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Municipal solid waste (MSW) management in developing nations, particularly Ethiopia, faces considerable issues, including high generation and low collection rates, unsafe disposal practices, and inadequate reuse and recycling efforts. This review looks into the current status of these challenges and possibilities for valorizing the potential of the organic fraction of MSW through composting and bioenergy. Aligned with global sustainability goals and emphasizing the promotion of resource efficiency and waste reduction, this review aims to identify the major challenges of MSW management in Ethiopia and valorize the MSW organic fraction to describe sustainable waste management solutions. The review process comprised a systematic approach through a comprehensive literature search of credible databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed from 2012 to 2023. To ensure relevance and reduce bias, 63 relevant studies were selected from an initial pool of 200 papers via a rigorous screening process utilizing the PRISMA protocol. The assessment of study quality with the AMSTAR‐2 improved the accuracy and reliability of the review's conclusions. The authors reviewed various challenges associated with MSW in Ethiopia, including MSW generation and collection rates, composition issues, and disposal technologies. A lack of community awareness and cooperation were identified as significant barriers to successful waste management practices in Ethiopia. This review also evaluated the viability of valorizing the organic fraction of MSW through bioenergy production and community‐level composting as sustainable alternatives. The findings of this review provide valuable insights and evidence‐based recommendations for addressing MSW concerns in Ethiopia. The findings can also serve to shape policy formulation, research goals, and practical interventions focused on enhancing solid waste management practices in developing nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leather production is a historic industry that still has an economic influence throughout the world. Leather making is done following a sequence of complex chemical and mechanical steps, using energy, quantity of water and chemicals, and generating waste. For several decades, many organizations have been working toward a cleaner tannery industry resulting in better practices, saving energy and water, and increasing wastewater treatment efficiency. Solid waste management remains a big issue. Another question posed today is the use of chromium in tanning. It is why a lot of research is now dedicated to metal‐free tanning solutions. Chromium alternatives exist but none can actually rival all the advantages of chromium and a balance must be found with environmental issues. To measure the environmental performance of leather, several tools are available. The LWG (Leather Working Group) audit is one of them. On the side of consumers, some reliable leather ecolabelings exist. Finally, life cycle assessment (LCA) is the most exhaustive tool for characterizing leather's environmental performance. Numerous LCA studies done in the past two decades underline the difficulty in obtaining general results, considering the large variety of processes used depending on tanneries, localization, and raw materials. In addition, the data available for LCA are still poor in regard to the specific data needed for leather chemicals. The best methods associated with new technologies, audit, and labeling lead leather production into a cleaner and environment‐friendly industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The waste sector is a substantial source of GHG emissions worldwide. Open dumping and internal combustion (IC) waste collection vehicles are significant sources of GHG emissions in Vavuniya. This research aims to estimate GHG emissions and recommend strategies to reduce emissions from the solid waste management sector. The IPCC methodology, considering Tier 1 estimation values based on default activity data, was used to estimate CH4 emissions from solid waste disposal sites. GHG emissions from collection vehicles were calculated based on IPCC mobile combustion recommendations. Three recommended strategies were considered based on demand, economic, and environmental feasibility and are expected to commence in 2025. According to current practices, open dumping generated 29.217 Gg of CO2 equivalent up to 2023, projected to rise by 37.8% by 2040. There will be a 57% decrease in open dumping‐related GHG emissions by 2040 if composting is made mandatory for biodegradable waste, even though it produces emissions. Solar panels will be used to charge electric vehicles that will replace IC ones to cut emissions and fuel expenditures by 2025. The carbon sink reforestation program at the district level would need to begin in 2025 with an area of 161 hectares to sequester cumulative GHG emissions from composting dumpsites and fuel vehicles to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Investments from Vavuniya Carbon Sink Bonds (VCSB) on additional solar panels will ensure financial feasibility, having an internal rate of return of 23.18%. It paves the path to reducing GHG emissions, which is highly emphasized in the Nationally Determined Contributions, National Climate Change Policy, and waste management policy of Sri Lanka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensive generation of industrial solid waste (ISW) in industrial parks poses a severe threat to the water and soil environment. To address the lack of system‐level guidance strategies for ISW management (ISWM), the paper proposes a systematic ISWM framework within the context of the circular economy principle and applies it to a prominent eco‐industrial park in China. This framework is founded on the metabolic characteristics of the entire ISW process, supported by multi‐stakeholder cooperation, and guaranteed by a shareable information platform and infrastructure. A holistic ISW flow analytical process is introduced to facilitate the implementation of this framework. In the case study, a high‐resolution inventory of ISW is established by 157 enterprises in 2021, covering 116 types of general ISW and 61 types of hazardous waste (HW). By integrating material flow analysis, questionnaires, and interviews, this study quantitatively reveals the underperformance of mini‐scale HW recycling, with a recycling rate of 5.6% in 2021, well below the park‐wide rate of 50.8%. Collaborative inboundary and transboundary disposal emerges as a crucial direction for ISWM, with over 80% of ISW being disposed of outside the park. Following the implementation of circular economy strategies guided by the management framework, notable improvements are observed, including a 26.5% increase in the recycling rate of mini‐scale HW and a 13.5% increase in the proportion of disposal outside Beijing. To foster sustainable ISWM, this study recommends enhancing the decentralized infrastructure of collection–storage–transportation integration for mini‐scale ISW in industrial parks. The developed management framework provides valuable insights and guidance for park‐specific ISWM strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tannery solid waste (TSW) management is vital for promoting sustainable development in the leather industry. However, sustainable management of TSW is challenging as it contains hazardous chemicals. Implementing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices can support managing TSW towards achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, it is not easy to implement ESG practices for TSW management since numerous challenges exist in the system. To assist TSW management through ESG implementation, it is imperative to investigate the interactions among challenges and mitigation strategies. However, the existing decision‐making models cannot deal with the uncertainty and vagueness on a border scale during interaction evaluation and alternatives ranking. Additionally, there is a shortage of scientific works on ESG practices in emerging economies. Therefore, this study, for the first time, offers an integrated novel Dombi t‐norm and Dombi t‐conorm grounded interval valued Fermatean fuzzy sets (IVFFSs) Delphi, an extended IVFFSs‐weighted influence non‐liner Gause system (WINGS), and novel IVFFSs‐TODIM approach which is utterly lacking in the present literature. Also, the study offers a strategic roadmap to understand the interlinkage of findings with SDGs. The results of the IVFFSs‐WINGS analysis confirmed that the "Lack of solid waste management policy" is the most critical challenge for ESG implementation. Further, IVFFSs‐TODIM analysis confirmed that the "Policy development for TSW management complying with ESG and SDGs" is the top ESG challenges mitigation strategy for TSW management. The study's findings will provide guidance for government agencies, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders of the emerging economies tannery industry for successful implementation of ESG practices, thus helping to achieve SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio‐based waste from households and industries is a big problem for the world, however, turning it into valuable composite materials can offer a promising approach to deal with it. It involves the conversion of waste from different bio‐based sources such as cellulose waste from farming and forestry leftovers, chitin waste from seafood and mushrooms, and keratin waste from hair, nails, and feathers into natural fibers. These fibers are then effectively mixed with other materials to create composite materials having unique properties, such as high strength and stiffness, good thermal and electrical conductivity, and better barrier properties. Developing these materials is not just good for the environment because it reduces landfill waste and the reliance on non‐renewable resources, but it can also make economic sense for producers. In this review, the basic compounds of natural fibers and the development of composite materials from them are explored and discussed in detail. Furthermore, their chemical and mechanical properties are discussed and summarized. In the final section, a brief overview of the challenges and the future research needed in this fast‐evolving field is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates a rice husk waste‐based filter (RHW‐BF) for the treatment of graywater (GW) and primary treated wastewater (PTW). The RHW‐BF comprises three layers: coarse sand, chemically modified rice husk (MRH), and gravel. Continuous runs (Run I, II, III) assessed chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, and turbidity removal. Run (I) for GW achieved high removal: 73.7 %, 73.4 %, 74.6 %, and 92.6 %. Subsequent runs showed decreasing efficiencies due to media saturation. Similar trends occurred for PTW, with Run (I) achieving significant removal: 70.3 %, 69.0 %, 44.2 %, and 90.2 %. MRH particles played a crucial role in sustainable pollutant removal. The study compares treated wastewater with the World Health Organization and Egyptian limits, demonstrating its suitability for reuse in irrigation, agriculture, or sewer discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jarosite, an industrial waste, has the potential to be used as an alternative filler in biocomposites used as packaging material and can replace nondegradable thermoplastic. Such a novel approach of waste management strategy has not been studied till date. In this research work, different weight percentages of jarosite were mixed with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to fabricate polymer composites with better physico‐chemical, thermal, tensile, and biodegradation properties. The data indicate that a low concentration of jarosite (3 wt.%) improved the tensile strength by 198.7% and the composite showed higher thermal stability by 6.3% than that of the neat PVA. X‐ray diffractogram and transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed a strong interaction between PVA and jarosite. Interestingly, the addition of jarosite reduced the water absorption capacity and thickness swelling of the PVA composite by 58% and 54.7%, respectively. Jarosite‐incorporated composites showed lesser degradation potential (64%) than the control composites (84%) after 60 days under soil burial conditions, indicating that PVA‐jarosite composites have a higher shelf‐life, which is needed for packaging materials. These composites can also be good alternant for thermoplastic used in preparation of cuboid, sealing, and decorative materials. Also, this would be a novel sustainable approach for managing/reducing jarosite waste. Highlights: Jarosite was reinforced with PVA to fabricate biocomposites.The maximum tensile strength of the composite was achieved as 45.4 MPa.The thermal stability of mechanically optimized composite is found at 320°C.After 60 days under soil burial, the composite lost 64.8% of its original weight.Developed composites can be good alternant for nondegradable thermoplastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What happens to general‐purpose local government spending for service provision when a special district enters the public service market? Theoretically, special districts can act either as complements by supplementing existing service provision spending or as substitutes by supplanting current service provision spending. We find a substitution effect using fixed effects regression on urban counties in the United States from 1972 to 2017. Special districts replace spending for public service provision by county governments; however, we find no similar result for municipal governments. But the results are nuanced—findings are confined mainly to public services that tend to cover large land areas, like fire protection, sewerage, and solid waste management. Furthermore, we find evidence that day‐to‐day operations drive observed substitution, and that county size is an important factor depending on the functional service area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical Solid Wastes (MSWs) are major hazardous materials containing harmful biological or chemical compounds that present public and environmental health risks. The collection and transportation of waste are usually informed by optimized work‐balanced routing based on comprehensive spatial data in urban traffic networks, called a Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP). This may be unsuitable for MSWs as their special category means they impose additional complexity. The present article develops a planar graph‐based cluster‐routing approach for the optimal collection of MSWs informed by a Geospatial Information System (GIS). The problem is first formulated as a mixed integer linear program in road network spatial data, in the context of Tehran city. The work has two key aims: (i) to minimize the total routing cost of MSW collection and transfer to waste landfills; (ii) to balance workload across waste collectors. There are three main contributions of the proposed approach: (i) to simplify the large search space area by converting the road network to a planar graph based on graph theory, spatial parameters, and topological rules; (ii) to use a modified K‐means algorithm for clustering; (iii) to consider average traffic impacts in the clustering stage and momentary traffic in the route planning stage. A planar graph extraction procedure is applied to capture the network sketch (i.e., a directed graph) from the traffic roadway network. An iterative cluster‐first‐route‐second heuristic is employed to solve the proposed routing problem. This heuristic customizes a K‐means algorithm to determine the optimal number and size of clusters (i.e., routes). A Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) algorithm is applied to regulate the optimal sequence of visits to medical centers. The experimental results show improvements in balancing collectors' workload (i.e., ~4 min reduction in the standard deviation of average travel time) with reductions in travel time (i.e., an average ~1 h for the entire fleet and ~4 min per route). These findings confirm that the proposed methodology can be considered as an approach for optimizing waste collection routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an anthropogenic chemical compound utilized to manufacture a wide range of consumer products, such as polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), food packages, and thermal papers. Because of its extensive worldwide use, BPA is pervasive in the environment, negatively affecting aquatic life. Therefore, we studied the occurrence, persistence, and ecological risk of BPA in surface water receiving raw leachate from a municipal solid waste (MSW) open dump in Kerawalapitiya, Sri Lanka. Our findings corroborate that the BPA average concentrations in the canal network were 0.4–42.6 µg/L during the wet season and 0.2–4.9 µg/L during the dry season. The levels of BPA at 11 locations (out of 16) during both seasons differed significantly from the upstream sample, where there was no impact from the dump site (p < 0.05), indicating the ubiquitous occurrence and persistence of BPA in the canal network. BPA levels in the waterbodies are greater in the wet period than in the dry period because of the continuous ingress of run‐off‐driven leachate to the canal network. Our study infers that pH and salinity correlate positively with BPA, while temperature, DO, and TSS are negatively correlated with BPA. BPA levels in five locations during the wet season and one during the dry season surpassed the tolerable level of BPA stipulated by the Canadian Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines to safeguard aquatic life, which is 3.5 µg/L. The findings of the acute ecological risk assessment articulate that during the wet season, Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and orange chromide (Etroplus maculatus) constitute a high acute risk, while they pose a medium acute risk during the dry season. Our study suggests that the relevant authorities must prevent the ingress of runoff rich with BPA onto the canal network to protect aquatic life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unorganized solid waste management (SWM) disposal system stresses ecosystems, messes up different natural cycles, and is bad for human health. In developing nations like Chhattisgarh, managing solid waste is seen as a big concern by civil authorities everywhere. Several elements, including social, cultural, economic, political, environmental, physical, and institutional ones, influence the proper management of solid waste. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the key elements that influence the management of solid waste among rural areas of Chhattisgarh as well as to explore their perception toward SWM in Chhattisgarh. Additionally, a measurement model was used to analyze the data, which was gathered from 365 respondents who were polled from every home in Chhattisgarh's rural regions using a basic random sample technique. A quantitative research approach has been used to evaluate the variables influencing successful solid waste management and a confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the reliability as well as validity of the scale of measurement for each construct. The outcome indicated that socioeconomic (p < 0.000), cultural (p < 0.021), physical and technical (p > 0.096), institutional (p < 0.012), and environmental factors (p < 0.017) have a significant influence on the management of solid waste in rural areas of Chhattisgarh. Future studies may take into account a wide range of additional characteristics linked to domestic logistical capabilities, such as garbage collection, task completion time, utilization of cold structures, and product freshness notifications, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate the spatial distribution of municipal waste production and its impact on urban environmental sustainability in greater Amman. The GIS techniques were used to analyze the distribution pattern within the municipality regions and the factors that affect this pattern. The analysis shows that the presence of a positive correlation is significant at a 0.01 confidence level between the population size, and education level type graduate, postgraduate, and read and write with 0.888, 0.754, and 0.687, respectively. There is an obvious positive relationship between the income level and waste production, and this is shown clearly in the Western part of Amman. On the other hand, the low‐income level in the Eastern part of Amman has resulted in a lower amount of municipal solid waste production. The amount of waste generated in the city of Amman represents a significant increase in the rates of municipal solid waste production, rising from 0.77 kg per capita per day in 2007 to 0.84 kg per capita per day over the past 15 years. The increase in economic and commercial activities in some regions has played the main role in increasing the quantities of solid waste produced in the central business regions. This result provides a better vision for the environmental management planners and decision‐makers regarding solid waste production management in Amman municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased urbanization and population growth have led to a rise in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation, necessitating the need for improved infrastructure and handling methods. Improper disposal practices, particularly open burning at dumpsites, have become common in emerging urban cities, posing serious environmental and health risks. This study aims at evaluating the pollutants often emitted into the environment during the open burning of solid wastes using the American Meteorological Society/Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model (AERMOD) model under three scenarios. The ground‐level concentrations of pollutants emitted were compared with the statutory limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) at selected receptor locations. The predicted maximum concentrations from the model for PM2.5 were 4184, 8633, and 10,419 μg/m3 and for PM10 were 16,481, 20,915, and 23,114 μg/m3 for scenarios 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The WHO limits of PM2.5 and PM10 were observed to be exceeded from 2500%–17,400% and 312.5%–4200% for scenario three representing the worst‐case scenario. Ilorin metropolis was revealed to be the receptor location with the highest impact. Waste‐to‐energy and other cleaner waste treatment options should be adopted to protect public health and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the potential economic benefit that can be realized, universities in developing countries continue to invest money in disposing of solid wastes. This is because they often view solid wastes as a burden and a problem, rather than as a potential resource. This paper presents the results of a study that examined the sources, composition, and volume of solid waste at the University of Dodoma, the largest campus in Tanzania, and explored its potential environmental and economic benefits. The study found that the university generates an annual average of 644.56 tonnes of solid waste, with paper and cardboard accounting for 35.81%, plastics for 43.73%, e‐waste for 2.38%, food waste for 9.24%, clothes for 5.72%, glass for 1%, and metals for 2.12%. In spite of the potential economic benefits of recycling and composting, the university currently disposes of most of its waste, and does not engage in sorting and separation of waste at the source. The study estimates that 90.76% of the recyclable waste generated at the university has an economic value of 142,301.20 USD annually, and could be sold to relevant recycling markets, while 9.24% of the waste is compostable and has the potential to be used for biogas generation and composting. The paper discusses the economic potential of each identified solid waste stream, and presents recommendations for profitability and sustainable environmental management on campus. The paper offers valuable insights for other universities with similar settings and aspirations for sustainable waste management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiattribute decision making (MADM) approach is a well-known decision-making process utilized in a variety of fields such as solid waste management, renewable energy resources, air quality assurance, hotel location decision, sustainable supplier selection, partner recognition, green supplier enterprises, game theory, construction development authority, and weapon group target estimation. The aggregation operators (AOs) are essential components of the decision-making process and have a great capability to deal with ambiguous and unpredictable information in the different fields of fuzzy environments. In this article, we expressed the theory concepts of single-valued neutrosophic (SVN) sets (SVNS) and also characterized their basic operations. The power aggregation tools are allowed to input arguments to support each other among different arguments. Recently, Aczel–Alisna aggregation tools conquered great attention from several research scholars. We also exposed some reliable operations of Aczel–Alsina aggregation models under the consideration of SVN information. We established a series of new approaches, including the "single-valued neutrosophic Aczel–Alsina power weighted average" (SVNAAPWA) operator and "single-valued neutrosophic Aczel–Alsina power weighted geometric" (SVNAAPWG) operators. To show the effectiveness and compatibility of derived approaches, some prominent characteristics are also established. We constructed a MADM technique to solve an application of engineering and construction materials under consideration of our derived methodologies. An experimental case study is also presented to determine a suitable optimal option from a group of options. To find the flexibility of our proposed work, we provided a comparative study that compares the results of existing AOs with our proposed work. A comprehensive overview is also presented here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mismanaged plastic waste (MPW) and urban flooding are typically considered distinct environmental challenges. However, there are notable links between growing quantities of MPW and the rising incidence of floods in cities. A majority of people now live in cities, especially along coastlines and in estuaries where residents are both vulnerable to flooding and significant sources of plastic waste. Predicted increases in the frequency and severity of heavy rainfall associated with anthropogenic climate change coincide with rising global quantities of MPW, much of which is discharged into water bodies and the sea. Given the urgent and expanding nature of these issues, understanding impacts of urban floods on solid waste management and vice versa is crucial. Social-ecological systems (SES) thinking calls for a holistic approach to the relationships and interactions between human actors and environmental systems which can result in dynamic and emergent outcomes. In this review paper, we make a first step towards better understanding of the interactions between urban flooding and MPW by synthesizing emerging quantitative and qualitative research on particular aspects of such interactions. More research is needed which explicitly focuses on and elaborates the nature of these interactions, and also to consider potential relations across scales (from global to local) and over both long and short timeframes. We conclude that an SES approach can make visible novel possibilities for interventions which are context specific and sensitive to the interactions between urban floods and MPW. This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change Human Water > Water Governance Engineering Water > Planning Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is a major portion of solid waste in Malaysia, with 44.5% of the total waste being food waste‐derived sources. This study investigates the performance of dry anaerobic digester (DAD) operation using the pilot dry anaerobic digester (PDAD), a plug flow reactor, in treating source‐sorted organic fraction municipal solid waste (SS‐OFMSW) for biogas production. A commercial Malaysian food waste (CMFW) sample has been used to represent SS‐OFMSW. The anaerobic digestion was performed in a semi‐continuous operation using a 15 m3 PDAD with organic loading rates (OLRs) ranging from.63 to 5.46 kg volatile solid (VS)/m3·day under mesophilic conditions. The maximum methane composition was achieved at 56.0% at OLR 5.17 kg VS/m3·day with specific methane production (SMP) of.57 m3·CH4/kg VSfed and gas production rate (GPR) 5.27 m3·gas/m3·digester·day. As indicated by a pH and alkalinity ratio, the PDAD system was stable ranging from pH 6.7 to 8.3, alkalinity ratio of.3 with an inclination of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) up to 1056 mg/L. The SMP achieved is between 1.58 and.4 m3·CH4/kg VSfed and potentially to fuelled 475 MW commercial biogas plant fed by CMFW. The DAD deployment strengthened the circular economy and decarbonization initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In developing countries, anaerobic digestion still represents an emerging technology for solid waste management, despite the great energy potential of methane in biogas for heating purposes, especially in low‐temperature regions. This research evaluated the effect of hydraulic retention time (40–120 days) on the anaerobic co‐digestion of 35% w/w waste activated sludge and 65% w/w organic kitchen waste at a low temperature (20 °C). The anaerobic co‐digestion was conducted in five 11‐L semicontinuous anaerobic digesters. Additionally, the expected energy production from organic kitchen waste was calculated. Results: The specific methane yield (SMY) ranged from 0.20 to 0.27 LCH4 g‐VSadd−1, comparable to the SMY reported for meso‐ and thermophilic anaerobic digestion. Moreover, the expected energy production was 1.06 MJ day−1 of equivalent liquefied petroleum gas, which could satisfy ≤6.6% of the daily water heating requirements of an average Mexican household. The hydraulic retention time in the range of 60–120 days did not seem to significantly affect the performance of the digesters. Conclusions: These digesters could easily be installed in low temperature regions for domestic use. The waste activated sludge substrate can be replaced with other nitrogen‐rich substances for indoor use. The data shown in this research set the basis for further investigations and domestic applications. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I demonstrate the ways that the everyday state is produced in and through Lusaka's rubbish, although the state is largely absent from the day‐to‐day management of the solid waste in the city. This analysis draws insight from over 90 semi‐structured interviews with a range of respondents in Lusaka, primarily focussed on the cities' lower income settlements. I build on the overlapping conversation in political geography on the state as assemblage and the prosaic on the one hand, and the everyday state in the Global South on the other to focus on three key aspects of the production of the state: materialities, performance and temporalities. I argue that in order to understand the state in present day Lusaka, one must account for the history of state performance and imaginaries of the state that was. And secondly, that even in the absence of the state, the state may continue to perform and be known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing populations and consumption drive the challenges of solid waste management (SWM); globalization of transport, food production, and trade, including waste trading, distributes risks worldwide. Using waste hierarchy (WH; reduce, reuse, and recycle) and circular economy (CE) concepts, we updated a conceptual waste framework used by international organizations to evaluate SWM practices. We identified the key steps and the important factors, as well as stakeholders, which are essential features for effective SWM. Within this updated conceptual framework, we qualitatively evaluated global SWM strategies and practices, identifying opportunities, barriers, and best practices. We find that, although a few exceptional countries exhibit zero‐waste compliance, most fare poorly, as exhibited by the high waste generation, incineration, and disposal (open dumping, landfilling) volumes. In the Global North, SWM strategies and practices rely heavily on technologies, economic tools, regulatory frameworks, education, and social engagement to raise stakeholder awareness and enhance inclusion and participation; in the Global South, however, many governments take sole legal responsibility for SWM, seeking to eliminate waste as a public "nuisance." Separation and recycling in the Global South are implemented mainly by "informal" economies in which subsistence needs drive recyclable material retrieval. Imported, regionally inappropriate tools, economic constraints, weak policies and governance, waste trading, noninclusive stakeholder participation, data limitations, and limited public awareness continue to pose major waste and environmental management challenges across nations. In the context of the framework, we conclude that best practices from around the world can be used to guide decision‐making, globally. Despite variations in drivers and needs across regions, nations in both the Global North and South need to improve WH and CE compliance, and enhance stakeholder partnership, awareness, and participation throughout the SWM process. Partnerships between the Global North and South could better manage traded wastes, reduce adverse impacts, and enhance global environmental sustainability and equity, supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:9–35. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: Good and bad waste management practices exist in both the Global North and South.Waste trading and exported technologies cause impacts and risks in the Global South.Failures to comply with the concepts of waste hierarchy and circular economy result in high generation, incineration, landfill, and open dump rates.Better social awareness, inclusion, and participation improve practices, strategies, economic tools, and regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to population growth, the generation of solid waste in Morocco constantly increases, considerably impacting water, soil, and air. To minimize this impact, proper waste management is necessary. This research examines waste generation development in Rabat, Sale, and Temara cities in 2015, 2018, and 2019. This allows us to propose solutions to environmental problems and to discuss upstream and downstream management modalities. According to this study, the total amount of waste in Sale changes between 17,947.6 t/month, 21,256.6 t/month, and 20,852 t/month, whereas it ranges between 25,017.6 t/month, 24,031.7 t/month, and 24,038.1 t/month for Rabat in 2015, 2018, and 2019. The lowest quantities are 12,901.3 t/month, 10,104.3 t/month, and 1032.5 t/month in Temara for 2015, 2018, and 2019. The data obtained will serve as an aid to decision‐making to guide proper management. Moreover, sensitizing the population on the issue of waste management is necessary to protect the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approaches for solid waste management (SWM) differ based on the local economy, living conditions, government systems, etc. Collect and transportation components are fundamental criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of various SWM methods and technologies. This approach consists of collection from sources and transportation to the disposal facility while stopping wherever necessary. It is important to develop a solution that would help in the effective transportation and collection of waste. The major concern is finding an alternative to the commonly practiced SWM system. In this paper, an improved framework of transportation routes for SWM of Dibrugarh city, Assam, has been attained. Three scenarios were designed; C0: the original route, C1: the exact work method used as in the original case with a change of sequencing of stopping points, C2: optimized route with a change of vehicles, and C3: change of vehicle and reallocation of stops. The efficiency of the collection and transportation route has been compared in terms of traveled distance, time allotment, human resources use, and fuel consumption. C3 is the best methodology with a change of vehicle, and reallocation with about 42.86%, 61.86%, 64.10%, and 50.65% reduction in various aspects such as workers, working time, travelled distance, and fuel consumption, respectively. These scenarios not only help in choosing the best routes for successful transportation but are also economical due to the reduced need for fuel and labor and environmentally friendly due to lower carbon dioxide emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing solid waste recycling, this study aims to develop biodegradable kraft paper from buffing dust (BD) and post‐consumed jute fiber (JF). Employing a simple solution casting method with a polyurethane binder, the kraft paper was fabricated and characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, OTR, biodegradability, and tensile tests. The findings revealed covalent and hydrogen bonding between BD and JF, forming a uniform surface. Notably, the composite exhibited improved thermal stability, enhanced gas barrier properties, and biodegradability compared to individual components. Furthermore, the composite also showed 57% higher tensile strength, 38% greater elongation, 20% increased hardness, and 9% higher density compared to buffing dust. Compared to jute fiber, the increases were 125%, 91%, 30%, and 19% respectively. Moreover, the composite excelled in gas barrier performance, surpassing BD and JF by a remarkable 61% and 73% increase respectively. These significant findings underscore the vast potential of the composite kraft paper as a versatile material suitable for various applications, including packaging, interior furnishing industries, and reinforcing elements in the footwear industry. By addressing waste management and promoting sustainability, this research contributes to the development of eco‐friendly materials that align with contemporary environmental concerns. Highlights: Covalent and hydrogen bonding enhance uniformity.Biodegradable kraft paper with improved properties.Impressive tensile strength, elongation, and hardness.Versatile material for eco‐friendly applications.Promotes sustainability and waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid waste collection problem refers to truck route optimisation to collect waste from containers across various locations. Recent concerns exist over the impact of solid waste management on the environment. Hence, it is necessary to find feasible routes while minimising operational costs and fuel consumption. In this paper, in order to reduce fuel consumption, the number of trucks used is considered in the objective function along with the waste load and the travelling time. With the current computational capabilities, finding an optimal solution is challenging. Thus, this study aims to investigate the effect of well-known metaheuristic methods on this problem's objective function and computational times. The routing solver in the Google OR-tools solver is utilised with three well-known metaheuristic methods for neighbourhood exploration: a guided local search (GLS), a tabu search (TS), and simulated annealing (SA), with two initialisation strategies, Clarke and Wright's algorithm and the nearest neighbour algorithm. Results showed that optimal solutions are found in faster computational times than using only an IP solver, especially for large instances. Local search methods, notably GLS, have significantly improved the route construction process. The nearest neighbour algorithm has often outperformed the Clarke and Wright's methods. The findings here can be applied to improve operations in Saudi Arabia's waste management sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduction potential from municipal solid waste management (MSWM) following the IPCC 2006 guidelines. Under different MSWM scenarios of Phnom Penh municipality, this study quantifies GHG emissions from transportation, open burning, composting, recycling, anaerobic digestion (AD), incineration, and landfilling municipal solid waste. The study also considers the GHG emissions avoided as a benefit of recycling and electricity generation from incineration and AD. Various waste separation rates are used to evaluate the effectiveness of source segregation in GHG mitigation. The results show that the most significant net GHG emission saving is under scenario 5, avoiding about 1.15 M kg CO2‐eq/day with treatment affords 389 t/day of organic waste, 714 t/day of mixed recyclables, 777 t/day of digestible food waste, and 1,280 t/day of commingled waste via composting, recycling, AD, and incineration, respectively. The worst‐case scenario represents the current MSWM method, which generates the highest GHG emissions of 3.13 M kg CO2‐eq/day. This is due to the open burning of uncollected waste (211 t/day) and landfilling (2,835 t/day). Based on the analysis, an integrated MSWM system along with source separation for recycling and resource recovery purposes is highly recommended as it leads to the most significant reduction in environmental impacts. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the practical implications of policy frameworks for MSWM, specifically in terms of GHG emissions reduction. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a summary of federal groundwater-related regulations and policies reviewed by the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) in 2023. The NGWA monitors and reviews regulations from various federal agencies, offering a groundwater perspective to inform implementation. The summary highlights NGWA's responses to specific regulations, such as supporting the collection of information on PFAS occurrence, advocating for stormwater controls to protect groundwater, and raising concerns about the regulation of PFAS as hazardous substances. The NGWA also addresses issues related to coal ash disposal, 1,4-dioxane risk evaluation, groundwater use surveys, and lead and copper rule changes. The document emphasizes the importance of NGWA members' participation in regulatory review to advance the association's priorities. [Extracted from the article]

This study investigates the recycling of polyamide 6 (PA 6) wastes to produce nonwoven fabrics based on nanofibers (PA‐NWNF) to promote sustainable textile solid waste management and generate a novel material with exceptional properties. PA‐NWNF characteristics can be controlled by adjusting the electrospinning parameters. A comprehensive characterization will be performed using various analytical techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), to evaluate the unique properties as a function of the electrospinning parameters. According to the SEM results, concentrations of 21% are suitable to produce nanofiber with a well‐defined morphology, provided that the applied voltage is maintained at 20 kV and the collecting distance is above 10 cm, irrespective of the flow rate in the established protocol. XRD and FTIR analysis indicate a gradual decrease in the α‐phase and a simultaneous increase in the γ‐phase as the solution concentration increases. Moreover, low applied voltage favored β‐form crystallization over γ and α‐forms predominant at the higher voltage. DMA and BET data reveal that the elongated droplets formed at lower concentration exhibit a low storage modulus, high damping factor, highest surface area, and smallest pore diameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities in Bangladesh produce large amounts of solid waste (SW) through various human activities which severely pollutes our native environment. As a result, SW pollutes the three basic environmental elements (air, water, and soil) by increasing pathogenic microbial load, which might be hazardous to public health directly or indirectly. In this study, we conducted 30 samples (i.e., soil, water, and air) collected from areas where municipal solid wastes are dumped (Tangail Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh). All the samples were analyzed to assess bacteriological quality for presumptive viable and coliform count using different agar media. We performed serial dilution 10−3–10−10 times for soil and water samples, and the diluted samples were spread on Mac‐Conkey agar and nutrient agar plates. For the air sample, the sterile media containing petri‐dish was placed adjacent to the dumpsite of the municipal waste and kept for an hour. Then all the samples were incubated at 37°C overnight for total viable count (TVC) and total coliform count (TCC). Biochemical tests and PCR were performed for the identification of these microorganisms. The antibiogram study was performed to reveal their (identified bacteria) susceptibility against clinically used antibiotics according to the standard disk diffusion technique. The highest bacterial loads were found in the air: TVC 3.273 × 103 and TCC 1.059 × 103 CFU/plate; tube‐well water: TVC 8.609 × 103, and TCC 8.317 × 103 CFU/mL; in surface water: TVC 6.24 × 1013 CFU/mL and TCC 2.2 × 1012 CFU/mL; in soil: TVC 2.88 × 1011 and TCC 1.02 × 1011 CFU/g, respectively. Microbes from SW can be transmitted through air, dust particles, or flies, and here we found an average of 1120 microbes spread over 63.61 cm2 area per hour. Eight bacterial isolates (Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., E. coli, Proteus spp., V. cholera, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Vibrio spp.) were identified by the biochemical test. Among them, E. coli and Shigella spp. were further ensured by PCR targeting bfpA and ipaH genes. Antibiotic susceptibility test results showed that E. coli isolates were highly resistant to erythromycin (80%); Shigella spp. were resistant to nalidixic acid (90%), whereas Salmonella spp. was found resistant to kanamycin (90%). Vibrio spp. were also resistant to azithromycin (80%) and erythromycin (80%), which should be a great concern for us. A semi‐structured survey revealed that 63% of respondents suffered from different clinical conditions (intestinal diseases) due to SW pollution. So, steps should be taken to improve the proper management and disposal of solid waste and liquid effluent to save our environment and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical looping gasification (CLG) is a promising method to realize the resource utilization of solid waste. Chemical looping co‐gasification (CLCG) attracts much attention as it can fully utilize the synergistic effects between different types of fuels to improve the quality of gasification products. The CLCG characteristics of water hyacinth and different solid wastes, including straw, polypropylene, and sludge, are studied using lean iron ore as oxygen carriers (OCs). It is shown in the results that these solid wastes have synergistic effects on the CLG of water hyacinth to some extent. The addition of straw has a positive impact on gas production and H2/CO ratio, while the introduction of polypropylene and sludge focuses on improving gas production and H2/CO ratio, respectively. In addition, the optimal mixing ratios between water hyacinth and different solid waste are water hyacinth: straw = 50:50; water hyacinth: polypropylene 25:75; and water hyacinth: sludge = 75:25, respectively. The mixing of water hyacinth with polypropylene exhibits better gasification performance, in terms of the total gas yield of 1.27 Nm3 kg−1 and the H2/CO ratio of 1.76 at the mixing ratio of 25:75. This implies that the CLCG of biomass and polypropylene has better application prospect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most developed nations, a formal recycling industry oversees the management of solid waste. The opposite happens to be the case in underdeveloped nations wherein, the informal recycling sector has assumed such functions. The informal methods used in Nigeria for managing buildings' end‐of‐life situations has shown in many ways to be compliant with the sustainability goal since they provide an excellent example of how the waste hierarchy may evolve independently, with little or no assistance from policy and regulatory bodies. The purpose of this study is to conceptualise the processes through which salvaged materials from buildings in Kano State, Nigeria is processed in a step‐by‐step manner, ensuring that least amounts of materials end up in a landfill. Adopting a qualitative research design to achieve the study's aim, this study engaged 19 purposively selected experts through semi‐structured interviews in the city of Kano, Nigeria. The collected data was analysed using thematic analysis. Using the biomorphic adaptation of an African snail's shell, the study's findings led to the development of a conceptual model that depicts the actual scenario of handling demolition waste in Nigeria while highlighting the important elements and the inherent interactions among them. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the identified limitations in the Nigerian construction industry be addressed for the purposes of practice improvement and emergence of a comprehensive framework for the sustainable handling of building demolition waste (BDW). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disposal of solid waste in dumpsites is getting increased in developing countries due to rapid urbanization. Biomining is an innovative idea to recover valuable resources from legacy waste and usable land from old dumpsites. Various mechanical equipments are employed in the biomining process, out of which the trommel screen plays a major role in sieving the legacy waste into different fractions. Optimization of trommel screen performance in the biomining process is carried out in this project. Feasible operating parameters such as the feed rate of the trommel screen 1 (100 mm) and trommel screen 2 (4 mm) and moisture content of legacy waste were optimized in the Rajapalayam biomining site, Tamil Nadu, India. The characteristics of legacy waste in three different biomining sites, namely, Rajapalayam, Srivilliputhur, and Sivakasi, were analyzed. Results indicate that 9 and 2 m3 h–1 feed rates show more separation efficiency for trommel 1 and 2, respectively. Changing the feed rates to the optimized values is also suggested to get better separating efficiency without compromising the purity and recovery of fractions. The recovery of the underflow fraction is maximum at a moisture content of 1.5% and 5.3% for trommel 1 and trommel 2, respectively. The trommel screen gets clogged for higher and lower values of moisture content so that the recovery of the underflow fraction gets affected. The refuse‐derived fuel (RDF) characteristics meet the standard for reuse in cement kilns, and the bioearth characteristics are not suitable to be used as a soil amendment in its original form due to the unavailability of nutrients such as NPK and elevated C/N ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since January 2020, the battle against COVID‐19 has been a critical priority for more than 200 nations, so as the academic community. With this regard, the scientific community produced hundreds of publications spanning various topics to remedy this worldwide epidemic. Despite this, little work has looked into its relationship to the sustainable environment debate. Nations had to implement measures such as isolation, movement restrictions, lockdown and social seclusion, just to mention a few. The consequences of these actions were felt in the economy and major societal institutions, but these reforms had indirect repercussions. This bibliometric examination provided us with reasons to be both pleased and apprehensive. It emphasizes that the overall impact on greenhouse gas emissions was reduced, but solid waste increased. Against the backdrop of the present COVID‐19 crisis, this study addressed the critical difficulties and worldwide constraints of solid waste management. Moreover, developing nations showcase less interest in research regarding the theme topic of this study. It is forecasted that economic activities shall bounce back in post pandemic era. Therefore, potential strategies have been proposed in this study in attaining long‐term environmental advantages such as (1) Fossil fuel over‐reliance reduction; (2) initiating waste management policies; (3) Policymakers and regulators must take the necessary measures to ensure that the environment's healing process is not just transitory. Therefore, findings of this study provide a framework for future research and serve as a starting point for environmental scientists to assess the consequences of COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the most well‐known biomass resources that can be utilized to produce renewable energy. Numerous countries are plagued by the proliferation of waste, particularly organic waste that can be utilized for energy recovery. Palestine suffers from inefficient solid waste management, and only recently have a few projects focused on bioenergy production been implemented. Throughout the years, the city of Tulkarm experiences power outages which cause a challenge to the Palestine Technical University‐Kadoorie campus in Tulkarm. Thus, the possibility of energy recovery from the organic portion in Palestine Technical University‐Kadoorie was evaluated. The analysis of an economic impact included discussions of a number of economic aspects, including Levelized cost of energy, internal rate of return, present worth, annual worth, and payback period. On the other hand, a carbon dioxide savings analysis and gas emission were evaluated. The outcomes of the energy optimization demonstrated that the suggested system could supply the institution with an average of roughly 7 MWh of electrical energy. According to the economic study, this project offers 0.25 million dollars in present value, 0.144 million dollars in annual value, a 13 percent internal rate of return, a payback period of 6 years, and a levelized cost of energy of 0.11 dollars for each kWh generated. Additionally, the environmental assessment revealed that this system might reduce CO2 emissions by around 8,343,778 tons. For effective waste management, energy recovery, and emission reduction, it is advised to implement anaerobic digestion technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2017, 225 acres (91 ha) of the former Bannister Federal Complex (BFC) in Kansas City, Missouri were transferred from the Federal Government to Bannister Transformation & Development, LLC (BTD), for demolition; environmental corrective measures; and preparation of the site for redevelopment. This presented a once‐in‐a‐lifetime opportunity to reconfigure groundwater remedies and address long‐standing soil contamination issues. The property included more than 40 previously‐identified Solid Waste Management Units, 3.9 million square feet (362,000 m2) of buildings, subsurface utilities dating back to the 1940s, and an active groundwater containment system. Demolition of buildings and installation of an interim groundwater containment system began almost immediately after property transfer. In 2018, BTD substantially modified its project schedule to incorporate the construction of the first new buildings while demolition and remedial activities were ongoing. By October 2020, construction of the first new warehouse commenced while excavation and capping of contaminated soils, installation of a groundwater containment treatment systems, and abandonment of legacy utilities were still underway. Completion of this work, within the originally planned timeframe, was made possible by factors including up‐front multi‐year funding, early and ongoing engagement of regulators, an extended 3‐year due diligence program and planning stage, and establishment of well‐defined environmental targets. Both the soil and groundwater remedies were also designed with the flexibility needed to accommodate unknown conditions, changing schedules, and revisions to the regrading and redevelopment plans. This case study highlights key technical and management factors that led to the successful completion of this complex brownfields remediation project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradation of polymers in composting conditions is an alternative end‐of‐life (EoL) scenario for contaminated materials collected through the municipal solid waste management system, mainly when mechanical or chemical methods cannot be used to recycle them. Compostability certification requirements are time‐consuming and expensive. Therefore, approaches to accelerate the biodegradation of these polymers in simulated composting conditions can facilitate and speed up the evaluation and selection of potential compostable polymer alternatives and inform faster methods to biodegrade these polymers in real composting. This review highlights recent trends, challenges, and future strategies to accelerate biodegradation by modifying the polymer properties/structure and the compost environment. Both abiotic and biotic methods show potential for accelerating the biodegradation of biodegradable polymers. Abiotic methods, such as the incorporation of additives, reduction of molecular weight, reduction of size and reactive blending, are potentially the most straightforward, providing a level of technology that allows for easy adoption and adaptability. Novel methods, including the concept of self‐immolative and triggering the scission of polymer chains in specific conditions, are increasingly sought. In terms of biotic methods, dispersion/encapsulation of enzymes during the processing step, biostimulation of the environment, and bioaugmentation with specific microbial strains during the biodegradation process are promising to accelerate biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncontrolled dumping of solid waste is widespread in many developing countries with most of all generated wastes being indiscriminately disposed of in an unsanitary manner that entails significant environmental and public health risks. It is imperative to prioritize dumpsites based on their relative risks so that the necessary control and remedial measures can be undertaken. This research aimed to formulate a pragmatic prioritization and rehabilitation decision tool that can be utilized in low‐ and middle‐income countries to guide decision makers in prioritizing dumpsites for remediation and in identifying the most suitable rehabilitation option for municipal as well as construction and demolition waste. The established prioritization model presents an integrated, risk‐based approach to developing a decision‐making tool for dumpsite prioritization and rehabilitation. The rehabilitation tool drew on a decision tree module to develop the appropriate remedial measures required for each site. The model proved to be effective in prioritizing uncontrolled solid waste disposal sites in Lebanon and for adopting control and remedial measures that can considerably improve decision‐making. The improper disposal of solid waste adversely affects public health and the environment in, to a greater or lesser extent, almost all low‐ and middle‐income countries. Considering that it is unfeasible to remediate all uncontrolled solid waste disposal sites at once, the proposed model facilitates the evaluation process by prioritizing sites for closure and remediation based on their relative risks. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:436–445. © 2022 SETAC Key Points: This study presents a pragmatic prioritization model to prioritize dumpsites based on a risk sensitivity index (RSI) with two different tools to address municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition waste (CDW) dumpsites.The prioritization model serves to categorically stratify uncontrolled municipal waste disposal sites into different classifications based on the RSI, which indicates the risk to the environment and the need for intervention.The rehabilitation decision tool (RDT) provides a methodological framework that describes and compares different remediation scenarios depending on the RSI.The easy‐to‐use model can be used to facilitate the decisions that many municipal authorities have to make when it comes to prioritizing dumpsites for remediation and adopting an appropriate remediation plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assumption of new public management (NPM) that governments can lower costs and improve service quality through a market mechanism, such as competition, has been under debate over several decades. To test the NPM assumption, this study investigates the effects of contracting out on cost savings by analysing municipal solid waste management data collected in 25 local governments in the Republic of Korea over a period of 14 years. Contrary to the NPM assumption, this study suggests that contracting out does not necessarily result in cost savings but rather causes additional financial burden on citizens. Points for practitioners: Government officials are strongly encouraged to critically review market‐based managerial reforms.Government officials need to assess both benefits and costs of contracting‐out practices prior to any outsourcing or privatisation decisions.Government officials need to make evidence‐based policy decisions and long‐term financial implications from the perspective of citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal wastewater (MWW) or urban wastewater (UWW) is generated by the domestic consumption of freshwater, which contains a huge amount of nutrients. The release of unprocessed wastewater causes eutrophication and harms aquatic life. Moreover, ingestion of polluted MWW causes a severe negative impact on human health. Microalgae are unicellular, eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms and have the capability of nutrient assimilation in the presence of light. Moreover, the produced biomass can be used for the generation of value‐added bioproducts such as bioenergy. However, conventional microalgae‐based MWW treatment is not as sustainable on a commercial scale. Therefore, more advanced approaches using microalgae need to be integrated in wastewater cultivation systems to improve nutrient removal efficiency. Thus, the present review explores the use of microalgae for the removal of nutrients from MWW, provides an outlook of direct and indirect methods of nutrient uptake from wastewater and the effects of the influencing factors in biomass growth. Moreover, the review also gives insight into recent approaches used for MWW treatment and the applications of algal biomass resulting from treated wastewater. It is predicted that microalgae‐based MWW treatment systems will be a significant green approach to help eliminate nutrient loads and implement circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Source segregation, the first important step for effective solid waste management, is practised by a handful of organizations in limited areas in Nepal. The inadequacy of source segregation and ineffective collection system in Nepal have led to maximum waste reaching the landfill site. Though several researchers have studied the role of stakeholders and the importance of youths in the waste management sector, there is a paucity of studies on the role of youths, particularly in waste segregation in Nepal. In this regard, this study was conducted to understand the at-source household waste segregation practices by youths in Nepal. The study adopted the snowball sampling technique. A structured survey questionnaire which included information on the sociodemographic status of the respondents, placement of bins, segregation practices, and satisfaction with the waste collection provider was used to elicit information from 522 youths. It was found that almost half (49.2%) of the respondents had installed two dustbins in their kitchen with 80.3% of respondents claiming to practice source segregation in their houses. The majority (75.1%) of participants were ready to pay more for improved solid waste management in their area. Also, 75.8% of respondents declared that everyone is responsible for solid waste management with fewer than 14.8% and 9.4%, stating that waste management should be the responsibility of the government and waste management service provider, respectively. The gender and source segregation was statistically significant with a p value of 0.007 (<0.05). However, the likelihood ratio significance showed no association between the level of education and the practice of source segregation. Hence, the source segregation practice of household solid waste was found to be satisfactory among the youths of Nepal. Thus, there should be a proper monitoring mechanism to ensure that household waste gets collected in a segregated form causing less burden on landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at comparatively analyzing solid waste management practices and challenges in urban and rural senior high schools in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Multiple sampling techniques (simple random, stratified sampling, convenience sampling, stratified proportionate sampling, etc.) were used to sort 370 samples. Independent Sample t -test was used to compare solid waste management practices in rural and urban senior high schools. Mean and standard deviation were further used to examine the challenges the schools faced in managing waste. The study found that both rural and urban senior high schools had waste management practice systems in place but they were dissimilar. However, in both urban and rural senior high schools, the issue of inadequate resources for effective waste management was ubiquitous challenge confronting both set of schools in managing waste. Further, while poor student attitude towards waste management was a major constraint for rural schools, the urban schools had a challenge in terms of poor waste collection routine. Formation of environmental education clubs by school authorities among student can be a sine qua non for effective waste management practices among students, particularly for the rural folks. Again, waste management policies by the District Assemblies should not be exclusive to only the communities, as senior high schools have been experiencing population explosion with the introduction of the free senior high school policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Solid waste is one type of waste that is released from human day-to-day activities and it is considered useless or unwanted for further use. Population growth, rapid urbanization, a booming economy, and an increase in the standards of living of the community have substantially enhanced the rate of solid waste generation in developing countries. Solid wastes can be used as a resource for industrial production or energy generation. However, it causes environmental and human health problems due to poor management. There is scanty information about on-site solid waste management practice in the study area. Therefore, assessing on-site solid management practices and their associated factors, especially for condominium residents is very important. Objective. To assess on-site solid waste handling practice and its associated factors among condominium residents in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia, 2021. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to June 15/2021 among condominium residents in Gondar city. The study included a total of 450 condominium households, with a 99.3% response rate. A binary logistic regression model was used to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. Those variables which have a p value <0.25 in the bivariate analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. A p value of less than 0.05 with 95% CI was considered a statistically significant factor. Result. In this study, 79.8% with 95% CI (76.4%, 83.3%) of condominium residents had poor on-site solid waste handling practices. The finding also showed that 42.2% and 50.2% of study participants have favorable attitudes and good knowledge towards on-site solid waste handling practices, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, male household heads (AOR = 1.90; 95% CI, 1.11–3.28), large family size (AOR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.03–3.40), negative attitude towards on-site solid waste handling practices (AOR = 1.79; 95% CI, 1.07–3.00), not receiving training (AOR = 3.40; 95% CI, 1.77–6.55), and not having legal enforcement (AOR = 2.85; 95% CI, 1.39–5.84) were significantly associated with on-site solid waste handling practices. Conclusion. The on-site solid waste handling practice of condominium households was very poor. The provision of training and enforcement of rules regarding solid waste handling is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic fertilizer commercialization may present a great opportunity to help deal with the issue of solid waste management and help improve the declining soil problems in many developing countries. Ghana's solid waste is predominantly organic, which is suitable for organic fertilizer production. This paper seeks to establish relationship between organic fertilizer usage and crop farm performance and assess its commercialization potential. The study employed a farmer-survey and key informant interviews to generate data from 300 farmers randomly selected across three regions in Ghana. The computed organic fertilizer use rate is 42% among farmers surveyed, and organic fertilizer is primarily used in vegetable and maize production. The estimated current demand for organic fertilizer is about 0.7 million t/annum with a potential to rise to about 2.7 million t/annum in the long term. This will however require sensitization on its importance, availability, and affordability. The study has established a strong relationship between organic fertilizer adoption and farm performance increasing yield by 57%, income by 53%, and gross margins by 63%. There is obviously a cost reduction when organic fertilizer is adopted. Organic fertilizer adoption was found to be mainly related to farmer base organization membership status, access to extension services, access to organic fertilizer, and transport cost. Organic fertilizer commercialization has the potential to make Ghana a net exporter of fertilizer and create sustainable jobs for the youth. We recommend the use of organic fertilizer by farmers and highly recommend the commercial production of organic fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing amount of waste is becoming a crucial topic in developing countries, causing health‐related and environmental issues. In past decades, the Indonesian government implemented regulations dedicated to municipal solid waste management (MSWM); unfortunately, these have not been well communicated to the public. The set tax level is inadequate for the MSWM financial needs in Bandung, Indonesia. Previous studies determined the public interest in MSWM as the critical factor of sustainable MSWM. However, this aspect is not well considered. This study investigated public perception and involvement in MSWM in Bandung. These investigations were conducted through two leading indicators: public interest in MSWM in environmental issues and willingness of inhabitants to pay for sufficient MSWM services. Using a binary probit model, it was found that age, educational level, locality, and satisfaction with MSWM practices play a significant role in the respondents' interest in MSWM, which is crucial to the public perception of MSWM. The results also demonstrate that more than 97% of respondents are not satisfied with MSWM practices, and more than 83% of respondents consider MSWM services insufficient. Awareness of essential operations such as waste handling and recycling is at a low level. On the other hand, more than 67% of respondents are interested in MSWM in connection with environmental issues and are familiar with the 3R concept (reducing waste, reusing, and recycling resources and products). Our MSWM research provides new perspectives on the public perception and involvement in Bandung that could be considered in the planning and implementation of sustainable MSWM. The results indicate that the public's perception and approach to MSWM in Bandung city should be enhanced by better education, providing sufficient awareness, and offering workshops. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:114–125. © 2022 SETAC KEY POINTS: According to the binary probit model, the perception and approach of the inhabitants of Bandung on the municipal solid waste management is influenced by locality, age, level of education, and overall respondent satisfaction with the current waste management system.The perception and approach of local inhabitants plays crucial role in municipal solid waste management. Together with stakeholders engagement, appropriate infrastructure and increasing awareness of improper waste handling the municipal solid waste management in Bandung has a potential to became a sustainable system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study established a defensible estimate of household food waste and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Participants from 65 households measured food waste for seven consecutive days and then reported volume by food type, meal, day of the week, and whether it was avoidable or unavoidable. Participants from 26 households were then interviewed to gather further insights. This primary research enabled the comparative impact of correlating factors driving food waste among households with differing age and socio‐economic demographics to be quantified. The estimates of food waste and associated greenhouse gases encompassed food types, their disposal by individual households, and the subsequent management of municipal solid waste streams. Reported as carbon dioxide equivalents, the study's results identified where the greatest impacts on the carbon footprint of food waste can be achieved and the role that the municipality can play in motivating and enabling behaviours that lead to reductions in household food waste and associated greenhouse gases. Key Messages: Per capita food waste is highest in households with children.Reducing avoidable food waste in meat and poultry has a 20 times greater impact on GHG emissions than reducing a similar weight of avoidable waste in fruits and vegetables.GHG reductions from both reducing and composting all food waste in Oakville, Ontario would equate to removing 3,345 cars off the road annually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the economic, social, and technical dynamics affecting municipal solid waste (MSW) per capita in organisation for economic co‐operation and development (OECD) countries from 2003 to 2018. Static and dynamic panel data methods are followed for empirical analysis. According to the estimation results, there is an inverted‐U‐shaped relationship between economic growth and MSW. The turning point income level, where technological and structural effects occur, is calculated in the range of $20,000–$34,000. Human development and energy efficiency have mitigating effects on MSW. Energy efficiency and human development are critical for sustainable MSW management. Credit expansion has an increasing effect on MSW generation. Financial development draws attention as a negative indicator in sustainable waste management targets. All models confirm that income inequality has an increasing effect on MSW generation. In addition, poverty reduction is associated with an increase in MSW generation. Thus, income inequality and poverty reduction are a major constraint for sustainable MSW management. After all, the empirical findings of this paper can guide authorities in designing waste management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The municipal solid waste gasification model integrated with high‐ and low‐temperature shift reactors and hydrogen purification system has been developed through Aspen Plus. The performance analysis was done to study the impact of steam and air mix as gasification medium as well as the air alone as medium. For which, temperatures and ratio of steam to MSW were varied to explore impacts. Thus, the air and steam mix operating mediums give a greater yield of hydrogen. Also, the hydrogen production efficiency is maximum at 800°C. The ratio of steam to MSW (RSM) which favors the hydrogen yield lies in range of 0.7 to 0.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Waste tires is one of the solid residuals that can have serious impacts environmentally. Therefore, controlling this waste through conversion into value‐added products such as bio‐fuels is highly recommended. Consequently, this work reports catalytic‐hydrocracking of waste tire pyrolytic oil (WTPO) to fuels over Ni‐W supported on zeolite X and A. The zeolites were hydrothermally synthesized from another type of waste, namely blast furnace slag (BFS). The prepared samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The successive synthesis of zeolites A and X could be detected through observing cubic and octahedral particles via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The two prepared catalysts presented mesoporous natures with reasonable specific surface area, as acquired from nitrogen adsorption‐desorption analysis. The catalysts activity toward upgrading of WTPO was investigated under different operating conditions. Particularly, both catalysts have exhibited high activity through producing reasonable yields of gasoline (35% and 40%) and high yields of diesel (45% and 30%) by Ni‐W loaded zeolite A and X, respectively. Additionally, zeolite X supported catalyst showed a higher selectivity toward catalytic HDS of WTPO than the zeolite A. The former optimum findings were collected at the following operating conditions: 80 bar, 450°C and LHSV of 1.2 h−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of advanced technologies, information and communication technology (ICT) is the crucial component for developing Smart Cities. The topical studies indicate that ICT is primarily ignored to improve environmental sustainability in Smart Cities. The present research is an initial effort to develop a web‐based Environmental Decision Support System (EDSS) for Sustainable Smart Cities in India (SSCI). The application developed evaluates a city's performance on a set of 24 environmental indicators, which is broadly categorized into four domains: Solid Waste Management (SWM), Water Supply Management (WSM), Sewerage, Sanitation, and Stormwater Management (SSS), and Ambient Environment Condition (AEC). EDSS‐SSCI can serve as a valuable tool for policymakers in benchmarking a city's existing environmental scenario and grade it on a scale range of critically low, poor, fair, good, and excellent. The developed tool gives information about the city's performance in each domain along with three priority indicators which are decided on the basis of critical performance and higher weights given through the Delphi technique. This study presents the application to a real case study in Varanasi city, which identifies that its environmental sustainability smartness score exists in poor range and the focused attention for improvement is AEC domain. The study outcomes of the application developed will be beneficial for policymakers to define and drive the planning action towards developing Environmentally Sustainable Smart Cities in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]