In this study, a series of experiments were performed on the microbial agents and various ventilation systems, in order to evaluate the co-composting performance of kitchens, green wastes, and exhausted tea on a pilot scale. An optimal compound ratio was also achieved to verify the strengthening effect of co-composting. The specific organic components included the fat crude, fibers, and protein in the mixed ingredients during composting. Specifically, kitchen waste, green waste, and exhausted tea were selected as the main raw materials. An aerobic composting was then carried out to control the ventilation and the type of microbial agents in a pilot composting plant. Some parameters were selected to fully evaluate the technical feasibility and economic viability of the co-composting system, including the temperature, water content, the carbon to nitrogen ratio, total nutrients, organic matter content, seed germination index, and hygienic characteristics. The results showed that the optimal combination was the self-developed microbial agents under the intermittent ventilation pattern, where the ratio of compound agents for the co-composting was that m(Aspergillus oryzae): m(Bacillus licheniformis): m(Candida lipolytica): m(Trichoderma viride): m(Azotobacter chroococcum) = 1.5:1:1.2:2:1. Meanwhile, the microbial agents presented a stronger removal effect of the specific organic component in the mixed ingredients, when the inoculation amount was 1‰. Three classic phases were obtained in the temperature of the mixed ingredients during 10 days of drum composting, including heating, thermophilic, and cooling phases. Furthermore, the maximum temperature was up to 68.6℃, while the high-temperature period (65℃ or higher) remained for 7 days. The ratio of water content and carbon to nitrogen declined from 63.5% to 30.1%, and 31.5 to 9.6, respectively, during the entire composting. The total nutrient (9.8%) and organic content (43%) were superior to the Agricultural Industry Standard NY 525-2021. Meanwhile, the seed germination index of the composting product reached up to 88.3%, indicating the perfect hygienic characteristics of composting (3 or fewer fecal coliforms per grams, no ova of roundworm was found). For economic feasibility, the co-composting system was applied for the domestic waste treatment in a district with a population of 30 000 in the Hengqin area of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China. A systematic analysis was made to consider the revenues (including waste disposal, organic fertilizer products, and scrap recycling revenue) and expenses (including utilities, salary, transportation, landfill disposal, venue rental, machinery and equipment depreciation, and unforeseeable expenses) during practical application. The average disposal cost was required as low as (248.67±19.89) yuan/t. As such, a process control strategy can be recommended to recycle the kitchen wastes, green wastes, and exhausted tea in the ecosystem, instead of being discarded as solid wastes. The short processing time can be widely expected to accelerate the degradation rate of organic matters for better compost quality during resource utilization. Meanwhile, an improved process control system can be used for the organic waste composting in a rotary drum reactor. The finding can provide a strong reference to effectively treat the environmental pollution of organic wastes in the large-scale kitchen waste, green waste, and exhausted tea at low cost. The recycling of organic waste resources can greatly contribute to reducing landfill disposal for less environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the combined impact of temperature (from 25 to 80 °C) and dry density of bentonite (from 1.2 to 1.65 g·cm−3) on the apparent diffusion coefficient, D a , of four radionuclides (HTO, 36Cl, 85Sr and 133Ba) in a Ca-Mg bentonite. In this study, the different porewater chemistry, present under the specific experimental conditions -- a factor often overlooked in diffusion studies -- was explicitly considered. As a support to diffusion studies, batch sorption tests were carried out at different temperatures (25, 40, 60, and 80 °C) with the sorbing elements (85Sr and 133Ba). The planar source method was used for the determination of apparent diffusion coefficients, D a , which demonstrated its efficacy for both conservative (HTO and Cl) and sorbing elements. For all the investigated radionuclides, D a values decreased with increasing the clay dry density and increased with increasing temperature. Notably, the highest D a value (1·10−9 m2 s−1) was attained for HTO diffusion in the clay at 1.2 g cm−3 and 80 °C, while the lowest D a (3.6·10−12 m2 s−1) value was determined for Ba diffusion at 1.65 g cm−3 and 25 °C. The experimental D a values were analysed employing the Arrhenius law and the Stokes-Einstein equations. Results revealed that diffusion data are in a reasonable agreement with Arrhenius behaviour, but deviations from the Stokes-Einstein equation were observed for compaction densities higher than 1.4 g cm−3. • The planar source method is an effective method to measure radionuclide diffusion. • The highest D a (1·10−9 m2 s−1) observed for HTO in the clay at 1.2 g cm−3 and 80 °C. • The lowest D a (3.6·10−12 m2 s−1) for Ba diffusion at 1.65 g cm−3 and 25 °C. • Reasonable agreement with the Arrhenius law for the D a at different temperatures. • Clay density and temperature directly influences water content and porewater chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitreous materials in the form of both relatively homogeneous glasses and composite glass crystalline materials (GCM) incorporating disperse crystalline phases are currently the most reliable wasteforms effectively used on industrial scale for nuclear waste immobilisation. Glasses are stable solid-state materials with a topologically disordered atomic structure in the form of solid solutions, i.e. solutions frozen via vitrification to a solid state without forming regular crystalline phases. Nuclear waste vitrification is attractive because of technological and compositional flexibility enabling hazardous elements to be safely immobilised and providing a glassy material characterised by high corrosion resistance, mechanical and radiation durability, as well as effectively reducing the volume of the resulting wasteform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Growth in urban population has led to increased generation of fecal sludge (FS). • Production of briquettes from FS blended with food wastes was explored. • Blending fecal sludge with the wastes reduced its ash content between 43% and 87%. • The calorific values of the blended briquettes were between 11.7 and 17.9 MJ/kg. • Use of FS derived briquettes could save USD 620 per ton of wood charcoal foregone. This study explored the production and evaluation of briquettes made from dried fecal sludge mixed with fresh food waste as a dual strategy to solve energy poverty and poor sanitation problems in Ugandan slums. Cylindrical briquettes measuring 82 mm height by 76 mm diameter were produced from dried fecal sludge (FS) alone, and FS mixed separately with pineapple peels (FS + PP), charcoal fines (FS + CD), and bean husks (FS + BH) in a mix ratio of 50% FS: 50% biomass (wt/wt basis) using red soil as the binder. Physiochemical characteristics and fuel thermal efficiency of the briquettes were tested following ASTM standards and were compared to wood-derived charcoal and commonly traded briquettes on market in Uganda. The average moisture content was 5.1%. Bulk density was highest in FS briquettes (1.12 g/cm3) and lowest in FS + BH (0.847 g/cm3). Volatile matter (VM) was highest in FS + PP (39%) and lowest in FS alone (25.7%). The average ash content was 30.4%. FS + PP had the highest calorific value (17.92 MJ/kg) while FS alone had the lowest (6.19 MJ/kg). The highest burning rate was recorded in FS + CD briquettes (8 g/min) and was lowest in FS + PP (4 g/min). Based on the calculated burning rates and calorific values, the economic advantage calculations implied that blending one ton of dry FS with one ton of dry pineapple peels for fuel briquettes, and their use as a substitute could save consumers about USD 620 per ton of wood charcoal foregone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injection of fluid into subsurface geologic strata for geothermal energy, oil production, and waste disposal has been linked to induced seismic activity in the United States as well as in several other countries. According to the report of the National Research Council of United States of America thousands of induced earthquakes were reported at the numerous sites, where oil and gas recovery and waste disposal activities took place. Most of these induced earthquakes were small magnitude events (Moment Magnitude [Mw] < 4), although earthquakes of magnitude (Mw) 6.5 to 7 were also reported near the oil and gas production sites. This paper presents the results of a review of case histories on increased seismic events due to deep well injection (DWI) and oil extraction. Key factors that may lead or contribute to increased seismicity will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The REGIME method is an easy to understand techniques which is based on pairwise comparisons and which can use qualitative data for decision making problems. The steps of the technique are simple and can be easily adopted to complex decision problems. Classical REGIME techniques use crisp numbers to evaluate qualitative evaluations. In this paper we propose Pythagorean Fuzzy REGIME (PF-REGIME) techniques which integrates Pythagorean Fuzzy Sets with REGIME technique. The proposed PF-REGIME is applied to waste disposal site selection problem. The decision model is constructed for three alternatives and five criteria in order to demonstrate the performance of the proposed PF-REGIME method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the effects of environmental taxes on pollution control in Nigeria. It specifically the influence of environmental taxes on waste disposal in Nigeria. The research is predicated on planned behavior theory and value belief norm theory of environmentalism. Primary data sources were used in presenting the facts of the situation. Purposive probability sampling methods were utilized to identify targeted respondents. Data gathered was examined using descriptive statistics for 100 surveys. The studies demonstrated that environmental taxes have a substantial influence on pollution reduction. This is based on the fact that the majority of respondents (95 percent) agree that environmental taxes have a significant impact on pollution control. The result of the finding revealed that environmental tax has positive and significant influence on waste disposal in Nigeria which is a clear indication that environmental taxes have a beneficial and considerable influence on pollution control in Nigeria. The researcher recommends that, considering the seriousness of these environmental hazards, which pose a great threat to the lives of the people, it is the responsibility of the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish a tax system that would allow environmental tax policies, so that the levy of tax may be planned, laying its weight on those who are responsible for generating a specific environmental issue, or problems, and also to make provision for statutory incentives to reduce the administrative cost to the government and the compliance cost placed on the tax payers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]