Waste Management Bulletin最新文献

The current waste crisis calls for a stable and integrated institutional framework. Policymakers try to untangle the complicated and interconnected acts, regulations, and directives in the European Union (EU). However, it is not a plain sailing to observe and implement the vast regulatory armamentarium of the EU in the circular economy (CE) sectors to achieve sustainable waste management (SWM). Aim of the present study is to showcase the historic – international and European – institutional framework on waste management as well as the main hazardous and special waste streams in order to build an integrated SWM framework. Moreover, CE necessitates for the safeguarding of critical raw materials (CRMs) and energy, in order to blueprint policies for the Net-Zero Age. Hence, the present study would show how CE can establish SWM, even though CE is going to face complex challenges till the conclusion of Agendas 2030 and 2050.

This article conducted a systematic literature review to find the most recent progress, barriers and opportunities in developing building material passports for structural steel reuse. To reuse steel a Circular Economy shall be implemented. A steel circular economy adoption requires the development of steel circularity passports, structural steel reusability assessment and reversible structural design. A programme rule was presented that can serves as a guideline for the development of a steel circularity passport in New Zealand. The programme rule outlined essential data and details, data resources and reliability, and steel identification process. Finally, a case study was used to demonstrate the significant benefits of applying the proposed programme rule in mitigating challenges presented by unidentified structural steel components. The 18-storey former council building has total 4,600 square meters located in Auckland downtown, New Zealand. It was found regulatory, technical, and economic barriers shall be addressed to enable steel reuse in New Zealand and presence of steel passports can facilitate steel reuse in practice by addressing the barriers in New Zealand.

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) was used in the sorption study for three different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) ring structures (Naphthalene (NAP), Anthracene (ANT), and Chrysene). HAp powders were produced from Camelus bone as an eco-friendly and inexpensive source. Three distinct surface areas (66.56, 94.88, and 94.35 m²/g) at three different temperatures (500, 650, and 900 °C), were applied to prepare the HAp500, HAp650, and HAp900 samples after passing CO₂ at 700 °C. It was obvious that the surface area of HAp was greatest at 650 °C as compared to 500 °C with a very small variation in uptake between HAP650 and HAP900. Furthermore, for ANT, HAp900 provides the best uptake. In addition, HAp650 is the best since calcining at 650 °C is less expensive than calcining at 900 °C. The effect of shaking time on the sorption of NAP, ANT, and CHR dissolved in n-hexane was carried out using HAp650. The impacts of sorbent amount, concentration, and temperature were studied. The study indicated that the uptake was 66.89, 69.49, and 19.67 mg/g after 120 min of equilibration. It was observed that the uptake of NAP, ANT, and CHR increased as the temperature increased up to 35 °C. A slight increase was obtained from 35–55 °C, indicating that the adsorption occurring on the HAp650 surface is endothermic. The positive values of $\Delta$ H demonstrated the endothermic nature of the adsorption process. Furthermore, the positive entropy of adsorption represents the adsorbent material’s affinity for NAP, ANT, and CHR. In addition, several isotherm models were used to deduce an adsorption mechanism. The adsorption system’s R² values were 0.9615 for NAP, 0.8666 for ANT, and 1.00 for CHR. These values agree well with the Langmuir isotherm.

The utilization of electronic devices has been consistently increasing each year. In the fiscal year 2020–2021, India handled more than 340,000 tonnes of electronic waste, a significant surge from the 69,414 tonnes recorded in 2017–2018. Over the past four years, there has been a remarkable fourfold increase in the collection and processing of e-waste. This project focuses on e-waste generated from headphones, considering their widespread usage globally. Surprisingly, despite their ubiquity, only 15 % of headphones are recycled, with more than 85 % being discarded as waste. To address this issue, hydrometallurgy treatment is employed to extract valuable metals such as copper and iron. Following this treatment, this research successfully obtained copper carbonate and iron oxide as essential elements. The leached solution undergoes analysis using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Further characterization through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) of batteries and magnets aids in identifying the crystalline materials. Additionally, a cost-benefit analysis was carried out, revealing a 57 % and a 39 % profit in copper carbonate and iron oxide extraction respectively and this validates the confirmation of circular economy. Finally, a questionnaire survey was conducted with approximately 192 students, revealing that most headset replacements occur roughly once a year, typically within a budget of around Rs. 500–1000. This strongly indicates a high rate of waste disposal.

The production of bioenergy and bioproducts from streams of biowaste has ignited interest in fostering a circular economy worldwide. This study investigates the potential of transforming Grewia asiatica L. waste seed oil into sustainable biodiesel using green-synthesized niobium oxide nanoparticle. Niobium oxide nanocatalyst was synthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Fumaria indica L. Advanced characterization techniques were employed to confirm the pure and nano-scale nature of the synthesized niobium oxide nanocatalyst. The synthesized nanocatalyst exhibited an average particle size of 31 nm, resulting in efficient catalytic activity that persited through the fifth cycle of transesterification. An optimum biodiesel yield of 90% was achieved under reaction conditions of a methanol to oil molar ratio of 9:1, a reaction time of 180 min, a temperature of 60 °C and a catalyst load of 0.32 (wt. %). Results of Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of G. asiatica-derived biodiesel revealed 5, 8-Octadecadienoic acid methyl ester as the primary fatty acid methyl ester, with the highest concentration. The fuel properties of G. asiatica-derived biodiesel complied with international standards. The minimal sulphur content of 0.0001% highlights the clean, environmentally benign and cost-effective nature of biodiesel synthesized from G. asiatica waste seed oil. This study contributes to the renewable alternative effort toward transitioning from a linear economy to a circular bioeconomy.

Globally, human activity and fast modernization have an impact on the ecological and economic aspects. These factors have led to the generation of complex wastewater consisting of recalcitrant toxic and carcinogenic contaminants. The inaccuracy of the traditional treatment techniques using traditional adsorbents to lower the concentration of pollutants below desired standards has paved the way for technological advancements in the synthesis method and operating conditions. Hence, this has become highly imperative to utilize effective and advanced remediation strategies for the removal of pollutants. Several remediation strategies were put forth and were effective because of their unique characteristics such as their affordability, adaptability, and simplicity of use. The present review article organizes the scattered available information on potential and abundant biomass-derived low-cost adsorbents for the effective removal of toxic contaminants. It has been discovered that biomass-derived adsorbents are extremely effective, alternative, and carbon–neutral offering a new perspective on the modular adsorption process.

Global interest in developing a state-of-the-art circular economy has been driven by the desire to generate bioenergy and bioproducts from biowaste streams. Biodiesel, synthesized from used, non-edible oils has emerged as a sustainable and ecofriendly alternative fuel for diesel engines. This study investigates the feasibility of employing an innovative circular economy to convert waste Citrus paradisi L. seed oil into sustainable biodiesel using green lead oxide nanoparticles (PbONPs). The synthesized biodiesel is noted for its ecofriendly characteristics, being non-toxic, biodegradable, cost effective and comparable to traditional petroleum-based diesel. PbONPs were prepared using aqueous leaf extract of Nasturtium officinale L. Analytical characterization of PbONPs revealed an average particle size of 42 nm. PbONPs demonstrated recyclability with maximum catalytic activity maintained through four consecutive cycles of transesterification. An optimal yield of 93 % was achieved under specific reaction conditions: a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 7:1, a reaction time of 105 min, a temperature of 92.5 ˚C, and a catalyst load of 0.32 wt%. The predominant fatty acid methyl ester identified in the biodiesel was 5, 8-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester. The biodiesel produced from C. paradisi met the criteria for international standards with an impressively low sulfur content of 0.0001 %, underscoring its clean and benign nature.

Microbial nutrient recovery cell (MNRC) and microalgae-activated sludge (MAAS) are both the most attractive emerging methods of wastewater treatment technology due to their promising potential to revolutionize wastewater treatment systems. However, despite this giant stride both methods still have some limitations. To address some of these limitations such as energy cost-effectiveness and improved bio-resource recovery, this research integrated both MASS and MNRC for its feasibility studies and performance efficiency. Three sets of reactors including an MNRC-based reactor named microbial nutrient recovery cell (MNRC) reactor; and two MAAS photobioreactors (PBRs) at varying mix ratios of wastewater and pre-cultured microalgae; PBRI (80:20) and PBRII (70:30) were studied. Notably, the pre-cultured microalgae applied in the PBRs were inoculated with nutrients recovered from the MNRC encouragements representing the integrated MNRC-MAAS system. The outcome of microalgae preculture using recovered nutrients presents a chlorophyll concentration of 5.8 mg/L and dissolved (DO) saturation concentration of 14.33 mg/L with a person coefficient of correlation (r) of 0.99, The performance efficiency of the integrated MNRC-MAAS with PBRI(80:20) mix ratio by volume of Wastewater and Microalgae has a higher cumulative percentage removal efficiency of BOD₅, NH₄, NO_3, and PO₄ of 98.07 %, 92.05 % 88.07 %, and 90.96 % after 18 days hydraulic retention reactors compared to PBR(70:30) ratio. Consequently, The integrated MNRC-MAAS process has become an attractive alternative wastewater bioremediation with efficient resource recovery.

Urban households are an intimate nexus of food and food waste, connecting people to challenges of sustainability and inequality, in wider food systems. Household food waste (HFW) studies, including those which explored consumption practices during COVID-19, have tended to emphasize the reduction in food waste as part of behaviour change. In 2018/19 an exploratory, interdisciplinary, mixed method study was conducted of HFW perceptions and practices of urban residents in The Hague (Netherlands) with purposeful sampling (n = 19), speaking either Dutch, English or Arabic. Participants took photographs of their HFW for photovoice interviews and focus group HFW stories. The research’s focus is to provide a space for participants to become self-aware of the explicit and implicit understanding of their food practices and their household food waste and its related practices (i.e. food-related packaging). This finding resonated across all hierarchical levels of waste management from best practices, such as, reduction to mixed waste least preferred options. Performing HFW appears to lack comprehensive ecological contextualisation as per the latter part of the urban food system. Dutch and English-speaking focus groups seemed mostly unaware of ‘what happened next’ to their disposed HFW and food-related packaging, whilst the Arabic speaking focus group appeared more comprehensively ecosystem attuned. Given the impetus to a zero-waste more sustainable lifestyle, the transitory implications of knowing more explicitly about ‘what happens next’ to different forms of urban HFW disposal, once it is ‘out of sight’, could potentially offer insights into reconfigured routine HFW performance and therefore require further research.

In a context where innovation and environmental protection are increasingly essential, a new perspective has emerged, lighting the way to a sustainable future. This is the circular economy in the forest bioeconomy, focusing on the exploitation of non-wood biomaterials. This article uses the Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses systematic review method to provide the information needed to ensure the sustainable exploitation of non-woody biomaterials for a circular economy. A total of 1062 studies were collected from several scientific databases, and only 107 met the inclusion criteria. Most publications came from Europe, America and Asia, and were mostly published between 2018 and 2023. Studies focused on the circular economy, the bioeconomy, forest economics and non-wood biomaterials. This review explores sustainable strategies for the use of non-wood biomaterials in the forest economy and highlights circular economic models incorporating waste recovery, eco-design of sustainable products and the economy of functionality. Responsible management policies, including standards, sustainable forest planning and economic incentives, are essential for ethical forestry. Collaborative partnerships, such as collaborative platforms and multi-stakeholder initiatives, are emerging as levers for optimal resource utilization. Despite logistical, economic and regulatory challenges, these biomaterials offer growth opportunities through innovation, awareness and new markets. The recommendations focus on financial investment, the development of public–private partnerships and political incentives to foster a sustainable and innovative forest economy.