Waste Management & Research最新文献

Production growth of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) has led to a significant increase in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), with small EEE having the highest generation rate but the lowest formal collection rate globally. In Australia, many consumers tend to stockpile old small EEE, which limits collection rates and reduces the potential for resource recovery. This study aimed to assess consumer behaviour related to the collection of small EEE in Australia through a multivocal literature review and an online survey of 403 respondents. The analysis revealed that consumers are disposing of small WEEE along with general household waste, and most are uncertain of the correct disposal method. Almost half of the respondents are willing to pay to manage small WEEE and prefer to drop them at a designated location. Hence, to increase the collection rates, this study recommends setting realistic collection targets based on products on the market rather than waste generation estimates based on average lifespan. In addition, correct disposal can be encouraged by integrating small WEEE in kerbside collection and providing incentives. In order to strengthen this, awareness campaigns should target all age and income groups to increase collection rates and product circularity.

Source separation is a pivotal strategy for addressing rural domestic waste pollution, significantly influencing the efficacy of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle principles in waste management. Information interventions should be valued to address the deficiencies in economic policies that encourage waste separation. What kind of information intervention can best improve farmers' domestic waste separation intention? Eight random intervention experimental groups were designed, including three single information intervention groups on topics such as environmental, technical and health issues, four interactive information intervention groups and one control group. Based on 904 valid samples of farmers were collected in Taihu Lake Basin of China, ordered probit and difference-in-differences models were constructed to achieve the goals of this study. The main conclusions are as follows. The experimental effect of health information intervention was the best, which impacted positively on the intention of farmers to separate domestic waste by 17.94%. The effect of the environmental information intervention was 14.59%. However, the test failed in the technical information intervention. The interactive information interventions' effect was only 60.18% of the single information intervention, arguably due to information overload. The findings of this study help find out how to choose the appropriate information intervention content and way to improve farmers' domestic waste separation intention.

Waste minimisation and prevention are crucial for the circular economy (CE), sustainable development goals (SDGs) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, focusing on waste elimination and resource efficiency. However, there are significant gaps in implementing effective waste minimisation strategies, mainly due to the lack of standardised waste prevention terminologies and indicators. This article introduces a novel simplified and comprehensive framework for assessing waste prevention and minimisation measures tailored to developing countries. The primary contribution of this study lies in proposing relevant indicators aligned with the SDGs, ESG standards, and CE principles, while addressing data scarcity through proxy indicators to enable effective assessment in resource-limited settings. Six key indicators were proposed: Zero Waste Index, Food Loss Index, Extended producer responsibility, Education and awareness programmes for waste minimisation, Waste prevention and Plastic Bag Reduction Ratio. Eleven countries were selected as case studies to demonstrate the framework's applicability. The findings reveal that while these countries are progressing in enacting legislation and recognising the importance of waste prevention, compliance in practice is lacking, as indicated by poor quantitative results in actual waste reduction and diversion. The framework evaluates the environmental, social and economic implications of waste prevention measures, showing wide variations among countries. Each country faces unique challenges, but strengthening policy frameworks, investing in infrastructure, promoting public awareness and fostering collaboration are key steps towards advancing sustainable waste management practices. The study highlights the necessity for tailored policies addressing specific weaknesses while ensuring economic viability. The integrated framework provides actionable insights and forward-thinking solutions that can be adapted, scaled and replicated to address developing nations' unique challenges.

In Portugal, packaging products for veterinary medicines (VM) are subjected to the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme coordinated by a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), responsible for the management of both human and VM packaging waste. Despite an 80% recycling target for VM packaging waste, recent years have consistently shown performance below this level. However, there is no compositional data on VM packaging waste in scientific literature, hindering effective problem diagnosis and solution proposals. So, this research proposes a protocol to characterise VM packaging waste entering and leaving a sorting centre and presents the corresponding results. Of the 822.1 kg entering the centre, glass is the predominant material (66.7%, in weight). Often, glass has rubber and metal attached, but this is not recognised as a constraint on recyclability by the glass recycling industry. Biohazardous VM waste was found in the containers dedicated to pharmacologic VM waste, raising a challenge. To evaluate alignment with the principles of circularity, opportunities for waste reduction were assessed but found to be limited by stringent VM regulations. Nevertheless, the potential for recycling could be enhanced through adjustments to the sorting procedures. Moreover, future research should prioritise biohazard risks and operational aspects of recyclability. In addition, discussion and potential reconsideration of recycling rate targets for this waste category are recommended.

Plastics are integral to modern life but present significant environmental and economic challenges due to ineffective waste management systems. This article provides a comprehensive review of global plastic waste management (PWM) strategies, focusing on advancements in processing technologies, policy frameworks and their practical applications. It highlights the role of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and regulatory bodies across the United States, Canada, Europe, Britain, India, Japan, Australia and China in fostering sustainable PWM practices. The study evaluates key processing techniques, including pyrolysis, gasification, supercritical water conversion, plasma-assisted processes, mechanical reprocessing and landfilling, emphasizing their technological advancements, limitations and scalability. Supercritical water conversion (operating at >374°C and 22.1 MPa) and plasma-assisted processing (using ionized gas at >3000°C) are identified as advanced methods capable of converting plastics into simpler molecules or valuable by-products. However, these technologies face challenges such as high energy requirements, operational costs and limited scalability. Persistent issues, including microplastic pollution, environmental impacts and the chemical-intensive nature of certain processes, are critically analysed. Drawing on extensive reviews of patents, case studies and real-world implementations, the study also examines the reuse potential of plastic by-products in diverse industries and evaluates state-level PWM initiatives in India. This review provides actionable insights for policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders, highlighting critical gaps and opportunities to enhance the sustainability and scalability of PWM systems. By addressing persistent challenges, it contributes to advancing a circular economy for plastics and sustainable waste management practices globally.

Research in sub-Saharan Africa has shown failures in most of municipal waste composting initiatives because of bad-quality composts due to the lack of biowaste source segregation. Until now, very few biowaste source-segregation initiatives have been carried out on this part of the world. This study aimed at assessing the biowaste sorting efficiency and the attitude of households towards a pilot biowaste source-segregation system linked to a decentralized composting plant in Tiassalé. For this purpose, the impurity rate of source-segregated biowaste was monitored through the first year of implementation. Then, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate households' attitude. The results have shown that the average impurities rate in source-segregated biowaste was very low (1%). This finding was confirmed by the results of laboratory analysis which revealed a very low heavy metals (0.2, 12.4, 7.1 and 15.5 mg kg^-1 DS for Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb, respectively) contamination in the compost produced. Regarding the acceptability of the source-segregation system, the results showed that the majority (75%) of the participants accepted the source-segregation system of biowaste and almost half (47%) of them were ready to pay for such a collection service. In conclusion, this study revealed that providing households with the needed municipal solid waste management infrastructures and rising awareness about biowaste source segregation are keys for the establishment of such a collection system in Tiassalé and similar urban areas. The findings also proved the effectiveness of biowaste source-segregation system in the production of high-quality compost.

Marine littering is a global challenge and a significant threat to a sustainable planet, requiring comprehensive and effective mechanisms to address it in a comprehensive manner. This study reports on a bibliometric analysis that has identified the extent to which the topic has been explored in the international literature, by focusing on geographical scope, the emphasis on (micro)plastic litter and on policy measures. Additionally, as a complement to the assessment of the recent literature on marine plastic litter, this study reviews some case studies, identifying some trends on how to cope with this problem. The findings underscore the imperative for heightened research efforts in the context of marine littering. The literature reveals that unsustainable practices, the absence of robust policies and inadequate enforcement substantially contribute to the prevalence of marine plastic litter. Consequently, urgent action is essential, demanding the implementation of effective policies and frameworks. Encouraging nations to transition towards marine sustainability, particularly in terms of prevention and environmental awareness, is of paramount importance. To pave the way for a cleaner ocean for future generations, this study not only highlights the root causes but also offers suggested solutions. These solutions serve as valuable insights for researchers, innovators and policymakers worldwide, charting a course towards a more sustainable and litter-free marine environment.

The sustainable management of municipal solid waste (MSW) presents a pressing global challenge. This study introduces an innovative methodology for analysing open dumps in Tucumán, Argentina, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and DroneDeploy software for data collection, coupled with QGIS for estimating contamination risk at the sub-basin level. By integrating satellite imagery, ground surveys, high-resolution UAV imagery and a multi-criteria decision analysis within geographic information system, we provide a comprehensive overview of dumpsite conditions at one open dump. Commercial drone flights facilitate the rapid and cost-effective creation of digital elevation models and digital terrain models, along with orthomosaic imagery, from which waste footprints are delineated using artificial intelligence to enhance the understanding of geospatial issues. Approaching data layers, such as leachate pools, riverbanks and solar radiation, supports informed decision-making in MSW management through a replicable methodology. Field validation and the inclusion of subsurface and groundwater processes are recommended for future research to improve accuracy and maximize socio-ecological benefits.

Food waste constitutes one of the major obstacles to building sustainable food systems. While there is a wealth of research on the primary causes of food waste, little attention has been given to the link between surplus production and waste generation. Current approaches to reducing food waste predominantly focus on redistributing surplus rather than preventing its formation. This study conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to delve into the concept of food surplus and understand its relationship to food waste. It also seeks to pinpoint the key challenges and limitations of redistributing food surplus. This SLR revealed that the definition of food surplus is ambiguous and lacks clear parameters for determining what qualifies food as surplus. As a result, food edible for consumption is often categorized as surplus and may or may not be recovered. The classification of food as surplus or waste is intricate and is influenced more by economic factors than physical characteristics. While food redistribution via food banks is crucial for addressing food insecurity, it encounters technical and operational obstacles that limit high levels of food recovery. Therefore, preventive strategies should be implemented to curb overproduction, which appears to be the root cause of surplus formation and waste. However, reducing overproduction requires structural changes in the current food system logic.

Effective management of healthcare waste (HCW) imposes a great challenge to all countries. Specially in the developing countries, it is often mixed with municipal waste, adversely affecting the health and safety of the medical personnel, general public and environment. Healthcare waste management (HCWM) basically deals with segregation, collection and storage, routing and transportation, treatment and safe disposal of HCW, while obeying some national legislation. In every stage of HCWM, there are several alternative choices/strategies to be evaluated against a set of conflicting criteria. Numerous multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods have appeared to resolve the issue. This article reviews 101 articles available in Scopus and other scholarly databases on applications of MCDM techniques in solving HCWM problems. Those articles are classified into six groups: (a) selection of the most effective HCW treatment technology, (b) identification of the best HCW disposal site, (c) assessment of the best-performing healthcare unit adopting ideal HCWM strategies, (d) selection of third party logistics providers, (e) identification of HCWM barriers and (f) evaluation of specific HCWM plans. It is observed that the past researchers have mostly preferred to apply MCDM tools for solving HCW treatment technology selection problems, whereas analytic hierarchy process, decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory and best-worst method and fuzzy set theory have been the mostly favoured MCDM tool, criteria weight measurement techniques and uncertainty model, respectively. The outcomes of this article would help the healthcare personnel/policymakers in unveiling the current status of HCWM research, exploring extant research gaps and challenges and providing future directions leading to sustainable environment.