Dairy Waste Treatment and Utilization

The dairy industry produces waste materials and by-products including soluble and suspended organic substances, wastewater, suspended solids, and whey. These substances contain significant amounts of organic and inorganic toxins that can cause serious health threats if not treated properly. Additionally, toxins produced by dairy waste would negatively affect the environment as well as quality and availability of aquatic resources. However, these waste materials and by-products can be utilized in different ways after proper treatment and processing. This chapter will provide an overview of waste products of dairy industries and highlight different treatments and utilization of these by-products in other industries.

Utilization of Agro Waste

Agro-wastes are one of the major sources for nutritional and therapeutic purposes along with other beneficial properties according to some ongoing studies. Yet they are not being utilized properly; instead, these wastes are being discarded in open air, causing pollution. Conservation of such natural resources is a healthy approach, and it's economic and eco-friendly. too. Novel formulated food products from these agro-wastes can be utilized as an unconventional source of nutrients and a therapeutic weapon for diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, etc. along with normal human consumption. Utilization of such agro-wastes as food products will also be useful to combat malnourished state leading to rural development and maintenance of food security in cheap prices for a healthy seeks. It also shows a possible role as antibiotics, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, adsorbents, enzyme extracting sources, insulators, and food additives along with its contribution in solid state fermentation, beneficial in dairy industries.

An Empirical Study of ISO 14001 Certification and Firm Environmental Performance

ISO14001 certification is of great significance to the company's environmental performance. Through the empirical analysis of environmental certification and performance of Listed Companies in China, this chapter draws some valuable conclusions. The initial ISO14001 certification will worsen the environmental performance of the enterprises. The equity nature of the enterprise has a moderating effect on the ISO14001 certification's influence on enterprise environmental performance. The separation rate of the above-mentioned two positions has a moderating effect on the ISO14001 certification's influence on enterprise environmental performance. Based on the above conclusions, this chapter puts forward some reasonable policy suggestions.

Impact of Trade in Class-A Environmental Products on Economic Growth and Environmental Quality

Openness to international trade enables several countries to access different markets. Similarly, the orientation of industrial productions towards ecological goods reinforces commercial activities and contributes to the improvement of environmental quality. The aim of this chapter is to estimate the indirect and the direct effects of trade in what the authors call “Class A” environmental goods on air quality for a number of developing during the period 2005-2015 (through environmental policy and income). Empirically, the study relies on the two-stage least squares (2SLS) and three-stage least squares regression analyses. For end-of-pipe (EOP) products in developing countries, neither direct nor indirect effects are identified on the reduction of pollution. For clean technologies and products, we can observe a global positive effect resulting from two positive indirect effects via environmental policy and income. In developing countries, it seems that trade in clean technologies and products (CTP) and in the OA product list generates an intensification of pollution through an increase in wealth and the adoption of a strict environmental policy (based on taxation).

Urban Solid Waste Management Techniques With Special Reference to Vermicomposting

The majority of municipal (urban) solid waste (MSW) is disposed of in landfills (anaerobic composting). However, this disposal system is reported to produce hazardous environmental impacts, and new policies are initiated to protect the environment from such impacts by discouraging the practice of disposal of solid waste in landfills. Eco-friendly disposal alternatives to landfills need to be explored. One of the technological options for treatment and disposal of organic solid wastes is vermicomposting. Instead of using conventional composting methods, the vermicomposting method can be used for the disposal of the waste. The enzymatic and microbial activities that occur during vermicomposting process by worms gives a better end product than using the conventional composting. Food waste will be recovered for vermicomposting, and the end products can be organic fertilizer, soil improver, and an alternative source of potential energy. Vermicomposting or vermiculture is an eco-friendly process whereby worms are used to breakdown the organic waste into soil and humus known as vermicast, vermicompost, or earthworm compost. The objective is to process the organic material as quickly and efficiently as possible. During the breakdown of organic matter by the earthworm, humus, which is a complicated material, is formed. The material formed is high in content of nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus, which are the main elements required by plants for their growth, health, and freshness.

Sustainable Development Model and Innovation of Mineral Resources

Mineral resources are important material resources for the development of national economy, but the long-term linear and extensive mining mode leads to low exploitation and utilization of resources and serious waste of resources on the one hand; on the other hand, the environment of mining areas is deteriorating, and safety problems are prominent. Correctly handling the relationship between mineral resources, environment, and economic development has become the main problem of sustainable development of mineral enterprises. There are still some problems in the mine. Therefore, it is particularly necessary to explore the construction path model of green mine under the background of the new era. Based on the coordinated development of resources, environment, and regional economy, this chapter studies the green mine construction mode by using the knowledge of resource economics, mining science, and sustainable development theory, combining theory with empirical analysis and qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Modeling and Prediction of Zone of Critical Concern

The on-campus residence and activities of students, faculty members, visitors, and university staff result in the generation of university campus solid waste (UCSW). An accurate forecast of UCSW generation is crucial for proper on-campus waste management. This chapter, therefore, aims at identifying significant variables that affect the excess production of waste at a higher education institute in Kozhikode in the Indian state of Kerala. The study is expected to improve the waste management program therein. A literature review methodology, along with a series of interviews, has been used to frame and execute a questionnaire-based study where waste management staff provides the required responses. The modeling technique used is a Probit regression. The influential variables that affect the excess generation of waste are average education level, the status of employment, the urban background of most residents, consumption of water and electricity, space understudy, and management control. All the results in this research can be utilized as a part of waste management programs and in improving capacities to manage waste. This will also help in understanding the type of areas that are zones of critical concern in terms of waste management. The observations incorporated in the study is in the Indian context and are unique among the existing literature.

Big Data, Machine Learning, and Health Knowledge Discovery in the Elderly in China

According to the national strategic plan for healthy aging and the construction of the pension system in China, it is expected that by 2020 the population of elderly aged 60 and above will reach 255 million, accounting for about 17.8% of the total population. Currently, population aging is a serious social problem in China, and thus, health status of the elderly becomes increasingly critical. The present research uses machine learning to identify factors influencing elderly's health status and life satisfaction with data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The results show that some common factors are important for both self-rated health status and life satisfaction for elderly, namely positive and optimistic attitudes, a healthy diet, and economic status. Health status and life satisfaction also have their unique predicting factors, such as mobility ability for health status and living conditions for life satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.