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Purpose: The purpose of this publication is to present the usage of smartphone application in Smart Cities in waste management. Design/methodology/approach: Critical literature analysis. Analysis of international literature from main databases and polish literature and legal acts connecting with researched topic. Findings: The integration of smartphone apps in smart city waste management promises enhanced urban sustainability, efficiency, and citizen engagement. These apps, detailed in Tables 1 and 2, offer real-time monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and environmental benefits. Yet, challenges like the digital divide and data privacy, discussed in Table 3, must be overcome. A comprehensive approach, focusing on accessibility, data security, and sustainability, is essential. Smartphone apps are a critical step toward creating cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable smart cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the penal protections embedded within the legal framework for waste management, with a specific focus on the management of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste). The article aims to describe the legal and factual facts of acts constituting environmental crimes and their compatibility with the provisions of the Framework Law on Waste Management No. 16 of 2020 in Jordan. In addition to explaining the guidelines for the environmentally sound management of e-waste equipment from information technology. The paper also identifies the problems faced by Jordanian legislators in implementing the strategy for the sound management of electrical and electronic equipment wastes through a special system for the management of electrical and electronic wastes. Provisions on penal liability for damages should be added with the status of judicial officer of the Ministry of Environment to ensure that the law is enforced in a manner conducive to the rule of environmental law, and adding urgency to environmental issues, particularly those related to hazardous wastes, and dealing with them quickly. It aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of penal protection in waste management, with particular emphasis on electrical and electronic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Finnish policymakers issued a new community waste law in 2022, that aims to increase household food waste recycling. The municipalities have launched the implementation of the waste law and are responsible for supervising the development of this new project. Problem: The implementation and supervision of the waste law increases authorities' workload and also public costs. Public servants manage the households' compost register and carry out compost audits on-site. Challenge: The challenge is to put in place the new waste management law at the lowest public cost. Purpose: The research addresses the validation of a pioneering IT solution that supports and advances households' bio composting and aims to ease waste management authorities' workload by fostering eGovernment. Methods: The intervention consists in delivering the IoT-sensor-equipped bio-composter and associated applications. The research adopts a mission-oriented approach, and establishes a place-based, multi-actor, participatory, and open innovation testbed at Living Lab. It leverages the Lean Startup process and SWOT analysis. The research method complies with the principles of Responsible Research and Innovation. Conclusions: The IoT-sensor-equipped bio-composter is a feasible solution. Municipality waste management authorities do not regard/consider the IoT-sensor-equipped solution as beneficial from their perspective. The eGovernment strategy is not a driver in this case since bio-composter mapping and monitoring could be a future tool for real estate maintenance companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal disposal of solid waste is a significant issue in many parts of the world, particularly in urban areas. Because of unprecedented urbanization, these areas are crowded, putting pressure on the already inadequate municipal services such as waste management. As municipalities fail to provide adequate and effective waste management services, the expansion and proliferation of informal settlements contribute to the problem of illegal dumping. Apartheid spatial planning produced environmentally unsustainable cities characterized by glaring disparities in municipal resource allocation, disturbingly inefficient transportation systems, and widespread urban insecurity. Therefore, this study examines how the expansion of informal settlement at an unprecedented rate contributes to illegal dumping post-apartheid by conducting a systematic review. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a literature search from 1994 to 2023 was conducted in the field of waste management. The review focuses on three key aspects: (1) factors that contribute to illegal dumping in townships; (2) waste management laws during apartheid and post apartheid; and (3) waste collection system in townships and spatial planning. South Africa's inequality is a major contributor to environmental degradation. The situation was exacerbated by efforts to prevent urban migration and forcefully remove black people from cities; apartheid ideology justified the dormitory-like nature of urban townships. In the South African context, the literature reveals that there is a research gap in the application of technologies and effective waste management plans to keep up with the growing number of informal settlements. Furthermore, despite progressive environmental policies, implementation has been ineffective. This study offers valuable evidence on the spatial and temporal dynamics of informal settlements, addressing both the location and time aspects. A robust government-led Community Participation in Solid Waste Management program is required immediately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Review of Public Law is the property of European Public Law Organization and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Reducing the amount of plastic packaging being produced and disposed of is an urgent and significant challenge for regulators and for society more broadly. In recent years, the circular economy has emerged as a key paradigm for conceptualising solutions to plastic and other kinds of waste. While waste management is focused on dealing with materials once they are wasted, the circular economy paradigm calls for changes to the whole supply chain including how plastics are made and used. Australia, along with other nations, has incorporated the concept into waste laws and policies. This article addresses the challenge of using the reconceptualisation of waste offered by the circular economy paradigm in regulatory responses to plastic packaging. By developing principles that draw on the literature relating to the circular economy and regulatory studies, this article illustrates how to design regulatory interventions that support the creation of a circular economy for plastic packaging. Using these principles, the article evaluates Australia's regulatory framework for plastic packaging. Despite the political and media attention on reducing plastic packaging pollution, this article finds fundamental flaws and gaps in the regulation of plastic packaging and identifies options for improving the current approach consistent with the proposed regulatory design principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the legal instruments that respond to the climate crisis at the international and national levels, focusing on Uruguay's leadership in response to climate change. It also includes an international perspective on compliance with norms and general environmental protection issues, as well as the impact of new European legislation in terms of sustainability. An illustrative overview of environmental actions carried out in Uruguay is presented, and an examination is made of how the country can integrate into the green or sustainable economy at the national and international levels. The importance of adapting to new laws on human rights and environmental due diligence is mentioned due to Uruguay's importance as a provider and exporter of goods and services to the EU and Germany. The importance of addressing global warming is also highlighted, and some solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change are mentioned. The article discusses the development of environmental law at the international level and its importance in environmental protection. International agreements on climate change, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, are mentioned. In addition, the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Mercosur and the EU and environmental concerns related to deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon are discussed. The article provides information on the new German legislation on supply chain due diligence, which will be implemented starting in 2023. Other similar legislations in California, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands are also mentioned, as well as the proposal of the European Union. The importance of sustainable supply chain management is emphasized, and the impact of these laws in terms of sustainability is mentioned. Additionally, the importance of cooperation and innovation in this issue is mentioned. The article presents Uruguay's commitment to international environmental conventions, such as the Paris Agreement and the Basel Convention. The implementation of local programs to meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals 2030 is also mentioned. The sale of carbon bonds to countries in the northern hemisphere and the adoption of environmental legislation since 1935, with the creation of the Ministry of the Environment in 2020, are highlighted. The article presents the need to include an Environmental Law chapter with sanctions in Uruguay's Penal Code. The approval of the Comprehensive Waste Management Law in 2019 and the prohibition of the manufacture and sale of plastic straws starting in January 2022 are mentioned. The article also discusses the protected legal interest in environmental law and the need for specific sanctions. The article discusses international environmental legislation and Uruguay's position on it. The importance of Uruguay acting in consensus with other countries in the region is emphasized. Uruguay has made progress in environmental matters, such as the reduction of CO2 emissions and the protection of native forests. Additionally, the country has signed international agreements and implemented programs to meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The article presents trends in international environmental legislation and Uruguay's positioning in this field. The importance of carbon neutrality and adherence to renewable energies is highlighted. The article also discusses Sustainability-Linked Bonds and the country's financing strategy in relation to climate change. The article presents trends in international environmental legislation and Uruguay's positioning in this field. It highlights the principle of internalizing costs and the meeting in Costa Rica where technical cooperation was formalized in areas of environmental impact and protected areas protection. The commitment to reduce methane emissions by 30% by the end of the decade is mentioned. The importance of environmental insurance is discussed. [Extracted from the article]

Municipal solid waste (MSW) continues to be a major challenge in almost every country. In Indonesia alone, approximately 64 million tons of MSW are produced on an annual basis. While polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles account for 12% of all plastic products, the waste is not well managed. Many stakeholders are involved in PET bottle waste recycling but no forum for stakeholders has been established. In this study, the aim is to identify an acceptable system for PET bottle waste, to determine the role and function of each stakeholder, and to propose a framework under the perspective of public-private partnerships. The study's novelty is the elaborate roles and schematic framework for various stakeholders in PET bottle waste. The aim is to identify an acceptable scheme for PET bottle waste and determine each stakeholder's role and function. Data was generated from electronic databases (2017 to December 2021) a systematic literature review methodology followed by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review. The data were analyzed by the Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) approach. This study found that the laws and regulations for waste management in Indonesia are not suitable for dealing with PET bottle waste, and the government carries out limited tasks and dedicates few resources to managing the waste. A public-private partnership framework was proposed to divide the role, commitment, goal, and activities of each stakeholder to properly manage PET bottle waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al- Mouhakiq Al-Hilly Journal for Legal & Political Science is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Given the annual generation of huge quantities of mercury waste worldwide, mercury exposure is a universal issue. Mercury waste from the oil and gas industry should be of concern, owing to the presence of mercury during the whole oil and gas life cycle, as well as the industry's importance and magnitude. Particular attention should be given to mercury waste from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) oil and gas industry because of the high mercury concentrations in the regional petroleum deposits and the upcoming growth of the upstream and downstream subsectors. Therefore, this study aims to explore: (1) how mercury waste from the ASEAN oil and gas industry is managed and (2) the extent to which waste management facilities in the ASEAN can handle such waste. The paper starts with a description of some mercury forms occurring in oil and gas operations and the current situation of the ASEAN oil and gas sector. It then presents the legal frameworks and facilities for mercury waste management in the region and ends with a case study analysis of Best Mercury Technology (BMT) Thailand—a mercury waste management facility. The findings show that most countries lack specific laws on mercury waste management, while some have not legally identified mercury waste from the oil and gas industry and set thresholds for determining mercury waste as well as specific mercury emission standards for oil and gas activities. Other challenges include the lack of proper mercury waste management facilities or facilities that cannot recover mercury from the waste in some nations, including those having a strong oil and gas industry. The case study analysis demonstrates that BMT Thailand's operations adhere to the national legal requirements as well as many international standards and conventions, indicating the availability of a world-class facility in the ASEAN to cater for the regional demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste tires have been identified as one of the contributors to environmental problems and the issue of inadequate landfill spaces. The lack of consistent and systematic approaches such as specific regulations/laws or mechanisms of waste management to waste tires, limited application of technology for recycling waste tires and lack of awareness on the impacts of waste tires problem, make waste tires a source of environmental pollution. Various researches have been conducted on recycling waste tires into polymer bends, and materials to harden concretes, fuels and adsorbent. Researchers suggested that pyrolysis is the current trend of recycling waste tire to harvest the saleable pyrolysis oil and the recycled carbon black. Therefore, this review attempts to compile relevant knowledge about the potential of adsorbent derived from waste tires to be applied in the removal of various types of pollutants like heavy metals, organic pollutants, dye and air/gaseous pollutant. Studies were carried out on revealing the properties and the characteristics of activated carbon derived from waste tire as effective adsorbent which influence the application performance at liquid or gas phase. In addition, the challenges in the production of activated carbon derived from waste tire were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current EU energy policy aims to diversify energy sources to ensure energy security while decarbonising the economy and promoting low carbon and clean energy technologies. These tasks are carried out under the European Green Deal Program. Therefore, the overriding goal at present is to search for new sources of energy, including energy recovery from waste. In EU countries, the legal system for waste management is adapted to the circular economy. In Poland, due to the legal possibility of temporary storage and disposal of waste, a substantial volume of industrial waste is temporarily stored and landfilled (above 40%), compared to the importance of waste subjected to treatment. Moreover, energy recovery from waste accounts for a negligible share (below 5%). It may be due to the high costs of these processes, stringent emissions and environmental quality standards. Therefore, as in certain EU countries, the problem of landfill site arson attacks has been exacerbated in Poland (177 fires in 2019). The aim of this article is to determine the relationship between the application of the existing regulations concerning closed-loop waste management and the effectiveness of methods, ways and economic instruments preventing the illegal burning of landfill waste in Poland under the current EU energy policy. Therefore, it can be assumed that this system is not complete. Based on factor force analysis at a scale 1–5, it was found that technological (3.4), legal (3.16) and economic (3.0) factors have the greatest impact on this system. The waste management system should be oriented towards increased waste recovery and a more significant reduction in the volume of temporarily stored waste and landfill waste. It should be considered whether the current move away from the incineration of waste, according to the new EU energy policy, is a better solution in environmental and economic terms than incurring very high costs due to eliminating the effects of the incineration of landfill waste that causes environmental damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to various health, economic, and environmental problems. Waste management is one of the environmental problems that have emerged during this pandemic. Countries worldwide are trying to overcome the increase in the quantity and type of waste during the pandemic, such as disposable masks, face shields, and gloves, whether from households, commercial areas, or quarantine homes. Then there is also much medical waste sourced from health service places and places where people do swab testing and Covid-19 vaccinations. Moreover, there are other problems like increasing plastic waste from food consumption in the household during work and school activities from home. These waste problems add to the complexity of waste management, especially in developing countries which still needs improvement in their law and policy, technology, capacity, and legal awareness of the community in waste management. An interesting legal phenomenon during the Covid-19 pandemic is the widespread use of soft laws in the form of protocols, circulars, instructions, and appeals. This paper aims to study various forms of soft law used by the Government of Indonesia to manage Covid waste and analyze their compliance with national laws. This paper consists of two main parts: describing the trends in the use of soft law in waste management during the Covid-19 pandemic, and an analysis of the relationship between "hard law" and "soft law" in handling COVID-19 waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine plastic pollution (MPP) is one of the major global environmental threats in the Anthropocene era that requires a coordinated legal response from local to international levels. This article explores how the Indonesian legal and institutional framework deals with MPP. Despite the diversity of existing instruments, Indonesia has not adopted all the necessary measures to prevent, reduce and control MPP from land and marine sources. Although progress at the national level to date has been relatively slow, some local authorities have recently taken the initiative to establish single-use plastics regulations, which offer promising prospects for MPP treatment in the future. Indonesia can only change its status as the second largest MPP contributor after China through a special law targeting plastic waste based on the life cycle of plastics and supported by consistent implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how environmental accounting disclosure influences the market value of listed non financial firms in Nigeria between 2012 and 2020. The research design adopted is the longitudinal design. A total population of one hundred and twelve (112) listed non-financial firms was identified. A purposive sampling was used to generate a sample of seventy-two (72) listed non-financial firms sourced from firms’ annual reports. The dependent variable is the market value measured using earnings per share (EPS). The independent variable is environmental accounting measured by the index of environmental disclosure constructed using a content analysis; eight themes of the Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI). The study employed panel feasible generalized least square regression technique for data analyses. The outcomes revealed that environmental disclosure influence earning per share as well as share price positively and significantly. Hence, this study found robust proof which suggests that environmental disclosure significantly influence market value of listed nonfinancial firms in Nigeria. The implication is that non-financial firms in Nigeria are yet to show much concern about the physical environment in which they operate; in terms of adherence to the environmental laws and standards, process and product related issues including those related to recycling, packaging, waste, pollution emissions and effluent discharges as well as provision of sustainability and other environmental related information. It recommends that corporate firms should prioritize the inclusion of environmental information in their annual reports as such has potential to bring about higher market value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landfilling is an inevitable step for the municipal solid waste (MSW) management system in developing countries. This article presents a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) that was developed for the monitoring of municipal landfills and siting the new places for waste disposal at Mazandaran province, south of Caspian Sea, Iran. The effective criteria and evaluation constraints were chosen according to the Iran waste management law. The ArcGIS 10.4.1 software was used for creating a geospatial database and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used for ranking the criteria. By integrating the criteria, a suitability map was generated into four categories: high suitability, moderate suitability, low suitability and illegal areas. Using ArcGIS online, the maps were shared on a website that was specifically designed for this purpose. The decision-makers can check online the laws, the effective criteria and the results of spatial analysis for optimal siting. Also, the results of environmental evaluations for active landfills have been provided. Given the characteristics of active landfills and the optimal sites for the possible development, the SDSS can provide a mutually beneficial relationship between the experts, decision-makers and stakeholders to decide about the priority of actions required for the relocation of landfills, site closure or emergency care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructive Engagement (CE) aims at developing sustainable and equitable marketing systems that ensure collective well-being. This paper reflects on an initiative that constructively engages with impoverished market actors, i.e., rag-picking women in India. It is endeavored by operationalizing Integrative Justice Model (IJM) principles while trying to tackle the issue of solid waste management. Our findings suggest that CE across the spectrum in the value chain is required to alleviate the conditions of disadvantaged market actors and improve their well-being. Our qualitative inquiry in rag-picking women's lives and an initiative of social enterprise contribute to the ongoing conversation in macromarketing literature- (1) by empirically evidencing how the CE operationalizes the IJM and help redress the issues of social traps and internalities; (2) by uniquely connecting the macro issues of waste management with the issues of honesty, fairness, dignity and deserved justice in the neglected market transactions; (3) that IJM principles guide the constructive engagement process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management in urban areas is a critical issue in developing countries. As an environmental awareness emergency country, Indonesia faces significant waste production, particularly in its third-largest metropolis, Bandung. With the majority of its population utilizing cell phones or computers, the city has generated approximately 1500 tons of waste per day in 2022. Even though Bandung is one of the big cities in Indonesia, a staggering 54.7% of the total waste finds its way to landfills, exerting adverse impacts on the economic, social, and public health sectors. The government has pursued remedies through initiatives such as waste banks, collection services, and public education through social media. However, when delving into the intricacies of waste management, the psycho-social conditions of the community should be considered, which are often characterized by an ethos of tireless work, colloquially referred to as "crazy to work" or "hustle culture." Consequently, waste, including its associated health risks, may be perceived as a marginal concern. This research assessed public environmental awareness and the willingness to contribute to diverse waste management endeavors financially. Such endeavors may be in household waste collection or the establishment of government-operated facilities, such as waste banks and waste collection services within the psycho-social conditions of urban communities. By employing a quantitative approach, the study surveyed 74 heads of urban households in Bandung using convenience sampling techniques and analyzed the data using SPSS tools to address the formulated hypotheses. Results demonstrate the effect of household waste management practices on the environmental awareness of urban communities. Nevertheless, the influence of waste management services, the perspectives of waste bank management, or concerns about infectious waste–related diseases on the environmental awareness of urban communities are generally not substantiated. However, the latter two aspects exert an influence on the community's inclination to support waste collection services financially. In sum, this study suggests that cultural and knowledge factors in Bandung may impede progress in the environmental sector. Therefore, recommendations encompass stringent environmental policies and laws, technological integration, and subsidies for waste reduction efforts in Indonesia's urban waste management practices. • Psycho-Socio Urban Communities in the Complexity of Waste Management are household waste, garbage collection, waste bank management perspective, and garbage infectious diseases affect. • Waste bank management perspectives, and garbage contagious disease do not affect the urban community environmental awareness. • The implementation of firm ecological policies and laws becomes crucial, especially within a conservatively-oriented cultural context. • Cultural and knowledge factors may impede progress in the environmental sector. • Various stakeholders should collaborate in waste management efforts to foster positive environmental outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenge of solid waste management has been subjected to a variety of reactions and interpretations: strange mixtures of neglect and misconceptions of what could be the way forward. Over the years, Ghanaian authorities have problematized issues of waste management to collection and transportation and have shied away from formulating policies that can limit conflicts in waste sink communities. This article examines how a landfill infrastructure in Kumasi has engendered conflicts. Triggers of the conflicts and key actors involved are examined using data generated from a questionnaire survey of 160 households obtained through the quadrant method. The results show that three actors are involved in the conflicts: the chiefs and residents on one side and municipal authorities on the other. While the chiefs accuse municipal authorities of illegally acquiring the landfill site and of non-compensation payment, concerns of community members are their alienation from site management as enjoined by law. They also argue that the facility has degraded the environment and divested the local economy. The paper concludes that context and situation are significant for how, where and to what degree solid waste is disposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nosileftiki is the property of Hellenic Nurses' Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article gives an overview of Russian legislation and international recommendations on the safe management regulation of the accumulated very low level radioactive waste (RW), provides the comparison of Russian and international criteria for RW attribution to this or that class and also the existing radiation safety requirements. This article also deals with the difficulties in management of production waste containing radionuclides. Criteria and standards were selected from international (ICRP and IAEA publications) and Russian (Federal Law on Management of Radioactive Waste, Government Decree on Radioactive Waste Classification, The Basic Sanitary Rules of Radiation Safety) documents for comparative analysis. International and Russian criteria for the radioactive materials attribution to RW and production waste containing radionuclides were compared during the analysis. A number of radionuclides for which it is necessary to establish such criteria have been identified. It was found that Russian classification of radioactive materials is generally consistent with IAEA classification. Practices of managing production waste containing radionuclides (protection from contact with the environment, the placement in the long-term storage facilities or disposal) depend on the period of potential hazard of radionuclides. The management of production waste containing radionuclides requires a separate system which should be developed in accordance with the RW management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the results of an investigation conducted in Cowdray Park suburb, Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe, about the challenges of household waste management under circumstances of local government incapacity to provide effective and efficient services. Also, the article discusses the challenges that the majority of residents in this suburb grapple within their attempts to use alternative waste management methods that evidently do not meet the required environmental standards. "Based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques, a total of 40 households from Terminus, Esigayweni, Garikai and Alpha in Cowdray park suburb were surveyed using questionnaire; also, officials from Bulawayo City Council (BCC) too were interviewed". SPSS was used to analyse data and produce summary statistics in tables, graphs and charts. Additionally, observations were conducted in order to generate field reports, and photographic evidence was compiled. The article finds that BCC has continuously failed to provide adequate, regular, effective and efficient waste management services, particularly refuse collection. As a result, the majority of residents were forced to adopt alternative means of waste disposal, most of which were not environmentally friendly. Among other methods, residents relied on burning, burying, composting, recycling or reusing and illegal dumping, the collective impact of which has been to create excessive illegal dumps in the streets, drainage systems and such other sensitive areas. Residents' waste management efforts notwithstanding, the environment of illegal dumping in these suburbs has been associated with health risks and hazards. The article concludes that this state of affairs would persist if national government does not provide support to local authorities to ensure that it could mount educational campaigns, implement and enforce all applicable legislation, secure adequate resources for safe and adequate waste management as well as embark on innovative techniques, in collaboration with the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material flow has been accelerated from underground natural minerals and is accumulating as aboveground waste stock. China is not only the largest producer and consumer of material-driven products, but also the largest generator of product waste. No official annual product waste data are released for China, which creates challenges especially in light of China's emerging waste management policies. Previous studies have presented only estimations of waste streams for single products. In this study, we considered three product types and 33 technological products and collected all the available data. A Kuznets curve and Bass diffusion model were employed to forecast their future consumption. Based on urban consumption metabolism, we created one systematic estimation model of product waste generation related to material flow and social regulation. Typical technological product waste outflows were estimated from 2010 to 2050, which can assist further material flow and environmental impact research, as well as waste management policy-making and technology development. The created model can be potentially extended to other types of product waste estimation. Measurement(s) waste generation • waste material Technology Type(s) digital curation • Mathematical Model Factor Type(s) year of data collection Sample Characteristic - Location China Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13277732 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective waste management system is, and has always been, essential infrastructure, particularly given the potential for waste to adversely impact the surrounding environment. In recent decades, however, there has been growing awareness of the scale, breadth and immediacy of those adverse impacts, and of the unsustainability of the enormous (and increasing) amount of waste society generates. Governments around the world have mobilised and there has been a widespread shift towards policies promoting circular economies, waste minimisation and maximised resource efficiency. Singapore is a case in point; despite having a traditionally high waste output and a waste management system dependent on waste incineration as the primary means of disposal, Singapore has committed to a zero waste future. This article presents a review of domestic waste management policy and law in Singapore. Several gaps in the legal framework are identified and considered against the broader context, leading to the conclusion that there is a material environmental vulnerability in the legal framework that should be redressed in order to entrench environmental protections and to align the law with Singapore's policy ambitions. Notwithstanding this deficiency, it is hard not to be optimistic about the future of domestic waste management in Singapore, as the government has made an ambitious policy commitment and appears to be pursuing it with vigour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/background: Waste batteries and accumulators are hazardous waste and should not be sent to landfill sites. Their presence in the waste mixture causes the release of dangerous heavy metals into the natural environment. Aim of the paper: The aim of the study is to review the processes currently used in the recycling of used batteries and accumulators, currently used in the world and in Poland, as well as installations and technologies, depending on the types, kinds and physicochemical properties of waste, and to draw attention to the ventures to prevent waste generation. Materials and methods: The paper discusses the nature of waste, storage and transport conditions, organisation of collection, processes and processing technology. The article presents examples of waste management facilities dealing with recovery and recycling of batteries in Poland and Silesia. The research was based on an analysis of legal acts, statistical data, professional literature and company experiences. The second part is a case study. Selected environmental systems presented on descriptive models are based on the results of an environment (region) system analysis. Results and conclusions: EU directives and national law force the reuse of raw materials used in their production. Therefore, one should strive to apply the most effective technologies of waste recovery and recycling. The most recommended and cost-effective is product salvage followed by material recovery, especially of scarce, rare and precious earth metals. Various processes and technologies (installations) for the recovery of raw materials from waste batteries and accumulators are used around the world. The best known are: Jogmec, Batrec, Recytec, Accurec, Everead, Inmetco, Sab-Nife, Snam-Savam, Citron, Batenus, TNO. Long battery life minimises the amount of waste, and thus reduces the burden on the environment. Therefore, in the process of producing batteries, it is important to improve the technology already at the production stage. An example is the Polish experience (Europower; Tuborg; Tuborg-Silver). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Public Security & Public Order / Visuomenes Saugumas ir Viesoji Tvarka is the property of Mykolas Romeris University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mbarara Municipality in Western Uganda has for many years struggled to manage municipal solid waste. Leaders in this municipality have mainly attributed this persistent problem to poor financing, failure to enforce existing solid waste management laws and regulations, limited community participation, deprived attitude by the public towards waste collection, and tendency of municipal dwellers to litter. No in-depth academic study in Mbarara Municipality has ever been done to expose and illustrate how corruption directly happens and influence solid waste management. This study fills this knowledge gap by illustrating how corruption influences poor solid waste management in Mbarara Municipality. The study finds that municipal technical officials, garbage truck drivers, their turn boys, garbage sorters, factory owners, and private land grabbers all involved in different forms of corruption have directly and indirectly turned solid waste collection and disposal into a very costly problem to the municipal council and the general public. The article recommends that fighting corruption in all its forms without fear or favor, encouraging them to play their role particularly in sorting waste, adoption of smart technologies, and putting in place measures that attract private investors while protecting the public can help in the effective management of solid waste in Mbarara Municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Only a third of the total waste generated in slum communities in Kampala is collected and disposed of to the landfill every month. This study assessed the status of household solid waste management and associated factors in a slum community in Kampala, Uganda.Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study involving 395 households using a semistructured questionnaire and an observational checklist. Proper solid waste management was determined based on possession of waste collection and storage receptacle; collection receptacle ability to minimise nuisances (covered); segregation of waste; presence of flies and other vectors; and collection receptacle fill status. Prevalence rate ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were used as a measure of association.Results: Only, 41.3% (163/395) of the households exhibited proper waste management practices. The majority of the households 85.8% (339/395) owned solid waste storage receptacles, most of which were sacs 61.7% (209/339) and would minimise nuisances 72.9% (245/339). The main type of waste collected was biodegradable materials 56.7% (224/395). The majority of the households 78.7% (311/395) did not segregate their waste. Solid waste was mainly transported to the collection point by pulling the collecting sac 54.4% (215/395). The city authority 73.9% (292/395) and private companies 12.9% (51/395) were the major entities collecting waste. Factors associated with proper waste management were collecting waste in plastic containers (adjusted PR = 1.27, 95% CI (1.04-1.55)), polythene bags (adjusted PR = 0.26, 95% CI (0.14-0.47)), and paper bags or metallic bins (adjusted PR = 0.13, 95% CI (0.03-0.44)) as well as awareness of solid waste management laws (adjusted PR = 1.49, 95% CI (1.20-1.85)) and the dangers of improper solid waste management (adjusted PR = 2.15, 95% CI (1.51-3.06)).Conclusion: Solid waste management was generally poor. As such, a cascade of interventions that address knowledge, physical, and behavioural aspects of solid waste management is required to improve its management in slum communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates dentists' knowledge and practiced dental waste management in public and private dental clinics and dental offices in Bandar Abbas. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 133 dentists from 124 private dental offices, five government dental clinics, and four private dental clinics in Bandar Abbas. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 40 questions based on dental knowledge and practices was prepared. The results revealed that only 12.0% of dentists knew about the correct container color for the disposal of human anatomical wastes that is a yellow trash bin. The trash bin was the method of disposal by the majority of dentists for disposal of x-ray film lead foils (52.6%), orthodontic wires (48.9%), and outdated drugs (60.2%). The chemicals used in dentistry and amalgams were mostly poured into the municipal sewage system. It is concluded that dentists, in general, did not have much awareness about dental waste management in Bandar Abbas. Also, most of their performance on waste disposal was not up to the standards. Implementing waste management laws requires constant monitoring and timely training. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a comprehensive system of health care waste management, as in other developed countries, in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of change factors in waste management in the period from 2012 to 2015 in three municipalities in a mountainous region of southern Poland exhibited strong differentiation. This was recognised based on multiple indicators of waste accumulation. Such differences were investigated between two periods, which highlighted the effect of changes in waste management primarily resulting from Directive 2008/98/EC. These changes relate to the development of selective waste collection based on eight types of waste. On this basis, an increase was observed in the amount of waste collected in the communities. Particular attention was paid to the community with the highest number of tourists, the waste accumulation rate (452.74 kg per capita) and the cost per year. An increase in the number of tourists is an important factor in terms of waste accumulation, and other factors made it possible to recognise the direction of the changes taking place in waste management. In terms of changes in waste accumulation, the implementation of the European Union law into the national law in the field of waste management is a significant factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Separate waste collection and landfilling represent two key outcomes of waste management. Italy recently observed major shifts in waste targets. Regional policymakers, in charge of devising waste management plans, have been required to review their strategies, in view of the transition towards circular economy. This work proposes a theoretical framework that outlines the policymaker's problem and estimates regional efficiency in waste management using Data Envelopment Analysis on time series data. We find that the target shifts reduced efficiency in the short run, but encouraged the circular economy transition over time. Current waste management regulations need to consider regional heterogeneity when setting targets and constraints. • Targets for Separate Waste Collection and landfilling have been introduced in Italy. • Simultaneous pursual of both targets fosters the transition towards circularity. • This work outlines and solves the environmental policymaker's problem. • Using DEA, we estimate efficiency in waste management for Italian regions. • The targets reduced efficiency in the short run but fostered circularity over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global temperatures continue to rise, most climate policy conversations have focused on mitigation measures, aimed at reducing the proliferation of greenhouse gases and curbing the rise in temperatures. Discussions, especially in legal literature, about climate adaptation measures -- those intended to, for example, prepare for rising sea levels or increasing incidence of extreme weather events -- have generally focused on the powers and responsibilities of government actors. Private citizens too, however, may also have a duty to prepare for climate change. The law of waste is a longstanding doctrine under which holders of a current possessory interest in real property, such as tenants or mortgagors, bear certain responsibilities towards holders of concurrent or future interests, such as lessors or mortgagees. This Note argues that a subset of the law of waste, called permissive waste, may be read to impose a duty to affirmatively pursue climate adaptation measures on tenants and other similarly-situated individuals. Part II provides background information on current efforts to find a legal basis for a duty to pursue climate adaptation. Part III examines the history of the law of waste, with particular attention to the concept of permissive waste. Parts IV and V outline how the law of waste could be applied to the problem of climate adaptation, exploring the necessary conditions for such a claim to be made as well as the uses and limitations of using the law of waste in this fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe rates of returns and to identify trends in returns of potentially abused medications during medication take-back events.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted of returned medications during medication take-back days from 2013 to 2016 based on a partnership between local law enforcement and a school of pharmacy in a rural South Carolina town. Data collected on returned items included active ingredients, estimated quantity, and prescription fill date if available. The medications were classified by therapeutic class and further identified drugs of potential abuse according to National Institute of Drug Abuse classifications. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected.Results: In 2013, 742 different medications were returned, and 64 (8.63%) were potential drugs of abuse. In the years 2014-2016, 117 (11.43%) returned medications were potential drugs of abuse. In 2017, 40 (13.27%) returned medications were potentially abused drugs. Opioid analgesics were the most common potentially abused medication returned, accounting for 51.6%, 62.4%, and 65% of potentially abused medications returned in 2013, 2014-2016, and 2017, respectively. The other most common potentially abused returned medications were benzodiazepines (10.9%, 12.8%, 7.5%). The return of hypnotic medications increased over the study period from 0% in 2013 to 12.5% of potentially abused medications in 2017. The return of other medications such as loperamide and dextromethorphan varied over the study period.Conclusion: The rate of potentially abused medications returned steadily rose over the period of the study. Heightened awareness and increased opportunities for proper disposal including the placement of permanent drug disposal locations may account for the decreased number of prescriptions returned following 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Health-care services inevitably create medical waste that may become hazardous to public health and the environment. Nonetheless, a comprehensive and standardized evaluation framework to assess the status of medical waste management is currently lacking. This research developed a novel healthcare Waste Management evaluation framework based upon the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the safe management of waste from health-care activities. The developed framework was then applied to 8 selected private and public hospitals in Myanmar to evaluate their medical waste management practices. Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques were used to model the framework for the hospital waste management evaluation criteria. Structured questionnaires, observation checklists, and interviews were conducted to collect data from highly qualified healthcare personnel from Myanmar. The investigation evidenced that all the selected hospitals segregate medical wastes. However, disposal mostly involved open burning, incineration, and uncontrolled dumping. Deficiencies were also found in waste collection, storage, and transportation due to a serious lack of both onsite and offsite treatment facilities, especially for government hospitals. While basic awareness of healthcare staff about the risk and safe handling of medical waste was relatively high, the dissemination and enforcement of technical guidelines and regular monitoring of compliance were major concerns. This research highlights an urgent need for specific medical waste management laws and regulations, technologies, expert knowledge and funding to improve healthcare waste management in Myanmar. Highlights • AHP and ANP are used to assess medical waste management system in Myanmar. • Segregation is the most important criteria for medical waste management in Myanmar. • Collection, storage and transportation are influenced by proper segregation. • Safety practices of the health workers are affected by knowledge and training. • Areas of deficiency are treatment, collection, storage, transportation, training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbapenem-resistant bacteria (CRB) are currently at the top of the WHO priority list of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health. Considering that soil is one of the important environments for the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, we isolated and quantified cultivable CRB in soils across Croatia, including ones affected by illegal dumps. We cultivated CRB at two temperatures, distinguishing between the intrinsically resistant CRB (37°C, mostly Stenotrophomonas spp.) and the ones that are presumably human-associated and clinically relevant (42°C, Acinetobacter sp., Enterobacteriaceae, Burkholderia spp.). Our study demonstrated that distinguishing between the two offers a better insight into the diversity of CRB in the environment. The ones cultivated at 37°C were found in almost all soil samples, while the presumably clinically relevant ones were absent from uncontaminated pasture and grassland, indicating that human-associated CRB are unlikely to be found in soils spared from anthropogenic influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This quarter has seen the government announce its 25-year plan to protect the environment, the enactment of new statutory instruments and stimulating case law. The political will to combat damage to the environment appears to exist. A much-anticipated 25-year plan was announced by Theresa May in January (Guardian, 11 January 2018). Mrs May announced that the government hopes to eliminate all 'avoidable' plastic waste within 25 years. It has been observed with some cynicism that legislation does not yet appear to be forthcoming on such lofty ambitions. The legislation itself will require careful planning, a targeted approach to the most wasteful areas of commerce and society, together with a pragmatic approach to eradicate 'avoidable' plastic waste. While some remain sceptical of the government's aspiration, it has been noted that the charge on plastic bags has been successful. The government will next seek to agree a charter for the Commonwealth aiming to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the oceans (The Guardian, 11 January 2018). The government has given new powers to tackle illegal activity at waste sites. The Waste Enforcement (England and Wales) Regulations 2018 enter into force soon. The waste regulation and collection authorities can require waste to be removed where it has been unlawfully kept or disposed of. It is important to note that this includes waste that was initially deposited lawfully. The Environment Agency and the Natural Resource Body for Wales may now give notice or seek an order of the court to restrict access and the importation of waste to particular premises. His Royal Highness Okpabi was unsuccessful in the Court of Appeal against Shell. In a case (reported below), the Nigerian claimants sought to appeal against a decision that Shell (as parent company) did not owe them a duty of care in respect of pollution and environmental damage caused by oil leaks from pipelines and associated infrastructure operated by a subsidiary. In the judgment given by Sir Geoffrey Vos and Lord Justice Simon (Lord Justice Sales dissenting), the claimants were unable to demonstrate a properly arguable case that the parent company owed a duty of care to those affected. This judgment grapples with interesting legal issues concerning a company's duty of care and jurisdiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A municipal solid waste fee has become an important means for the implementation of the waste management rendered by the government all around the world. Based on the ecological environmental compensation theory, this article constructs an analytical framework of waste charging from the perspective of public policy evaluation, to carry on the comprehensive comparison and analysis to the operability, feasibility, validity, rationality, and universality of the two modes of waste charging: Ration charge and unit-pricing modes. The results indicate that in the cities with large amounts of waste production, long time of waste charging, and high disposal rate, pilot projects should be carried out; and the government needs to improve the construction of associated laws and regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the emerging threats posed by illegal waste trafficking (IWT), along with the efforts to address such threats. It explores measures to be used for targeting the early phases of illegal activities, which is believed to be the critical moment for intervention. It also offers a description of situational crime prevention theory, a discussion about crime script analysis, and identifies the preventive measures and points of intervention.

El artículo informa sobre varias leyes y jurisprudencia sobre medio ambiente en España. Estos incluyen español órdenes ministeriales sobre subproductos y fin de la consideración de residuos; un Real Decreto sobre el Ordenamiento Territorial Plan Sectorial de Gestión de Residuos Municipales de infraestructuras de Cataluña; y de una sentencia del Tribunal Supremo que confirmó el fallo del Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Madrid contra un mercantile autorización administrativa.