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Environmental concerns about microplastics (MPs) have motivated research of their sources, occurrence, and fate in aquatic and soil ecosystems. To mitigate the environmental impact of MPs, biodegradable plastics are designed to naturally decompose, thus reducing the amount of environmental plastic contamination. However, the environmental fate of biodegradable plastics and the products of their incomplete biodegradation, especially micro-biodegradable plastics (MBPs), remains largely unexplored. This comprehensive review aims to assess the risks of unintended consequences associated with the introduction of biodegradable plastics into the environment, namely, whether the incomplete mineralization of biodegradable plastics could enhance the risk of MBPs formation and thus, exacerbate the problem of their environmental dispersion, representing a potentially additional environmental hazard due to their presumed ecotoxicity. Initial evidence points towards the potential for incomplete mineralization of biodegradable plastics under both controlled and uncontrolled conditions. Rapid degradation of PLA in thermophilic industrial composting contrasts with the degradation below 50 % of other biodegradables, suggesting MBPs released into the environment through compost. Moreover, degradation rates of <60 % in anaerobic digestion for polymers other than PLA and PHAs suggest a heightened risk of MBPs in digestate, risking their spread into soil and water. This could increase MBPs and adsorbed pollutants' mobilization. The exact behavior and impacts of additive leachates from faster-degrading plastics remain largely unknown. Thus, assessing the environmental fate and impacts of MBPs-laden by-products like compost or digestate is crucial. Moreover, the ecotoxicological consequences of shifting from conventional plastics to biodegradable ones are highly uncertain, as there is insufficient evidence to claim that MBPs have a milder effect on ecosystem health. Indeed, literature shows that the impact may be worse depending on the exposed species, polymer type, and the ecosystem complexity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This work outlines the first microwave (MW)-assisted protocol for the production of biofuel precursor furfural (FF) from the raw agricultural waste almond hull (AH), olive stone (OS), and the winemaking-derived grape stalk (GS), grape marc (GM) and exhausted grape marc (EGM) through a one-pot synthesis process. To enhance the overall yield, a catalytic process was firstly developed from xylose, major constituent of hemicellulose present in lignocellulosic biomass. This method afforded FF with 100 % selectivity, yielding over 85 % in isolated product when using H 2 SO 4 , as opposed to a 37 % yield with AlCl 3 ·6H 2 O, at 150 °C in only 10 min. For both catalysts, the developed methodology was further validated, proving adaptable and efficient in producing the targeted FF from the aforementioned lignocellulosic raw materials. More specifically, the employment of AlCl 3 ·6H 2 O resulted in the highest selectivity (up to 89 % from GM) and FF yield (42 % and 39 % molar from OS and AH, respectively), maintaining notable selectivity for the latter (61 and 48 % from AH and OS). At this regard, and considering the environmental factor of sustainability, it is important to point out the role of AlCl 3 ·6H 2 O in contrast to H 2 SO 4 , thus mitigating detrimental substances. This study provides an important management of agricultural waste through sustainable practises for the development of potential bio-based chemicals, aligning with Green Chemistry and process intensification principles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Plastic waste has recently become a major global environmental concern and one of the biggest challenges has been seeking for alternative management options. Several studies have revealed the potential of several coleopteran species to degrade plastics, and this is the first research paper on plastic-degradation potential by lesser mealworms from Africa. This study evaluated the whole mitogenomic profile of the lesser mealworm to further identify the insect. The ability of the mealworm to consume Polystyrene (PS) was also evaluated alongside its associated gut microbiota diversity. Our results showed a complete circular mitochondrial genome which clustered closely to the Alphitobius genus but also suggested that our insect might be a new subspecies which require further identification. During the PS feeding trials, overall survival rates of the larvae decreased when fed a sole PS diet while PS intake was observed to increase over a 30-day period. The predominant bacteria observed in larvae fed PS diets were Kluyvera, Lactococcus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Enterococcus, while Stenotrophomonas dominated the control diet. These findings demonstrated that the newly identified lesser mealworm can survive on a PS diet and has a consortium of important bacteria strongly associated with PS degradation. This work provides a better understanding of bioremediation applications, paving the way for further research into the metabolic pathways of plastic-degrading microbes and bringing hope to solving plastic waste pollution while providing high-value insect protein towards a circular economy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Proper household organic waste management practices are crucial to limit the negative environmental and health impacts that can result from inappropriate municipal waste treatment. The environmental impacts of organic waste have previously been described in the literature, and the main treatment strategy for managing such waste relies on technical facilities such as biodigesters. However, such technologies require significant financial investments, which could hinder their application in areas with lower economic power. Among the several available organic waste treatment strategies, composting for urban agricultural (UA) use has become increasingly popular. Although the literature suggests that UA can contribute to organic waste management by encouraging self-treatment practices, investigations into how practising UA can influence household waste management behaviours have been limited thus far. To this end, we analyse the role of practising UA along with other demographic variables, such as age, gender, education, income and housing conditions, in influencing citizens' household organic waste management behaviours. The city of Florianópolis, Brazil was selected as a case study since that municipality recently passed a new organic waste regulation law that supports the use of organic compost in UA. We surveyed 206 individuals regarding their household organic waste management habits in four behavioural areas: (i) separation, (ii) use of public services, (iii) self-treatment and (iv) reduction. The dataset comprises 102 individuals who were actively engaged in UA activities and 104 who were not involved in UA to compare habits of the two groups. The results show that UA practitioners are more likely to separate and self-treat their organic waste and use the derived compost for gardening activities. The use of public facilities for organic waste management is influenced by people's housing conditions. Respondents who lived in an apartment with no access to a garden logically had a lower willingness than did those with garden access to self-treat the organic waste produced. On the other hand, the results show that UA practitioners compost their own organic waste regardless of their housing conditions. The results show a strong, positive influence of practising UA on self-composting and thereby highlight the role of such practices in sensitizing urban residents to waste management issues and supporting local organic waste management strategies. Although the debate over the role of UA in organic waste management is still open, we reveal that highlighting this role could support a shift towards a circular approach to organic waste treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Unsafe patient care in hospitals, especially in low- and middle-income countries, is often caused by poor infection prevention and control (IPC) practices; insufficient support for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and inadequate waste management. We looked at the intersection of IPC, WASH, and the global initiative of improving health care quality, specifically around maternal and newborn care in Bangladesh health facilities. We identified 8 primary quality improvement and IPC/WASH policy and guideline documents in Bangladesh and analyzed their incorporation of 30 subconditions under 5 critical conditions: water; sanitation; hygiene; waste management/cleaning; and IPC supplies, guidelines, training, surveillance, and monitoring. To determine how Bangladesh health care workers implemented the policies, we interviewed 33 informants from 16 public and private facilities and the national level. Bangladesh's 8 primary guidance documents covered 55% of the 30 subconditions. Interviews showed that Bangladesh health facility staff generally rely on eight tools related to quality improvement (five); IPC (two); and supportive supervision (one) plus a robust supervision mechanism. The stakeholders identified a lack of human resources and environmental hygiene infrastructure and supplies as the main gaps in providing IPC/WASH services. We concluded that the Bangladesh government had produced substantial guidance on using quality improvement methods to improve health services. Our recommendations can help identify strategies to better integrate IPC/WASH in resources including standardizing guidelines and tools within one toolkit. Strategizing with stakeholders working on initiatives such as universal health coverage and patient safety to integrate IPC/WASH into quality improvement documents is a mutually reinforcing approach., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The pressing challenges in waste management have motivated this comprehensive study examining prior research and contemporary trends concerning innovation and waste management. A meticulous investigation of 2264 documents (1968-2024) was conducted using bibliometrix R-tool to analyse Scopus and Web of Science databases, offering a holistic global perspective. Heightened societal concern about waste management, driven by soaring waste production from consumption patterns, requires urgent exploration of effective waste elimination and transformation systems. This study provides a comprehensive summary of the topic, delving deeply into its complexities. Through thorough analysis of global trends, it constitutes a significant stride towards identifying effective solutions, offering valuable contributions to both scientific understanding and practical applications. This research pioneers a comprehensive synthesis of innovation and waste management issues, showcasing originality and substantial contributions. The identified collaborative networks expose a lack of transnational cooperation, potentially hindering waste management innovation. Future research around waste management innovation should focus on synergies among competitors within the same industry and across industries to minimize waste and maximize resource utilization, 4.0 technologies, global waste chain impacts and challenges along with solutions for developing countries., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Medical waste management is an essential component of healthcare delivery globally due to the toxic and contagious potentials on human health and the environment. There are resource limitations in developing nations when it comes to the appropriate handling of medical wastes. In this article, we examined previous studies to evaluate the practices of medical waste management in China and Nigeria. Contextually, this work addresses medical waste practices in the context of waste generation, segregation, collection, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal. In addition to reviewing additional important aspects of medical waste management, the current study addresses potentials and challenges for efficient medical waste management in both countries. For this study; Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Agencies, Conferences, National and International Conventions were searched from 1998 up to 2023 for all studies reporting medical waste management in China and Nigeria. To further guarantee that only resource materials with similar research interests in medical waste management were selected, a double screening process was employed. The challenges of medical waste management in both countries are limited financing, inadequate training, ineffective legislation, ineffective medical waste transport system and insufficient treatment technology. Furthermore, this study offers practical recommendations by identifying the particular areas that require attention and development, such as training of healthcare workers, adequate financing of medical waste management projects, including research and development on efficient toxic emission reducing technologies, and partnership with other relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure enforcement of national and local legislation., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Geopolymer concrete is a sustainable construction material developed with industrial by-products to eliminate the use of cement in concrete production. However, a cradle-to-cradle life cycle assessment (LCA) that accounts for the impact of service life is essential to comprehensively assess the environmental advantages of GPC. In this study, a comparative cradle-to-cradle LCA was performed for circular geopolymer concrete (CGPC), geopolymer concrete (GPC), and circular ordinary concrete (COC), as alternatives to Portland cement concrete (PCC). Also, the biases of common LCA resulted from ignoring service life and end-of-life scenarios were identified. Finally, the sustainability potentials of the alternative scenarios were evaluated. According to the cradle-to-cradle LCA using the adopted functional unit, GPC and CGPC significantly alleviated the environmental impact of cement production, such as global warming potential by about 53%. Ignoring the service life and end-of-life scenarios considerably changed the critical midpoint (ionizing radiation for CGPC and GPC) and endpoint indicators (resources for CGPC and GPC) and priority of alternative concretes. Finally, the CGPC and GPC showed a substantial increase of 213% and 276% in sustainability potential compared to PCC, respectively., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Diversion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) from landfills is increasing. Previous life cycle assessment studies have evaluated subsets of OFMSW management options, but conclusions are inconsistent, and none have evaluated diverse applications of material by-products. The primary objective of this work was to identify sustainability-based improvements to the selection, design, implementation, and operation of organics waste diversion management technologies. Process modeling and life cycle assessment were used to compare OFMSW composting, anaerobic digestion, and pyrolysis, with biochar used as a landfill cover, leachate treatment sorbent, and land applicant. Material and energy flows, calculated by newly developed models for the defined functional unit (1 kg MSW over a 20-year timeframe), were translated to environmental performance using ecoinvent and USLCI databases and TRACI method. Additionally, uncertainty, sensitivity, and scenario analyses were conducted to evaluate the implications of model uncertainties, design decisions, and resource recovery tradeoffs. OFMSW pyrolysis usually (65 % of uncertainty assessment simulations) had the best global warming performance mostly due to energy recovery and biochar's carbon sequestration benefit, which was independent of fate. Pyrolyzing the biosolids from OFMSW anaerobic digestion recovered the most energy and had the best performance in 34 % of uncertainty simulations. Material recovery amounts were large (e.g., more biochar was produced than required for novel uses) and warrant feasibility considerations. Global warming performance was more sensitive to uncertainty in carbon sequestration and primary energy production than in fertilizer offset, energy conversion, or heat offset approach. Practical implications include the potential for biochar supply to outweigh demand, and inconsistent revenue from the sale of recovered energy and carbon credits; future research could focus on evaluating the relative social and economic sustainability of the OFMSW management technologies., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Leachate emanating from landfills contains ammonia which may cause serious health effects on living things. An effectively designed clay barrier should not allow the contaminant to infiltrate the soil and groundwater systems. The utilization of certain industrial by-products in engineered landfill barriers, not only reduces the need for conventional liner materials but also helps in sustainable waste management. This study investigated the hydraulic conductivity, unconfined compressive strength, compaction, and adsorption characteristics of lithomargic clay blended with an optimum percentage of bentonite (10%) and granulated blast furnace slag (15%) permeated with ammonia. The results revealed that increasing the content of granulated blast furnace slag decreased the maximum dry density while increasing the optimum moisture content. In comparison to lithomargic clay, the hydraulic conductivity of the amended soil liner permeated with ammonia decreased from a value of 3 × 10 -8  m/s to 5 × 10 -10  m/s. The unconfined compressive strength of the amended soil specimens showed an increasing trend with curing times (i.e., 0, 14, 28, and 56 days). The batch adsorption results revealed that Freundlich and Langmuir's isotherm fits the equilibrium adsorption data and the adsorption of ammonia on clay liner follows non-linear behaviour. Overall, the experimental results implied that lithomargic clay blended with 10% bentonite and 15% granulated blast furnace slag can be used as an impermeable soil reactive barrier in engineered landfills., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Carbon nanomaterials are indispensable due to their unique properties of high electrical conductivity, mechanical strength and thermal stability, which makes them important nanomaterials in biomedical applications and waste management. Limitations of conventional nanomaterials, such as limited surface area, difficulty in fine tuning electrical or thermal properties and poor dispersibility, calls for the development of advanced nanomaterials to overcome such limitations. Commonly, carbon nanomaterials were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), laser ablation or arc discharge methods. The advancement in these techniques yielded monodispersed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and allows p-type and n-type doping to enhance its electrical and catalytic activities. The functionalized CNTs showed exceptional mechanical, electrical and thermal conductivity (3500-5000 W/mK) properties. On the other hand, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) exhibit strong photoluminescence properties with high quantum yield. Carbon nanohorns are another fascinating type of nanomaterial that exhibit a unique structure with high surface area and excellent adsorption properties. These carbon nanomaterials could improve waste management by adsorbing pollutants from water and soil, enabling precise environmental monitoring, while enhancing wastewater treatment and drug delivery systems. Herein, we have discussed the potentials of all these carbon nanomaterials in the context of innovative waste management solutions, fostering cleaner environments and healthier ecosystems for diverse biomedical applications such as biosensing, drug delivery, and environmental monitoring., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The rapid development of medical care innovations and the use of newer technologies have resulted in a significant rise in the quantity of waste produced per patient within health care facilities. Biomedical waste in particular has emerged as a pressing concern due to its inherent propensity to pose health hazards and cause environmental harm. The World Health Organization has identified a lack of knowledge and training as primary factors contributing to the failure of Biomedical waste management (BMWM). Thus, our study sought to examine the relationship between BMWM level of knowledge and prior training among health care professionals (HCPs) in 4 different regions in Saudi Arabia., Methods: Our study used a cross-sectional design to investigate the BMWM level of knowledge and prior training among HCPs in 4 different regions in Saudi Arabia. Multiple linear and logistic regression was used to assess if Biomedical waste management (MBWM) knowledge and prior tanning are significantly associated with the demographics and professional characteristics of HCPs., Results: 501 HCPs participated in the study. More than half were male, the majority fell within the age range of 24 to 36 years and held a bachelor's degree. The level of BMWM knowledge among HCPs was moderate (M = 31.14, SD = 4.89) and positively associated with HCPs' prior training in BMWM, workplace environment, and overall experience in the field. Only 26% of the HCPs had received prior BMWM training, and it varied considerably by sex, geographic location, and professional experience., Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a moderate knowledge and lack of training in BMWM among HCPs in Saudi Arabia. Thus, we recommend a national strategy for incorporating infection prevention and control methods associated with BMWM into all health care programs. Furthermore, it is imperative for health officials to enact prompt and efficient surveillance measures, as well as conduct frequent training sessions for HCPs and support personnel., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Cyathostomins are common digestive tract parasites of grazing horses that spread through contact with horse feces. Horse feces are colonized by a variety of organisms, some of which could serve to reduce parasite loads in horse pastures. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.; Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae (BSFL) could be an ideal candidate for biological control of cyathostomins, due to their near-global distribution, low risk of pathogen transmission, ability to develop on a variety of nutrient-poor substrates (including horse manure), and dramatic effect on microbial communities that cyathostomins depend on. Here, using controlled feeding bioassays, we evaluated the effect of BSFL on cyathostomin egg densities in horse manure while also tracking BSFL performance on manure relative to standard grain-based diets. We found that BSFL consumed less substrate, were slower to reach the prepupal stage, and ultimately yielded less biomass when reared on horse manure compared to grain-based diets. However, BSFL reduced average cyathostomin egg densities in horse manure by over 3-fold. Overall, our results suggest that despite horse manure being a poor substrate for BSFL growth, BSFL effectively reduce cyathostomin egg loads in infected horse manure, though the mechanisms by which they do this are uncertain. While BSFL are known to transform the microbial communities within a diversity of rearing substrates, their effect on larger, parasitic organisms in animal manures may be underappreciated. Promoting the decomposition of infected horse manure with BSFL might be a promising approach to managing parasite populations among grazing horses., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The escalating challenges posed by seafood waste generated by the fishing and aquaculture industries underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions that promote both environmental conservation and economic viability within the seafood sector. Seafood waste biorefinery emerges as a promising solution, offering the potential to transform waste materials into valuable products. However, it is essential to recognize that seafood waste biorefinery operations also entail environmental impacts that warrant careful consideration. Environmental assessment tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provide a valuable framework for assessing these impacts comprehensively. This review critically examines LCA studies in seafood waste biorefinery, focusing on key concepts, emerging technologies, and potential product avenues. Despite the growing body of research in this area, direct comparisons between published studies prove challenging due to discrepancies in feedstocks, processing techniques, value-added products, and LCA methodologies. Nevertheless, the findings consistently demonstrate significant reductions in environmental impacts achieved through seafood waste biorefinery processes. The selection of technologies significantly influences both product quality and sustainability measures. High energy consumption, including diesel fuel consumption in fishing vessels and electricity consumption in processing steps, should be carefully considered and reduced to mitigate associated environmental impacts. In conclusion, while seafood waste biorefinery processes hold significant promise for providing environmental and economic benefits, substantial challenges remain. This review provides invaluable insights for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of continuous interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological standardization to advance sustainable waste management practices in the seafood industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Healthcare waste is any waste generated by healthcare facilities that is considered potentially hazardous to health. Solid healthcare waste is categorized into infectious and non-infectious wastes. Infectious waste is material suspected of containing pathogens and potentially causing disease. Non-infectious waste includes wastes that have not been in contact with infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, or radioactive substances, similar to household waste, i.e. plastic, papers and leftover foods. This study aimed to investigate solid healthcare waste management practices and develop guidelines to improve solid healthcare waste management practices in Ethiopia. The setting was all health facilities found in Hossaena town., Method: A mixed-method study design was used. For the qualitative phase of this study, eight FGDs were conducted from 4 government health facilities, one FGD from each private health facility (which is 37 in number), and forty-five FGDs were conducted. Four FGDs were executed with cleaners; another four were only health care providers because using homogeneous groups promotes discussion. The remaining 37 FGDs in private health facilities were mixed from health professionals and cleaners because of the number of workers in the private facilities. For the quantitative phase, all health facilities and health facility workers who have direct contact with healthcare waste management practice participated in this study. Both qualitative and quantitative study participants were taken from the health facilities found in Hossaena town., Result: Seventeen (3.1%) health facility workers have hand washing facilities. Three hundred ninety-two (72.6%) of the participants agree on the availability of one or more personal protective equipment (PPE) in the facility ''the reason for the absence of some of the PPEs, like boots and goggles, and the shortage of disposable gloves owes to cost inflation from time to time and sometimes absent from the market''. The observational finding shows that colour-coded waste bins are available in 23 (9.6%) rooms. 90% of the sharp containers were reusable, and 100% of the waste storage bins were plastic buckets that were easily cleanable. In 40 (97.56%) health facilities, infectious wastes were collected daily from the waste generation areas to the final disposal points. Two hundred seventy-one (50.2%) of the respondents were satisfied or agreed that satisfactory procedures are available in case of an accident. Only 220 (40.8%) respondents were vaccinated for the Hepatitis B virus., Conclusion: Hand washing facilities, personal protective equipment and preventive vaccinations are not readily available for health workers. Solid waste segregation practices are poor and showed that solid waste management practices (SWMP) are below the acceptable level., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

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 CO 2 e/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., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study explores the transformative potential of sustainable pork production and processing as a tool to empower tribal women in the northeast region (NER) of India. The NER is faced with multiple challenges, such as poverty, gender inequality, and poor livelihood methods. Therefore, enhancing sustainable production and processing methods for pork, which is their staple food, presents not only an opportunity for the socio-economic development of the region but also an effective tool for the economic empowerment of tribal women. Through a primary survey of pork value chain actors in Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland (the largest producers and consumers of pork in the NER), the study outlines the current practices and barriers to sustainable pork production methods. Although the consumption of pork has remained unchanged and that of processed pork items is on the rise, the production of pork is drastically declining. Therefore, reviving pork production in the NER can be instrumental in building sustainable livelihood models, especially for tribal women in the region. The study explores the effectiveness of a community-based, 'model village approach,' where capacity building around sustainable pork production, processing, and waste management techniques results in the economic empowerment of women. The findings from the post-impact analysis of the capacity-building approach call for policy intervention and the establishment of supportive networks to enhance the growth of a sustainable pork production system across NER, thereby contributing to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets proposed by the Indian economy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Mehta and Bhattacharjee.)

Environmental health services (e.g., water, sanitation, hygiene, energy) are important for patient safety and strong health systems, yet services in many low- and middle-income countries are poor. To address this, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) developed the Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT) to drive improvements. While widely used, there is currently no systematic documentation of how WASH FIT has been adapted in different contexts and the implications of these adaptations. We conducted a systematic scoping review to assess WASH FIT adaptation and implementation, specifically evaluating context and implementing stakeholders, the WASH FIT process and adaptation, and good practices for implementation. Our search yielded 20 studies. Implementation was typically government-led or had a high level of government engagement. Few details on healthcare facility contexts were reported. Adaptation was widespread, with nearly all studies deviating from the five-step WASH FIT cycle as designed in the WHO/UNICEF manual. Notably, many studies conducted only one facility assessment and one or no rounds of improvement. However, reporting quality across studies was poor, and some steps may have been conducted but not reported. Despite substantial deviations, WASH FIT was favorably described by all studies. Good practices for implementation included adequate resourcing, government leadership, and providing WASH FIT teams with sufficient training and autonomy to implement improvements. Low-quality reporting and a high degree of adaptation make it challenging to determine how and why WASH FIT achieves change. We hypothesize that healthcare-facility level action by WASH FIT teams to assess conditions and implement improvements has some effect. However, advocacy that uses WASH FIT indicators to highlight deficiencies and promotion of WASH FIT by WHO and UNICEF to pressure governments to act may be equally or more powerful drivers of change. More rigorous evidence to understand how and why WASH FIT works is essential to improve its performance and inform scale-up., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Background: In intensive care units, it is noticeable that there is intensive use of resources in the treatment and care process, leading to a significant amount of waste generation. In addition, the demand for intensive care, increasing life expectancy and surgical interventions, complex comorbidities and ecological crisis make it necessary to make critical care more sustainable., Aim: To explore the perspectives of nurses working in surgical intensive care units regarding responsible medical waste management, energy and medication consumption., Study Design: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in surgical intensive care units of a university hospital in Turkey in November 2023. Twenty-three nurses filled in an introductory form and participated in a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis., Results: Three main themes were determined: environmentally sustainable intensive care, prevention of waste in intensive care; responsible consumption and recycling; suggestions for institutional and individual behavioural change regarding environmental sustainability., Conclusions: The majority of nurses lack knowledge about sustainable development goals. However, in the intensive care unit, they provided effective and creative solutions for medical waste management, energy and medication consumption and individual and institutional behavioural change regarding environmental sustainability., Relevance to Clinical Practice: Sustainability strategies should be created in institutions to ensure responsible medical waste management, energy and medicine consumption and reduce carbon footprint. In accordance with this purpose, 'Green teams' including unit-based doctors, nurses and paramedics should be established. Training should be provided and awareness should be raised to reduce energy use resulting from heating, lighting, ventilation and air conditioning., (© 2024 The Author(s). Nursing in Critical Care published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Association of Critical Care Nurses.)

Costa Rica is at the forefront of environmental conservation in Central America, with its focus on sustainability and green practices. Building on this foundation, the country joins a cohort of middle-income developing countries that have set forth ambitious goals to eliminate plastic pollution and become plastics-free. Recycling remains one of the most effective ways of removing plastic waste from the environment. Although GIS has been utilized in environmental research, its use is still expanding in developing countries of the Global South. These countries are experiencing unprecedented adverse climate and ecological impacts while also pursuing fundamental socioeconomic growth. The application of more cost-effective and strategic technological solutions, as well as data-driven decision-making, could fast-track the achievement of their urgent environmental goals. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis, this study applies hot spot, location-allocation, and time-distance measures to examine Costa Rica's capacity to recycle plastic waste. Focusing specifically on availability and the public's access to recycling facilities, this article offers insights into the resource constraints and evolution of plastics governance in developing countries with environmentally-focused priorities. The findings of this study suggest that while Costa Rica is implementing progressive plastics regulatory policies, the ability to achieve plastics-free status is hampered by shortfalls in the number and distribution of recycling facilities and the public's access to recycling services. Expanding recycling infrastructure, including transportation, and adopting a less canton-centric waste administration system could contribute to resolving these challenges. This study contributes to discourses on global plastics governance and environmental change management in the Global South., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Brewery by-products are recognised as suitable rearing substrates for Hermetia illucens, better known as black soldier fly (BSF) but information about the impact of different ratios of brewer's spent grains (BSG) and brewer's spent yeast (BSY) are still scarce. This study evaluated the effects of BSG-BSY-based diets on BSF larval growth, survival, bioconversion efficiency, nutritional profile, and microbiota and mycobiota. A total of 3 000 6-day-old BSF larvae were allotted to five dietary treatments (six replicate boxes/diet, 100 larvae/box): (i) BSY2.5 (25 g/kg of BSY+975 g/kg of BSG), (ii) BSY5 (50 g/kg of BSY+950 g/kg of BSG), (iii) BSY7.5 (75 g/kg of BSY+925 g/kg of BSG), (iv) BSY10 (100 g/kg of BSY+900 g/kg of BSG), and (v) control (Gainesville diet). Larval weight and substrate pH were recorded every 4 days. At the end of the trial (5% of prepupae), bioconversion efficiency corrected for residue (BER), reduction rate (RR), and waste reduction index (WRI) were calculated, and the larval proximate composition, microbiota and mycobiota characterised. At 10 and 14 days of age, BSY7.5 and BSY10 larvae displayed higher weight than BSY2.5 and BSY5 (P < 0.05), with BSY10 larvae showing the highest weight among the BSG-BSY-based diets at the end of the trial (P < 0.05). The BSY7.5 and BSY10 larvae also displayed a better BER than BSY2.5 and BSY5 (P < 0.01), whereas similar RR, WRI, survival and development time, as well as pH, were, however, observed among the BSG-BSY-based diets (P > 0.05). The BSY10 larvae displayed lower ether extract content than the other BSG-BSY-based diets (P > 0.001). The use of BSG-BSY-based diets did not influence the alpha diversity of larval microbiota and mycobiota (P > 0.05), but a specific microbial signature was identified per each dietary treatment (Porphyromonadaceae [BSY5], Sphingomonas [BSY7.5], Bacillus [BSY10] and Ruminococcus and Myroides [BSG-BSY-based diets]; P < 0.05). Co-occurrence and co-exclusion analysis also showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia excluded and favoured, respectively, the presence of Streptomyces and Fluviicola, while Clavispora lusitaniae was associated with Myroides (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BSG-BSY-based diets are suitable for rearing HI in terms of larval performance, nutritional profile, and microbiota and mycobiota, with 7.5 and 10% of BSY inclusion levels being able to improve larval growth and bioconversion efficiency., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Refinement of surgical preference cards may reduce waste from surgery. This study aimed to characterize surgeon perceptions and practices regarding preference card maintenance, identify barriers to updating preference cards, and explore whether opinions on environmental stewardship relate to preference card maintenance., Methods: This was a mixed methods survey performed at a single tertiary academic medical center. Surgeons completed questions on accuracy, frequency of updates, and perceived environmental impact of their preference cards. Responses were compared between early career and mid-to late-career surgeons using Kruskal-Wallis, chi-squared, and Fisher's exact tests., Results: The response rate was 46.4% (n = 89/192). Among respondents, 46.1% (n = 41/89) rarely or never updated preference cards. Nearly all (98.9%, n = 87/88) said some of their cases had unused items on their cards. Most (87.6%, n = 78/89) made updates via verbal requests. Unfamiliar processes (83.7%, n = 72/86) and effort required (64.0%, n = 55/86) were viewed as barriers to card maintenance. Most agreed that more frequent updates would reduce waste (80.5%, n = 70/87), but respondents did not feel knowledgeable about the environmental impact of items on their cards (62.1%, n = 54/87). Mid-to late-career surgeons were less likely to update their cards annually or more often compared to early career surgeons (18.9%, n = 7/37 vs. 57.1%, n = 24/42, p < 0.001). No other responses varied significantly between early career and mid-to late-career surgeons., Conclusions: Surgeons acknowledged the utility of preference card maintenance in environmental stewardship, but unfamiliar systems and perceived effort hindered preference card review. Greater attention to preference card maintenance would promote environmentally sustainable practices in surgery., (© 2024 The Author(s). World Journal of Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC).)

Present study assessed the growth of two plant species and ion uptake by them grown on different proportion of industrial solid waste and garden soil. The industrial waste having high concentration of chemicals were used with garden soil at different proportion i.e. 0% (T0), 5% (T1), 10% (T2), 15% (T3) and 20% (T4). Two species namely Conocarpus erectus (alien plant) and Dodonaea viscosa (indigenous) were used as test plants in pot study. Different parameters including growth, physiology, and anatomy of plants and concentration of cations (Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ ) in the plant shoot and root were measured at different time duration (initial, 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th month). The key objective of the study was to use these plants to establish their plantations on the barren lands where industrial solid wastes were being disposed of. C. erectus showed better growth than D. viscosa, as well as more uptake of ions. A significant increase in plant growth was observed in fourth month in T1, where plant height reached 24.5% and 46% for C. erectus and D. viscosa, respectively. At harvest, in C. erectus, no significant difference in the fresh (65-78 g) and dry weight (24-30 g) of the shoot was observed across treatments compared to the control. In D. viscosa, at the time of harvest, the fresh and dry weights of the root and shoot showed a strong, significantly decreasing pattern across T1, T2, and T3, leading to the death of the plant at T3 and T4. Further, optimum ratio of waste soil to garden soil was found as 10:90 and 20:80 to establish the plantations of D. viscosa and C. erectus, respectively in areas where such solid waste from industries are disposed. Findings can be used for the restoration of such solid waste for the sustainable management of industrial areas and their associated ecosystems., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The increase in waste and related environmental problems is one of the major problems compromising health and environmental quality in urban and rural areas. There are a number of policies that can be implemented to reduce waste, but since it cannot be completely eliminated, recycling and disposal facilities for waste will always be required. Researchers and professionals are currently grappling with the issue of where to locate waste facilities. In the light of all this information, a literature review is presented so that researchers can easily access and systematically review previous studies on the waste facility location selection problem. At this point, in order to reduce the reviewed studies to a reasonable level and to conduct a more organized research, this literature research has conducted within the framework of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches, which is one of the most applied methods in location selection problems. The subsequent strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis delves into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the field, offering a concise guide for future research in waste facility location selection problem. The SWOT analysis highlights the strengths of global environmental awareness and versatile MCDM approaches, while addressing weaknesses in emerging technology integration and potential biases. Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and integration of sustainability metrics provide strategic pathways, but threats such as regulatory changes and limited funding underscore challenges. This analysis serves as a concise guide for future research in waste facility location selection., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Freshwater pollution is a major concern in Ghana, directly impacting human health. However, the underlying drivers of exposure and risks are not comprehensively understood, emphasizing the severity and impact of these diseases. This study assessed the interaction between water and human health, specifically focusing on the risk factors for waterborne diseases and the drivers of water pollution among residents near the Tano River Basin, Ghana. A sample size of 400 households was selected from five communities within the basin based on their proximity to the Tano River. In addition, the study combined both spatial and non-spatial data sources to map potential flood zones for the basin. The study found that inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene practices, and contamination from illegal mining were the primary causative factors of waterborne diseases. Additionally, floods and improper waste management significantly contributed to disease outbreaks. The flood susceptibility analysis indicated that areas highly susceptible to flooding cover 21.2% of the basin, predominantly in the southern part. The results highlight the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to address the drivers of waterborne diseases. This study will contribute to the local authorities in developing plans to prevent waterborne diseases and mitigate their economic and public health impacts., Competing Interests: The authors declare there is no conflict., (© 2024 The Authors This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC BY 4.0), which permits copying, adaptation and redistribution, provided the original work is properly cited (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

The utilization of biowastes for producing biochar to remove potentially toxic elements from water represents an important pathway for aquatic ecosystem decontamination. Here we explored the significance of thiol-functionalization on sugarcane bagasse biochar (Th/SCB-BC) and rice husk biochar (Th/RH-BC) to enhance arsenite (As(III)) removal capacity from water and compared their efficiency with both pristine biochars (SCB-BC and RH-BC). The maximum As(III) sorption was found on Th/SCB-BC and Th/RH-BC (2.88 and 2.51 mg g -1 , respectively) compared to the SCB-BC and RH-BC (1.51 and 1.40 mg g -1 ). Relatively, a greater percentage of As(III) removal was obtained with Th/SCB-BC and Th/RH-BC (92% and 83%, respectively) at a pH 7 compared to pristine SCB-BC and RH-BC (65% and 55%) at 6 mg L -1 initial As(III) concentration, 2 h contact time and 1 g L -1 sorbent dose. Langmuir (R 2  = 0.99) isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic (R 2  = 0.99) models provided the best fits to As(III) sorption data. Desorption experiments indicated that the regeneration ability of biochars decreased and it was in the order of Th/SCB-BC (88%) > Th/RH-BC (82%) > SCB-BC (77%) > RH-BC (69%) up to three sorption-desorption cycles. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results demonstrated that the thiol (-S-H) functional groups were successfully grafted on the surface of two biochars and as such contributed to enhance As(III) removal from water. Spectroscopic data indicated that the surface functional moieties, such as -S-H, - OH, - COOH, and C = O were involved to increase As(III) sorption on thiol-functionalized biochars. This study highlights that thiol-grafting on both biochars, notably on SCB-BC, enhanced their ability to remove As(III) from water, which can be used as an effective technique for the treatment of As from drinking water., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ciprofloxacin (CIP), a commonly used antibiotic, is frequently detected in water bodies and the natural environment. The profound health consequences of CIP have led to growing attention focusing on environmental concerns. Adsorption is highly preferred because of its adaptability and remarkable efficiency in removing CIP. Therefore, the current work focuses on synthesizing an eco-friendly and economical adsorbent for removing CIP. The work aims to remove CIP using zeolite X (ZX), synthesized from dolochar, and subsequently modified ZX into iron-modified zeolite X (FeZX) via ion exchange. The synthesized FeZX had a crystallinity of 82.701%, an average pore size of 5.917 nm, a micropore volume of 0.298 cc/g, a micropore area of 451.807 m 2 /g, and a total surface area of 478.521 m 2 /g. The effect of parameters such as initial CIP concentration, pH, contact period, adsorbent dosage, and iron dosage was analyzed in the batch adsorption studies of CIP using ZX and FeZX. CIP removal of 37.786% was achieved using ZX; hence, the adsorption parameters were optimized to maximize the CIP removal using response surface methodology (RSM), specifically Box-Behnken Design (BBD) using FeZX. Maximum removal of 97.974% was achieved under optimum conditions of 8.06 pH, contact period of 59.422 min, CIP concentration of 17.117 mg/L, and adsorbent dosage of 0.478 g/L. Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were the most accurate representations of the experimental data. The findings indicate the significance of using this iron-modified mesoporous zeolite as an adsorbent for efficiently treating CIP wastewater., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Plastic products are now essential commodities, yet their widespread disposal leads to environmental and human health effects, particularly in developing nations. Therefore, developing nations require comprehensive studies to assess the current state of plastic and plastic waste production to enhance plastic waste management practices. This review analyzes the import and export of plastic and the production of plastic waste in Rwanda, aiming to improve waste management practices. This review used open-access papers, reports, and websites dealing with plastic waste management. In this review, 58 articles from the Web of Science and 86 from other search engines were consulted to write this review. The findings revealed that the daily estimated plastic waste produced per person ranges between 0.012 and 0.056 kg. The estimated amount of plastic waste generated per person per year in Rwanda could be between 4.38 and 20.44 kg. Plastic waste accounts for between 1 and 8% of the total municipal solid waste produced per person per day in the country, which ranges from 219 to 255.5 kg. The average annual amount of imported plastics could reach 568.2881 tons, whereas the average quantity of exported plastics could reach 103.7414 tons. This shows that plastic management practices have not yet adopted technically advanced or improved practices, which should concern efforts to protect our environment. This study suggests approaches that can vastly improve plastic waste management and potentially open massive opportunities for the people of Rwanda., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The agricultural processing industry produces a large amount of waste on a global scale whose disposal is simultaneously a nuisance and of special interest. The by-products are rich in bioactive phytoconstituents that might be beneficial to the production of bio-functional textiles. The present work uses agricultural wastes for the eco-friendly dyeing of woolen yarns. Response surface methodology based on 2 3 - Central Composite Design was used to design experiments, evaluate the main dyeing parameters, develop efficient mathematical models to predict the dyeing process, and optimize the procedure. The quadratic regression models developed were found to be statistically significant using ANOVA, with R 2 -value of 0.9734 and 0.9820 for color strength and lightness responses, respectively. Also, eye-soothing tone and hues with a good resistance to durability (4-5) and light (4) were achieved. The banana shell and gallnut bio-mordants improved UV protection by up to 25.33% and 59.79%, respectively. Generally speaking, the results showed that C. Oblonga leaf as well as gallnut and banana shells could be used as whole crop products in an ecologically sound textile dyeing process through a sustainable approach and that the proposed innovative application might serve as an attractive procedure for recycling and green waste management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Poor clinical waste management and its effect on the environment is an increasingly recognised concern for global healthcare systems. Approximately two thirds of waste produced in healthcare is from the operating theatre. In the Republic of Ireland, an estimated 580,977 tonnes of hazardous waste was produced in 2019. The cost of incineration of this hazardous waste is approximately €2,125 per tonne and €935 per tonne for sterilisation. Pollution from incineration is substantial and harmful., Methods: A literature review was performed on the topic of hospital waste management, specifically looking at the Republic of Ireland. A comparison could then be drawn between Ireland, Europe and the United States of America. Observation of our current operating theatre environment and practices were carried out., Discussion: An increased focus towards sustainability and reusable equipment means that there is potentially a decreased amount of waste for disposal, but an increase in the process of sterilisation. Approximately 66% of healthcare related waste is inappropriately contaminated, meaning that significant savings are possible if correct segregation and recycling were to occur. An increase in the amount of bins, identification labels above bins and education of staff results in an increased likelihood of successful segregation of waste. Clear and concise hospital guidelines of what is considered hazardous versus non-hazardous waste will decrease the amount of inappropriately disposed items., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors have declared no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Scottish charity number SC005317) and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Tetrahedron approach is a new environmental tool adapted to assess the sustainability of anthropogenic processes. This tool is based on a four-step methodology that includes (a) the identification of critical parameters, (b) evaluation through the Tetrahedron Parameter Global Evaluator, (c) construction of a tetrahedron diagram based on the final scores and (d) quantitative estimation of the global sustainability. The Tetrahedron incorporates various aspects of sustainability, including economic, social and environmental factors, and provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the impact of human activities. This article presents the methodology and application of the Tetrahedron in determining the sustainability of five case studies: CO 2 capture, unconventional methanol production, the Solvay process, CO 2 -alcoholic fermentation process strategy and the CO 2 -Rumen fermentation process strategy. The results demonstrate the Tetrahedron as an effective and reliable tool to quantify the sustainability of anthropogenic processes and to promote sustainable practices across various industries and sectors. The Tetrahedron offers several advantages over other environmental assessment tools, including holistic approach, simplicity and flexibility., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Plastic pollution has become a global problem since the extensive use of plastic in industries such as packaging, electronics, manufacturing and construction, healthcare, transportation, and others. This has resulted in an environmental burden that is continually growing, which has inspired many scientists as well as environmentalists to come up with creative solutions to deal with this problem. Numerous studies have been reviewed to determine practical, affordable, and environmentally friendly solutions to regulate plastic waste by leveraging microbes' innate abilities to naturally decompose polymers. Enzymatic breakdown of plastics has been proposed to serve this goal since the discovery of enzymes from microbial sources that truly interact with plastic in its naturalistic environment and because it is a much faster and more effective method than others. The scope of diverse microbes and associated enzymes in polymer breakdown is highlighted in the current review. The use of co-cultures or microbial consortium-based techniques for the improved breakdown of plastic products and the generation of high-value end products that may be utilized as prototypes of bioenergy sources is highlighted. The review also offers a thorough overview of the developments in the microbiological and enzymatic biological degradation of plastics, as well as several elements that impact this process for the survival of our planet., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Introduction: The demand for iodine has increased in the last years, among other factors due to increased medical use. There is no consensus regarding iodinated contrast media (ICM)'s damaging impact on the environment and therefore the producers encourage collecting and recycling ICM waste. The aim of the study was to investigate the ICM waste management in hospitals in Central Norway and to explore the radiographers' attitudes regarding ICM recycling and possible causes of suboptimal waste management., Methods: The link to the electronic survey was sent to all radiographers working with computed tomography within the Central Norway Regional Health Authority. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed., Results: Results reported from 100 radiographers from eight hospitals show that ICM leftovers are recycled or reused in most cases (26% collect them for recycling and 38% use them for oral administration) while 25% send them to the pharmacy together with other pharmaceutical waste and 8% discard them in the sink or the garbage bin. 25% reported that they are not familiar with their department's procedures related to ICM waste. 84% were concerned about the consequences of ICM waste for the environment., Conclusion: There were considerable differences in the management of ICM waste amongst the hospitals and also internally within the hospitals. Improper practices, likely caused by lack of disposal plans and/or suboptimal information flow, were reported to a low extent., Implications for Practice: Local ICM waste management guidelines which are easily available for radiographers may increase both reuse and recycle rates. Including ICM waste management in the educational curriculum for radiographers can provide early understanding of the rationale behind the procedures and their environmental impact., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement None of the authors have any conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Atmospheric pressure microwave plasma can synthesize freestanding graphene in a few seconds at ambient conditions. Recent research has explored this method for the synthesis of graphene yet constrained by the utilization of toxic or non-renewable resources. This study aimed to substitute environmentally benign and sustainable precursors, synthesizing graphene from expired tangerine peel oil, an abundant natural source globally. The Raman spectrum of synthesized material showed a characteristic graphene-related 2D peak at microwave powers varied between 200 and 1000 W. The images of transmission electron microscopy revealed interstitial spacing of 0.34, which matched the value of X-ray diffraction calculated through Bragg's law. However, marginal variations in lattice spacing owing to the presence of oxygen functional groups were also observed. Additionally, the as-synthesized graphene deposited on a screen-printed electrode was used to selectively recover silver from spent photovoltaics. Our approach of creating a graphene-silver composite directly from waste material offers environmental benefits, resource utilization, waste reduction, and versatile applications in electrochemistry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Due to the growing population and advancing economy, medical waste accumulation has come to the attention of all facets of society. Although the issue of medical waste management planning has been addressed in developed nations, it still exists in several developing nations. This paper examines the effects of barriers under the Organization action, work handling, and Human Resource Practices section on the healthcare waste management (HCWM) sector in a developing country India. In this study, three hypotheses were constructed and tested using Structural equation modeling. The questionnaire was distributed among 200 health professionals to collect their responses. Ninety-seven responses were received, and 15 barriers were identified affecting the healthcare waste management sector. The results show that all three barriers (i.e., Organizational, Waste handling, and Human resources) hinder the Healthcare waste management sector. Organizational Barriers are the most significant among other barriers. So, the hospitals have to take appropriate actions to overcome these barriers. This paper helps to complete the research gap by providing the different characteristics of barriers. The development of a model for the analysis of barriers influencing HCWM is the Author's original contribution., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Biohythane, a balanced mixture comprising bioH 2 (biohydrogen) and bioCH 4 (biomethane) produced through anaerobic digestion, is gaining recognition as a promising energy source for the future. This article provides a comprehensive overview of biohythane production, covering production mechanisms, microbial diversity, and process parameters. It also explores different feedstock options, bioreactor designs, and scalability challenges, along with techno-economic and environmental assessments. Additionally, the article discusses the integration of biohythane into waste management systems and examines future prospects for enhancing production efficiency and applicability. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and policymakers interested in advancing biohythane production as a sustainable and renewable energy solution., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Banana peel waste is one of the major contributors in the issue raised from solid waste, however, it can be valorized effectively due to high content of cellulose and hemicellulose. Significant conversion of banana waste includes cellulolytic enzymes and bioenergy production. In the present study, bacterial cellulase was produced using raw banana peel and ripe banana peel under SSF. Additionally, impact of acid pretreatment was investigated as one of strategy to improve cellulolytic enzyme production. A comparative evaluation of raw and ripe banana peels showed that ripe banana peels showed better enzyme production after pretreatment with 0.5% dilute HCl acid. In the series of enhancement of the enzyme production, temperature and pH of the SSF medium were also investigated, and found temperature 35 °C and pH 6.0 were optimum to produce maximum 3.5-U/ml FPA, 39-U/ml BGL, and 54-U/ml EG in 18-h SSF incubation. The study presented eco-friendly waste management to produce industrial enzyme for its promising application in waste valorization and biorefinery area., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Cocoa is considered to be one of the most significant agricultural commodities globally, alongside Palm Oil and Rubber. Cocoa is the primary ingredient in the manufacturing of chocolate, a globally popular food product. Approximately 30 % of cocoa, specifically cocoa nibs, are used as the primary constituent in chocolate production., while the other portion is either discarded in landfills as compost or repurposed as animal feed. Cocoa by-products consist of cocoa pod husk (CPH), cocoa shell, and pulp, of which about 70 % of the fruit is composed of CPH. CPH is a renewable resource rich in dietary fiber, lignin, and bioactive antioxidants like polyphenols that are being underutilized. CPH has the potential to be used as a source of pectin, dietary fibre, antibacterial properties, encapsulation material, xylitol as a sugar substitute, a fragrance compound, and in skin care applications. Several methods can be used to manage CPH waste using green technology and then transformed into valuable commodities, including pectin sources. Innovations in extraction procedures for the production of functional compounds can be utilized to increase yields and enhance existing uses. This review focuses on the physicochemical of CPH, its potential use, waste management, and green technology of cocoa by-products, particularly CPH pectin, in order to provide information for its development., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could be perceived as having influenced the work described in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The sustainable agri-food system is an important sector recognized for promoting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals on food security, resource conservation and climate change mitigation. However, the increasing food loss and waste (FLW) along the supply chains has continued to hinder these goals. This study evaluates the trend of FLW research from 1975 to 2022 and how it promotes the achievement of resource and environmental sustainability in agri-food systems. The salient research themes and hotspots that are of interest to researchers were identified. Bibliometric and network analyses were carried out on scholarly research articles from the Scopus database using bibliometrix and VOSviewer. Furthermore, the content analysis was conducted on the selected highly influential articles containing relevant data to understand the role of FLW in promoting sustainable agri-food systems. The results showed disaggregate and unbalanced research distribution on the impacts of FLW among the countries, with China and the United States having the highest contributions. The identified major research themes relating to sustainable agri-food systems are food waste and sustainable systems, food waste management and food waste impact assessment. Moreover, the circular economy was found to be a relatively new approach being explored in agri-food systems to promote FLW reduction and ensure sustainability of resource use. This study highlights the critical role of the impact of FLW in addressing the grand challenge of food security, resource use efficiency and environmental sustainability., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

Higher heating value (HHV) is one of the most important parameters in determining the quality of the fuels. In this study, comparatively large datasets of ultimate and proximate analysis are constructed to be used in HHV estimation of several classes of fuels, including char & fossil fuels, agricultural wastes, manure (chicken, cow, horse, sheep, llama, and pig), sludge (like paper, paper-mil, sewage, and pulp), micro/macro-algae's, wastes (RDF and MSW), treated woods, untreated woods, and others (non-fossil pyrolysis oils) between the HHV range of 4.22-55.55 MJ/kg. The relationships of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atomic ratios for fuel classes are illustrated by using ternary plots, and the effects of elemental composition on HHV was analyzed with the extensive dataset. Then, the ultimate (U) and ultimate & proximate (UP) datasets were utilized separately to estimate the HHV by using artificial neural networks (ANN). Hyperparameter optimization was carried out and the best performing ANNs were determined for each dataset, which yielded R 2 values of 0.9719 and 0.9715, respectively. The results indicated that while ANNs trained by both datasets perform remarkably well, utilization of U dataset is sufficient for HHV estimation. Finally, the best performing ANN models for both U and UP datasets are given in a directly utilizable format enabling the accurate estimation of HHV of any fuel for optimization of fuel processing and waste management operations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Paddy straw is a versatile and valuable resource with multifaceted benefits for nutrient cycling, soil health, and climate mitigation. Its role as a rich nutrient source and organic matter significantly enhances soil vitality while improving soil structure and moisture retention. The impact of paddy straw extends beyond traditional agricultural benefits, encompassing the promotion of microbial activity, erosion control, and carbon sequestration, highlighting its crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Furthermore, the potential of paddy straw in bioenergy is explored, encompassing its conversion into biogas, biofuels, and thermal energy. The inherent characteristics of paddy straw, including its high cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content, position it as a viable candidate for bioenergy production through innovative processes like pyrolysis, gasification, anaerobic digestion, and combustion. Recent research has uncovered state-of-the-art techniques and innovative technologies capable of converting paddy straw into valuable products, including sugar, ethanol, paper, and fiber, broadening its potential applications. This paper aims to underscore the possibilities for value creation through paddy straw, emphasizing its potential use in bioenergy, bio-products, and other environmental applications. Therefore, by recognizing and harnessing the value of paddy straw, we can advocate for sustainable farming practices, reduce waste, and pave the way for a resource-efficient circular economy. Incorporating paddy straw utilization into agricultural systems can pave the way for enhanced resource efficiency and a more sustainable circular economy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Global waste management challenges demand innovative and multi-functional solutions. The Nordic Biogas Model (NBM) based on anaerobic digestion of organic waste and valorization of its outputs provides several benefits beyond waste treatment such as energy recovery, nutrient recycling and climate impact mitigation. Despite these benefits, its international adoption remains limited, revealing an implementation gap. One way to address this gap is to adapt technology and knowledge from the provider to each specific context. This involves the embedding of the technology into the local context and the development of conditions such as formal and informal institutions over time. Based on decade-long interactions with Nordic companies and municipal decision-makers, we highlight the importance of communication between the technology provider and potential adopter, to ensure that the diverse sustainability benefits of NBM are acknowledged. Furthermore, most provider companies can benefit from a systematic guideline that supports early-stage decision-making as an essential component of the adaptation and implementation of the NBM in diverse international contexts. In this article, we offer suggestions for both: (1) how to better communicate the sustainability benefits of the NBM, and (2) how to assess the risk and opportunities of entering new markets at the early stages of decision-making., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

In this work, the effect of microwave-assisted acid treatments on the morphological and crystallochemical characteristics of chrysotile fibers is investigated. A low concentration of nitric acid (0.2 N) is used to remove Mg 2+ -species located in the octahedral sheet of its structure, thereby causing a crystallo-chemical change forming a skeleton of non-crystalline amorphous silica. This skeleton maintains an elongated morphology but characterized by rounded -not sharp-edges and porous surfaces whose physical resistance under stress is reduced when compared with the initial fibers of chrysotile, favoring a lower pathogenicity of the fibers. Thus, microwave-assisted acid treatment rise as a low-cost, fast and effective option in avoiding the dangerousness associated with asbestos waste management., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Medical waste management (MWM) is of concern to the medical and surgical communities in the hospital. Adequate knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the management of healthcare waste are important for the proper handling and disposal by physicians and healthcare workers., Objective: The aim of this study was an assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding medical waste management among operation room personnel in a tertiary hospital., Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted at a single-center government Comprehensive Specialized Hospital operation room from 1-30 September 2022. All specialty operation room healthcare personnel consenting to cooperate and participate were included in the study. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS. The results were presented in texts, tables and graphs., Results: From 130 operation room personnel, the results revealed that the majority of the total respondents were male (83.1%). Only 30 (23.1%) of the respondents were involved in training, whereas 100 (76.9%) of the study participants have not participated in training. It was found that 86 (66.2%) of the respondents had good knowledge, 113 (86.9%) of the respondents had a good attitude, and 27 (20.8%) of the respondents had good practice., Conclusion and Recommendation: The authors' study reveals that the majority of study participants have a moderate level of knowledge, a good level of attitude, and poor levels of practice, according to Bloom's cut-off point. The institution should more fully implement the training for operation room personnel to improve their level of knowledge and practice of medical waste management., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Byproducts and wastes from the food processing industry represent an important group of wastes generated annually in large quantities. It is important to note that the amount of this waste will increase with industrialization, and effective solutions must be found urgently. Many wastes that cause environmental pollution are evaluated by their low-tech conversion into products with little economic value, such as animal feed and fertilizer. Therefore, the evaluation of food processing waste using effective recycling techniques has become an interesting subject with increasing population, ongoing biotechnological studies, and advances in technology. The conversion of food waste into biotechnological products via fermentation is a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and economical method in line with the principles of green chemistry. This approach promotes the reuse of food waste by supporting the principles of a circular economy and offers sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals. This contributes to reducing the carbon footprint, preserving soil and water quality, and providing economic sustainability through the production of high-value products. In this study, the properties of olive mill wastewater, an important and valuable waste in the olive oil industry, its environmental aspects, and its use in biotechnological applications that integrate green chemistry are evaluated.

Plastic pollution in the natural environment poses a growing threat to ecosystems and human health, prompting urgent needs for monitoring, prevention and clean-up measures, and new policies. To effectively prioritize resource allocation and mitigation strategies, it is key to identify and define plastic hotspots. UNEP's draft global agreement on plastic pollution mandates prioritizing hotspots, suggesting a potential need for a defined term. Yet, the delineation of hotspots varies considerably across plastic pollution studies, and a definition is often lacking or inconsistent without a clear purpose and boundaries of the term. In this paper, we applied four common definitions of hotspot locations to plastic pollution datasets ranging from urban areas to a global scale. Our findings reveal that these hotspot definitions encompass between 0.8 % to 93.3 % of the total plastic pollution, covering <0.1 % to 50.3 % of the total locations. Given this wide range of results and the possibility of temporal inconsistency in hotspots, we emphasize the need for fit-for-purpose criteria and a unified approach to defining plastic hotspots. Therefore, we designed a step-wise framework to define hotspots by determining the purpose, units, spatial scale, temporal scale, and threshold values. Incorporating these steps in research and policymaking yields a harmonized definition of hotspots, facilitating the development of effective plastic pollution prevention and reduction measures., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The ubiquitous incorporation of plastics into daily life, coupled with inefficient recycling practices, has resulted in the accumulation of millions of metric tons of plastic waste, that poses a serious threat to the Earth's sustainability. Plastic pollution, a global problem, disrupts the ecological balance and endangers various life forms. Efforts to combat plastic pollution are underway, with a promising avenue being biological degradation facilitated by certain insects and their symbiotic gut microorganisms, particularly bacteria. This review consolidates existing knowledge on plastic degradation by insects and their influence on gut microbiota. Additionally, it delves into the potential mechanisms employed by insects in symbiosis with gut bacteria, exploring the bioconversion of waste plastics into value-added biodegradable polymers through mineralization. These insights hold significant promise for the bio-upcycling of plastic waste, opening new horizons for future biomanufacturing of high-value chemicals from plastic-derived compounds. Finally, we weigh the pros and cons of future research endeavors related to the bioprospection of plastic-degrading bacteria from underexplored insect species. We also underscore the importance of bioengineering depolymerases with novel characteristics, aiming for their application in the remediation and valorization of waste plastics., (© 2024 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

Food waste is produced for intended human consumption and is normally lost, discharged, contaminated, or finally degraded. The rising problem of food waste is increasing rapidly, so every sector is involved in minimizing food waste generation as well as waste management from collection to disposal, and scientists are developing the best eco-friendly and sustainable solutions for all sectors in the food supply chain, from the agricultural sector to the industrial sector and even up to the retailer to human consumption. Sustainable management is needed for the food wastes in the agricultural and industrial sectors, which are a major burning headache for environmentalists, health departments, and the government all over the earth. Various strategies can be employed to effectively control food waste, and these strategies can be ranked in a manner similar to the waste management hierarchy. The most desirable options involve the act of avoiding and donating edible portions to social agencies. Food waste is utilized in industrial operations to produce biofuels or biopolymers. The next stages involve the retrieval of nutrients and the sequestration of carbon through composting. The government implements appropriate management practices, laws, and orders to minimize food waste generation. Different contemporary methods are utilized to produce biofuel utilizing various types of food waste. In order for composting techniques to recover nutrients and fix carbon, food waste must be processed. Both the management of food waste and the creation of outgrowths utilizing biomaterials require additional study. This review aims to present a comprehensive analysis of the ongoing discourse surrounding the definitions of food waste, the production and implementation of methods to reduce it, the emergence of conversion technologies, and the most recent trends., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The growing requirements regarding the safety of using polymers and their composites are related to the emergence of more effective, sustainable, and hazardous-limited fire retardants (FRs). Significant amounts of FRs are usually required to effectively affect a polymer's burning behavior, while the knowledge of their recycling potential is still insufficient. At the same time, concerns are related not only to the reduced effectiveness of flame retardancy but also, above all, to the potential deterioration of mechanical properties caused by the degradation of temperature-affected additives under processing conditions. This study describes the impact of the four-time reprocessing of bio-based polyamide 11 (PA11) modified with an intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) system composed of ammonium polyphosphate (APP), melamine cyanurate (MC), and pentaerythritol (PER) and its composites containing additional short basalt fibers (BFs). Composites manufactured via twin-screw extrusion were subjected to four reprocessing cycles using injection molding. A comprehensive analysis of their structural, mechanical, and fire behavior changes in each cycle was conducted. The obtained results confirmed the safety of using the proposed fire-retarded polyamide and its composites while reprocessing under the recommended process parameters without the risk of significant changes in the structure. The partial increase in flammability of reprocessed PA-based materials caused mainly by polymer degradation has been described.

This research delves into a detailed exploration of the thermal decomposition behavior of bio-based polymers, specifically thermoplastic starch (TPS) and polylactic acid (PLA), under varying heating rates in a nitrogen atmosphere. This study employs thermogravimetry (TG) to investigate, providing comprehensive insights into the thermal stability of these eco-friendly polymers. In particular, the TPS kinetic model is examined, encompassing the decomposition of three distinct fractions. In contrast, PLA exhibits a simplified kinetic behavior requiring only a fraction described by a zero-order model. The kinetic study involves a systematic investigation into the individual contributions of key components within TPS, including starch, glycerin, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This detailed analysis contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the thermal degradation process of TPS and PLA, enabling the optimization of processing conditions and the prediction of material behavior across varying thermal environments. Furthermore, the incorporation of different starch sources and calcium carbonate additives in TPS enhances our understanding of the polymer's thermal stability, offering insights into potential applications in diverse industries.