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The aim of this paper is to draw attention to the relatively simple way how to both increase fire safety of paper technology processing and to remove one environmentally unfriendly and unhealthy chemical substance from the production process. Practical examination of flammability based on standardized testing method STN ISO 871:2010-07 of selected cellulosic material focusing on harvesting specimens and tissue paper bring new insights into the issues of flammability and combustion of the materials and finished products. There are large quantities of combustible raw materials such as a waste paper, pure pulp cellulose, semi-processed materials including not coloured tissue paper and finished products as paper tissues, toilet paper, paper napkins in the technological process of production and processing of tissue paper. The operations of pulping waste paper with hydrogen peroxide is worked to feed the process and the self-ignition combustion in contact with cellulose material. In practice, the hydrogen peroxide can be replaced by enzyme which is more suitable, fire safer substance thanks to its biologic origin also bio-friendly. Experimental testing is aimed at investigating and determining the impact of bleaching agents as hydrogen peroxide and the enzyme samples in contact with cellulosic materials such as recovered paper, pulp and tissue paper. Comparison of specific fire-technical characteristics of the samples of selected cellulosic material, the flash point and ignition in a hot air oven is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistical data, as well as public reports and comments from industry experts, show that the transition of local governments to the digitisation of internal processes has several challenges, mainly related to ensuring sustainability, reducing the impact on the environment, data security, and technical maintenance [2,3]. Therefore, it is essential to assess the situation in local governments and choose the most appropriate support system for Latvia's situation, which would not only be financial support. In public and expert discussions, different visions of the necessary support tools and benefits from the transition of local governments to the digitalisation of internal processes appear. One of the main benefits is reducing paper, which diminishes recycling and resource consumption [5, 6, 11]. The readiness of local government employees for the transition to digitalisation of internal processes has already been written about in previous studies. This study developed four possible scenarios for supporting municipalities in the transition process, and a group of seven experts was selected for their evaluation. The expert survey was conducted in June and July 2023. Five factors influencing the transition were offered for expert evaluation: Technical infrastructure, socialpsychological aspects, legal, security and data protection elements, financial resources, sustainability, and environmental factors. For each group of factors, three factors were suggested to be ranked in order of importance. Then, using the four previously developed support scenarios, the most suitable one was searched using the multi-criteria decision-making method, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The research uses expert surveys, analytical hierarchy process analysis, and statistical data processing methods. As a result of the study, the most suitable support scenario for Latvian municipalities was determined, moving to the digitisation of internal management processes and reducing paper consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Going green... So many projects to reduce environmental impact start this way and continue with the first task being to eliminate printed communication and go paperless and digital. All this is not driven by thoughtful environmental considerations, but by an aversion to paper-based communication that is wrongly anchored in the social consciousness. The authors draw attention to the misconceptions that people have about paper-based communication, showing that they are untrue and that they are often used to greenwash the digital world, thus distracting attention from the harmful environmental impact of their own processes. At the same time, they present the facts against the myths, citing scientific sources and reports, as well as their own research. They analyse the real environmental impacts of paper-based communication and the extent to which technology processes meet sustainability requirements. The world of print communication (including the modern printing industry) attaches great importance to sustainability. The Gutenberg galaxy has provided the basis for the development of human knowledge and culture for half a millennium and plans to continue to play this role in the future. It aims to meet the requirements of environmental sustainability, the circular economy and to work with the rest of the supply chain to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The authors detail and analyse these processes in their work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with processing the waste generated in paper recycling: initial waste of paper mill and sludge after wastewater treatment. The authors have analyzed characteristics of the waste of paper recycling generated in paper recycling plant near Kyiv (Ukraine): calorific value, moisture and ash content. The heating value of waste of paper recycling range from 6.5 to 24 kJ/kg and significantly depends on moisture content. Potential environmental impact depends largely on the physical and chemical characteristics of the waste, first of all on humidity and composition. For comparative analysis, investigated waste (a mixture of initial waste of paper mill and sludge, equal weights) has been thermally processed by several existing methods (used in thermal processing of other waste types): incineration in rotary kiln, incineration in grate incinerator and plasma melting. Each equipment had the same minimal gas cleaning system configuration. The environmental performance of waste processing was experimentally identified. The concentrations of the most common pollutants emitted into the air were measured: fine particles (dust), nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride. Incineration in rotary kiln had over-limit emissions for dust and carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride concentration was close to the limit. For nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide limit excess was not observed. Grate incinerator provided over-limit concentrations for all measured substances except nitrogen oxides. The greatest excess was observed for dust and carbon monoxide (7-8 times). When using plasma melting the authors have measured over-limit concentration only for nitrogen oxides. The data received indicate that regarding to environmental performance the best incineration method for recycling paper waste among those analyzed is plasma melting. Besides, one can assume that minimal gas cleaning system for such incinerators is not enough to capture pollutants effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is necessary to determine the amount of starch in order to find effective methods of controlling it in technological flows of paper mills. Enzymatic methods for starch determination based on the selective action of amylolytic enzymes on starch are promising. Water-soluble low molecular weight dextrins are formed when starch is treated with alpha-amylase. Dextrins are then hydrolyzed by glucoamylase to glucose, which is determined by various methods. Material pretreatment is necessary to increase starch availability for the action of enzymes. Two enzymatic methods were used in the research. The standard SCAN-P 91:09 SCAN-W 13:09 test-method and NArFU-test method (method is developed at the department of biology, ecology and biotechnology, Northern Arctic Federal University, Arkhangelsk, Russia). High-temperature short-term alkaline treatment of the material is necessary according to the SCAN-test method. Two hours alkaline treatment at room temperature is necessary according to the NArFU-test method for pulp, paper and cardboard. Boiling treatment at the initial pH of medium is necessary according to the NArFU-test method for white water. White water samples of the Sukhona pulp and paper mill (Sokol, Russia) were used. White water samples were also obtained in laboratory conditions. It was determined 9- 24 % less starch in the laboratory white water according to the SCAN-test method in comparison with the NArFU-test method and 70% less starch in the industrial whitewater. This is due to the destruction of partially destroyed starch in water under the high-temperature alkaline treatment using the SCAN-test method. The high content of starch remaining after previous production cycles was determined in the pulp fractions of waste paper used for cardboard production. It was determined 9 % less starch in the short-fibered pulp according to the SCAN-test method in comparison with the NArFU-test method, and 14% less starch in the long-fiber fraction. The pretreatment conditions according to the SCAN-test method lead to the determination of a lower starch content. NArFU-test method is recommended for starch determination in technological mediums of paper mills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of paper production a large amount of solid and liquid wastes is appearing. The purpose of the work was the development of a complex technology of water use for enterprises of the pulp and paper industry. Wastewater treatment was carried out by twostep technology, which includes biological method in anaerobic and aerobic conditions. After two-step technology of treatment the COD of wastewater decreased on 95 %. Therefore the wastewater after treating in MBR may be reused in a technological process. This paper explores the possibility of using anaerobic co-digestion of the pulp and paper industry solid wastes with blood from a slaughter house to enhance the potential of methane production. In two weeks of experiments the decrease of cellulose content in the sludge/waste mixture constituted 28%, and in the sludge/waste/blood mixture - 60%. The biomethane quantity in the sludge/waste/blood mixture was more than in sludge/waste mixture on 33%. The researches have proved that the water recirculation technology at a pulp and paper mill may be realized by means of biological and baromembrane methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthworms of species Eisenia fetida (Savigny 1826) (red wiggler worm), are known as eaters of a large range of organic matter, being considered from this point of view real solvers of several issues regarding the wastes management. This study intended to show that paper wastes (copy paper) can be eaten by earthworms Eisenia fetida and thus this type of waste can be managed by introducing it into the diet of this earthworm species. The objectives of the study were two: 1) to determine the relationship existing between this food type and several biological parameters of this earthworm species (survival, weight, and prolificacy); 2) to establish the relation existing between this earthworm's mortality, weight and prolificacy and several soil properties (the concentration of the total nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorus). The experiment lasted three months and has been carried out as a laboratory (microcosmos) experiment. The results showed that copy paper represents an adequate food for earthworms Eisenia fetida (no mortality was recorded in the experimental pots as compared to controls, and the earthworm's prolificacy increased, on average with 65.16% versus control (p < 0.05). Feeding the earthworms Eisenia fetida with shredded paper is appropriate to increase the prolificacy of this species, parameter which positively is correlated with the values of pH, mobile phosphorus and mobile potassium of the soil, and to increase the concentrations of phosphorus and potassium in the soil, but this last aspect requires further investigations, because probably this is an effect on short time. The content of mobile phosphorus of soil increased with 98.56% in the soil containing earthworms fed with shredded paper versus control (soil without earthworms) (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). The parameter mobile potassium of the soil increased with 15.57% as compared with the soil with unfed earthworms (p < 0.05). In this study, feeding earthworms Eisenia fetida with shredded paper was not a way to obtain significant increases of the value of total nitrogen in soil. The body weight of the earthworms fed with shredded paper was found to be positively correlated to the content of total nitrogen of the soil, and negatively correlated to the parameters pH, mobile phosphorus, and mobile potassium. The characteristic prolificacy was found to be positively correlated to the parameters pH, mobile phosphorus, mobile potassium, and no significant negative correlations were found for this biological parameter and the soil factors. There was performed statistical processing of data using Spearman and Kendall Correlations, One Way ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation (p<0.01, p<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the materials of research conducted in the North of European Russia since 2004. We have studied soil, water and bottom sediments of rivers and lakes, biomaterials of the river inhabitants, and ground vegetation. For more than a 10-year period were accumulated actual data on concentrations of mercury in various components of the ecosystem of the mouth area of the Northern Dvina River, especially the interesting situation with the environment around pulp and paper mills (PPM). The main factor determining the amount of mercury in the environment is the presence of a source of income it. And for this region natural sources of mercury have not been identified, but it’s interesting to note that for the selected region is characterized by the presence of a large number of pulp and paper mills, the production cycle of which included mercury (associated with obtaining chlorine used for paper bleaching). In the press there are reports that before the early 2000s, the largest company in the industry located in the mouth region of the Northern Dvina River – leading pulp and paper mill of Russia – Arkhangelskiy PPM was observed discharges of mercury-containing waste into the river. However, since 2004 there is evidence of a gradual transition of APPM on the use of imported chlorine and commissioning method of producing chlorine without the use of mercury. Today Arkhangelskiy PPM – is one of Europe's leading wood-chemical enterprises, located 15 km upstream the Northern Dvina River from the city of Arkhangelsk. The history of this plant began in 1940, when it was launched-paper industry, and now this is one of the largest Russian manufacturers of paperboard, packaging, pulp and exercise-books. At the Arkhangelsk pulp and paper mill since 2004, operates an environmental management system that meets the requirements of international standard ISO 14001. However, during the production using the technological cycle of mercury, this metal and its compounds fell into different components of the environment, where processes of accumulation, transformation and movement were ongoing. Necessary to specify that for a period of 10 years of observations of mercury concentrations in aquifers of the mouth area of the Northern Dvina River tend to decrease. So, if you compare the value of mercury content in water in 2004 and 2014 - the average concentration has decreased in 4,5 times. In our view this shows a reduction in revenues of mercury-containing wastewater directly into the river. Of course, this process cannot happen quickly because for such a long time period local pollution has undergone all elements of the River ecosystem of the mouth area of the Northern Dvina. Significant stocks of mercury accumulated in bottom sediments. We identified elevated concentrations of mercury in near-bottom horizon, which tells about the influence of bottom sediments on the flow of mercury in the water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the transmission of loads imposed by passing trains to railway aggregates utilizing a pressure paper method, which enables the quantification of contact parameters on the interface between the railway sleeper bottom and railway ballast. Modern railway ballasted tracks consist of railway sleepers which fulfil especially the functions related to holding rail strings in the gage and inclination, enable fastening system installation, transmit forces and finally spread wheel loads on the ballast made typically of natural crushed stone. The contact parameters between the sleeper soffit and crushed stone influence the lateral track stability and the ballast wear and thus the aggregates service life. The main parameters are the indentation of grains on the sleeper surface and the contact area and the pressure between the sleeper and the grains. The load distribution transmitted to the ballast bed relies on the sleeper bending stiffness depending on the sleeper structure and applied material. Utilizing pre-stressed concrete, impregnated wood or polymers representing the state of the art among the materials used in the production of railway sleepers, the sleeper stiffness varies as well as the sleeper surface hardness. In this research, ultrathin polyester-based pressure paper with microcapsules developing a red colour agent when applying specific pressure was used between the sleeper soffit and the ballast bed to determine the contact parameters. The laboratory test focused on the most loaded part of the sleeper, the sleeper rail seat. The test was conducted on samples prepared as sleeper sections. The static force reflecting the traffic resembling the load acting on the sleeper samples was calculated using typical linear formulas. A standardized geometric ballast plate made of steel was used for modelling the track bed aggregates at the rail seat. A wide selection of samples prepared from sleepers of a different material and structural basis showed different performances from the perspective of contact parameters on the sleepers’ soffit. The performed test provided enough data for developing a follow-up, full-scale laboratory test with the whole sleeper body in a laboratory ballast box filled with aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main factor of effective biological waste water treatment and pollutants biotransformation is correlation between different nitrogen forms in the media. The waste water specimens were obtained from the pulp and paper mill of the Russian North involving BAS-technology. Concentration of ammonium ions in wastewater was carried out on a spectrophotometer by Sedji-Solorzano method using phenol-hypochlorite reaction. Nitrite ions were determined colorimetrically by diazotization with sulfanilamide and subsequent coupling with N-(1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine to form an intensely-colored azo dye (Greiss reaction). The sodium salicylate method was used for nitrate determination. It was found that organic nitrogen consumption followed by ammonium nitrogen formation occurred during wastewater treatment. The amount of ammonium was insufficient for development of active sludge biomass that required additional introduction of aqua ammonia. The increasing of ammonium nitrogen occurred during ammonification as a result of organic nitrogen transformation. The decreasing of ammonium ion concentration and growth of active sludge biomass in aerobic condition occurred in the bioreactor. The nitrite concentration during biological treatment was low that indicates stable nitrification providing quick transformation unstable nitrite ions to nitrate ions. As a result of organic substances assimilation by active sludge microorganisms the concentration of total nitrogen in dissipating output water was decreased almost twofold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake Baikal is a world heritage site, one of the most valuable sources of a large volume of fresh water of its own purity. A serious threat to the endemic ecosystems of Lake Baikal, which determines the properties of Baikal water, are the wastes from the Baikal pulp and paper mill accumulated over the years of its operation (1966-2003). Sludge accumulators of this enterprise finding on the shore of Lake Baikal. They contains more than 6.2 million cubic meters of various wastes. There is a rather real threat of pollution of Lake Baikal with toxic contents of sludge accumulators in contact with underground waters, storm rains. Baikal pulp and paper mill is located in a seismically active region with frequent earthquakes. This further increases the probability of a catastrophic ejection of a huge mass of sludge-lignin directly into the lake. In this connection it is extremely urgent issue binding and neutralization of accumulated waste and remediation of the territory of the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill. Among the large number of technologies proposed for the processing and conservation of waste from the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill, the main stages of the environmental impact assessment have passed the method of solubling of slime waste. Its essence lies in the fact that when the binder mixture is added on the basis of hydrated and / or quicklime, the sludge is cured [1]. In this paper, a description is given of toxicometric aspects of grouting waste of Baikal PPM. In addition, a new comprehensive approach to solving this problem is proposed. It is includes the following activities: 1) Removal of supernumerary waters at treatment facilities and their purification. 2) Extraction of sludge-lignin waste from sludge accumulator cards and their layer-by-layer fumigation with subsequent thawing and discharge of evolved water to treatment facilities. This operation reduces a 2-fold volume of sludge waste lignin. 3) Mixing of the partially dewatered sludge with different lignin binder components with a view to grouting. Freezing allows you to get a fast-curing, strong, stone-like monolith. Analyzes revealed the necessary stability of the formed product to mechanical action. Using bioassay methods for survival of Daphnia magna and suppression of luminescence of bacteria "Ekolyum" test system shows ecological safety of the monolith formed. The experiments revealed that the toxic components of the waste in the monolith are in a bound state and are practically not washed out when placed in an aqueous medium for a long time. In this case, the smell, characteristic for sludge-lignin waste, is not actually found in the monolith. Comparison of the obtained monolith with products formed by using other technologies of omonivation according to a combination of factors demonstrates its advantages and prospects for the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this article will be focused into the possibilities of 3D printing paper machine called Mcor IRIS HD and also to subscribe the principles of this 3D printer in general. This machine is not well descripted yet; so the main idea is based on how this 3D paper printer works. Also, unlike the other 3D printing materials, this paper technology is not so well-known nowadays. There will be explained how the papers are spliced layer by layer on the building platform inside the 3D printer and the process of cutting the papers into the final model and its supporting material. The workflow begins from the raw model data of the real phenomenon and its properties setting in the computer software. There will be described the printing settings; such as the trajectory of the cutting axis or the size of the model. The knife and glue preparation should be also desribed. Then comes the part of splicing the paper layers with estimated single layer height 0.1 mm (used paper quality 80g) and maximum print size 256 x 169 x 150 mm. This case will be fully described in order to summarize the whole building process. The last but one step is based on removing the completed model outside the 3D printer and cleaning it from the waste supporting parts of paper. In the end there will be shown some pretty example of the impregnation of the final model surface by a special material in order to get the best and constant results. The results should be defined as white or full-coloured models with real colours; its advantages and disadvantages. Showing the low-cost prototypes built only from the white or coloured papers; based on the model properties and usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of a recycled paper or board manufacturer is to make a product that meets customers' specification and requirements. At the present utilization rate, using recycled fibres in commodity grades such as newsprint and packaging paper and board has not caused noticeable deterioration in product quality and performance. The expected increase in recovery rates of used paper products will require a considerable consumption increase of recycled fibres in higher quality grades such as office paper and magazine paper. To promote expanded use of recovered paper, understanding the fundamental nature of recycled fibres and the differences from virgin fibres is necessary. The aim of this work was to follow and qualify the changes at the selected properties of pulp fibers, made up of soft wood composition, by recycling process. The experimental conditions, in term of fibers modification, simulated the process of paper production begun from primary fibers 8-times recycled. The pulp fibers were drying at the temperatures: 80°C, 100 °C, and 120 °C. After each recycling process selected properties (strength-breaking length, tear index, optical -brightness, opacity hand sheets properties) were evaluated. Following result determination of 8-multiple recycling of bleached kraft pulp, made of the mixture of soft woods, was shown that the process of repeated defibering, beating and drying causes irreversible modification in pulp fibres. After the fifth recycling (sixth beating) faulted changes (extremes) were observable in mechanical and optical properties. We interpret these changes as ending of outside and more intense of inside fibrillation and delamination. The influence of recycling number on selected properties of fibres was evident after every beating degree and this effect was markedly proved in pulp drying at higher temperature -120 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the volume of scientific literature has grown rapidly raising an imminent question about its storage and organization. Many research papers are often available only through the websites of the relevant scientific journals. It is an essential problem when different classification codes are used in order to organize these papers or when specific categorization in a certain scientific field is missing. This leads to unnecessary complications in the researchers' aims who want to quickly and easily find literature on a specific topic among the large amount of scientific publications. Simultaneously, the research interest related to the mechanisms of natural language processing is growing because much of the information they work with is unstructured and in the form of plain text. In order to improve and automate the process of organizing and classifying scientific papers we propose an approach based on the technology for natural language processing. This applies the methods of supervised machine learning and two specific algorithms for text categorization - Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Naive Bayes (NB). The proposed approach classifies the scientific literature according to its contents. To successfully execute our scientific research, we used over 200 papers, published in the last four years in the journal "Izvestiya", which is issued by the University of Economics - Varna. The articles explore different topic areas and are written in English. The experiments were conducted with the software product RapidMiner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitization is one of the key development priorities for the European Union, which also applies to three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the Baltic States in the fields of connectivity, digital technology use and e-government. Unfortunately, the progress was different in each of the Baltic States, and there were also serious shortcomings in all the states, e.g. concerning human capital. However, unlike Lithuania, the business sectors of Latvia and Estonia still lagged behind the EU average not only in terms of digital technology integration but also in terms of human capital. Almost half of the population still lacked basic digital skills, and the number of trained ICT professionals lagged behind the growing demand in the labor market. Among all the fields, the Baltic States achieved the best performance in e-government. The progress was driven by the increasing number of citizens actively using e-government services and the increasing availability of auto-completed forms and open data. These problems have been analyzed in the paper by employing the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) index. The European Commission has introduced the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) since 2014 to yearly evaluate the evolution of five key dimensions of the Digital Economy in EU member states. Each dimension reflects a relevant policy area: Connectivity, Human Capital, Use of Internet (citizens), Integration of Digital Technology (businesses), and Digital Public Services. European Commission data for the period 2014-2019 were used for the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review of methods and devices for measuring of the raindrops sizes is considered in the article. A brief classification of the main groups of methods and devices for measuring of raindrop diameters is proposed. These materials could be useful in the development and selection of methods for analysis the characteristics of natural rains and artificial rains which are created by sprinkler machines. It is noted that all existing methods can be conditionally divided into the following groups: direct, indirect, optical, aerodynamic, electrostatic, electrodynamic, etc. A device is considered and includes a body with a plastic membrane, a sound recording unit, a level indicator, a tripod with a rotary head, microprocessor recording system with built-in battery and internal (storage) memory. The design of device differs that it has a level indicator and a tripod with a rotary head, microprocessor with audio recording system. The device can be used to assess the structure, the dynamic effects of artificial and natural rain, and, in particular, to measure the energy characteristics of rain, pressure caused by raindrop impact at the soil and hard surface, studying soils erosion processes, measure of the shape and area covered by rain which produced by moving or operating in positional mode sprinkling machine and stationary irrigation systems. The example of the studying results of the rain structure created by the sprinkler is presented in article. There is a tendency to increase the average raindrop diameter from 0.86 to 1.68 mm counting from the axis of the sprinkler. The average raindrop diameter was 1.68 mm at a distance of 26 m from the sprinkler axis, which is higher than the recommended level (1.5 mm), which is limited by environmental requirements. The raindrop diameters which are measured using filter paper are in the range from 1.2 to 4.5 mm, which is higher than the recommended level (1.5 mm) too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various eco-friendly and cost-effective hydrocarbons clean-up methods based on natural sorbents were developed and tested, in order to prevent the massive environmental damage due to the petroleum spills.Among these sorbents, natural zeolitic tuffs are easily available and have numerous adsorptive properties that make them appropriate for the removal of petroleum substances. This study aims to preliminary investigate the sorptioncapacity of natural zeolites from a deposit located atRacos, Brasov County, Romania for diesel oil sorption. Two different zeolitic materials having particles size <10 micronsand 1-3 mm, thermally activated at two different temperatures, were used in this study. Zeolite samples were characterized in terms of major elements and major oxides contents,using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), after acid digestion and also in terms of Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). For the experiments, an amount of 3.5 g of each adsorbingmaterials was placed in crystallizing glass columns dish, then diesel oil was added until the saturation of the whole bed. Afterwards, the excess of diesel oil was removed using a filter paper. The sorption capacity (SC) was determined by weighing. The results showed SC ranging between0.19 –0.26 g/g, for zeolites with particles size of 1-3 mm and, much higher SC, in the range of 1.5 –1.6 g/g, for zeolites with particles size <10 microns. This study offersvaluable information for the use of Romanian natural zeolites in the clean-up of different media contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution has a negative impact on human health and the ecosystem as a whole. It causes a variety of diseases, such as asthma, various lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, which particularly affect children and the elderly. The aim of the study is to determine how the preparation of melted snow samples for analysis influences concentrations of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) in snow samples. For snow samples analysis ICP-OES spectrometer "iCAP 7000" is used. In study, 180 snow samples are collected in 60 different locations in Jelgava city. Two different sample preparation methods are used to determine Pb, Zn, Ni, V, Cu, Mn in concentration in snow samples. In the first sample preparation method, the snow samples are filtered through a paper filter and acidified to 1% HNO3, while in the second preparation method snow samples are acidified to 1% HNO3, aged for 3 days and then filtered through a paper filter. The results shows that samples that are filtered and then acidified have lower concentrations of contamination than samples acidified with dust. Concentrations of Pb, Zn, Ni, V, Cu, Mn in snow samples between both sample preparation methods differ significantly. The results show that contamination accumulates in dust, and therefore they are the most dangerous to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) is the forum for inter-governmental cooperation on issues concerning the Barents region. BEAC unites 13 regions of 4 member countries – Finland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. The Working Group on Environment (WGE) deals with major environmental challenges. Back in 2003, BEAC issued the Barents Environmental Hot Spots List, which included 42 major polluters located in the Russian part of the Barents region [1]. WGE worked out the “Criteria and Procedure” approach aimed at promoting joint efforts of Hot Spot owners, authorities and financers to design, fund and implement relevant environmental action projects. Owners of several Hot Spots developed and implemented such plans and improved environmental performance of their installations. In 2017, it was suggested considering opportunities of the new Russian legislation on Best Available Techniques (BAT) [2] to set criteria for excluding industrial installations from Hot Spot List. Full Track Procedure associated with the new legislation was approved. Two pilot installations – Mondi Syktyvkar Pulp & Paper Plant (Mondi PPP, located in the Republic of Komi) and Petrozavodsk Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (Petrozavodsk MWWTP), situated in the Republic of Karelia) – volunteered to be excluded by the Full-Track Procedure. Both installations had completed environmental reconstruction programmes in 2013-2019 and agreed to participate in the procedure, retrospectively describing all steps included in the Full Track Procedure. For Pulp & Paper sector, Reference Document on BAT (BREF) was issued in Russia in 2015 [3]. In 2019, BAT-associated Emission Limit Values (BAT-AELs) were officially approved by the Order of the Ministry for Natural Resources and Environment. In Russia, it is decided to regulate Municipal Wastewater Treatment (MWWT) sector by BAT approaches; the first BREF was drawn up in 2015 [4] and reviewed in 2019. Still, BAT-AELs have not been approved yet, though they are clearly described in the BREF. In 2019, Russian and Nordic experts worked out BAT-associated specific exclusion criteria both for Mondi PPP and Petrozavodsk MWWTP. These criteria were discussed with and approved by the regional and international stakeholders. Action plans were prepared in accordance with BAT legislation as Environmental Performance Enhancement Programmes (EPEPs) aimed at meeting BAT-based exclusion criteria. EPEPs were submitted to the Inter-Departmental Commission co-ordinated by the Ministry for Industry and Trade, assessed by BAT experts and approved by the Commission. Thus, Mondi PPP and Petrozavodsk MWWTP obtained official documents stating that they had meet BAT-AELs and can be excluded from the Hot Spot List as installations compliant with the requirements of Best Available Techniques. In 2020, the decision to exclude both pilot installations from the Hot Spot List was officially approved by the Ministers of Environment of Finland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, membrane technologies combining advantages of biological treatment and membrane filtration have been well advanced in the world practice. Application of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for wastewater treatment could be an attractive alternative to recover energy in terms of biogas. The article presents the results of laboratory tests on water treatment in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor with an external hollow fiber module (PVDF). Researches were performed on wastewater of a pulp and paper plant producing various types of technical paper of reclaimed raw materials (waste paper). The anaerobic apparatus operated in mesophilic conditions (36°C); the membrane module was installed on a recycling line. In the course of experiments COD volumetric load was increased stepwise, biogas yield and composition, pH change, acetic and propionic acids were determined, main kinetic constants of the process were identified. Due to the membrane module, complete retention of active anaerobic sludge in the system was achieved, the concentration of suspended solids in the filtrate did not exceed 6 mg/l. The maximal effect of COD treatment constituted 93.8 % at biogas yield 359 l/kg COD. The conducted laboratory studies proved availability of anaerobic bioreactors with remote membrane modules for cleaning industrial sewage of complex composition, in particular, recycled water of pulp and paper industry to create flexible and effective wastewater treatment technologies that meet modern requirements for energy conservation and environmental safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution in cities caused by traffic is an important environmental and health issue worldwide. Air pollution caused by traffic exceeds air pollution from other anthropogenic sources, such as industrial, various heat supply and residential areas. This study analyzes a wide range of pollutants in snowpacks at different intensity roads in one of the largest cities in Latvia in Jelgava. Snow samples are taken from three sampling points at distance of 1 m, 10 m, and 20 m from the roadway. In the study, various metals, namely lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), silicon (Si), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr) are analyzed in the study. Samples are acidified to 1% HNO3, then left for 3 days and filtered through a paper filter. ICP-OES spectroscopy „iCAP 7000” is used for analysis. Most pollutants show similar trends; higher concentrations of pollutants are observed at a distance of 1 m from the roadway compared to samples taken from further sampling points. Concentrations of pollutants decrease significantly at distance of 10 m. Comparing the concentrations of Pb, Zn, and V at a distance of 1m from the roadway and at a distance of 10 m from the roadway, the concentrations of pollutants decrease by 6 to 11 times. The highest concentrations of Cu, Cr, Mn, Pb, V, Zn are located on roadway Jelgava-Riga about 4 km from city center of Jelgava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is focused on the effect of biochar amendment on the soil water content. Biochar used for the field experiment was produced from paper fiber sludge and grain husks (1:1 w/w) by pyrolysis at 550°C for 30 minutes. The field study was conducted at the experimental site in Nitra region Slovakia (lat. 48°19´00´´, lon. 18°09´00´´). The biochar was incorporated into the soil (0-10 cm) in spring 2014. The plots (4m x 6m) were organized in randomized block design. The experiment consisted of 5 levels of biochar application 0, 10 and 20 t/ha (B0, B10, B20) and biochar with N-fertilizer 160 kg N ha-1 (B10+N, B20+N) with 3 replicates. The field had been cropped with corn (Zea mays L.) using conventional tillage. The soil moisture was determined from disturbed soil samples (depth 5-10 cm) by the gravimetric method every week during the growing season (March 2015 - October 2015). The available water storage in the top layer (0.1 m) of the soil profile was higher at all variants with applied biochar as compared to control, reaching the highest cumulative water storage at the higher dose of biochar (20 t ha-1). The total cumulative water storage ranged in the order: Control < B10 < B10+N < B20 < B20+N, resp. 504.4 < 703.5 < 735.0 < 744.2 < 747.4 mm. The difference in the cumulative water content during this specific period varied from +199 (B10) up to +243 mm (B20). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of a special regime of nature management in the Baikal natural territory is the main form of organization of environmental activities and state regulation of the water bodies quality in the Baikal region. At the same time, the rationing of admissible impacts on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal is the main tool for regulating economic and other activities. The implementation of increased requirements in terms of guaranteed preservation of the Lake Baikal water quality was carried out in the period 1964-2014 based on two main approaches. The traditional approach is associated with the application of the most stringent standards stipulated by the national water legislation (fishery MPCs). The regional approach is associated with the development and application of standards for admissible impacts on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal. It is based on limiting negative impacts by prohibiting discharges into Lake Baikal and its inflows of highly toxic and toxic foreign substances, as well as rationing the intake of substances contained in the natural background or moderate toxicity at the level of background concentrations. A brief overview of the main work on establishing standards for the admissible impact on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal showed that the development of relevant standards, primarily aimed to limiting the negative impacts on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal by activities of the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill. Therefore, the closing in 2013 of the Baikal pulp and paper mill determines the need for more detailed accounting and rationing of the effects from other industrial facilities, municipal-domestic services, the tourism industry and transport. Despite the fact that a regional approach to environmental regulation has generally formed, the lack of generally accepted results of environmental monitoring and approved methods for rationing of admissible impact on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal make it possible to call in question any projects of relevant standards. Therefore, only the accuracy of the assessment of the ecological state and the validity of calculations of permissible loads remain the main criteria for developing standards of admissible impact on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal throughout the chain: quality standards - standards of admissible impacts - a list of harmful substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today the concept of e-commerce has become commonly used, and e-commerce has become an integral part of commercial transactions. An increase in the number of global Internet users is the driver of increase in the number of e-commerce transactions. The introduction and role of e-commerce is not well-understood by any manager of a small and medium enterprise. It takes time and money to introduce e-commerce in business, especially in retailing. Enterprise managers need a clear e-commerce introduction strategy to see the potential benefits. The introduction of e-commerce requires a supportive environment affected by various factors. The pace of factor development depends on each country’s ability to take appropriate measures to shape the environment. Latvia and the European Union (EU) have developed policy documents and a relevant legal framework as well as introduced support programs to contribute to an environment conducive to e-commerce in retailing. In Latvia, businesspersons have access to various e-commerce platforms for retail. Research methods. The present research employed general research methods, logical construction as well as analysis and synthesis. The research period: data were analyzed for the period from 2010 to 2020. The sources of information used: specific economic literature, research documents and scientific conference papers, World Data, EU legal documents, Eurostat data, World Trade Organization data, laws of the Republic of Latvia, data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia as well as eBay, Amazon, Etsy and website ss.com data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Russian Federation, according to the United Nations, the area covered by forest is 8.5 million km². Due to the available sufficient reserves of forest resources, the enterprises of the timber industry complex have developed significantly. In the conditions of a modern competitive economy, for the purpose of their further development, timber industry enterprises are forced to maintain investment activity at a high level, to optimize technological processes and modernize production equipment. The article present the analysis of investment projects of the largest forest industry enterprises of the Arkhangelsk region of the Russian Federation (Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill JSC, Sawmill 25, CJSC). At the same time, factors to reduce the cost of raw materials for processing enterprises of the forest complex are considered, and a comparison of the types of round timber transportation is presented. The dynamics of timber supply is considered on the example of the enterprises of the Arkhangelsk region. In Russia, forest use is unsustainable. Currently, the estimated cutting area in the Arkhangelsk region is just over 20 million m³. At the same time, the volume of logging is only half of the calculated cutting area. The main reason for this is the underdevelopment of the road network necessary for the removal of harvested wood. This leads to the fact that the allocated logging fund is currently located geographically unevenly and to places where there are timber carrying roads. The road network needs to be expanded, but in modern economic conditions it is extremely difficult to do, therefore, where possible, it is necessary to develop the transportation of timber along natural transport arteries - rivers. At the same time, the method of rafting in timber transport units is the most economically viable. At present, small and medium-sized rivers are practically not used for timber rafting due to the small dimensions of the timber rafting. To include them in the logistics of transport processes, it is necessary to complement the existing technologies of rafting round timber. The article present the analysis of modern developments of rafting units suitable for rafting in conditions of limited dimensions of the wood-alloy course, examines the main scientific developments for determining the hydrodynamic and inertial characteristics of rafting and forest transport units, presents the results of mathematical planning and classical study of the hydrodynamic characteristics of rulers from flat rafting units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River basin management is at present of great importance as a response of the increased frequency of extreme hydrological events in a changing climate. The emerging need for streamflow control awaits a capable hydrological outcome. Data collection and processing are the essence of a proper representation of the hydrological processes in a watershed. The main objective of this study is to introduce an approach for a watershed spatial variability processing hence determining the parameters for building up a hydrological model. The ArcSWAT geographic information system (GIS) interface for the Soil and Water Assessment Tool is used. Geographic Information System (GIS) is a very successful tool for analyzing spatial relationships between important hydrologic features such as rivers, diversions, drains and monitoring points. The ArcSWAT model is a geodatabases system storing the Soil and Water input information and results. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is an open source watershed scale, semi-distributed hydrological model. Preprocessing of the initial inputs to the SWAT model via the ArcSWAT GIS interface is presented in this paper: digital elevation model set-up for a selected watershed, soil properties and landcover data processing, integration of the attributed data, determining the basic hydrologic parameters for which SWAT model calculations are performed. Statistical evaluation and analysis of the outputs are also presented together with outlines for their further use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of pulps and paper has a variety of negative influence on the environment. There are some technologies which can moderate the negative impacts and they have also a positive economical effect (e.g. paper recycling). It causes the paper alterations, which results in the degradation of their physical and mechanical properties. The recycling causes a chemical, thermal, biological and mechanical destruction, or their combination. The aim of this work was to investigate changes of macromolecular weight distribution (MWD), polydispersity (PD) and degree of polymerization (DP) of recycled hardwood pulp fibres. These attributes were measured by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of cellulose tricarbanilates (CTC). From the experimental results can be concluded that the changes of investigated properties are not linear throughout the recycling process. Generally, decrease of DP values in consequence of glycosidic bonds splitting was observed. Moderate increase in some stages of recycling is due to cellulose cross-linking, amorphous part of cellulose degradation, as well as various states of fibres at various recycling stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processing the waste paper produces huge amounts of waste - papermaking sludge. This kind of waste includes around 50 % of inorganic material and high proportion of water. Its current economic recovery is very limited, which affects the overall efficiency of recycling paper. However, the elementary and chemical composition has a high potential for wider and more economically efficient use in various industrial fields. The object of this paper is research of composition and physical properties of such sludge from old paper recycling. The work analyzes the possibilities of the sludge material recovery and aims to develop a new product for the construction industry - building plates with different physical properties and their areas of application. Realized experimental research has shown high potential of material recovery of this waste. Research results show that the new product developed on the basis of the papermaking sludge achieves excellent mechanical properties. Thanks to this way, the material recovery of sludge from old paper recycling obtains not only economically efficient new product but also environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of cellulose-based aerogel production and its application to oil product clean up from the water surface was performed in this research work. Three kinds of aerogel with 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 wt. % of cellulose have been produced. The analysis of aerogel's maximum sorption capacity as well as its regeneration for sorption of crude oil, marine diesel oil (MDO) and biodiesel sorption from water surface were performed during this study. It was found that the best sorption properties have 7.5 wt. % cellulose aerogel and it is best suited for crude oil recovery. Moreover, crude oil products sorption capacity after aerogels reusing 10 times decreased from 9.964 to 5.649 g·g-1, as well as for the marine diesel oil – from 9.108 to 6.376 g·g-1 and for biodiesel – from 7.921 to 5.649 g·g-1 respectively. Using the squeezing method for aerogels regeneration up to 43% of sorption capacity was lost after 10 sorption/regeneration cycles. The best sorption properties after regeneration had aerogel with 5.0 wt. % cellulose [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, there have been significant efforts to develop new means of assessing progress beyond GDP in recent years. The recent publication by the UN Secretary-General of a policy brief (UN, 2023) is inviting member states to move beyond GDP by measuring what truly matters for sustainability and prosperity. The policy brief outlines the shortcomings of GDP as an indicator of summarizing everything too much and revealing too little to be able to adequately inform policy (UN, 2023; pp. 12). This paper will present a review of a number of recent documents (2019 - 2022) published by international agencies to explore their views on the role and types of growth to achieve their objectives such as reducing emission, improving resilience, protecting biodiversity and so on. The paper will discuss two approaches to growth and development. Most of the listed reviewed documents suggest approaches for governments to move towards sustainable, inclusive, and sustained economic growth. Second set of recommended approaches focuses on the importance of broadening the indicators used to describe economic growth, often referred to as "moving beyond GDP". The paper will provide details on each of the suggested approaches and potential linkages and win-win solutions to improve pressing global challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the EU's perspective, energy efficiency is one of the most effective ways to reduce energy consumption and contribute to the fight against climate change. Recent studies have shown that energy efficiency alone is not sufficient to achieve sustainable development goals. The real challenge is to combine energy efficiency with energy sobriety. This work aims at raising a debate about the relationship between energy efficiency and energy sobriety and at studying how the principle of sobriety works. In particular, the objective of this paper is to investigate how the principle of sobriety is expressed in the acts of private autonomy and to show how civil law relationships, inspired by the principle of energy sobriety and thus subject to a positive "control of merit", can contribute to a bottom-up, just and inclusive energy transition and to adaptation to climate change, in accordance with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the EU Adaptation Strategy and, more generally, the UN 2030 Agenda (Goals 7, 11, 13). This paper uses legal institutes and arguments of "civil law and constitutional legality" applied to energy and links them to real-life experiences with a normative approach. The work also has to be considered as the outcome of an empirical analysis of two case studies: L'Aquila Rugby Association, Centre Italy; Cooperativa di Comunità in Melpignano, Southern Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is volumetric quantification of soil erosion using the so-called erosion bridge. For the measurement, a locality in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic was chosen. With the erosion bridge, we can measure erosion rills. Rill erosion is caused by concentrated water flow. It occurs when runoff water forms small channels as it concentrates down a slope. The erosion bridge is a very simple device that enables us to accurately measure the shape of the soil surface in a given place. It was designed and created at the Institute of Landscape Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology. The erosion bridge consists, besides other parts, of a rectangular steel frame to which needles are attached. These needles are lowered onto the terrain, copying its profile. Using this method, we get photos of the profile of the terrain, which are subsequently evaluated using a software program and exported into a DXF file that can be opened in AutoCAD. It is then possible to calculate soil loss. This paper also deals with the analysis of the chosen locality in terms of runoff and erosion conditions. This analysis was made by using geographic information systems, mainly ArcGIS Pro software program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arid and semi-arid regions, including Cyprus, are increasingly experiencing severe weather events due to climate change. These events, characterized by prolonged droughts and flash floods, pose significant challenges to the environment, economy, and societal well-being. This paper aims to analyze the challenges of Flood Risk Management (FRM) in dry areas, focusing on Cyprus as a case study. It reviews historical data on temperature and rainfall patterns, flood types, and severity to propose effective, nature-based mitigation measures. The study examines temperature and rainfall trends over the last 30 years in Cyprus, categorizes floods since 1859 based on severity, and identifies prevalent flood types. The investigation reveals a decrease in annual rainfall and an increase in average temperatures in Cyprus, leading to heightened flood risks. The study categorizes floods into fluvial, pluvial, flash, and coastal types, with pluvial floods being the most common due to urbanization. The paper underscores the role of community and individual participation in adopting nature-based solutions such as permeable materials, rain gardens, tree planting, and roof gardens. Addressing flood risks in Cyprus requires a combined effort of government initiatives and community engagement. The adoption of sustainable, eco-friendly practices can significantly mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on flood hazards. This holistic approach is imperative for enhancing resilience against future climate-related challenges in Cyprus and similar arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firstly, this paper is focused on the analysis of runoff and erosion conditions in the chosen locality, which is in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. The analysis was made using geographic information systems, mainly the ArcGIS Pro software program. Water erosion endangers more than fifty percent of arable land in the Czech Republic. Unfortunately, there is no systematic protection of the majority of soil erosion-threatened areas that would prevent further losses. One of the main causes of this is the fact that the Czech Republic has the largest blocks of arable land in Europe due to agricultural intensification production, which began with collectivization and subsequent consolidation of small fields into large ones. Instead of a colourful landscape mosaic, it is now made up of uniform fields. The consequence is a reduction in the natural resistance of the Czech landscape to water erosion, drought, and floods. Another problem facing agricultural areas is that pollutants are often introduced into the recipient via surface runoff or drainage water. Thus, secondly, this paper deals with the evaluation of water samples taken in the locality from a main drainage facility and a stream with the aim of investigating how agriculture affects water quality. Chemical parameters determining water pollution were selected, such as nitrogen or phosphorus content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the use of paper is, first and foremost, an essential factor for environmental economics and sustainability. Digital transformation is also one of the tools supporting the environmental economy, improving business efficiency and reducing costs in the following ways: reducing errors and processing times and increasing security and confidentiality. In the document on Digital Transformation Guidelines 2021-2027 (Cabinet of Ministers Order No 490 of 7 July 2021 on Digital Transformation Guidelines 2021-2027. https://likumi.lv/ta/id/324715), one of the visions of the action sub-action: Fully digitised and data-driven core activities of public administration (4.4.9.3) is "Public administrations and local authorities organise their work and cooperate exclusively digitally, using a single structured data space accessible to all authorities". Starting the digital transformation process and implementing an environmental economy requires planning, strategy development and a change of thinking in the company. For this reason, it is essential to understand the current situation and readiness for change. The aim of the study is to find out the preparedness of Liepaja state municipality companies to switch to a paperless municipality. The research highlights opportunities, weaknesses and recommendations for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high jewelry industry, and its supply chain, are considered complex systems that have positively affected the global economy as well as potentially harmed the environment and society due to its resources exploitation. As a consequence, consumers are increasingly demanding for sustainable processes that guarantee traceability through the extraction and manufacturing phases. The aim of this paper is to present and evaluate potential solutions for the traceability of high jewelry raw materials. First of all, this paper is intended to analyze how recent initiatives have demonstrated that the mining process is the most challenging one in terms of sustainability. Secondly, the paper focuses on Information technologies, including Blockchain-based technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Non-Fungible Token (NFT) and Near Field Communication (NFC). To address this issue, high jewelry companies and organizations have started integrating these technologies providing superior alternative in terms of verifiability, traceability, and security in comparison to paper-based methods. To this end, this paper offers a detailed overview of current methods of traceability for precious high jewelry raw materials, including gold, diamonds, and colored gemstones. In conclusion, the paper presents a comparison of different methods of traceability available, considering and evaluating opportunities and challenges for existing methods as well as potential new initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investment projects aimed at brownfield revitalization have significant potential for the economic development of the area where they are located. Such a project usually removes old environmental burdens or deals with a problem with non-functional or dilapidated buildings. However, an appropriately set investment plan which respects internal territorial economic connections as well as the character of surrounding environment can provide solutions to other regional problems or implement economically beneficial activities both in the commercial and public sectors. Previous research identified and analysed in detail several brownfield revitalization case studies of various characteristics. The purpose of the presented paper is to synthesize the obtained information on the economic evaluation of individual brownfield types in order to determine a common platform for the evaluation of the economic efficiency of investment revitalization projects. The output of the paper presents a general overview of key input data for economic analysis including a proposal of its determination and evaluation resulting in a development of a key method for its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste treatment is considered one of the critical environmental issues. Waste should be understood not only as a source of pollution but as a raw material. Nevertheless, we need well-sorted waste for recovery. Separate collection of municipal waste is an activity in which components of municipal waste are separated. It is based on the conscious activity of citizens, who primarily sort the relevant raw materials. At present, the citizen is obliged to sort waste by law in Slovakia, and the municipality is obliged to create conditions for separation by a suitable system. By obtaining current data, it will be possible to anticipate the development of waste management and propose modifications so that as much waste as possible is separated. This paper is focused on the analysis of the development of selected types of municipal waste, for analysis was selected locality in Slovakia with different types of urbanization. Specifically, we will focus on plastics, paper, metals, and glass. By comparing the obtained data, we will determine the scheme of the probability of waste development for the following years. The obtained data will also serve to analyze further the waste management framework in Slovakia and the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

strength and good paper-forming properties. Recycling of fibers decreases their strength. It happens partly due to the removal of xylan, which plays an important role in interfiber bonds formation in a paper sheet. A priority task is to increase the number of cycles of paper package processing. This problem can be solved by hydrophilic xylan adsorption on pulp fibers. Spent neutral sulphite liquor after hardwood semichemical pulping was used as a source of xylan. Dissolved xylan had an average polymerization degree about 100, its macromolecules were nanoparticles of about 50 nm in length. Xylan was adsorbed on the fibers surface after kraft pulp treatment by neutral sulphite liquor. The mass fraction of xylan increased by 3.4 %. The xylan nanoparticles were capable to penetrate into the porous structure of pulp fibers. The infrared spectroscopy method showed the formation of strong hydrogen bonds between adsorbed xylan nanoparticles and cellulose macromolecules. The duration of pulp beating reduced by 18% and the breaking length and bursting index of paper sheets increased by 11-18 % when softwood kraft fibers contained adsorbed hardwood xylan. The modified pulp and reference pulp underwent four beating cycles. The retention of the adsorbed xylan provided a higher mechanical strength of the hand sheets due to a reduction in fracture during pulp beating when it reached an equal beating degree. Thus, the adsorption of hydrophilic xylan by cellulose fibers increases their processing cycle number and reduces cardboard and paper containers costs production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial production of pulp and paper generate large amounts of solid and liquid residues, particularly sludge from wastewater treatment and ash from the biomass furnace, requiring economical and environmental methods of disposal. These residues are usually incinerated, landfilled or applied to soil, but other are uses are increasing in Europe. Several studies have demonstrated that soil application in forestry is an economically viable practice and promotes soil quality and forest productivity. However, soil application must be done according to an implementation plan in the order guarantee the best environmental practices and legal requirements, always taking into consideration forest productivity. Composting of pulp and paper industry residues is an environmental sound option to the direct application of those residues to the soil. However, the costs of the composting process require a sustainable management plan. This management plan must be based on field data, in order to determine composting conditions requirements and the final compost quality. To obtain this data, a mix of residues from pulp and paper industry using eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) was prepared with: primary sludge (46% v/v), secondary sludge (46% v/v), fly ashes (2% v/v) and, as bulking agent, milled eucalyptus bark (6% v/v). This mix, with an initial C/N ratio of 2, was composted in a 1.2m³ insulated plastic container, with mechanical turning, to simulate the conditions normally occurring in a windrow composting process. Temperature, moisture, pH and electrical conductivity were regularly controlled. Mechanical turning provided aeration and the homogenization of the mix. The raw materials, the composting mix and the final compost were chemically, physically and biologically characterized. The composting process, carried out during 3 months, reduced the initial volume of the mix by roughly 60%. The mature compost obtained showed no phytotoxicity or bad odor, was easier to handle than fresh sludge, presented a low level of heavy metals, and showed good potential as organic fertilizer (organic matter 44g 100 g-1; pH 7.6; electrical conductivity 0.54 dS m-1; total nitrogen 1.7 g 100 g-, phosphor 1.0 g 100 g-1). An economical evaluation, comparing the application of fresh residues to their compost to the soil, was developed for a region in the southwest of Portugal (Palmela and Montijo). This study indicated that composting is an economical option for pulp and paper industry residues treatment if the process costs are below 8.05 € t-1. Moreover, composting increases the end uses of the residues (more uses for compost than for the untreated residues) and reduces the possible adverse environmental effects from fresh residues application, while reducing environmental impacts associated to fossil fuels consumption for their transport and soil application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is focused on the possibility of creation teaching aids with using colour 3D printers. The main emphasis will be given to MCOR IRIS HD printing machine. The usage of teaching aids and models representing the real phenomenon is quite useful in many scientific spheres. Nowadays we can achieve these models in various ways from the classic machine-tools to modern 3D printers which became very popular. The technology of MCOR IRIS is one of the latest in the field of the 3D printing. The printer uses ordinary white or printed papers as its printing material. Paper sheets are glued and cut by the special knife. This technology allows the production of fully coloured and relatively cheap models. There are still several limits such as sharp edges or the duration of the building process which can destroy the results. On the other hand, the printer is easily able to build a lot of different models (including tactile maps, houses, volcanos) in comparatively good quality and short time. The paper discusses the strength and weakness of mentioned technology focusing on data accessibility and models preparation. The main benefit is an easy and accessible creation of models for the scientific researchers and exhibitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is structured in two directions. The first one presents issues related to technical losses within a construction project. The second one analyzes the integration of technical losses resulting from building materials in a circular economy, as they occur from 2 projects. Each project assesses costs and specific situations for each type of material based on the profile of each presented project. Benefits of technical losses management from building materials and waste are identified as they can be engaged into the circular economy, exemplified for the 2 analyzed projects. In the case of concrete, we bring to the attention of readers that its casting in the elements of site's evolution must be closely correlated with the casting of the elements of the site organization, for the 2 budgets to overlap and only one expense is made. For concrete steel it is important that its optimization is made from the shaped iron fasteners as they are part of the purchase cost, therefore they do not represent a supplementary cost for the project's budget. The importance of finding the optimal solution for reuse of used materials or technological losses brings us to the point in which the construction industry needs to change its approaching strategy on materials consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The areas occupied by permanent grasslands constitute one of the most important ecosystems of the Earth, occupying almost half of it. The use of land covered by grasslands and climate changes are the main stressors of grass communities and implicitly of grassland ecosystems. Its multifunctionality (food source for ruminants, insect habitat, means of soil and water conservation, as well as outdoor activities, etc.) is gradually affected, thus diminishing the mentioned functions. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the evolution of some indices characterizing permanent grasslands over a three-year period 2020-2023. Observations were made for three years on two permanent grasslands located in the vicinity of Hitia? and Căpăt (belonging to the same UAT Racovi'a). The monitored indices were the agronomic ones, namely the pastoral value (PV), the grazing capacity (GC), as well as the ecological ones (the Shannon-Weaver and Simpson indices). For each analyzed permanent grassland, three analysis points were taken and the resulting data represent the average. The analysis methods were the linear one to study the vegetation and the indices, and correlation analysis was used for the statistics. Thus, it may be concluded that there are differences from one year to the next in the structure of the vegetation and in grassland communities. This aspect is also reflected in the agricultural fodder potential of the studied grasslands. The results of this study enable starting points for urgent measures to improve these permanent grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines sustainability reporting trends of 50 NZX-listed companies, focusing on their effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. As sustainability reporting remains largely voluntary, unregulated, and inconsistent, this study investigates the current status quo in ESG/sustainability reporting in New Zealand. As a result, it provides managerial advice on what currently constitutes effective sustainability reporting. This paper of qualitative nature explores reporting practices across five key criteria: report type, adopted reporting frameworks, type of adopted governance within an organisation, type of adopted assurance and trends in social disclosures. The findings point to improvements in the quality of sustainability reporting in New Zealand, however, find that most organisations fall short of international standards. The study underscores the necessity for a balanced disclosure of material issues, suggesting the adoption of the GRI and integrated reporting frameworks need to deliver a comprehensive picture of a company's value creation. Additionally, it offers key recommendations for making sustainability reporting more meaningful. This includes disclosure of both positive and negative impacts, data sources, methodologies, and key assumptions used. Furthermore, it identifies the importance of stakeholder engagement to assess and address organisational material impacts, the necessity to adopt clear measurable sustainability goals, and the use of third-party verification for the enhanced reports' credibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), as a significant step forward in the testing of good practices in environmental taxation. The main objective of this mechanism is in fact to shift the focus from the mere obtaining of tax revenues towards the achievement of climate objectives. The European Commission has introduced this tool aware of its leading role in the environmental field, aiming to influence the decisions of third countries in the fight against the global climate emergency. However, the CBAM raises concerns about its potential use as a tool for European market protectionism, creating tensions with the world's main economic players. Despite the critical issues, the CBAM proposal could accelerate the convergence of legal systems and foster scientific evidence regarding the relationship between global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, in addressing global environmental challenges. In a world where global emergencies require global responses, CBAM can therefore become an important tool to prevent the circumvention of law enforcement mechanisms and penalize non-virtuous behavior. In this context, environmental taxation, now supported in many countries by direct constitutional coverage, can play a strategic role in the implementation of international commitments, promoting an ecological transition with an eye to sustainable development and the effective allocation of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of energy self-sufficiency is currently crucial. The concept of energy selfsufficiency is closely related to the concept of energy security; yet, there are many definitions for the term energy security. The essence of all of them is for a country to secure enough energy resources to cover its needs. If a country can secure these resources on its own without depending on imports from other countries, one refers to energy self-sufficiency. Energy self-sufficiency can be achieved in a number of ways such as reducing energy demand, improving fuel efficiency, securing physical infrastructure networks, increasing storage capacity, or increasing the use of renewable energy sources. Fundamental forms of energy self-sufficiency are external self-sufficiency, internal selfsufficiency, and energy consumption; overall, energy self-sufficiency consists of four components: availability; affordability; energy and economic efficiency; and environmental stewardship. Low energy self-sufficiency has a significant economic and social impact, which is reflected in a country's balance of payments and employment, it can lead to economic crises and price instability. Lack of access to reliable and affordable energy can result in food insecurity; health problems; limited access to education, social and economic development. The linkages between energy, food self-sufficiency, and self-sufficiency of water resources are considered in terms of the so-called WEF Nexus (Water-Energy-Food Nexus) that focuses on the interconnectedness of water, energy and food systems to promote sustainable development and address global climate change. Based on the application of scientific methods in relation to the investigation of energy self-sufficiency (the "E" Matrix in the framework of the WEF Nexus) on the background of quantitative & qualitative sustainable development and CSR trends, the main aim of our paper is to assess energy self-sufficiency in the context of the WEF nexus as well as in the light of the United Nations 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to formulate opportunities arising from the European Union Recovery and Resilience Plans. When documenting quantitative & qualitative sustainable development trends in the context of the WEF Nexus, our paper addressed the United Nations 2030 Agenda (alias "SDG diplomacy") as well as the NextGenerationEU Agenda (alias "Green Deal diplomacy"). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current energetical context, there is a need to diversify energetically independent applications. The presence of energetically independent vending systems is necessary in the smart cities of the future and beyond. Energetically independent vending equipment must ensure the delivery of cold or hot products with low energy consumption. Reduced energy consumption and the use of environmentally friendly sources lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time to higher energy autonomy. The paper presents the results obtained from testing the innovative experimental sales system developed to study the energetic efficiency of this equipment. The innovative sales system is a complex system that integrates energy production and storage, cooling and heating systems. The fully automated system allows cold storage of products and their subsequent delivery, cold or hot, on demand. The vending system was powered by electrical energy from an array of photovoltaic panels. The results obtained, summarized in the paper, lead to the possibility of developing stand-alone vending equipment with significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in urban agglomerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to make the transition to a low-carbon economy and sustainable transport system and solve environmental and climate problems, many countries are replacing traditional cars that run on petroleum fuels with electric cars. Unlike vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE), electric vehicles' emissions from the operation phase are practically zero, but this is not the case if we consider the full life cycle. In this paper, we briefly describe the electric vehicle market, examine the life-cycle emissions of electric cars and ICE cars. The novelty of this study is in a methodological approach to the economic assessment of the negative impact of emissions from road transport and in a comparative assessment of the external costs of cars that run on traditional and alternative fuels. We applied the methodology of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which allows calculating country-specific and time-adjusted value of a statistical life. In this paper the characteristics of Russia's energy balance and automotive market are considered. We came to results that, in general, in this country electric cars are more environmentally friendly and contribute less to climate change than cars with internal combustion engines. The external costs caused by life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of an electric car are lower than similar emissions from a traditional car. The external costs caused by emissions of pollutants from the electric car operation phase are lower than external costs caused by emissions from an ICE car. The proposed study could be of interest for policymakers in other countries to develop measures for sustainable transport system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, marked by rising temperatures, poses significant health risks to indoorbound individuals. This paper stresses the need for proactive public health measures, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly and economically disadvantaged who lack access to air conditioning. As heatwaves worsen, traditional solutions, like energyintensive air conditioning, are problematic due to increased energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and cost issues. Instead, this paper proposes an affordable solution: electric fans, natural ventilation, and window shadings to combat heat stress indoors. The study examines the effectiveness of electric fans, window shading, and natural ventilation in mitigating extreme heat's impact. Findings show a notable reduction in heat exposure, even in worst-case scenarios, with electric fans reducing heat strain hours. The methodology employs EnergyPlus and Design Builder software for a comprehensive numerical simulation of a sample building representative of the ones constructed between 1961 and 1975 located in Trieste, Italy. The simulations employ historical weather data, extreme conditions, and future projections to enhance the analysis's depth and relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing impacts of climate change have necessitated a comprehensive reassessment of large infrastructure projects, particularly highways, to ensure their resilience and sustainability. The article focuses on the analysis of climate change vulnerability, mitigation measures, and adaptation strategies within the context of a major highway project in Romania. With climate change accelerating, highways in Romania are becoming increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, shifting precipitation patterns, temperature fluctuations, and related environmental changes. The paper highlights key findings from vulnerability assessments, emphasizing the project's exposure to climate-induced risks and its implications for the highway's infrastructure. Mitigating the impact of climate change is a fundamental objective for this highway project. The article discusses mitigation efforts, which include minimizing greenhouse gas emissions during construction and operation phases, incorporating sustainable construction materials, and adopting energy-efficient technologies and practices. These measures align with Romania's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. Also, the paper outlines adaptation measures, such as engineering design solutions to withstand extreme weather events, the integration of flexible design elements, and the establishment of climate monitoring and early warning systems to mitigate disruptions. In conclusion, the article underscores the urgency of integrating climate change vulnerability assessments, mitigation measures, and adaptation strategies into the planning and construction of highways in Romania. By adopting a comprehensive approach that addresses climate-related challenges, this highway project aims to contribute to a sustainable, resilient, and environmentally conscious transportation network for the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]