Sewage sludge can be used as fertilizer in agriculture, representing an environmentally and economically advantageous alternative to disposal in landfills and incinerators, however helminth eggs compromises its destination. In this study, we evaluated helminth eggs in raw and treated sewage sludge after thermal drying in an agricultural greenhouse, from two wastewater treatment plants (namely WWTP-A and WWTP-B), in intention of verifying a low-cost treatment technology to obtain treated sewage sludge for agricultural purposes. Helminths eggs of Hymenolepis diminuta and Ascaris sp were the most frequent. In the sludge from WWTP-A the mean concentration of helminth eggs, respectively, was 3.49 ± 1.45 and 1.01 ± 1.13 eggs/g TS in the raw and treated sludge (p = 0.0382). In WWTP-B, the mean concentration of helminth eggs was 8.14 ± 1.28 and 2.33 ± 3.81 eggs/g TS, respectively, in the raw and treated sludge (p = 0.0495). The maximum percentages of egg removal were 93.81 % in WWTP-A and 98.80 % in WWTP-B. No viable eggs were detected in treated sewage sludge, indicating that the biosolid could be classified as Class A under legal parasitological parameters, allowing for extensive use in agricultural crops, which represents a sustainable alternative for the disposal of sewage sludge.
{"title":"A sustainable approach to helminth eggs concentrations removal in sewage sludge from biological wastewater treatment: A Brazilian case study","authors":"Guilherme Sgobbi Zagui , Lisandro Simão , Danielma Silva Maia , Brisa Maria Fregonesi , Karina Aparecida Abreu Tonani , Marília Vasconcellos Agnesini , Cristina Filomena Pereira Rosa Paschoalato , Susana Inés Segura-Muñoz","doi":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100232","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100232","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sewage sludge can be used as fertilizer in agriculture, representing an environmentally and economically advantageous alternative to disposal in landfills and incinerators, however helminth eggs compromises its destination. In this study, we evaluated helminth eggs in raw and treated sewage sludge after thermal drying in an agricultural greenhouse, from two wastewater treatment plants (namely WWTP-A and WWTP-B), in intention of verifying a low-cost treatment technology to obtain treated sewage sludge for agricultural purposes. Helminths eggs of <em>Hymenolepis diminuta</em> and <em>Ascaris</em> sp were the most frequent. In the sludge from WWTP-A the mean concentration of helminth eggs, respectively, was 3.49 ± 1.45 and 1.01 ± 1.13 eggs/g TS in the raw and treated sludge (<em>p</em> = 0.0382). In WWTP-B, the mean concentration of helminth eggs was 8.14 ± 1.28 and 2.33 ± 3.81 eggs/g TS, respectively, in the raw and treated sludge (<em>p</em> = 0.0495). The maximum percentages of egg removal were 93.81 % in WWTP-A and 98.80 % in WWTP-B. No viable eggs were detected in treated sewage sludge, indicating that the biosolid could be classified as Class A under legal parasitological parameters, allowing for extensive use in agricultural crops, which represents a sustainable alternative for the disposal of sewage sludge.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101276,"journal":{"name":"Waste Management Bulletin","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100232"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144711715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-22DOI: 10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100226
Michel Dumon
The number of plastic and polymer types are tremendously numerous. At the present time, they fulfill a lot of daily citizen’s needs and economical interests. They appear to be irreplaceable, but they raise questions. The paper is not a case study nor an experimental study but a viewpoint on the fate of plastics. Their situation and evolution are presented in the form of questions where actors and ‘spheres’ correspond to different visions. ‘Spheres’ are industry, ecosystems, waste management, innovation, technologies and citizens. Statistics predict a growing production and consumption of plastics. Thus a dilemma arises between environment and health protection, the well being of citizens, the will of authorities, the will and ability of manufacturers/producers to supply better ‘products’, and the willingness of citizens to change their habits and behaviors towards less plastics.
Against overuse and pollution, plastic recycling is stopgap, a subterfuge. Recycling of all fossile-based plastics is an illusion. Bioplastics are very partial substitutes for fossil-based plastics. The future of plastics deals as much as with behaviors, habits and wills rather than materials themselves. A true decrease in the plastics consumption, firstly those used in packaging, is a long-term solution. But, according to most data and figures, fossile synthetic plastics will be produced and used for decades.
{"title":"Plastics and polymers today, some questions, a particular viewpoint","authors":"Michel Dumon","doi":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100226","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100226","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The number of plastic and polymer types are tremendously numerous. At the present time, they fulfill a lot of daily citizen’s needs and economical interests. They appear to be irreplaceable, but they raise questions. The paper is not a case study nor an experimental study but a viewpoint on the fate of plastics. Their situation and evolution are presented in the form of questions where actors and ‘spheres’ correspond to different visions. ‘Spheres’ are industry, ecosystems, waste management, innovation, technologies and citizens. Statistics predict a growing production and consumption of plastics. Thus a dilemma arises<!--> <!-->between environment and health protection, the well being of citizens, the will of authorities, the will and ability of manufacturers/producers to supply better ‘products’, and the willingness of citizens to change their habits and behaviors towards less plastics.</div><div>Against overuse and pollution, plastic recycling is stopgap, a subterfuge. Recycling of all fossile-based plastics is an illusion. Bioplastics are very partial substitutes for fossil-based plastics. The future of plastics deals as much as with behaviors, habits and wills rather than materials themselves. A true decrease in the plastics consumption, firstly those used in packaging, is a long-term solution.<!--> <!-->But, according to most data and figures, fossile synthetic plastics will be produced and used for decades.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101276,"journal":{"name":"Waste Management Bulletin","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100226"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144714077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Actinobacteria belonging to genus Streptomyces are a versatile group actively involved in global C cycle with abilities to degrade several recalcitrant substrates. Inhabiting diverse ecological niches, they are active in different pH and temperature regimes thus a source of robust enzymes for exploitation in bioprocessing. Compost is one such habitat supporting huge microbial diversity, lignocellulolytic actinobacteria being predominant in community. In this study, two actinobacterial strains isolated from compost through enrichment culture, identified as Streptomyces thermoviolaceous S1 and S2, showed lignocellulolose degrading enzyme production. When grown on rice straw under solid state fermentation they disrupted lignocellulose matrix. Structural changes in solid substrate were observed by non-invasive techniques SEM, XRD and FTIR. Alkali extraction of fermented solids removed about ∼ 33 % lignin from rice straw while buffer extracts showed high specific activities of all three components of cellulases, xylanase (84 IU/ mL), laccase (59 IU/ mL) and lignin peroxidase (26 IU/ mL).
S. thermoviolaceous S2 showed better enzyme activities, lignin removal and cellulose enrichment than S1 (53.03 % and 49.01 % by S. thermoviolaceous S2 and S1 respectively). Alkali extraction led to efficient lignin removal than buffer extraction as evident from higher absorbance of alkali extracts (@205 nm) which was corroborated by higher recovery of acid precipitable lignin. Better cellulose enrichment enabled higher glucan loading and higher sugar yields upon enzymatic saccharification than uninoculated substrate. This study outlined a green like process involving biological treatment of rice straw with S. thermoviolaceous strains for delignification, lignin recovery and simultaneous lignocellulose degrading enzyme production for biomass processing.
{"title":"A green process for lignin extraction and lignocellulose degrading enzyme production from rice straw by solid state fermentation with Streptomyces thermoviolaceous strains","authors":"Sonam Priyadarshani , Preeti Nandal , Anju Arora , Gautam Chawla , Rajesh kumar , Debarup Das , Archna Suman","doi":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Actinobacteria belonging to genus <em>Streptomyces</em> are a versatile group actively involved in global C cycle with abilities to degrade several recalcitrant substrates. Inhabiting diverse ecological niches, they are active in different pH and temperature regimes thus a source of robust enzymes for exploitation in bioprocessing. Compost is one such habitat supporting huge microbial diversity, lignocellulolytic actinobacteria being predominant in community. In this study, two actinobacterial strains isolated from compost through enrichment culture, identified as <em>Streptomyces thermoviolaceous</em> S1 and S2, showed lignocellulolose degrading enzyme production. When grown on rice straw under solid state fermentation they disrupted lignocellulose matrix. Structural changes in solid substrate were observed by non-invasive techniques SEM, XRD and FTIR. Alkali extraction of fermented solids removed about ∼ 33 % lignin from rice straw while buffer extracts showed high specific activities of all three components of cellulases, xylanase (84 IU/ mL), laccase (59 IU/ mL) and lignin peroxidase (26 IU/ mL).</div><div><em>S. thermoviolaceous</em> S2 showed better enzyme activities, lignin removal and cellulose enrichment than S1 (53.03 % and 49.01 % by <em>S. thermoviolaceous</em> S2 and S1 respectively). Alkali extraction led to efficient lignin removal than buffer extraction as evident from higher absorbance of alkali extracts (@205 nm) which was corroborated by higher recovery of acid precipitable lignin. Better cellulose enrichment enabled higher glucan loading and higher sugar yields upon enzymatic saccharification than uninoculated substrate. This study outlined a green like process involving biological treatment of rice straw with <em>S. thermoviolaceous</em> strains for delignification, lignin recovery and simultaneous lignocellulose degrading enzyme production for biomass processing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101276,"journal":{"name":"Waste Management Bulletin","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100207"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143828912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Garbage enzyme (GE), a bio-catalytic solution produced through the fermentation of organic waste, has gained popularity as an alternate way to wastewater and leachate treatment. This study examines the ability of GE to degrade organic pollutants, and hazardous chemicals usually present in leachate. In this regard, the leachate samples were collected from the Pirana solid waste dumping site in Ahmedabad, India. The samples were having average values of different parameters like pH: 8.8 ± 0.12 mg/L, Total dissolve solids (TDS mg/L) 19000 ± 199.9 mg/L, and Electric conductivity (EC mg/L) 21800 ± 110.12, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD mg/L) 13500 ± 2411 mg/L, and Ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N mg/L): 1750 ± 15.01 mg/L. Furthermore, one of the representative samples was utilized for the exploration of the biodegradation capacity of GE of the organic pollutants present in the leachate. Before the utilization of the GE in the treatment, the GE is characterized via biochemical profiling, enzymatic activity analysis, and metagenomic profiling of microbial populations. The findings show the presence of metabolites like flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, saponins, and cardenolides in the GE; the bacterial group Acetobacter senegalensis was generally considered higher in the population, and the Komagataeibacter swingsii was in low abundance. In addition to that, the presence of enzymes like lipase and amylase was also confirmed with the further biochemical analysis. The treatment efficiency showed the significant reduction in the COD (47 % for citrus fruit GE and 60 % for the non-citrus fruit GE) and NH3-N 40 % for citrus fruit GE and 45 % for the non-citrus fruit) GE as compared to the control.
{"title":"Exploring the potential of garbage enzyme as an eco-friendly option for leachate treatment collected from Pirana dumping site, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India","authors":"Dharni Parekh , Sachin Vaidh , Dhara Patel , Shuvomoy Banerjee , Gajendra Singh Vishwakarma","doi":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100210","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100210","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Garbage enzyme (GE), a bio-catalytic solution produced through the fermentation of organic waste, has gained popularity as an alternate way to wastewater and leachate treatment. This study examines the ability of GE to degrade organic pollutants, and hazardous chemicals usually present in leachate. In this regard, the leachate samples were collected from the Pirana solid waste dumping site in Ahmedabad, India. The samples were having average values of different parameters like pH: 8.8 ± 0.12 mg/L, Total dissolve solids (TDS mg/L) 19000 ± 199.9 mg/L, and Electric conductivity (EC mg/L) 21800 ± 110.12, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD mg/L) 13500 ± 2411 mg/L, and Ammoniacal nitrogen (NH<sub>3</sub>-N mg/L): 1750 ± 15.01 mg/L. Furthermore, one of the representative samples was utilized for the exploration of the biodegradation capacity of GE of the organic pollutants present in the leachate. Before the utilization of the GE in the treatment, the GE is characterized via biochemical profiling, enzymatic activity analysis, and metagenomic profiling of microbial populations. The findings show the presence of metabolites like flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, saponins, and cardenolides in the GE; the bacterial group <em>Acetobacter senegalensis</em> was generally considered higher in the population, and the <em>Komagataeibacter swingsii was in</em> low abundance<em>.</em> In addition to that, the presence of enzymes like lipase and amylase was also confirmed with the further biochemical analysis. The treatment efficiency showed the significant reduction in the COD (47 % for citrus fruit GE and 60 % for the non-citrus fruit GE) and NH<sub>3</sub>-N 40 % for citrus fruit GE and 45 % for the non-citrus fruit) GE as compared to the control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101276,"journal":{"name":"Waste Management Bulletin","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100210"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143869874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-05-17DOI: 10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100215
Wang Xi , Zailani Suhaiza
Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) have gained growing attention for promoting sustainable food systems by addressing upstream food production, distribution, and waste reduction challenges. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 830 peer-reviewed articles published between 1989 and 2024, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Utilizing VOSviewer and RStudio, the analysis maps the intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and global research dynamics of AFNs over the past three decades. The results reveal an average annual growth rate of 11.19%, with a sharp increase in publications after 2020, driven by heightened interest in resilient, local, and circular food systems. Co-word and cluster network analyses identify four major thematic domains: (1) local food and consumption patterns, (2) sustainability and environmental impacts, (3) governance, policy, and social justice, and (4) community participation and social innovation. Key theoretical frameworks underpinning the field include Actor-Network Theory, Convention Theory, and the Theory of Planned Behavior. This study distinguishes itself by framing AFNs as upstream system-level interventions with the potential to complement or substitute downstream technological approaches to waste management. It highlights AFNs’ unique contributions to reducing food loss and waste, strengthening local economies, and fostering inclusive development. The findings also reveal a research gap in the Global South, where AFNs could address food safety and local poverty. This review offers practical guidance for researchers and policymakers to advance AFNs’ research and design place-based, sustainable food governance strategies.
替代粮食网络(afn)通过解决上游粮食生产、分配和减少废物的挑战,促进可持续粮食系统,已获得越来越多的关注。本研究对1989年至2024年间发表的830篇同行评议文章进行了全面的文献计量分析,这些文章检索自Web of Science Core Collection。利用VOSviewer和RStudio,分析了过去三十年来afn的知识结构、主题演变和全球研究动态。结果显示,平均年增长率为11.19%,在2020年之后,由于对弹性、本地和循环粮食系统的兴趣增加,出版物急剧增加。共词和聚类网络分析确定了四个主要主题领域:(1)当地食物和消费模式;(2)可持续性和环境影响;(3)治理、政策和社会正义;(4)社区参与和社会创新。支撑该领域的主要理论框架包括行动者网络理论、约定理论和计划行为理论。本研究的特点是将afn作为上游系统级干预措施,具有补充或替代下游废物管理技术方法的潜力。它强调了afn在减少粮食损失和浪费、加强地方经济和促进包容性发展方面的独特贡献。研究结果还揭示了全球南方的一个研究缺口,在那里,AFNs可以解决食品安全和当地贫困问题。这一综述为研究人员和政策制定者推进afn的研究和设计基于地方的可持续食品治理战略提供了实用指导。
{"title":"Alternative food networks in supply Chains: A Biblio-metric analysis using RStudio and VOSViewer (1989–2024)","authors":"Wang Xi , Zailani Suhaiza","doi":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) have gained growing attention for promoting sustainable food systems by addressing upstream food production, distribution, and waste reduction challenges. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 830 peer-reviewed articles published between 1989 and 2024, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Utilizing VOSviewer and RStudio, the analysis maps the intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and global research dynamics of AFNs over the past three decades. The results reveal an average annual growth rate of 11.19%, with a sharp increase in publications after 2020, driven by heightened interest in resilient, local, and circular food systems. Co-word and cluster network analyses identify four major thematic domains: (1) local food and consumption patterns, (2) sustainability and environmental impacts, (3) governance, policy, and social justice, and (4) community participation and social innovation. Key theoretical frameworks underpinning the field include Actor-Network Theory, Convention Theory, and the Theory of Planned Behavior. This study distinguishes itself by framing AFNs as upstream system-level interventions with the potential to complement or substitute downstream technological approaches to waste management. It highlights AFNs’ unique contributions to reducing food loss and waste, strengthening local economies, and fostering inclusive development. The findings also reveal a research gap in the Global South, where AFNs could address food safety and local poverty. This review offers practical guidance for researchers and policymakers to advance AFNs’ research and design place-based, sustainable food governance strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101276,"journal":{"name":"Waste Management Bulletin","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100215"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-05-12DOI: 10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100214
Sayan Mukherjee , Shashank Pal , Subhasis Ghosh , Sandipan Bhattacharya , Surajit Mondal , Papita Das
Malachite Green is a persistent pollutant, and it has been reported to cause many harmful health hazards for both humans and aquatic organisms. Growing use of plastic is posing a lot of problems and the most pertinent of which is perhaps the treatment of plastic waste. In the present work, plastic waste has been pyrolyzed, annealed and treated with sodium hydroxide to synthesize a char. Then this char has been used to remove the cationic dye Malachite Green from water and was observed highest removal of Malachite Green by the char was 99.3 %. From the thermodynamic study, it was observed that the value of Gibbs free energy was negative across all the temperature thereby denoting that the process was spontaneous. The process was optimized with an Artificial Neural Network system and from there it was observed that the Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation model best optimized the experimental data. The char also exhibited high efficiency for the purpose of removing other cationic dyes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, whereas showing a lower affinity for anionic dyes and pharmaceutical compounds.
{"title":"Synthesis of activated carbon using pyrolytic degradation of multi plastic waste and its removal efficiency of dye","authors":"Sayan Mukherjee , Shashank Pal , Subhasis Ghosh , Sandipan Bhattacharya , Surajit Mondal , Papita Das","doi":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Malachite Green is a persistent pollutant, and it has been reported to cause many harmful health hazards for both humans and aquatic organisms. Growing use of plastic is posing a lot of problems and the most pertinent of which is perhaps the treatment of plastic waste. In the present work, plastic waste has been pyrolyzed, annealed and treated with sodium hydroxide to synthesize a char. Then this char has been used to remove the cationic dye Malachite Green from water and was observed highest removal of Malachite Green by the char was 99.3 %. From the thermodynamic study, it was observed that the value of Gibbs free energy was negative across all the temperature thereby denoting that the process was spontaneous. The process was optimized with an Artificial Neural Network system and from there it was observed that the Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation model best optimized the experimental data. The char also exhibited high efficiency for the purpose of removing other cationic dyes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, whereas showing a lower affinity for anionic dyes and pharmaceutical compounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101276,"journal":{"name":"Waste Management Bulletin","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100214"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nepal’s growing urbanization has intensified the challenges of waste management, yet it also opens opportunities to transform waste into valuable resources. This study explores the “Waste to Wealth” paradigm, focusing on recycling and resource management for sustainable development in Nepal. The study aims to understand waste management practices, identify key challenges, and uncover opportunities for sustainable recycling and resource valorization across diverse urban contexts. Adopting an interpretivist philosophy and a qualitative approach, the research engages with stakeholders in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal, and Dhangadi. Purposive sampling includes policymakers, municipal officers, community members, social entrepreneurs, and environmental activists. Semi-structured interviews conducted in Nepali yield rich insights, analyzed thematically using Braun & Clarke’s (Braun and Clarke, 2006) six-phase framework. Ethical standards, peer debriefing, and meticulous documentation ensure rigor and credibility. The findings are categorized into key themes as waste composition and current practices (organic waste dominates, with limited segregation at source), role of the informal sector in collection and recycling, resource valorization to create economic opportunities, socio economic impacts, innovative practices and challenges (weak municipal services, inadequate infrastructure, limited community awareness, and fragmented policy enforcement hinder progress). Turning waste into wealth in Nepal demands coordinated efforts among policymakers, communities, and entrepreneurs. With strategic support, localized innovations, and inclusive governance, waste can become a catalyst for sustainable development.
尼泊尔日益增长的城市化加剧了废物管理的挑战,但也为将废物转化为宝贵资源提供了机会。本研究探讨了“废物转化财富”模式,重点关注尼泊尔可持续发展的回收和资源管理。该研究旨在了解废物管理实践,确定主要挑战,并发现在不同城市环境中实现可持续回收和资源增值的机会。本研究采用解释主义哲学和定性方法,与加德满都、博卡拉、布瓦尔和丹加迪的利益相关者进行了合作。有目的的抽样包括政策制定者、市政官员、社区成员、社会企业家和环境活动家。在尼泊尔进行的半结构化访谈产生了丰富的见解,使用Braun &;克拉克(Braun and Clarke, 2006)的六阶段框架。道德标准、同行汇报和细致的文件确保了严谨性和可信度。调查结果分为以下几个关键主题:废物组成和当前做法(有机废物占主导地位,源头隔离有限)、非正规部门在收集和再循环中的作用、资源增值以创造经济机会、社会经济影响、创新做法和挑战(市政服务薄弱、基础设施不足、社区意识有限、政策执行分散阻碍了进展)。在尼泊尔,将废物转化为财富需要决策者、社区和企业家之间的协调努力。通过战略支持、本地化创新和包容性治理,废物可以成为可持续发展的催化剂。
{"title":"Assessing waste management practices and sustainable recycling opportunities in Nepal","authors":"Mohan Bhandari , Ghanashyam Tiwari , Maheshwor Dhakal","doi":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100228","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100228","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nepal’s growing urbanization has intensified the challenges of waste management, yet it also opens opportunities to transform waste into valuable resources. This study explores the “Waste to Wealth” paradigm, focusing on recycling and resource management for sustainable development in Nepal. The study aims to understand waste management practices, identify key challenges, and uncover opportunities for sustainable recycling and resource valorization across diverse urban contexts. Adopting an interpretivist philosophy and a qualitative approach, the research engages with stakeholders in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal, and Dhangadi. Purposive sampling includes policymakers, municipal officers, community members, social entrepreneurs, and environmental activists. Semi-structured interviews conducted in Nepali yield rich insights, analyzed thematically using Braun & Clarke’s (Braun and Clarke, 2006) six-phase framework. Ethical standards, peer debriefing, and meticulous documentation ensure rigor and credibility. The findings are categorized into key themes as waste composition and current practices (organic waste dominates, with limited segregation at source), role of the informal sector in collection and recycling, resource valorization to create economic opportunities, socio economic impacts, innovative practices and challenges (weak municipal services, inadequate infrastructure, limited community awareness, and fragmented policy enforcement hinder progress). Turning waste into wealth in Nepal demands coordinated efforts among policymakers, communities, and entrepreneurs. With strategic support, localized innovations, and inclusive governance, waste can become a catalyst for sustainable development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101276,"journal":{"name":"Waste Management Bulletin","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100228"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144654523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100225
Maishat Lubaba , Sanjida Hassan , Munera Sultana , Shah Murtoza Morshed , A.B.M. Mainul Bari
Green Manufacturing (GM) is a pivotal strategy for fostering sustainability in the food and beverage industry, particularly in emerging economies. It addresses critical environmental issues, including high carbon emissions, excessive waste, and water pollution, while improving resource efficiency and aligning industrial practices with global environmental standards. Despite its potential benefits, the implementation of GM in the food and beverage sector faces significant, often underexplored, challenges, particularly in resource-constrained emerging economies. These obstacles hinder effective decision-making and the adoption of sustainable practices. This study aims to explore the challenges associated with GM implementation in the food and beverage industry within the context of an emerging economy like Bangladesh. Through a comprehensive literature review and expert consultations, seventeen key challenges were identified. These challenges were evaluated using the Bayesian Best-Worst Method (BWM), which is a probabilistic group decision-making approach. The findings reveal that the top three challenges are: “Difficulty to incorporate eco-friendly design concepts” (weight: 0.0740), “Absence of efficient recycling facilities” (weight: 0.0658), and “High initial investment cost and lack of financial support” (weight: 0.0657). The study provides a strategic framework for policymakers and industry leaders to address these barriers effectively. It also outlines actionable guidelines and strategies to facilitate the transition toward sustainable practices, ensuring environmental, economic, and social sustainability while enhancing industrial competitiveness and performance.
{"title":"Assessment of the challenges to implementing green manufacturing in the food and beverage industry: an emerging economy perspective","authors":"Maishat Lubaba , Sanjida Hassan , Munera Sultana , Shah Murtoza Morshed , A.B.M. Mainul Bari","doi":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Green Manufacturing (GM) is a pivotal strategy for fostering sustainability in the food and beverage industry, particularly in emerging economies. It addresses critical environmental issues, including high carbon emissions, excessive waste, and water pollution, while improving resource efficiency and aligning industrial practices with global environmental standards. Despite its potential benefits, the implementation of GM in the food and beverage sector faces significant, often underexplored, challenges, particularly in resource-constrained emerging economies. These obstacles hinder effective decision-making and the adoption of sustainable practices. This study aims to explore the challenges associated with GM implementation in the food and beverage industry within the context of an emerging economy like Bangladesh. Through a comprehensive literature review and expert consultations, seventeen key challenges were identified. These challenges were evaluated using the Bayesian Best-Worst Method (BWM), which is a probabilistic group decision-making approach. The findings reveal that the top three challenges are: “Difficulty to incorporate eco-friendly design concepts” (weight: 0.0740), “Absence of efficient recycling facilities” (weight: 0.0658), and “High initial investment cost and lack of financial support” (weight: 0.0657). The study provides a strategic framework for policymakers and industry leaders to address these barriers effectively. It also outlines actionable guidelines and strategies to facilitate the transition toward sustainable practices, ensuring environmental, economic, and social sustainability while enhancing industrial competitiveness and performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101276,"journal":{"name":"Waste Management Bulletin","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100225"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144549782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-04-06DOI: 10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100201
Shruti Katti , Bernard Willems , Erik Meers , Çağrı Akyol
Environmental challenges associated with the disposal of organic farm waste and the growing demand for renewable energy underscore the importance of anaerobic digestion (AD), a process that converts organic matter into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate, offering a sustainable solution for waste management and energy production. This study evaluated a two-step AD process using cow manure and yeast extract through mono- and co-digestion trials at pilot-scale, serving as a preliminary step to assess feasibility and performance prior to scaling up for full-scale implementation on a dairy farm. Two 72 L continuously stirred tank reactors were operated, with the primary reactor maintained at mesophilic conditions and the secondary reactor acting as a thermophilic post-digester. This configuration was used to assess the influence of thermophilic post-digestion on biogas yield and digestate quality. During the mono-digestion of manure, mesophilic digestion yielded 138 L CH4/kg VS, while thermophilic post-digestion provided an additional methane recovery of 100 L CH4/kg VS. Co-digestion with yeast extract significantly enhanced methane yield, increasing it 1.77-fold to 421 L CH4/kg VS in the two-stage AD system. However, co-digestion resulted in elevated hydrogen sulphide (H2S) levels, posing potential challenges for biogas purification. Additionally, higher and more fluctuating volatile fatty acid concentrations were observed compared to manure mono-digestion. The quality and safety of the digestates remained comparable between mono- and co-digestion treatments, suggesting that co-digestion with yeast extract can offer advantages for manure-based AD systems, although an effective H2S mitigation strategy is recommended to optimise process sustainability.
与有机农业废弃物处理相关的环境挑战以及对可再生能源日益增长的需求凸显了厌氧消化(AD)的重要性。厌氧消化是一种将有机物转化为沼气和营养丰富的消化物的过程,为废弃物管理和能源生产提供了可持续的解决方案。本研究通过中试规模的单消化和共消化试验,评估了使用牛粪和酵母提取物的两步AD工艺,作为在奶牛场全面推广之前评估可行性和性能的初步步骤。2个72 L连续搅拌槽式反应器运行,其中主反应器维持在中温条件下,次反应器作为嗜热后消化池。该配置用于评估嗜热后消化对沼气产量和消化品质的影响。在单消化过程中,中温消化的甲烷产率为138 L CH4/kg VS,而热消化后的甲烷产率为100 L CH4/kg VS,与酵母浸出物共消化显著提高了甲烷产率,达到421 L CH4/kg VS,两级AD系统中甲烷产率提高了1.77倍。然而,共消化导致硫化氢(H2S)水平升高,给沼气净化带来了潜在的挑战。此外,与粪便单消化相比,观察到更高和更波动的挥发性脂肪酸浓度。在单独消化和共消化处理之间,消化液的质量和安全性仍然相当,这表明与酵母提取物共消化可以为基于粪便的AD系统提供优势,尽管建议采用有效的H2S缓解策略来优化过程的可持续性。
{"title":"Pilot-scale anaerobic digestion of on-farm agro-residues: Boosting biogas production and digestate quality with thermophilic post-digestion","authors":"Shruti Katti , Bernard Willems , Erik Meers , Çağrı Akyol","doi":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100201","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100201","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental challenges associated with the disposal of organic farm waste and the growing demand for renewable energy underscore the importance of anaerobic digestion (AD), a process that converts organic matter into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate, offering a sustainable solution for waste management and energy production. This study evaluated a two-step AD process using cow manure and yeast extract through mono- and co-digestion trials at pilot-scale, serving as a preliminary step to assess feasibility and performance prior to scaling up for full-scale implementation on a dairy farm. Two 72 L continuously stirred tank reactors were operated, with the primary reactor maintained at mesophilic conditions and the secondary reactor acting as a thermophilic post-digester. This configuration was used to assess the influence of thermophilic post-digestion on biogas yield and digestate quality. During the mono-digestion of manure, mesophilic digestion yielded 138 L CH<sub>4</sub>/kg VS, while thermophilic post-digestion provided an additional methane recovery of 100 L CH<sub>4</sub>/kg VS. Co-digestion with yeast extract significantly enhanced methane yield, increasing it 1.77-fold to 421 L CH<sub>4</sub>/kg VS in the two-stage AD system. However, co-digestion resulted in elevated hydrogen sulphide (H<sub>2</sub>S) levels, posing potential challenges for biogas purification. Additionally, higher and more fluctuating volatile fatty acid concentrations were observed compared to manure mono-digestion. The quality and safety of the digestates remained comparable between mono- and co-digestion treatments, suggesting that co-digestion with yeast extract can offer advantages for manure-based AD systems, although an effective H<sub>2</sub>S mitigation strategy is recommended to optimise process sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101276,"journal":{"name":"Waste Management Bulletin","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100201"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143808567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Landfill leachate poses a significant environmental threat. This study examined Non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology for treating landfill leachate after pretreatments to tackle this issue. EC and TDS decreased by over 96 %, COD by 98 %, turbidity by 97 %, color by 93 %, TSS by 98 %, and BOD5 by 97 %. Phenol levels dropped by more than 98 %, and significant heavy metal removal was achieved: Cd, Hg, Pb, Cu, Ni, Al, Fe, and Zn concentrations were reduced by 90 %, 95 %, 97 %, 92 %, 94 %, 72 %, 65 %, and 77 %, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of NTP technology as a valuable tool for wastewater treatment.
{"title":"Comprehensive study of pollution removal from landfill leachate with emphasis on phenolic compounds and heavy metals using non-thermal plasma technology","authors":"Mahdiyeh Bakhtiyari-Ramezani , Fatemeh Mohammadi , Maryam Azizi , Narges Ziveh , Fatemeh Amani","doi":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100233","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Landfill leachate poses a significant environmental threat. This study examined Non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology for treating landfill leachate after pretreatments to tackle this issue. EC and TDS decreased by over 96 %, COD by 98 %, turbidity by 97 %, color by 93 %, TSS by 98 %, and BOD<sub>5</sub> by 97 %. Phenol levels dropped by more than 98 %, and significant heavy metal removal was achieved: Cd, Hg, Pb, Cu, Ni, Al, Fe, and Zn concentrations were reduced by 90 %, 95 %, 97 %, 92 %, 94 %, 72 %, 65 %, and 77 %, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of NTP technology as a valuable tool for wastewater treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101276,"journal":{"name":"Waste Management Bulletin","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100233"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144738345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}