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A circular economy is a "closed-loop" system designed so that products flow back into the production cycle after use. With many companies implementing take-back programs as part of their sustainability strategy, a fundamental shift in consumption has occurred, with consumers considering disposal during and even before purchase decision making. Eight experiments reveal that consumers indicate a greater willingness to pay for circular program products. An increase in psychological ownership underlies the difference in product valuation. Specifically, the additional disposal control uniquely afforded by circular products increases the capacity of circular take-back program products to evoke psychological ownership. The process explanation is directly tested through mediation. Experimentally manipulating antecedents of psychological ownership (i.e., disposal control and psychological ownership) provides further support for the conceptual framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the backend processes of libraries to remove materials after the deselection decisions are made. It brings into focus how administration decisions made at the outset of a project have a continuing impact on workflow and timeline of a project's completion. It highlights lessons learned from two withdraw projects with differing workflows. Finally, it poses important questions for other libraries to answer when planning large withdraw projects at their own institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medication waste poses health, economic, and environmental challenges. However, the extent among patients living in rural areas is underexplored. This study assessed the proportion of prescribed medications remaining unused by patients living in rural areas of Ethiopia, and identify the causes thereof and disposal practices. Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in 5 rural health centers in Ethiopia. Patients (≥ 18 years), who received a prescription for acute or chronic medication for pick up from the outpatient pharmacy were included. After 3 months, participants received a house visit by a health employee during which a questionnaire was verbally administered to assess the quantity of unused medication, reason thereof, and disposal practices used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with presence of unused medications. Results: In total, 178 patients participated. Up to 136 out of 601 (22.6%) dispensed medications ended up unused, mainly antibiotics and analgesics, with an average economic value of $0.37. Of 178 patients, 72 (40.4%) ended up with unused medication, and 15 (8.4%) did not use 80% or more of the prescribed quantity. Early discontinuation of therapy was the main reason (61.8%) for patients' ending with unused medication. Patients reported to primarily dispose of unused medication either through the toilet (43.6%), household garbage (22.7%), burning (13.6%), or returning it to the pharmacy (2.7%). Medications dispensed to be administered with two or more-unit doses at a time were more likely to remain unused (adjusted OR 1.6 [1.0–3.4]) compared to medications dispensed to be administered one-unit dose. Conclusion: A substantial amount of prescribed medications remains unused by patients in rural areas, frequently not properly disposed. Interventions are needed to ensure medications are not wasted and reduce the unwanted consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Medication waste poses health, economic, and environmental challenges. However, the extent among patients living in rural areas is underexplored. This study assessed the proportion of prescribed medications remaining unused by patients living in rural areas of Ethiopia, and identify the causes thereof and disposal practices. Methods A prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in 5 rural health centers in Ethiopia. Patients (≥ 18 years), who received a prescription for acute or chronic medication for pick up from the outpatient pharmacy were included. After 3 months, participants received a house visit by a health employee during which a questionnaire was verbally administered to assess the quantity of unused medication, reason thereof, and disposal practices used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with presence of unused medications. Results In total, 178 patients participated. Up to 136 out of 601 (22.6%) dispensed medications ended up unused, mainly antibiotics and analgesics, with an average economic value of $0.37. Of 178 patients, 72 (40.4%) ended up with unused medication, and 15 (8.4%) did not use 80% or more of the prescribed quantity. Early discontinuation of therapy was the main reason (61.8%) for patients’ ending with unused medication. Patients reported to primarily dispose of unused medication either through the toilet (43.6%), household garbage (22.7%), burning (13.6%), or returning it to the pharmacy (2.7%). Medications dispensed to be administered with two or more-unit doses at a time were more likely to remain unused (adjusted OR 1.6 [1.0–3.4]) compared to medications dispensed to be administered one-unit dose. Conclusion A substantial amount of prescribed medications remains unused by patients in rural areas, frequently not properly disposed. Interventions are needed to ensure medications are not wasted and reduce the unwanted consequences.

Blood has been accepted as the basic symbol of life from the past to the present. Transfusion is the transfer of blood and blood components to a patient due to various health problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effective use and cost of erythrocyte suspension in surgical branches in a tertiary hospital. In this study, the use and cost-effective evaluation of erythrocyte suspension, a blood component, after surgical intervention in brain and nerve diseases surgery, orthopedics and traumatology, general surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, and organ transplantation clinics between 01/01/2023 and 31/12/2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Because blood products are provided as voluntary donations, their appropriate use will help reduce hospital and patient costs. We believe that strict compliance with national and international standards and guidelines, quality management, and good clinical practices, as well as ensuring continuity of training on these issues, will enable more efficient product acquisition and decrease blood component disposal in all blood services units.

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

Introduction: Wastes produced by health-care facilities are unique in terms of generation, composition, treatment, and disposal when compared to other general wastes. Inappropriate handling of biomedical waste (BMW) led to several health risks from sharps injuries, the spread of infections, and the release of toxic substances into the environment. Not many studies throw insight into the difference in knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) across medical and paramedical students related to BMW segregation and disposal. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness levels regarding BMW segregation and disposal among medical and paramedical students at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 632 participants, including medical (3rd and 4th years) and paramedical students. The questionnaire assessed their KAP related to BMW management. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, and a comparison was made between medical and paramedical students using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The results revealed that medical students (3rd and 4th years) exhibited better KAP in BMW management than paramedical students. Medical students demonstrated a more comprehensive understanding of BMW segregation, disposal methods, and associated health risks. They also displayed a higher level of awareness regarding the importance of proper BMW management for environmental and public health protection. Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the need to strengthen educational interventions targeting paramedical students to enhance their understanding of proper BMW management practices.

Municipal waste management plays a crucial role in our communities and has far-reaching implications. Effective waste management contributes to environmental conservation. By reducing waste, recycling, and implementing sustainable practices, we protect our ecosystems and natural resources. Due to the increasing volume of waste and the increasingly complex administration of its collection and disposal, solid waste management is quickly becoming a demanding issue for municipalities all over the world. The objective of the paper was to describe the impacts of communal waste management on municipal budgets and to compare waste management expenditure intensity. The legislative changes, the focus on minimising waste for disposal and promoting a material recycling orientation will have a significant impact on municipal budgets. Local authorities must adjust to the standards established by the European Union. The Slovak Republic will need to progressively adopt these standards by incorporating them into national law

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

Background: Medication disposal programs have been promoted as one solution to the opioid crisis, but uptake by community members has been minimal.Objectives: To clarify perceptions of medication disposal options among people who have been prescribed an opioid analgesic in North Carolina to inform interventions that can facilitate the disposal of unused opioids.Methods: In 2022, we conducted focus groups with participants who received an opioid medication in the past year to gain information to develop an intervention related to the disposal of unused opioid medication (12 focus group discussions (FGDs); total N = 37; 30 identified as female, 6 as male, and 1 as another gender). Participants were shown a slide with the Food and Drug Administration’s recommended disposal options and asked about their perceptions of each option. Themes were derived using an inductive, thematic, qualitative approach.Results: Seven themes about perceptions of medication disposal programs emerged from the data. Four of the themes reflect potential barriers to medication disposal: failed disposal attempts, lack of sufficient education on proper disposal, unclear meaning of specific disposal language, and concerns about existing disposal options. Three of the themes provide insight on potential facilitators of medication disposal: preference of low-cost disposal options, ease and accessibility among disposal methods, and preferred disposal methods.Conclusion: Patients should be provided clear and consistent guidance from prescribers and dispensing pharmacists on when and how to dispose of unused medications and opportunities to dispose of medications at no cost to the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The more economically viable and environmentally sustainable approach for treating the by-products of coal combustion from thermal power plants entails their collective disposal as opposed to individual disposal methods. This aligns with pertinent EU directives and domestic regulations, ensuring compliance with established standards while optimizing resource utilization and minimizing environmental impact. This study evaluated the resistance to wind erosion of the binding properties of a mixture (fly ash (FA), bottom ash (BA), and additives) using an indoor wind tunnel under simulated ambient conditions. Investigations of the mutual impact of ash, bottom ash, and additives (CaO and Ca(OH)2) with a certain percentage of water were carried out with eighteen samples. The samples consisted of the water at six addition rates 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, and 25% (w/w), and additive at three addition rates (1, 2, and 3% (w/w). Based on the obtained results, the optimal ratios of additives (3% (w/w)) and water (15% (w/w)) were determined. Prior to the wind tunnel experiments, and according to the different addition rates of additives and water, eight samples were prepared with different addition rates of ash. The mass concentrations of suspended particles (PM10) and total suspended particles (TSPs) in these samples were measured at three distinct wind velocities: 1 m/s, 3 m/s, and 5 m/s, respectively. The results indicate that the samples containing the optimal content of additives and water demonstrate a maximum increase in PM10 emission zero values of no more than 1.9 times. This finding can be considered satisfactory from the standpoint of environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic equipment aimed at end users has evolved into a staple of daily life. Conventional approaches have undergone significant alteration, resulting in effective communication channel and quick information retrieval. Sales, storage, destruction, and then collection patterns have all changed as a result of the exponential growth in demand and output. This essay examines a variety of these practices in (electronic) waste management and suggests remedies including recycling management and other rules and regulations that must be adhered to. Authors have placed a strong emphasis on offering comprehensive information that might be helpful to the regulatory agencies in charge of waste management or the producers of different electronic devices, as well as the policy makers. Using a thorough examination of electronic waste, authors have highlighted three factors (sales, storage and its destruction). Electronic equipment geared towards end users has evolved into a staple of daily life. Conventional approaches have radically changed, resulting in effective behaviors for managing (electronic) waste and recommending remedies like recycling management, various directions, and laws that must be adhered to. Authors have placed a strong emphasis on offering comprehensive information that might be helpful to the regulatory agencies in charge of E- waste managing or the manufacturers of different electronic devices, as well as the policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we investigate disposal activities in a reverse logistics models with linear costs structure. The two models have different disposal strategy. The first model analyzes a continuous disposal strategy, i.e. disposal can happen in every time in the planning horizon. This type of models was investigated in earlier works. The second possible disposal strategy assumes that disposal is only at the end of the planning horizon. After characterization of the optimal strategies of the two models we compare the costs and the trajectories of the optimal paths. The result of the paper is that the relevant costs are higher in case of disposal at the end of the planning horizon. It is cost efficient to dispose off the not necessary products inside of the planning horizon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Unsafe opioid-related practices can lead to abuse, diversion, and accidental overdoses. In this study, we aimed to describe the patterns and beliefs regarding the storage, disposal, and use of opioids among Chinese patients with cancer in their home settings, which remain unclear. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted in Hubei Province from October 2022 to June 2023. We collected information on the storage, disposal, and use of opioids among cancer pain inpatients in the oncology department. Logistic regression was used to estimate the factors associated with unsafe disposal and use of opioids. Results The survey included 221 patients with a median age of 62 years. Only 3.2% stored their opioids under lock and key, and 49.8% were unaware of proper disposal methods. Nearly one-fifth (19.5%) reported having received information on the safe storage (14.0%) and/or disposal (10.0%) of opioids. A total of 44.3% reported unsafe use by sharing (1.8%), losing (4.1%), or taking opioids at a higher dose than prescribed (42.5%). Patients who did not receive information on the safe disposal of opioids (OR = 4.57, P  = .0423), had a history of alcohol use (OR = 1.91, P  = .0399), and used opioids other than morphine (OR = 2.31, P  = .0461) had higher odds of unsafe disposal practices. Individuals with an associate degree/bachelor's degree or above were less likely to dispose of (OR = 0.36, P  = .0261) and use (OR = 0.31, P  = .0127) opioids unsafely. Conclusion A significant proportion of Chinese patients with cancer exhibit unsafe practices in the storage, disposal, and use of opioids. The study highlights an urgent need for implementing routine education programs and drug "take-back" initiatives to improve opioid-related practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study evaluated a series of disposal instruction labels for their effectiveness in enabling the desired disposal of compostable plastic packaging. Methods: Mixed methods were employed: an online experiment and a survey. UK citizens (n = 1,008) completed a task, sorting packaging labelled with various disposal instructions into one of three bins (general waste, food waste, and recycling). They also selected a preferred compostable disposal instruction logo and provided reasons for their preference. Results: Items lacking disposal instructions followed intuitive disposal practices: items with a common practice of being compostable were most frequently disposed of into food waste; items with a common practice of being recycled were most frequently disposed of into recycling; and items with a common practice of being disposed of with general waste were most frequently disposed of with general waste. "Do not recycle" was effective at diverting compostable plastic packaging to general waste. The label "compost with food waste" had the highest rate of correct disposal in the food waste bin when compared to the control group and to the "compost" disposal instruction. "Compost with food waste", however, was not statistically different from "put with food waste" or "recycle with food waste"; all three led to statistically similar disposal rates in the food waste bin. Qualitative findings showed that participants preferred clarity and directness in the disposal instructions logo denoting compostability. Discussion: Findings suggest that citizens struggle to identify compostable plastic packaging from appearance alone. Clear direct disposal instruction wording can help enable the appropriate disposal behaviours. Qualitative findings showed that participants preferred clarity and directness in the disposal instructions logo denoting compostability. The depiction of simple yet unambiguous and instructive symbols was valued and likely to be the better instigators of behaviour change compared with associative symbols. Implications for labelling policy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operation to failure was the modus operandi of most satellite operators prior to the awareness of the impact on the space debris environment. While compliance to space debris mitigation guidelines, standards and regulations is clearly a priority, there remains a business advantage in extracting the maximum lifetime out of any in-orbit asset. For certain types of strategic assets, which provide unique societal benefits through their missions and are typically irreplaceable, due to their complexity, cost and public funding sources, it becomes imperative to ensure extraction of maximum mission value while fully respecting the need for a sustainable orbital environment. With reference to mission examples in EUMETSAT, this paper highlights: the techniques which have already been used to ensure compliant end-of-life strategies while extending mission lifetimes on satellites not designed to support disposal; the approaches made on new generation satellites to achieve compliance with the debris mitigation standards, highlighting what this brings, but also risks remaining for debris mitigation and lifetime value optimisation; how an Active Debris Removal service in LEO positively impacts the lifetime extension/debris mitigation risk trade-off, describing the potential business case for such services on high value, strategic assets. • Active Debris Removal provides economic benefits for operators through mission extension. • No need to use own fuel for self-disposal; longer operational life. • Operation to failure becomes acceptable again, reduced mission continuity risks. • One-off government satellite programmes could be major beneficiary. • Study on application to EUMETSAT Metop mission underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to model the temperature evolution near the heater of an in situ heating test for a nuclear waste repository. Based on the governing equation of heat conduction, a mathematical model is established to obtain temporal and spatial temperature distributions in the in situ heating test. Then, semi-analytical solutions are derived using the Laplace and Fourier transforms and their inverse transforms. The corresponding results in the time domain are obtained by conducting the Crump method. The semi-analytical solution is applied to predict temperature change near the heater in two in situ heating tests. Finally, a parametric study is conducted to explore the impacts of some parameters on the temperature evolution of the buffer layer for one prototype repository in situ heating test. The results show that the semi-analytical solution of the proposed model can well predict the temperature change near the heater in the two in situ heating tests. The thermal conductivities of the buffer layer and the rock layer and the thickness of the buffer layer have significant effects on the temperature evolution of the buffer layer in the prototype repository in situ heating test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improper disposal of batteries has numerous consequences for the environment, since they contain potentially toxic metals that can be leached, infiltrating, and contaminating the soil layers, the groundwater, as well as the fauna and flora of nearby regions. Therefore, studies were conducted to simulate and analyze soil contamination by the release of potentially toxic metals from the incorrect disposal of alkaline batteries in the environment, in similar natural conditions, by doing leaching tests in fertilized soil resembling a landfill. Therefore, in this paper a simple experiment is proposed for sensitizing students toward the consequences of an incorrect disposal of batteries in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main difference between a dry cell battery and an alkaline one is the composition of the electrolyte. In zinc–carbon batteries, dry cell, the electrolyte is a paste formed by mixing ammonium chloride and zinc chloride, whereas in alkaline batteries, the electrolyte is a concentrated aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide containing a certain amount of zinc oxide, hence the name alkaline for this battery. Therefore, the improper disposal of these materials has numerous consequences for the environment, since the potentially toxic metals present in them can be leached, infiltrating, and contaminating the soil layers, the groundwater, as well as the fauna and flora of the regions nearby. Thus, the objective is to perform studies that aim to simulate and analyze the release of potentially toxic metals present in batteries found in normal environmental conditions, through leaching tests from regular batteries (Zn–C) on fertilized soil, simulating a landfill, in addition to tests on sandy soil in order to aid the identification of possible waste release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer product disposition is an area of research that needs particular attention to mitigate environmental pollution and natural resource conservation. Unlike product acquisition and consumption behaviour, consumer product disposition decisions and behaviour researches are limited. Few literature reviews are available to list several variables that impact the phenomena. However, these studies limit in following a logically structured framework to synthesise findings from existing studies. Therefore, this research study aims to review and exhaustively synthesise the findings from the past literature on consumer product disposition domain by following the theory-context-characteristics-methodology framework Accordingly, this study examines the development of consumer product disposition research over the years, journals of publications, focus areas of studies, authorship, theory used, context of the studies, predominantly used variables, and methodology used to conduct the research works. Further, based on the synthesis, a conceptual framework by integrating predominantly used antecedents, mediators, moderators, and consequences identified from the past literature also proposed. Finally, the future research directions based on theory, context, characteristics, and methodology were also discussed. This systematic review has various extensive implications for academia in expanding the existing knowledge base of consumer product disposition domain.

Blood has been accepted as the basic symbol of life from the past to the present. Transfusion is the transfer of blood and blood components to a patient due to various health problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effective use and cost of erythrocyte suspension in surgical branches in a tertiary hospital. In this study, the use and cost-effective evaluation of erythrocyte suspension, a blood component, after surgical intervention in brain and nerve diseases surgery, orthopedics and traumatology, general surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, and organ transplantation clinics between 01/01/2023 and 31/12/2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Because blood products are provided as voluntary donations, their appropriate use will help reduce hospital and patient costs. We believe that strict compliance with national and international standards and guidelines, quality management, and good clinical practices, as well as ensuring continuity of training on these issues, will enable more efficient product acquisition and decrease blood component disposal in all blood services units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Anger suppression is important in our daily life, as its failure can sometimes lead to the breaking down of relationships in families. Thus, effective strategies to suppress or neutralise anger have been examined. This study shows that physical disposal of a piece of paper containing one’s written thoughts on the cause of a provocative event neutralises anger, while holding the paper did not. In this study, participants wrote brief opinions about social problems and received a handwritten, insulting comment consisting of low evaluations about their composition from a confederate. Then, the participants wrote the cause and their thoughts about the provocative event. Half of the participants (disposal group) disposed of the paper in the trash can (Experiment 1) or in the shredder (Experiment 2), while the other half (retention group) kept it in a file on the desk. All the participants showed an increased subjective rating of anger after receiving the insulting feedback. However, the subjective anger for the disposal group decreased as low as the baseline period, while that of the retention group was still higher than that in the baseline period in both experiments. We propose this method as a powerful and simple way to eliminate anger.

Ships generating waste pose a significant environmental challenge in the maritime sector. This research aims to assess how effectively waste management practices are implemented by maritime personnel to mitigate the environmental impacts of onboard waste. Data gathered from survey questionnaires were analyzed using a quantitative research design, focusing on responses from chief officers and second engineers of ships. A four-point Likert scale was employed, and results were evaluated using frequency percentages, weighted means, and the Chi-square statistical analysis. The study aimed to profile the ship's crew and evaluate the implementation of waste management strategies, particularly regarding waste management plans and waste disposal onshore and ship-to-shore. The findings indicate that waste management implementation at the Port of Surigao's ships was fully achieved. These results underscore the importance of comprehensive waste management systems and training to ensure consistency in perceptions and practices among maritime officers. Therefore, the researchers suggested that ship operators can reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability in the maritime industry by developing a comprehensive waste management plan, providing crew training, installing effective waste segregation facilities, implementing recycling initiatives, and conducting regular audits.

editorial

Background: Improper disposal of unused medicine can impact the environment causing significant healthcare and financial burdens. While the medicine take-back programme is an effective management strategy, its effectiveness differs across countries. This study aimed to systematically review the take-back programmes in various countries and to identify areas needing improvement for programme enhancement.Methods: We conducted searches in Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, from database inception to June 2023.Results: The review included 27 studies spanning 15 countries’ medicine take-back programmes. While some programmes, mostly observed in the USA, were conducted at the local level with non-health-associated facilities, others were done at the national level within healthcare facilities. The cost of collected medicines ranged from US$7,416 to US$1,118,020, primarily involving medicines related to the nervous system, cardiovascular system, alimentary tract, and metabolism. Legislations pertaining to these programmes were available in the USA, most European countries, and Mexico, but unavailable in Spain, Austria, Australia, and New Zealand. However, despite this, the government or the industry in these countries managed the programmes.Conclusion: Well-structured take-back programmes featuring easily accessible collection points, regular collection schedules, clear programme ownership, with legislation defining financial responsibilities, showed positive outcomes.

ABSTRACTPharmaceutical waste disposal is a significant problem for the global healthcare system. It poses a threat to water safety, which is already a challenge as 1 out of 3 people still lack access to safe drinking water. We conducted a thorough literature review of relevant articles published between 2000 and 2023. Our review scrutinized 107 studies, each of which applied pre-set inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure high-quality research. The focus of our interest was on the health risks posed by pharmaceutical compounds in waste. We also evaluated recycling methods and proposed practical measures for proper education and the implementation of strict legislation to address this issue. Pharmaceutical compounds have been found in water resources worldwide. These compounds can have negative effects on multiple organs and it’s important to remove them from water resources. However, water quality varies globally due to limitations in accessibility and budget for water purification and recycling efforts. Comprehensive studies are needed to identify drinking water’s most common pharmaceutical residues and develop effective removal strategies. Proper disposal of pharmaceuticals is crucial to protect water resources and ensure clean drinking water. This requires raising awareness, educating the public population, implementing strict regulations, and collaborating among stakeholders.

AbstractThis study examines the impact of menstrual management awareness training among beneficiaries of the Jalodari Project in Assam, India, covering three tea estates. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from 175 participants using various methods. The success of this project can be attributed to the successful implementation and monitoring of key performance indicators. The four-part training, covering menstrual basics and reproductive health, aims to empower participants to effectively manage their menstrual health. The study concludes that menstrual management training is a fundamental component of healthcare of women and that home visits can significantly enhance the effectiveness of awareness training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent adsorbents used in As removal treatment may re-leach As. In this study, the effects of soil on spent Mg-based and Ca-based adsorbents were investigated. The spent adsorbents containing arsenite (As(III)) were prepared by adsorbing As(III) on MgO, Mg(OH)2, CaO, and Ca(OH)2 powder reagents. Kuroboku soil (Ku), yellow-brown forest soil (YF), Kanuma soil (Ka), river sand (RS), and mountain sand (MS) were used as soil samples. The As leaching ratio was examined in coexistence with soil via shaking tests, and the results were compared with those of a previous study on adsorbents containing arsenate (As(V)). The environmental stability of the spent adsorbents was found to vary greatly depending on the combination of the As valence, adsorbent type, and soil type. However, regardless of the adsorbent or soil type, the spent adsorbents containing As(III) were more likely to leach As than those containing As(V). Additionally, the As leaching ratio was generally lower in Ku and YF and higher in Ka, RS, and MS. For environmentally friendly and sustainable As removal treatment, disposal, and management, the selection of MgO as the adsorbent and treatment involving the oxidation treatment of As(III) to As(V) before adsorbing As onto adsorbents are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of landfill leachate is a critical environmental challenge due to its high pollution content. Effective treatment technologies are essential to mitigate the adverse impacts on groundwater and surrounding ecosystems. This paper employs bibliometric analysis and utilizes CiteSpace software to conduct a visual analysis of the knowledge graph of 959 research articles on "Disposal of Landfill Leachate" from the Web of Science core database for the period 1996-2022. The results indicate that the publication quantity has undergone three stages: the sprouting stage, the stable development stage, and the rapid development stage. In terms of international collaboration, China and the USA play an absolute core role. The journals Waste Management, Journal of Hazardous Materials, and Water Research are ranked among the top 3 publications in the field of landfill leachate treatment. The keyword co-occurrence clustering analysis revealed 7 clusters, including groundwater quality, heavy metals, hydrogeophysics, municipal solid, hydraulic conductivity, geochemical barriers and waste disposal, representing the primary research topics. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the research progress and development trends in the field of disposal of landfill leachate. It contributes to a better understanding of the key research areas and offers potential prospects for future investigations to researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment is a critical aspect of environmental management, aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of urbanization and industrialization on water bodies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of wastewater characteristics, treatment methods, and disposal options by harvesting data from secondary sources. Data obtained reveals that various treatment processes are employed to remove or reduce contaminants from wastewater, including physical, chemical, and biological methods. This review underscores the importance of wastewater treatment in safeguarding water resources and public health, while also emphasizing the importance of considering the broader environmental implications of treatment and disposal practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efforts to encourage sustainable development have brought to attention the use of secondary materials in civil engineering applications. Global experimental data suggest that municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration bottom ash (IBA) can potentially replace natural aggregates in field applications. However, IBA is currently disposed in open dumps or sanitary landfills in India. Assessing contaminant leaching from IBA is crucial to ascertain its options for disposal or reuse. The current study analyzes the mineralogy, chemical constituents, organic content, and leaching of contaminants from IBA collected from two incineration plants in Delhi. The study takes into consideration the effect of particle size, liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratio, and pH on contaminant leaching. The experimental results revealed that the leaching concentration of contaminants and organic content of IBA decreases with an increase in particle size. A considerable influence of pH was noted on the leaching of all contaminants except chlorides, sulfates, and antimony. The results further indicate that IBA is suitable for disposal in non-hazardous waste landfills regardless of particle size at its intrinsic pH. However, it is recommended to dispose IBA in monofils as co-disposal with MSW in sanitary landfills can cause the pH of IBA to shift toward the acidic range, which may exacerbate the contaminant leaching from IBA. The comparison of leaching test results with international regulatory standards for reuse demonstrates that using IBA in unbound applications is feasible in paved roads and earthworks subjected to minimal infiltration of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With ever-improving social and medical awareness about menstrual hygiene in India, the demand for sanitary napkins has increased significantly. The utilization of high-quality and environment-friendly raw materials to produce these pads is further supporting the growth of the market. However, with improving demand and usage, the need for proper disposal techniques becomes more relevant, since all of these pads get contaminated with human blood which makes them a biohazard and can cause significant damage to human health and the environment. One sanitary pad takes around 800 years to degrade naturally and the plastic and super absorbent polymers (SAPs) in sanitary pads are non-biodegradable and can take multiple decades to degrade. Waste management technologies such as pyrolysis, gasification, and resource recovery can be adopted to manage tons of sanitary waste. Currently, sanitary waste treatment mainly focuses on landfilling, incineration, and composting, where biohazard wastes are mixed with tons of solid waste. Disposable sanitary pads have a high carbon footprint of about 5.3 kg CO2 equivalent every year. Innovative solutions for sanitary pad disposal are discussed in the manuscript which includes repurposing of derived waste cellulose and plastic fraction into value-added products. Future aspects of disinfection strategies and value addition to waste cellulose recovered from napkins were systematically discussed to promote a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anger suppression is important in our daily life, as its failure can sometimes lead to the breaking down of relationships in families. Thus, effective strategies to suppress or neutralise anger have been examined. This study shows that physical disposal of a piece of paper containing one's written thoughts on the cause of a provocative event neutralises anger, while holding the paper did not. In this study, participants wrote brief opinions about social problems and received a handwritten, insulting comment consisting of low evaluations about their composition from a confederate. Then, the participants wrote the cause and their thoughts about the provocative event. Half of the participants (disposal group) disposed of the paper in the trash can (Experiment 1) or in the shredder (Experiment 2), while the other half (retention group) kept it in a file on the desk. All the participants showed an increased subjective rating of anger after receiving the insulting feedback. However, the subjective anger for the disposal group decreased as low as the baseline period, while that of the retention group was still higher than that in the baseline period in both experiments. We propose this method as a powerful and simple way to eliminate anger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Used cooking oils (UCOs) represent the residual oil and fat used for deep-frying foods. This study determined the perception and practices of food vendors on the reuse and disposal of UCOs. The study aims to provide information on UCO management and its potential environmental impacts. The descriptive cross-sectional study utilized a mixed-method approach. A three-stage sampling technique was applied to select 291 commercial food vendors selling deep-fried foods. The data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire, and three focus group discussions. The results showed that 61.0% of the respondents positively perceived the environmental effects of reusing and disposing UCO, and 99.0% repeatedly use the same cooking oil for deep-frying till depletion. The respondents’ perception on cooking oil reuse and disposal were influenced by wealth, ethnicity, education, and years of experience. Most respondents demonstrated a positive awareness on the environmental impact of UCO, though a significant gap remained between their knowledge and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A robust knowledge on the pattern of use of emergency care resources not only serves as an indicator of universal access to care but also provides a basis for quality improvement within the health system. This study was undertaken to describe the pattern of emergency room visits at Brits District Hospital (BDH) in North West province, South Africa. The objectives of this study were to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of emergency department (ED) users and other patterns of ED use. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted at a district hospital. All patients who reported for emergency care in the ED in 2016 were eligible for the study. Data were extracted and analysed from a systematic sample of 355 clinical notes and hospital administrative records. Results: The age group that visited the ED most frequently (25.3%) was 25-34 years old. A high proportion of the ED users (60%) were self-referred, and only 38% were transported by the emergency medical response services (EMRS). Few (5.6%) presentations were of a non-urgent nature. Trauma-related conditions accounted for the most frequent presentation at the ED (36.5%). Conclusion: Although most ED users were self-referred, their clinical presentations were appropriate and underscore the need for policy strategies to reduce the burden of trauma in the catchment population Contribution: The study findings may have an impact on future health policies by providing decision-makers with baseline information on the pattern of use of ED resources, ensuring better resource deployment and greater access to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal has always been a source of conflict in academic and scientific libraries. Amid the increasing relevance of electronic resources, the disposal of e-books is becoming pertinent as well. Weighing up the pros and cons, every academic library should consider carefully whether it sides with the "Das frisst kein Brot/It doesn't consume space" team or the "Need to weed" team. The paper makes a proposal where to start the negotiation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]