Ireland's biodegradable municipal waste

This project focuses on the EU Landfill Directive targets for Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) specifically focusing on how the targets will affect Ireland and its waste management infrastructure. Research will consist of reviewing relevant literature, legislation and policies that will provide a comparable between Ireland and other nations. Planning processes which govern both the building structure and running capacities of treatment facilities is also necessary in order to predict amounts of waste diverted from landfill. The efficiency of these treatment plants also requires investigation. Another objective is to research further information on Irelands organic ‘brown’ bin service, this will involve discovering the roll out of bins in the future over a defined time scale as well as the potential amounts of waste that will be collected. Figures received from waste management and waste treatment companies will be combined with figures from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual reports. This will give an indication to past trends and shed light on possible future trends. With this information annul waste volumes consigned to landfill can be calculated and used to determine whether or not Ireland can achieve the EU Landfill Directive targets. Without significant investment in Irelands waste management infrastructure it is unlikely that the targets will be met. Existing waste treatment facilities need to be managed as efficiently as possible. Waste streams must also be managed so waste is shared appropriately between companies and not create a monopolising waste treatment facility. The driving forces behind an efficient waste management infrastructure are government policy and legislation. An overall and efficient waste management strategy must be in place, along with disincentives for landfilling of waste such as the landfill levy. Encouragement and education of the population is the fundamental and first step to achieving the landfill directive targets.

An analysis of the use of photogrammetric sorting to audit construction and demolition waste production on site

This study analyses the area of construction and demolition waste (C & D W) auditing. The production of C&DW has grown year after year since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first published a report in 1996 which provided data for C&D W quantities for 1995 (EPA, 1996a). The most recent report produced by the EPA is based on data for 2005 (EPA, 2006). This report estimated that the quantity of C&DW produced for that period to be 14 931 486 tonnes. However, this is a ‘data update’ report containing an update on certain waste statistics so any total provided would not be a true reflection of the waste produced for that period. This illustrates that a more construction site-specific form of data is required. The Department of Building and Civil Engineering in the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology have carried out two recent research projects (Grimes, 2005; Kelly, 2006) in this area, which have produced waste production indicators based on site-specific data. This involved the design and testing of an original auditing tool based on visual characterisation and the application of conversion factors. One of the main recommendations of these studies was to compare this visual characterisation approach with a photogrammetric sorting methodology. This study investigates the application of photogrammetric sorting on a residential construction site in the Galway region. A visual characterisation study is also carried out on the same project to compare the two methodologies and assess the practical application in a construction site environment. Data collected from the waste management contractor on site was also used to provide further evaluation. From this, a set of waste production indicators for new residential construction was produced: □ 50.8 kg/m2 for new residential construction using data provided by the visual characterisation method and the Landfill Levy conversion factors. □ 43 kg/m2 for new residential construction using data provided by the photogrammetric sorting method and the Landfill Levy conversion factors. □ 23.8 kg/m2 for new residential construction using data provided by Waste Management Contractor (WMC). The acquisition of the data from the waste management contractor was a key element for testing of the information produced by the visual characterisation and photogrammetric sorting methods. The actual weight provided by the waste management contractor shows a significant difference between the quantities provided.

Italy's urban waste metabolism

The problem of waste management is causing growing concern due to increasing generation rates, the emissions into soil, water and air, the social conflicts derived from the election of disposal sites and the loss of resources and energy among others. In this work, an innovative methodology is used to enable a better understanding of the waste generation and management system in Italy. Two new waste indicators are built to complement the conventional indicators used by official statistics. Then a multi-scale analysis of the Density of Waste Disposed (DWD) is carried out to highlight the territorial diversity of waste performances and test its contribution to detect plausible risky areas. Starting from Italian regions, the scale down goes on to the provincial level and, only for the region of Campania, the municipal one. First, the analysis shows that the DWD is able to complement the information provided by the conventional waste indicators. Second, the analysis shows the limitations of using a unique institutional solution to waste management problems. In this sense the multi-scale analysis provides with a more realistic picture of Italian waste system than using a single scale.

Segregation Packaging and Storage Guidelines for Healthcare Risk Waste - 3rd edition

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Waste Matters, July 2003

Newsletter for Department of Natural Resources, Waste Management Division

Waste Matters, January 2004

Newsletter produced by Department of Natural Resources, Waste Management Division

Waste Reduction, Construction and Demolition Debris: Guide for Building, Construction and Environmental Professionals, Revised November 2008

This document is intended to lay the foundation for resource reduction strategies in new construction, renovation and demolition. If you have an innovative idea or information that you believe should be included in future updates of this manual please email Shelly Codner at scodner@region12cog.org or Jan Loyson at Jan.Loyson@Iowalifechanging.com. Throughout this manual, we use the term “waste reduction” to define waste management initiatives that will result in less waste going to the landfill. In accordance with the waste management hierarchy these practices include reducing (waste prevention), reusing (deconstruction and salvage), recycling and renewing (making old things new again) - in that order. This manual will explain what these practices are and how to incorporate them into your projects.

Behavioral avoidance tests to evaluate effects of cattle slurry and dairy sludge application to soil¹

The application of organic wastes to agricultural soils is not risk-free and can affect soil invertebrates. Ecotoxicological tests based on the behavioral avoidance of earthworms and springtails were performed to evaluate effects of different fertilization strategies on soil quality and habitat function for soil organisms. These tests were performed in soils treated with: i) slurry and chemical fertilizers, according to the conventional fertilization management of the region, ii) conventional fertilization + sludge and iii) unfertilized reference soil. Both fertilization strategies contributed to soil acidity mitigation and caused no increase in soil heavy metal content. Avoidance test results showed no negative effects of these strategies on soil organisms, compared with the reference soil. However, results of the two fertilization managements differed: Springtails did not avoid soils fertilized with dairy sludge in any of the tested combinations. Earthworms avoided soils treated with sludge as of May 2004 (DS1), when compared with conventional fertilization. Possibly, the behavioral avoidance of earthworms is more sensitive to soil properties (other than texture, organic matter and heavy metal content) than springtails

Waste Matters, December 1995.

Newsletter for Department of Natural Resources, Waste Management Division

Wood waste processing in Iowa, 1996

The objective of this report is to gain a better understanding of the wood waste market in Iowa through surveying the processors of wood waste. A survey was sent out by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Management Assistance Division to 147 public waste management organizations and private businesses with a questionnaire which asked for details of any wood waste processing operation.

Jätekeskuksen jasuljetun kaatopaikan jätevesien esikäsittelyn tehostamismahdollisudet

Tämän diplomityön tavoitteena oli tutkia toiminnassa olevan jätekeskuksen ja suljetun kaatopaikan jätevesien esikäsittelyn tehostamismahdollisuuksia. Tutkimuksessa pyrittiin löytämään niitä teknisiä keinoja, joilla jätevesien esikäsittelyä voidaan tehostaa erityisesti ammoniumtypen osalta. Tapausesimerkkinä työssä käytettiin Jätekukko Oy:n toiminnassa olevaa Kuopion jätekeskusta ja Kuopion kaupungin suljettua Silmäsuon kaatopaikkaa. Kohteiden jätevedet johdetaan kunnalliselle jätevedenpuhdistamolle, jossa jätevesien korkea ammoniumtyppipitoisuus ja matala lämpötila ovat häirinneet puhdistusprosessia. Tutkimuksen taustana selvitettiin jätekeskusten jakaatopaikkojen jätevesien käsittelyyn vaikuttavaa lainsäädäntöä, jätevesien ominaisuuksia ja niiden käsittelytekniikoita. Jätevesien käsittelyn nykytilaa Suomessa kartoitettiin jätehuoltoyhtiöille ja kunnille suunnatulla kyselyllä. Lisäksitutkimus perustui kenttäkokeisiin, joissa tutkittiin Kuopion jätekeskuksen nykyisen tasausaltaan toimivuutta vuoden ajan. Sekä Kuopion jätekeskuksen että Silmäsuon suljetun kaatopaikan jätevesistä otettiin vesien tarkkailuohjelmaan kuuluvien näytteiden lisäksi ylimääräisiä näytteitä, joilla pyrittiin saamaan uutta tietoa jäteveden laatumuuttujien vuodenaikaisvaihtelusta. Kuopion jätekeskuksen ja Silmäsuon suljetun kaatopaikan jätevesien käsittelyä tulevaisuudessa tarkasteltiin erilaisilla tilannemalleilla. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin, että Kuopion jätekeskuksen ja Silmäsuon suljetun kaatopaikan jätevedet olivat laadultaan ja määrältään erilaisia. Jätekeskuksen nykyinen jätevesien tasausallas poistaa ammoniumtyppeä vain kesäisin. Jätekeskuksen jätevesien nykyisen tasausaltaan toiminnan tehostaminen ei ole taloudellisesti perusteltua, vaan resurssit on kohdistettava uuden tasausaltaan rakentamiseen. Kuopion jätekeskuksen jätevesienesikäsittely ilman Silmäsuon suljetun kaatopaikan jätevesiä ei ole tarkoituksenmukaista, koska jätevedet johdetaan jätevedenpuhdistamolle samaa viemärilinjaa pitkin. Tällöin Silmäsuon suljetun kaatopaikan jätevedet tulevat mitätöimään jätekeskuksella tehdyn esikäsittelyn puhdistustuloksen Mahdollisen jätevesien yhteisen esikäsittelymenetelmän tulee olla fysikaalis-kemiallinen, jätevesien ominaisuuksista johtuen. Jos jätevesiä ei esikäsitellä yhdessä, jätekeskuksen jätevesien käsittelyksi riittävät uusi tasausallas ja siihen asennettava ilmastus. Tässä tapauksessa jätekeskuksen ympäristölupamääräysten ammoniumtyppipitoisuuden raja-arvoa on arvioitava uudelleen.

Gerenciamento de resíduos laboratoriais: recuperação de elementos e preparo para descarte final

This work shows some laboratory waste management developed in order to recover some elements or to prepare the waste for a correct final disposal. The 25 elements chosen cover basically all chemical behaviors found for the metals in the Periodic Table. The treatments adopted were based on the classical behavior in aqueous solution (wet chemistry) but an important condition for a full success was the previous knowledge of the qualitative composition of the wastes treated. Some general trends were found: the final liquid waste was always saline and normally presented a higher volume than the original waste; most original wastes were acid in nature; steps such as solid-liquid separation, washing, evaporating and calcining were currently performed. This work was also a very good experience in chemistry in solution for students and showed them the need of treating wastes for a better environment.

Implantação de um programa de gerenciamento de resíduos químicos e águas servidas nos laboratórios de ensino e pesquisa no CENA/USP

The aim of this work is to establish a program for the treatment of chemical residues and waste waters at the Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA/USP), for environmental preservation and training of staff. Five tons of stored residues and the ones currently generated in the laboratories have to be treated. Rational use of water is also part of the program. The traditional purification by distillation has been replaced by purification with ion exchange resins. Lower energy consumption and better water quality were achieved.

Sustainable Waste-to-Energy Production: Performance Evaluation of Distributed Generation fuelled by Landfill Gas

The environmental impact of landfill is a growing concern in waste management practices. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of the solutions implemented to alter the issue is of importance. The objectives of the study were to provide an insight of landfill advantages, and to consolidate landfill gas importance among others alternative fuels. Finally, a case study examining the performances of energy production from a land disposal at Ylivieska was carried out to ascertain the viability of waste to energy project. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were applied. The study was conducted in two parts; the first was the review of literatures focused on landfill gas developments. Specific considerations were the conception of mechanism governing the variability of gas production and the investigation of mathematical models often used in landfill gas modeling. Furthermore, the analysis of two main distributed generation technologies used to generate energy from landfill was carried out. The review of literature revealed a high influence of waste segregation and high level of moisture content for waste stabilization process. It was found that the enhancement in accuracy for forecasting gas rate generation can be done with both mathematical modeling and field test measurements. The result of the case study mainly indicated the close dependence of the power output with the landfill gas quality and the fuel inlet pressure.

Avaliação das técnicas de precipitação química e encapsulamento no tratamento e destinação conjunta de resíduos líquidos contendo cromo e vidrarias de laboratório

In this paper, we present procedures for the treatment and final disposal of residual solutions containing chromium, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of chemical precipitation of the metal and the potential of the glass encapsulation technique, using broken laboratory glassware. The results demonstrated that pH-values convenient for chemical precipitation are between 10 - 11. With regard to Cr(OH)3 encapsulation, the leaching and solubilization tests allowed to classify the waste as non-dangerous and non-inert. Finally, it is pointed out that the adoption of waste management practices in universities should be encouraged, helping to train professionals skilled in good laboratory practices.