Pub Date : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115258
Jonathan Wilansky , Kailun Cao
This study investigated the effectiveness of municipal waste collection policies within England and Wales by examining how variations in local waste management strategies correlate with recycling rates. Using data from 297 council districts, we analysed the impact of different policy variables (frequency of residual waste and recycling collection, sorting requirements for recyclables, and the availability of food and yard waste collections) on recycling rates. We applied a logistic transformation to the dependent variable and fitted a linear regression model using the gathered predictors to evaluate policy effectiveness, while controlling for demographic factors. We validated the model with a series of beta regression models. The findings indicate that less frequent residual waste collection, the availability of weekly organic food waste and free organic yard waste significantly enhance recycling outcomes. Moreover, the research highlights the influence of socio-demographic factors. The results provide actionable insights for policymakers to optimise waste management practices and recycling rates within the framework of existing policies.
{"title":"A comparison of municipal waste collection policies to optimize recycling rates: Evidence from England and Wales","authors":"Jonathan Wilansky , Kailun Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115258","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115258","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the effectiveness of municipal waste collection policies within England and Wales by examining how variations in local waste management strategies correlate with recycling rates. Using data from 297 council districts, we analysed the impact of different policy variables (frequency of residual waste and recycling collection, sorting requirements for recyclables, and the availability of food and yard waste collections) on recycling rates. We applied a logistic transformation to the dependent variable and fitted a linear regression model using the gathered predictors to evaluate policy effectiveness, while controlling for demographic factors. We validated the model with a series of beta regression models. The findings indicate that less frequent residual waste collection, the availability of weekly organic food waste and free organic yard waste significantly enhance recycling outcomes. Moreover, the research highlights the influence of socio-demographic factors. The results provide actionable insights for policymakers to optimise waste management practices and recycling rates within the framework of existing policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 115258"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The bioaerosols contamination bind to PM2.5 leads to significant ecological and public health concerns, but studies on the bioaerosols contamination bind to PM2.5 during landfill leachate treatment are rare. This study comprehensively investigated the behavior of PM2.5-bound bioaerosols and the potential pathogenicity that subsequently occurs during landfill leachate treatment. The results revealed that the mass concentration of PM2.5 was the lowest in the evaporation treatment workshop (ETW) and the highest in the biochemical treatment workshop (BTW). Burkholderia and Aureobasidium were the dominant strains in PM2.5. The SO42- content in PM2.5 was significantly positively correlated with the Burkholderia and Aquabacterium abundances, whereas the Cl-, NO3– and NO2– contents were negatively correlated with the Burkholderia and Ralstonia abundances. Burkholderia cepacia, Ralstonia pickettii and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were the dominant bacterial pathogens. Hundreds of virulence factor genes (VFGs) and subtypes of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were detected in PM2.5 during landfill leachate treatment, especially in the advanced membrane treatment of leachate and the evaporation treatment of concentrated leachate. VFGs and ARGs cooccur widely in PM2.5-associated microbes, especially in Burkholderia and Pseudomonas. This study helps increase the understanding of the pollution behavior and potential disease risk of aerosol particles during landfill leachate treatment.
{"title":"PM2.5-bound bioaerosols during landfill leachate treatment: A profile of human pathogens, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance genes","authors":"Ya-nan Wang, Wenyu Yang, Wenyu Wang, Yifan Zheng, Huawei Wang, Yingjie Sun, Bingpeng Wang, Xiongbo Cui, Ying Gao, Fenghua Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115263","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115263","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The bioaerosols contamination bind to PM<sub>2.5</sub> leads to significant ecological and public health concerns, but studies on the bioaerosols contamination bind to PM<sub>2.5</sub> during landfill leachate treatment are rare. This study comprehensively investigated the behavior of PM<sub>2.5</sub>-bound bioaerosols and the potential pathogenicity that subsequently occurs during landfill leachate treatment. The results revealed that the mass concentration of PM<sub>2.5</sub> was the lowest in the evaporation treatment workshop (ETW) and the highest in the biochemical treatment workshop (BTW). <em>Burkholderia</em> and <em>Aureobasidium</em> were the dominant strains in PM<sub>2.5</sub>. The SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup> content in PM<sub>2.5</sub> was significantly positively correlated with the <em>Burkholderia</em> and <em>Aquabacterium</em> abundances, whereas the Cl<sup>-</sup>, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup> and NO<sub>2</sub><sup>–</sup> contents were negatively correlated with the <em>Burkholderia</em> and <em>Ralstonia</em> abundances. <em>Burkholderia cepacia, Ralstonia pickettii</em> and <em>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</em> were the dominant bacterial pathogens. Hundreds of virulence factor genes (VFGs) and subtypes of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were detected in PM<sub>2.5</sub> during landfill leachate treatment, especially in the advanced membrane treatment of leachate and the evaporation treatment of concentrated leachate. VFGs and ARGs cooccur widely in PM<sub>2.5</sub>-associated microbes, especially in <em>Burkholderia</em> and <em>Pseudomonas</em>. This study helps increase the understanding of the pollution behavior and potential disease risk of aerosol particles during landfill leachate treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 115263"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115262
Balázs Hegedüs , Truong Dinh , Gábor Nagy , Gábor Muránszky , Zsolt Dobó
This study investigates the influence of pyrolysis temperature on the yield distribution, chemical composition, and fuel-relevant properties of polypropylene (PP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste streams in a pilot-scale, gas-fired auger reactor. The experiments were carried out at different pyrolysis temperatures between 525 and 650 °C in 25 °C increments to evaluate the trade-offs between gas production and oil quality. Gas phase composition was analyzed and HHV was calculated, while the liquid fractions were characterized in terms of density, HHV, and hydrocarbon class distribution. Results demonstrate that higher temperatures increase gas yields and improve energy self-sufficiency, but may lead to diminished oil quality regarding fuel applications due to elevated aromatic and benzene contents, particularly beyond 575 °C. The gasoline fractions were assessed against the EN 228 standard, revealing optimal compliance at intermediate temperatures.
{"title":"Temperature-Dependent investigation of pyrolysis products from PP and LDPE for Gasoline-Like fuel applications","authors":"Balázs Hegedüs , Truong Dinh , Gábor Nagy , Gábor Muránszky , Zsolt Dobó","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115262","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115262","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the influence of pyrolysis temperature on the yield distribution, chemical composition, and fuel-relevant properties of polypropylene (PP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste streams in a pilot-scale, gas-fired auger reactor. The experiments were carried out at different pyrolysis temperatures between 525 and 650 °C in 25 °C increments to evaluate the trade-offs between gas production and oil quality. Gas phase composition was analyzed and HHV was calculated, while the liquid fractions were characterized in terms of density, HHV, and hydrocarbon class distribution. Results demonstrate that higher temperatures increase gas yields and improve energy self-sufficiency, but may lead to diminished oil quality regarding fuel applications due to elevated aromatic and benzene contents, particularly beyond 575 °C. The gasoline fractions were assessed against the EN 228 standard, revealing optimal compliance at intermediate temperatures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 115262"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115256
Xingyu Feng , Longshun Liu , Mingshun Ye , Ondřej Mašek , Shaban Gouda , Kenlin Chang , Xu Wang , Qing Huang
Effective control of key parameters is critical for regulating pollutant emissions in municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI), but existing research on these parameters remains limited and lacks comprehensiveness. This study used over 600,000 industrial data records (June 9–15, 2024) from 140 sensors—covering the emission concentrations of four pollutants (HCl, SO2, NOx, CO)—employed the AntDE-DTFS algorithm for feature selection, and constructed eight machine learning models; among these, XGBoost achieved the best predictive performance, with R2 values of 0.92 (HCl), 0.87 (SO2), 0.89 (NOx), and 0.75 (CO). Results showed that temperature is the predominant factor for HCl and CO emissions: maintaining the furnace flue gas treatment outlet temperature below 140 °C effectively reduces HCl output, while optimizing the economizer inlet temperature control valve position feedback to exceed 11 % significantly mitigates CO emissions. In contrast, SO2 emissions are primarily governed by pressure, with steam drum pressure maintained below 6.8 MPa minimizing SO2 emissions, and NOx emissions are affected by both temperature and pressure—with the temperature at the upper-left of the second flue gas duct as the key factor, and elevating this temperature above 780 °C contributing to lower NOx concentrations. These findings provide valuable insights for emission control strategies, offering a scientific basis to optimize incineration processes and enhance environmental management.
{"title":"Unveiling and interpreting the relationships among multi-pollutant emission factors in municipal solid waste incineration by machine learning","authors":"Xingyu Feng , Longshun Liu , Mingshun Ye , Ondřej Mašek , Shaban Gouda , Kenlin Chang , Xu Wang , Qing Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effective control of key parameters is critical for regulating pollutant emissions in municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI), but existing research on these parameters remains limited and lacks comprehensiveness. This study used over 600,000 industrial data records (June 9–15, 2024) from 140 sensors—covering the emission concentrations of four pollutants (HCl, SO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>x</sub>, CO)—employed the AntDE-DTFS algorithm for feature selection, and constructed eight machine learning models; among these, XGBoost achieved the best predictive performance, with R<sup>2</sup> values of 0.92 (HCl), 0.87 (SO<sub>2</sub>), 0.89 (NO<sub>x</sub>), and 0.75 (CO). Results showed that temperature is the predominant factor for HCl and CO emissions: maintaining the furnace flue gas treatment outlet temperature below 140 °C effectively reduces HCl output, while optimizing the economizer inlet temperature control valve position feedback to exceed 11 % significantly mitigates CO emissions. In contrast, SO<sub>2</sub> emissions are primarily governed by pressure, with steam drum pressure maintained below 6.8 MPa minimizing SO<sub>2</sub> emissions, and NO<sub>x</sub> emissions are affected by both temperature and pressure—with the temperature at the upper-left of the second flue gas duct as the key factor, and elevating this temperature above 780 °C contributing to lower NO<sub>x</sub> concentrations. These findings provide valuable insights for emission control strategies, offering a scientific basis to optimize incineration processes and enhance environmental management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 115256"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-24DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115261
Hongtao Wang , Zhibao Huo , Qiang Jin
The steel industry is responsible for 30 % of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions, which is mainly dependent on metallurgical coke utilization. Although biochar represents a promising carbon–neutral alternative, its suboptimal mechanical properties have hindered its direct substitution for conventional coke. This work introduces an innovative hydrothermal carbonization-repolymerization strategy to synthesize high-performance biocoke from sustainable feedstocks of oak residues and waste soybean oil. Our approach is centered on a novel and bio-based polymerization agent, synthesized by blending epoxidized soybean oil from oxidized waste oil and tannic acid extracted from oak residues in a 3:1 mass ratio. The epoxidized soybean oil-tannic acid effectively undergoes cross-linking reactions with oak biochar and oak bio-oil that both in-situ generated from the hydrothermal carbonization, resulting in a highly cross-linked biocoke. The ESO undergoes epoxy ring-opening in the cross-polymerization reaction, providing more reaction sites for cross-linked reactions. Moreover, the resulting biocoke shows a significant aromatization and graphitization structure. Therefore, the biocoke displays superior mechanical and thermochemical properties, including crushing strength (86.0 % of M40), abrasion resistance (6.6 % of M10), coke strength after reaction (64.2 %), and higher heating value (40.79 MJ/kg), meeting the performance of first-grade metallurgical coke. A cradle-to-gate LCA indicates that substituting 50 % of metallurgical coke by biocoke results in a reduction of CO2 emissions of 622.8 kg for per ton of iron production. This study not only provides a novel polymerization strategy for producing metallurgical-grade biocoke but also highlights its potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the steel industry.
{"title":"Enhanced crosslinking via epoxidized soybean oil and tannin acid for producing metallurgical grade biomass-derived coke: From waste material to a carbon–neutral product","authors":"Hongtao Wang , Zhibao Huo , Qiang Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The steel industry is responsible for 30 % of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions, which is mainly dependent on metallurgical coke utilization. Although biochar represents a promising carbon–neutral alternative, its suboptimal mechanical properties have hindered its direct substitution for conventional coke. This work introduces an innovative hydrothermal carbonization-repolymerization strategy to synthesize high-performance biocoke from sustainable feedstocks of oak residues and waste soybean oil. Our approach is centered on a novel and bio-based polymerization agent, synthesized by blending epoxidized soybean oil from oxidized waste oil and tannic acid extracted from oak residues in a 3:1 mass ratio. The epoxidized soybean oil-tannic acid effectively undergoes cross-linking reactions with oak biochar and oak bio-oil that both in-situ generated from the hydrothermal carbonization, resulting in a highly cross-linked biocoke. The ESO undergoes epoxy ring-opening in the cross-polymerization reaction, providing more reaction sites for cross-linked reactions. Moreover, the resulting biocoke shows a significant aromatization and graphitization structure. Therefore, the biocoke displays superior mechanical and thermochemical properties, including crushing strength (86.0 % of M<sub>40</sub>), abrasion resistance (6.6 % of M<sub>10</sub>), coke strength after reaction (64.2 %), and higher heating value (40.79 MJ/kg), meeting the performance of first-grade metallurgical coke. A cradle-to-gate LCA indicates that substituting 50 % of metallurgical coke by biocoke results in a reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions of 622.8 kg for per ton of iron production. This study not only provides a novel polymerization strategy for producing metallurgical-grade biocoke but also highlights its potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the steel industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 115261"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145606622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-24DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115259
Fien Amery , Paul Quataert , Elke Vandaele , Hans Smeets , Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen , Kenneth Loades , Ina Körner , Koen Willekens
Composting is a widely used method to process organic waste residues. It results in a valuable product for soil application and use in growing media. The aim of this study was to investigate the variation in characteristics of composts produced in the North Sea Region, and the factors determining this variation. A total of 107 composts were categorized into two composting practices (produced on a farm or on a commercial composting facility) and three feedstock groups (manure combined with other wastes; green waste; fruit, vegetable and garden waste (fvg)), and measured for 67 physical, chemical and biological characteristics. Variation in the results was large, e.g., up to a factor 20 and 11 for total microbial biomass and potassium content, respectively, underlining the importance of compost characterization to target the intended compost use. Organic matter (OM) content varied between 14 and 73% of dry matter and was larger for Belgian composts compared to composts from The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Scotland. The OM content was positively correlated with total microbial biomass, cation exchange capacity and content of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) of composts. Farm composts, irrespective of the OM effect, exhibited higher total microbial biomass compared to commercial composts. Compost prepared from green waste had lower N and P contents compared to compost prepared from fvg or manure waste. The study documents characteristics in composts from diverse composting practices and feedstocks, providing a benchmark and enabling targeted improvements as a first step towards tailormade compost.
{"title":"Compost organic matter content varied five-fold and determined compost quality across 107 composts of the North Sea Region","authors":"Fien Amery , Paul Quataert , Elke Vandaele , Hans Smeets , Hanne Lakkenborg Kristensen , Kenneth Loades , Ina Körner , Koen Willekens","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115259","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115259","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Composting is a widely used method to process organic waste residues. It results in a valuable product for soil application and use in growing media. The aim of this study was to investigate the variation in characteristics of composts produced in the North Sea Region, and the factors determining this variation. A total of 107 composts were categorized into two composting practices (produced on a farm or on a commercial composting facility) and three feedstock groups (manure combined with other wastes; green waste; fruit, vegetable and garden waste (fvg)), and measured for 67 physical, chemical and biological characteristics. Variation in the results was large, e.g., up to a factor 20 and 11 for total microbial biomass and potassium content, respectively, underlining the importance of compost characterization to target the intended compost use. Organic matter (OM) content varied between 14 and 73% of dry matter and was larger for Belgian composts compared to composts from The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Scotland. The OM content was positively correlated with total microbial biomass, cation exchange capacity and content of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) of composts. Farm composts, irrespective of the OM effect, exhibited higher total microbial biomass compared to commercial composts. Compost prepared from green waste had lower N and P contents compared to compost prepared from fvg or manure waste. The study documents characteristics in composts from diverse composting practices and feedstocks, providing a benchmark and enabling targeted improvements as a first step towards tailormade compost.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 115259"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145606588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-24DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115260
Michiel Van Melkebeke , Rita Kol , Elina Selmurzaeva , Tine Van Laere , Jung Suk Coene , Jannick Sercu , Hilde Poelman , Kevin Van Geem , Steven De Meester , Dave Manhaeghe
With the increasing electronification of societies, the generation of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) continues to rise, while formal recycling rates are lagging behind at around 25 wt%. Apart from low collection rates, the presence of potentially hazardous brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in WEEE plastics further complicates recycling. As a result, restrictions have been implemented for flame retardants (FRs) classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). As regulatory thresholds tighten and more substances are added to restriction lists, effective analysis of these compounds in complex waste matrices becomes increasingly important. This study explores pyrolysis-GC-MS (Py-GC-MS) for the simultaneous identification and quantification of five flame retardants: HBCD, TBBPA, DBDPE, TPHP, and PolyFR. The main novelty of the work lies in the systematic development of the Py-GC-MS method, including the complementary capabilities of TGA and the optimal use of multi-shot analysis. In addition, the proposed analytical methodology has been applied to different plastic waste samples, collected from a mechanical recycling plant processing WEEE. Results confirm that most halogenated plastics can be isolated effectively via density-based sorting, with total bromine content reaching up to 2755 430 mg kg−1. This study highlights the release of significant bromine levels (i.e., up to 300 kg−1) during extrusion, suggesting that brominated degradation products might escape from the extrusion lines in WEEE plastic reprocessing facilities. Among the investigated flame retardants, TBBPA was the most abundant (i.e., up to 1534 244 mg kg−1). The study demonstrates that accurate quantification of multiple FRs simultaneously in complex waste samples by Py-GC-MS is feasible, though challenges remain due to potential interferences of reaction products.
{"title":"Identification and quantification of (brominated) flame retardants during mechanical recycling of polystyrene from WEEE by means of pyrolysis-GC-MS","authors":"Michiel Van Melkebeke , Rita Kol , Elina Selmurzaeva , Tine Van Laere , Jung Suk Coene , Jannick Sercu , Hilde Poelman , Kevin Van Geem , Steven De Meester , Dave Manhaeghe","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115260","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115260","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the increasing electronification of societies, the generation of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) continues to rise, while formal recycling rates are lagging behind at around 25 wt%. Apart from low collection rates, the presence of potentially hazardous brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in WEEE plastics further complicates recycling. As a result, restrictions have been implemented for flame retardants (FRs) classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). As regulatory thresholds tighten and more substances are added to restriction lists, effective analysis of these compounds in complex waste matrices becomes increasingly important. This study explores pyrolysis-GC-MS (Py-GC-MS) for the simultaneous identification and quantification of five flame retardants: HBCD, TBBPA, DBDPE, TPHP, and PolyFR. The main novelty of the work lies in the systematic development of the Py-GC-MS method, including the complementary capabilities of TGA and the optimal use of multi-shot analysis. In addition, the proposed analytical methodology has been applied to different plastic waste samples, collected from a mechanical recycling plant processing WEEE. Results confirm that most halogenated plastics can be isolated effectively via density-based sorting, with total bromine content reaching up to 2755 <span><math><mo>±</mo></math></span> 430 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>. This study highlights the release of significant bromine levels (i.e., up to 300 kg<sup>−1</sup>) during extrusion, suggesting that brominated degradation products might escape from the extrusion lines in WEEE plastic reprocessing facilities. Among the investigated flame retardants, TBBPA was the most abundant (i.e., up to 1534 <span><math><mo>±</mo></math></span> 244 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>). The study demonstrates that accurate quantification of multiple FRs simultaneously in complex waste samples by Py-GC-MS is feasible, though challenges remain due to potential interferences of reaction products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 115260"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145606610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-24DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115250
Dennis Dika Dankwa, Michael Y. Boh, O. Grant Clark
Composting is an important way of diverting municipal organics from landfills to reduce methane emissions. However, compost production is a source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). To develop emissions mitigation strategies, methods to accurately measure GHGs from composting are needed. A systematic review of techniques for measuring GHGs from composting was carried out to evaluate different methodologies and their suitability for various applications. A literature search was performed using the Web of Science and Scopus databases to find information about different measurement methods used during composting from 2014 to 2024. Of the measurement methods identified, the static chamber method was the most widely applied due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, but it provides limited spatial representation and can disrupt emissions. Dynamic chambers and micrometeorological techniques give superior temporal resolution but are complex and costly. Emerging technologies, such as automated chambers and remote sensors on unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites, can potentially provide scalable, high-resolution data, but cost, high detection thresholds, and environmental interference present challenges. In this review, approaches for improving existing measurement techniques and the importance of developing standardized methodologies for measuring GHGs during composting have been spotlighted. To improve measurement accuracy and data quality, future research should focus on developing low-cost, automated chambers with large footprints and combining multiple technologies for data cross-validation. This should enable researchers and waste management practitioners to make guided decisions on methods that increase measurement accuracy, which will lead to the development of strategic policies to reduce emissions and fight against climate change.
堆肥是从垃圾填埋场转移城市有机物以减少甲烷排放的重要途径。然而，堆肥生产是温室气体排放（ghg）的来源。为了制定减排战略，需要精确测量堆肥产生的温室气体的方法。对测量堆肥温室气体的技术进行了系统的审查，以评估不同的方法及其对各种应用的适用性。利用Web of Science和Scopus数据库进行文献检索，查找2014年至2024年堆肥过程中使用的不同测量方法的信息。在所确定的测量方法中，静态室法因其简单和成本效益而得到最广泛的应用，但它提供的空间表示有限，并且可能干扰排放。动态室和微气象技术提供了优越的时间分辨率，但复杂且昂贵。新兴技术，如无人驾驶飞行器和卫星上的自动室和远程传感器，可以提供可扩展的高分辨率数据，但成本、高检测阈值和环境干扰是目前的挑战。在这篇综述中，改进现有测量技术的方法和开发标准化方法来测量堆肥过程中温室气体的重要性得到了强调。为了提高测量精度和数据质量，未来的研究应侧重于开发低成本、大占地的自动化实验箱，并结合多种技术进行数据交叉验证。这应该使研究人员和废物管理从业者能够对提高测量准确性的方法做出有指导意义的决定，这将导致制定减少排放和应对气候变化的战略政策。
{"title":"Measuring greenhouse gas emissions from composting: A comparative review of methods","authors":"Dennis Dika Dankwa, Michael Y. Boh, O. Grant Clark","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115250","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115250","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Composting is an important way of diverting municipal organics from landfills to reduce methane emissions. However, compost production is a source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). To develop emissions mitigation strategies, methods to accurately measure GHGs from composting are needed. A systematic review of techniques for measuring GHGs from composting was carried out to evaluate different methodologies and their suitability for various applications. A literature search was performed using the Web of Science and Scopus databases to find information about different measurement methods used during composting from 2014 to 2024. Of the measurement methods identified, the static chamber method was the most widely applied due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, but it provides limited spatial representation and can disrupt emissions. Dynamic chambers and micrometeorological techniques give superior temporal resolution but are complex and costly. Emerging technologies, such as automated chambers and remote sensors on unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites, can potentially provide scalable, high-resolution data, but cost, high detection thresholds, and environmental interference present challenges. In this review, approaches for improving existing measurement techniques and the importance of developing standardized methodologies for measuring GHGs during composting have been spotlighted. To improve measurement accuracy and data quality, future research should focus on developing low-cost, automated chambers with large footprints and combining multiple technologies for data cross-validation. This should enable researchers and waste management practitioners to make guided decisions on methods that increase measurement accuracy, which will lead to the development of strategic policies to reduce emissions and fight against climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 115250"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145606650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-21DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115255
Dipendu Saha, Anthony Ruggiero, Skyler Gittinger, Fadi Mallouhi, Michael Gross
The growing accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste necessitates innovative recycling approaches that add value. In this study, PET plastic waste was upcycled into activated carbon materials via pyrolysis followed by KOH-based chemical activation, producing carbons with a high specific surface area of up to 2150 m2/g and a total pore volume of 0.82 cm3/g, with primary contributions from micropores. Characterization using SEM-EDS, XPS, and gas adsorption analyses confirmed the presence of hierarchical micro- and mesoporosity, as well as favorable surface functional groups. The resulting materials exhibited excellent electrochemical properties when evaluated as supercapacitor electrodes using both aqueous (potassium hydroxide) and organic (tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate) electrolytes. The specific capacitance, based on three-electrode testing, ranged from 100 to 800F/g, with the organic electrolyte demonstrating superior performance. The presence of prominent redox peaks in the organic electrolyte confirmed significant contributions from pseudocapacitance. Two types of supercapacitors were fabricated using these carbons: a glass-slide-based supercapacitor with both types of electrolytes and a coin-cell-based supercapacitor with organic electrolyte only. Their performance was assessed through galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) experiments. Both the energy and power densities were higher for the organic electrolyte compared to the aqueous electrolyte. Long-term cycling stability was outstanding, with approximately 99 % capacitance retention after 1000 cycles. These findings demonstrate that PET waste can serve as a low-cost, sustainable precursor for advanced energy storage applications. This work contributes both to mitigating plastic pollution and advancing the development of high-performance, waste-derived materials for next-generation supercapacitors.
{"title":"Thermo-chemical conversion of PET-based plastic wastes to activated carbons: role in supercapacitors in aqueous and organic electrolytes","authors":"Dipendu Saha, Anthony Ruggiero, Skyler Gittinger, Fadi Mallouhi, Michael Gross","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115255","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115255","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste necessitates innovative recycling approaches that add value. In this study, PET plastic waste was upcycled into activated carbon materials via pyrolysis followed by KOH-based chemical activation, producing carbons with a high specific surface area of up to 2150 m<sup>2</sup>/g and a total pore volume of 0.82 cm<sup>3</sup>/g, with primary contributions from micropores. Characterization using SEM-EDS, XPS, and gas adsorption analyses confirmed the presence of hierarchical micro- and mesoporosity, as well as favorable surface functional groups. The resulting materials exhibited excellent electrochemical properties when evaluated as supercapacitor electrodes using both aqueous (potassium hydroxide) and organic (tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate) electrolytes. The specific capacitance, based on three-electrode testing, ranged from 100 to 800F/g, with the organic electrolyte demonstrating superior performance. The presence of prominent redox peaks in the organic electrolyte confirmed significant contributions from pseudocapacitance. Two types of supercapacitors were fabricated using these carbons: a glass-slide-based supercapacitor with both types of electrolytes and a coin-cell-based supercapacitor with organic electrolyte only. Their performance was assessed through galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) experiments. Both the energy and power densities were higher for the organic electrolyte compared to the aqueous electrolyte. Long-term cycling stability was outstanding, with approximately 99 % capacitance retention after 1000 cycles. These findings demonstrate that PET waste can serve as a low-cost, sustainable precursor for advanced energy storage applications. This work contributes both to mitigating plastic pollution and advancing the development of high-performance, waste-derived materials for next-generation supercapacitors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 115255"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145577611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-21DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115240
Yu Yan , Zhuangzhuang Liu , Jie Cao , Jun Fang
Excessive use of antibiotics in animal husbandry leads to the accumulation of antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in manure, posing risks to the environment and public health. Although composting is widely used for manure treatment, its ability to reduce antibiotics and ARGs remains limited. Biochar, a porous material with unique physicochemical properties, shows great potential in improving composting performance. This review summarizes the current research on the removal of antibiotics and ARGs by different types of biochar during composting,and discusses the key influencing factors, removal efficiencies,and potential mechanisms. Biochar directly adsorbs antibiotics and ARGs, and indirectly inhibit their persistence by regulating microbial communities, changing the physicochemical conditions of composting, and reducing environmental selection pressures. Among various sources, plant-derived biochar (PDB) has been reported to perform better than animal-derived biochar in many cases. Furthermore, modification and compounding strategies can enhance its performance. However, the practical application of biochar still faces some challenges, including modification technology limitations, high production costs, and limited scalability. Future research should focus on low-cost and efficient modification strategies and explore the synergy between biochar and microbial processes. These efforts will contribute to the development of sustainable and effective biochar-based antimicrobial risk control technologies for organic waste management.
{"title":"Mitigating antibiotic and antibiotic resistance gene contamination in animal manure compost by biochar: A review","authors":"Yu Yan , Zhuangzhuang Liu , Jie Cao , Jun Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115240","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115240","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Excessive use of antibiotics in animal husbandry leads to the accumulation of antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in manure, posing risks to the environment and public health. Although composting is widely used for manure treatment, its ability to reduce antibiotics and ARGs remains limited. Biochar, a porous material with unique physicochemical properties, shows great potential in improving composting performance. This review summarizes the current research on the removal of antibiotics and ARGs by different types of biochar during composting,and discusses the key influencing factors, removal efficiencies,and potential mechanisms. Biochar directly adsorbs antibiotics and ARGs, and indirectly inhibit their persistence by regulating microbial communities, changing the physicochemical conditions of composting, and reducing environmental selection pressures. Among various sources, plant-derived biochar (PDB) has been reported to perform better than animal-derived biochar in many cases. Furthermore, modification and compounding strategies can enhance its performance. However, the practical application of biochar still faces some challenges, including modification technology limitations, high production costs, and limited scalability. Future research should focus on low-cost and efficient modification strategies and explore the synergy between biochar and microbial processes. These efforts will contribute to the development of sustainable and effective biochar-based antimicrobial risk control technologies for organic waste management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 115240"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145577610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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