Anaerobic digestion fundamentals, challenges, and technological advances

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a natural biochemical process that converts organic materials into combustible biogas. AD has been long practiced for agricultural and urban waste management; however, this process is getting more attention as an alternative energy source nowadays. Additionally, various biogas-derived value-added chemicals and transportation fuels are turning AD into a profitable biorefinery business model. Despite its numerous potentials, AD technologies still face challenges in conversion efficiency, process stability, product quality, and economic feasibility. Researchers have been devising various mechanisms to tackle these challenges. However, a widespread adoption of commercial-scale AD is yet to be visible. The development of AD technology requires a concerted effort of scientists from different backgrounds to ensure rapid expansion.

Municipal solid waste management decision-making during COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison between Brazil and Portugal

Decisions related to waste management were affected to contain the advance of the new coronavirus pandemic. Different measures have been adopted between countries around the world. This study aims to assess changes in decision-making on solid waste management in Brazil and Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the socioeconomic differences and the context of waste management in each country before the health crisis. A literature review was carried out on scientific bases, PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science. Differences were noted in decisions and guidelines for good practices in waste management, with measures being observed in a decentralized manner in Brazil, differently from what was observed in Portugal. In this way, the understanding of urban waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil becomes complex, in addition to the territorial extension and the diverse social composition, due to the decentralization of decision-making, while Portugal centralizes decisions related to waste management and has a smaller population and territorial extension.

Making Urban Waste Management and Drainage Sustainable in Nepal

As cities in Nepal grow fast in an unplanned manner, low-lying areas face the risk of flooding and waterlogging exacerbated by the impact of climate change events such as excessive rainfall. The problem is aggravated when solid waste is not managed properly. This chapter provides an account of some of the key findings from a large research project where we examined how proper solid waste management would help reduce the risk of flooding and waterlogging using the metropolitan city of Bharatpur as a case study. It also examines the effectiveness of information dissemination and installation of waste bins on the streets as a strategy for making urban communities cleaner. The benefits that cities would derive in terms of increased property value when communities get cleaner are quantified. Household surveys and other data are used to examine households’ willingness to pay for improved municipal solid waste management and how this could be financed in a sustainable manner to increase urban resilience as a strategy for community-based climate change adaptation.

The Bio-Based Learning Experiences optimizing Storytelling Approach for Kids Case Study Teras Hijau Project, Bandung, Indonesia

Since the promotion of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), some programs have been conducted to increase environmental awareness and concern. To meet the goals, it requires substantial efforts by all stakeholders in society. However, to our knowledge, there is still a limited number of academics whose research is focused on communicating environmental awareness to the public. While organizing communication about SDGs has faced challenges and new concerns, such as skepticism towards sustainability issues, rural and environmental issues seem to be the main agenda of development (Murphy, 2012). Thus, implementing the right communication methods is fundamental to delivering information to navigate the public's environmental orientation (Genç, 2017). Urban waste management in Indonesia still faces many obstacles, especially in terms of landfill existence. Only 60-70% of wastes can be transported and disposed in sanitary landfills (Badan Pusat Statistik, 2018). It creates so much waste, particularly related to food waste, over-packaging, and e-waste, all causing particular problems (Zaman and Lehmann, 2011). Limited natural resources force people to think hard about how to save existing natural resources.Teras Hijau Project (THP) was established out of a growing concern with the situation of the city of Bandung, Indonesia, especially in responding and improving themselves to be more sustainable. It is inspired by the Bio-Economic Initiative of European Union countries, which applies a "Circular Economy" as a basis of Regional Development. Keywords: Study Kid's Urban Farming, Communicating Cities, Storytelling, Sustainable Communication

Urban Waste Management in Post-Genocide Rwanda: An Empirical Survey of the City of Kigali

African countries are urbanizing rapidly, presenting complex challenges for urban waste management. A compelling nexus between urbanization and waste management can be found in Kigali, the capital and largest city in Rwanda. Since its founding in 1907, the city of Kigali has witnessed steady growth in terms of both population and geographical boundaries. Using mainly qualitative methods, this study provides an empirical survey of waste management practices in post-genocide Rwanda with an emphasis on the city of Kigali, the capital. The study analyzed current regulatory arrangements and legislative instruments, approaches to public cleaning, and minimization, collection, and final disposal of wastes. We found Kigali to be an exceptionally clean city with carefully organized and well-coordinated waste management service delivery systems in place. Conversely, the absence of effective minimization strategies, coupled with a lack of safe treatment and disposal facilities, militate against sustainable waste management.

Willingness to participate analysis of urban waste management in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Waste management shares the same purposes with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target in 2030. This program encourages all countries to substantially reduce waste through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse its waste so that the sustainability of development can be achieved. The success rate of sustainable waste management is largely determined by the participation and behavior of people, households, and citizens in managing their waste. This study analyzes socio-economic factors and the role of social capital in affecting households' willingness to participate in waste management in West Sumatra’s urban areas. This study used National Socio-Economic Survey data in the Social Resilience module. The sample in this study is 1011 households spread across the urban areas of West Sumatra. Using logistic regression, this study found that per capita household expenditure, homeownership status, knowledge, and household involvement in mutual cooperation activities to clean up their environment significantly affect the probability of households participating in urban waste management. The relevant policy, such as implementing the 3R concept, namely reduce, reuse, and recycling is needed for the Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved.