Cleaner Waste Systems最新文献

Applying artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques to optimize waste management strategies, focusing on enhancing economic efficiency and reducing environmental impact, is vital. The study utilized ML models to analyze and forecast waste generation trends, assess the viability of various waste management methods, and develop optimization models for resource allocation and operational efficiency. The research employs the World Bank’s comprehensive waste management dataset. After rigorous data preprocessing, including cleaning and feature selection, a variety of ML techniques, such as regression models, classification algorithms like Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and optimization algorithms, including linear programming, are applied. Unlike other research, this study achieved 85 % accuracy on predictive analytics models for forecasting waste generation trends, primarily attributed to integrating more diverse data sets, including socio-economic factors. Also, the optimization resource allocation achieved a 15 % increase in operational efficiency. These findings provide significant insights for policymakers and urban planners, suggesting that integrating ML in waste management can lead to more sustainable and cost-effective practices. This paper demonstrates the transformative potential of ML in optimizing waste management strategies, offering a pathway towards more sustainable and economically viable waste management solutions globally.

Despite literature suggesting the importance of goals and motivation in pro-environmental behavior, its implication for predicting consumers’ sustainable plastic management behavior (SPMB) is limited. This paper adopted the Theory of Reasoned Goal Pursuit (TRGP) to predict young consumers’ SPMB, which includes plastic consumption reduction and proper disposal of plastic waste. Data was collected by surveying 336 respondents from a developing country - Bangladesh. Partial least square-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze data. The result shows a significant impact of active procurement and approval goals on attitude and subjective norms, respectively, that lead to the formation of motivation. Furthermore, it was found that individuals’ motivation significantly impacts their intention, eventually leading to pro-environmental behavior (i.e., SPMB). This research contributes by providing deeper insight into the underlying mechanism of how the active procurement goal (i.e., pro-environmental goals), active approval goal, and motivation interact with other factors to reshape individuals’ SPMB. In addition, this paper provides further evidence on the implication of TRGP in habitual type pro-environmental behavior context. Finally, this paper offers solid suggestions for practitioners to promote circular economy practices at the consumer level to fight against plastic pollution.

Emerging and developing urban economies experience significant waste management challenges due to increased consumption rates, and limited capacity to manage waste. However, these challenges offer opportunities for waste circularity to raise valuation and reduces the amount of solid waste in the dumpsite. This study assessed the existing solid waste management (SWM) systems along circular economy (CE) at businesses, residential, and learning institutions, identified existing opportunities for CE in SWM, and assessed residents' attitudes toward CE in SWM in Othaya, a rural upcoming town in central Kenya. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. 32 households, 19 premises, and 2 Key Informants were interviewed. First, the study findings revealed that the current waste practices in Othaya exhibit limited circularity, primarily influenced by convenience and a predominant linear approach results in substantial waste accumulation at the Gikeu dumpsite. Second, efforts from individuals and the government were progressively aligned to reduce waste disposal and promote circularity; however, the application of waste circularity governance through legal frameworks and agencies remained minimal. Third, challenges to CE progress were tied to the lack of CE awareness, absence of incentives, monetary valuation for participation, and inadequate waste sorting infrastructure. This study recommends raising awareness of CE principles and benefits to both individuals and businesses, enhancing waste governance that fosters CE principles through effective legal measures, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and introducing incentives to encourage active participation in waste circularity.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to an increase in infectious medical waste (IMW). Waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies are considered to manage IMW in the context of the COVID-19 situation and to reduce illegal dumping and landfill problems. This study focuses on managing IMW by using WtE technology. Energy, economic, and environmental (3E) impacts are considered as a single implication value of WtE technology. Combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) is a novel system for generating energy from a treated IMW by using a steam sterilization system. The moisture from sterilization waste is extracted by a drying process to create refuse-derived fuel type 3 (RDF-3). An RDF-3 of 81.98 kg/h at a low heating value of 26.29 MJ/kg is used for a combustion–incineration process of 236.56 kW. A net power from an organic Rankine cycle of 15.80 kW_e, an absorption cooling capacity of 4.62 kW, and a drying room unit of 13.21 kW are found from the combined CCHP system. The energy index is calculated at an overall energy efficiency of approximately 13.40 %. The energy–environmental impact is summarized by a single score of 5.63E-04 Pt. The energy–economic impact is summarized by a levelized energy cost of 0.35 USD/kWh. The economic-environmental perspective is an energy costing per life cycle assessment of 0.73 USD/kg emission-eq. The 3E analysis reveals a single indicator of 1.95E-04 USD·Pt/kWh², which is used in the decision to compare with other energy systems. The CCHP system shows advantages in terms of sustainability, quality, and efficiency. Consequently, a novel in this study promotes the sustainability of energy, avoiding environmental impact, and IMW management.

To meet climate and resource efficiency targets in the European Union, it is advantageous to reduce material production and waste generation related to buildings. Yet, the feasibility of reducing the demand for construction materials across member states remains uncertain. Thus, this paper aims to assess challenges for building material demand reduction in the member states based on national differences in the service-stock-flow nexus. To achieve this objective, the paper introduces a stock-driven material flow analysis and material intensity database for steel and cement in residential and commercial buildings until 2050. The results are contrasted with structural variables to pinpoint challenges for material demand reduction within prospective transformation pathways. While overall material inflows increase by more than 50 %, individual countries stand out due to lower specific material demand. In fact, the specific steel use is around 23 % lower in new single-family houses in Northern compared to Southern Europe as more than half of the residential buildings rely on timber for above-ground construction. Nevertheless, the overall material stocks are lowest in Southern Europe due to a per capita floor space demand below the European average of 45 square meters in 2050. In general, the modelled material outflows are lower than the inflows but are still increasing over time. Furthermore, the national material stocks and flows correlate with market value and population density. This implies that a growing share of material production and waste generation are caused by the construction of buildings. Although the transfer of the identified material demand reduction potentials to other member states is thinkable, this is challenged by continuous economic growth and socioeconomic trends. Consequently, it is decisive to decouple service and material demand. Strategies related to a circular economy demand can contribute to this by reducing building material production and waste generation without affecting the service provision. Future research should quantify the impact of such circular economy strategies to develop exploitation strategies for achieving the climate and resource efficiency targets.

Waste management (WM) is a growing concern in Ghana, characterised by the widespread practice of open dumping and burning of waste. These unsustainable methods have raised significant environmental, health, and social concerns. This systematic review aims to comprehensively analyse the impacts of waste burning and open dumping in Ghana and propose a sustainable way forward for waste management. A systematic search of peer-reviewed articles, reports, and government documents was conducted using various academic databases and official websites. Studies published from 2000 to 2024 were included, focusing on the environmental, health, and socioeconomic impacts of waste burning and open dumping. Relevant sources were identified and critically assessed. The review revealed that open dumping and waste burning have substantial adverse impacts. The effects of waste burning and open dumping necessitate a holistic approach to address these challenges. This includes infrastructure development, implementation and enforcement of WM regulations, community engagement, technological solutions, promotion of recycling technologies, and public-private partnerships. By adopting these strategies, Ghana can mitigate the adverse effects of inappropriate waste disposal, protect public health, preserve the environment, and make significant progress toward a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future. This review contributes valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders committed to addressing the WM crisis in Ghana. It is a foundation for further research and action in this critical field.

The aim of this article is to examine and assess Turkey's wood waste potential through an experimental investigation approach to serve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of United Nations Development Programme. While integrating entrepreneurial and architectural perspectives from two authors, the survey provides insights into the waste wood-producing sector, highlighting the gaps within the data in the existing literature. To address these gaps, after reviewing available sources in the wood-waste producing sector, the authors conducted interviews with directly involved volunteers to gather first-hand information and suggestions. Viability studies were subsequently conducted for theoretical products, comparing their potential to create value-add by utilizing wood waste capacity.

The proposal for handmade, unique, products from solid wood waste demonstrated a higher added value attributed to elevated selling price expectations, albeit with limited benefits in recycling substantial amounts of wood waste. Conversely, the proposal focusing on wood-based pressboards exhibited a lower added value, influenced by competitive pressure from industrially produced boards, but demonstrated a significant capacity for CO₂ sequestration. The findings of the study underscore a considerable future potential for wasted wood and its utilization in Turkey, while also emphasizing the pressing need for additional research on wood waste recycling to enhance ecological sustainability.

This study addresses the gap in research concerning collaborative governance of solid waste infrastructure in informal neighbourhoods across Ghanaian cities. With the absence of a formalized institutional framework for governing solid waste infrastructure in Ghana, collaboratively managing solid waste disposal infrastructure presents promising outcomes. Prior studies often overlook the role and impact of collaborative governance in fostering sustainable solid waste infrastructure. Through interviews with 48 stakeholders in Wa, this study examines the dynamics within collaborative governance structures to discern their efficacy. Findings indicate that shared principled engagement, collective motivation, and the ability to take concerted action are pivotal elements of collaborative governance of solid waste disposal infrastructure. These factors have been instrumental in mitigating waste accumulation and maintaining a clean environment around waste disposal infrastructure. The paper underscores the importance of integrating transparency and accountability mechanisms into the governance framework of solid waste infrastructure as a recommendation.

In the last decades, the high emissions of carbon dioxide during concrete production have pushed the scientific community to develop innovative ways towards reductions of such carbon dioxide emissions. An effective way is to use waste materials to replace conventional concrete materials, but this may come at the cost of reduced concrete performance. Hence, there is a need to link the carbon dioxide emission of concrete with concrete strength (strength-carbon dioxide emission relationship). This study bridges this gap by investigating the possibility of reducing carbon dioxide emissions in concrete by incorporating waste brick powder (WBP) and waste tire rubber (WTR) using a strength-based approach. This resulted in the formulation of three concrete grades of 20 MPa, 25 MPa and 30 MPa. It is shown that the impacts of including WBP and WTR on carbon dioxide emissions of concrete mixes are significant. Moreover, the compressive strength values corresponding to contents of 5 % WBP and 20 % WTR reduce dramatically by more than 32.57 % in comparison with conventional concrete mixes. However, 5P0T and 5P10T concrete mixes reveal both the reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and reasonable concrete strength. The present research therefore shows that certain concrete mixes incorporating WBP and WTR can provide the driving force for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and preventing substantial compressive strength reductions.

The usage of waste plastics in the form of eco-bricks for the construction of buildings is gradually gaining traction. However, the performance of eco-brick masonry walls is not sufficiently known, and the process of setting up experimental rigs for the conduct of compressive strength test of masonry are usually cumbersome and expensive. This study investigated the compressive strength performance of eco-brick masonry walls and developed a predictive model for evaluating the strength of eco-brick masonry walls. Waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were physically recycled and utilised to manufacture four samples of eco-bricks, strength grades 40.5, 21.02, 13.52 and 3.05 N/mm² using stone dust, sharp sand and laterite at predetermined moisture contents. The eco-bricks were laid with seven grades of mortar to build 54 eco-brick masonry prisms. A quasi-static compressive loading test was carried out on the masonries, and predictive models were developed using multiple non-linear regression. The study found that eco-brick masonry prisms supported large loads and failed due to the propagation of tensile cracks and debonding of the units. The study also found that the compressive strength of eco-brick masonry is a power function of the compressive strength of eco-bricks and the mortar used for the bonding. It was determined that the mean ratio of the expected to experimental prism strength was 1.002. The mathematical model developed in this study for predicting the strength of eco-brick masonries can significantly evaluate the compressive strength of eco-brick masonry.