scholarly journals Characterisation, Recovery and Recycling Potential of Solid Waste in a University of a Developing Economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5111
Author(s):  
Oluwatobi Owojori ◽  
Joshua N. Edokpayi ◽  
Ratshalingwa Mulaudzi ◽  
John O. Odiyo

The present decade of Sustainable Development Goals has influenced higher educational institutions to assess and harness their great potential for waste diversion, recovery, and recycling. Institutional solid waste management in South Africa as a developing economy is yet to receive the required attention compared to developed countries. The measurement of the characteristics, and composition of solid waste is a fundamental pre-requisite towards creating a sustainable and viable process of solid waste management systems across institutions as this provides adequate and reliable information on the waste generated. This study aimed to determine the variations of waste components in the University of Venda (UNIVEN) by characterisation of the waste generated. Solid waste samples were collected from key activity areas and characterised using the ASTM D5321-92 method for unprocessed municipal solid waste. The recyclable, compostable, and non-recoverable components of the waste generated were found to be 61.7%, 34.4%, and 3.9%, respectively. The results of the waste audit revealed a strong potential for recycling in the institution (61.7%). This would decrease the amount of waste sent to landfills and enable the monetisation of the recyclable waste recovered from the waste stream, in this manner prompting a circular economy and a sustainable campus thereby lowering the waste footprint of higher education institutions.

Recycling ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikhat Parvez ◽  
Avlokita Agrawal ◽  
Akhilesh Kumar

The rates of waste generation in India have been increasing with increasing population and urbanization. Since higher education campuses are like mini autonomous cities, they can act as a model for solid waste management (SWM) and enhance sustainable development. SWM is the controlled generation, storage, collection, transport, processing, and disposal of solid waste considering public health, conservation, economics, and environmental conditions. A SWM program on campus will benefit the campus through reduced resource consumption and waste diversion. Developing countries like India are lacking behind in SWM from the developed countries which are using advanced technologies along with efficient management. This paper will analyze the issues related to SWM at IITR (Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee) campus and provide feasible solutions to be implemented at IITR campus for becoming zero waste campus. The SWM at the IITR campus is disorganized and incompetent. Lack of awareness and improper collection, imprecise segregation, exposed transportation, inefficient processing and disorganized disposal of solid waste are the major reasons for it. IITR has the potential to manage its waste properly through various techniques discussed in this paper. These would reduce the amount of waste diverted to landfills and the problems arising on campus due to solid waste, thus leading to a zero waste campus. Other campuses like IITR with similar context and issues can learn from this case study and work towards a zero-waste campus. This paper identifies a need to implement a robust SWM at the IITR campus in India.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (33) ◽  
pp. 162-182
Author(s):  
Oi Min Chong ◽  
Mohammad Tahir Mapa

The issue of solid waste management through recycling programs in our country has long been debated. However, the issue is still not taken the proper attention. recycling rate is still low at only 11 per cent compared to developed countries has reached 70 percent. The situation is alarming because its impact on health and sanitation as well as an area of the landfill is increasingly limited. Therefore, one of the steps that can be taken to solve the problem is through the implementation of various recycling programs in schools. This study was conducted to identify the perception and involvement of various recycling programs. Recycling is an effort to collect, process and reuse of materials use. This study uses a design review by applying the quantitative approach. Data were analyzed using SPSS by using the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics with the percentage obtained for use in the analysis of the study. The sample involves four students who were randomly selected in a secondary school in order to get feedback on the implementation of a recycling program. The results showed that students know the various recycling programs and they are well aware of the importance of recycling for analyzing the theories, but this practice is quite difficult. The overall analysis shows that perception and involvement of the recycling program is low. Therefore, all parties should school their energy and effort to make students aware of the importance of the implementation of recycling programs in order to solve the garbage problem in the school which in turn foster the practice of recycling among students. It is expected that the school can design a comprehensive new approach to attract the attention and interest of students to the various recycling programs, as well as to educate students to love the environment and maintain the cleanliness of the school grounds.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-575
Author(s):  
Saad Dahlawi ◽  
Mahmoud F. El Sharkawy

Purpose Municipal solid waste (MSW) consists mainly of several recyclable materials such as paper and cardboard. Inside the educational institutes, especially universities, MSW is generated from several facilities including offices and cafeterias. Without an effective management program, solid waste can have detrimental impacts on the environment. This paper aims to assess the solid waste management practices followed at the main campus of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), Dammam – Saudi Arabia. Design/methodology/approach The MSW samples were collected from different sources inside the IAU campus such as the college buildings (such as the teaching rooms and staff offices), the administrative buildings and services buildings (e.g. the main library, the photocopying center, the restaurant and cafeteria) at least one time per week during a full academic term (January–May) of the academic year 2017–2018. The collected MSW samples were segregated into seven categories, and the net amount of each category and the overall weight of the MSW were determined once every week. The MSW samples were characterized for physical and chemical properties including moisture, carbon and ash contents. Food product waste (FPW) of the main university restaurant was studied separately. Findings Data on the composition of MSW samples revealed that 80% of wastes were recyclable, 19% as compostable materials, while only 1% of the materials were a non-recyclable waste. More than 73% of the recyclable materials include paper and plastic warranting dire need of an effective solid waste management program. The highest value of FPW was recorded for the breakfast meal. Originality/value Most of the waste generated from the university campus was recyclable type that needs to be handled carefully to avoid its mixing with other types of the waste stream. Waste characterization is an important tool that helps in understanding the amount and pattern of waste generation. It can be used as a decision-making tool for implementing sustainable waste management programs for universities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Aili Yang ◽  
Xiujuan Chen ◽  
Guohe Huang ◽  
Shan Zhao ◽  
Xiajing Lin ◽  
...  

A linear fractional programming based solid waste management planning model was proposed and applied to support the planning of urban-rural solid waste management in Xiamen, China. The model could obtain the best system efficiency while solving the tradeoff between economic and environmental objectives. It aimed to effectively address the urban and rural solid waste management planning through minimizing the system cost and optimizing system efficiency in the developed model framework. Through the model, the optimal waste flow for each facility was obtained, and the problem of overburdened landfill in Xiamen’s urban and rural solid waste management system was solved. The solutions for waste allocation and facility capacity expansion were provided for Xiamen’s urban and rural solid waste management. The planning results showed that about 42.44 × 106 tons of waste would be diverted to other facilities from landfills over the planning period of 2018-2032, and the waste diversion rate would reach 97%, which would greatly reduce the burden on landfills. The economic efficiency of waste diversion would be 5.07 × 103 ton per 106 RMB. All the capacities of Xiamen’s urban and rural solid waste management facilities including incinerators, composting plant, and landfills should be expanded because of increasing waste production rate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-220
Author(s):  
Ericson E. Coracero ◽  
RB J. Gallego ◽  
Kristine Joy M. Frago ◽  
Ruel Joseph R. Gonzales

Solid waste management is considered a pressing global issue calling for an immediate response from the government and its people. The Philippines has a continuously rising amount of waste and is expected to further increase in the succeeding years. As reviewed, associated problems with solid waste management in the country include an increasing amount of solid waste, weak law implementation, scarcity of sanitary landfills, and improper disposal. The ultimate solution existing in the country is the RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which highlights the practices of segregation, proper disposal, and waste diversion. The importance of envisioning a trash-free Philippines and encouraging people’s participation and awareness is also emphasized. Another possible solution to solid waste management is valorization which can also address other environmental problems such as the depletion of natural resources. These solutions enumerated will only be possible with the presence of good governance, active participation of the people of the country, and the cooperation of all constituents and agencies in the Philippines.


Author(s):  
Günay Kocasoy

Handling of solid waste has been a serious problem for countries all over the world. Increase in population, change in life standard and life style, industrialization and production of new products contribute to the increase in the amount of solid wastes and consequently the problems generated by them. Developed countries, being aware of the significance of the problems, established regulatory programs, while economically developing countries continued to handle the solid wastes in a very primitive way, such as dumping them into “open dumps.” In these countries recycling activities are mostly carried on by scavengers in a very primitive way. For the protection of the environment and sustainable development, economically developing countries should establish solid waste management policies, plan recycling programs and publish related regulations and by-laws, and strictly control the application of them. This is explored in this chapter.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Carlos Alejandro Bowen Quiroz ◽  
María Rodríguez Gámez ◽  
Ciaddys Gina Rodriguez Borges ◽  
Jesús Alberto Pérez Rodríguez

Biomass as an energy source will play a fundamental role in the coming years. The versatility of biomass-based generation systems makes them attractive projects at any scale. At the Technical University of Manabí, large quantities of organic and forest residues are generated, which can be used to generate energy. A survey was applied to determine the level of knowledge of the university community on issues related to the energy use of biomass and solid waste management. The results show that there is a knowledge gap in the community and it will be necessary, if such a system is implemented, to train all those involved in the generation, handling and disposal of solid waste to strengthen the proposal.


2021 ◽  
Vol 889 (1) ◽  
pp. 012047
Author(s):  
Puneet Sharma ◽  
Upma Vaid

Abstract Sustainable development goals target to achieve better living condition in all countries by 2030 and this paves the need for ecological assessment and management. Accelerating environmental deterioration triggers the scientific community to invest and formulate policies and strategies for environmental management, which will lead to sustainable development. Among all environmental issues solid waste management pose serious threat considering the increase in amount of generation of waste in all economies. Better management strategies and policies are required to ensure better living conditions. Incorporation of AI based models to assist the human efforts not only ensure better management of waste but also aid in reduced carbon emissions. Various models and algorithms have been evaluated to assess their potential in better management of solid waste. Algorithms are available in various domains. In thisreview article, role of various AI based techniques in waste management is discussed.


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