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Waste Management for Sustainability: Emerging Issues and Technologies
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Waste Management for Sustainability: Emerging Issues and Technologies

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 7098

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Justyna Rogowska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Medical and Pharmacy Law, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: waste management; environmental law; marine pollution
Dr. Grazyna Galezowska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Environmental Engineering Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
2. Division of Bioenergetics and Physiology of Exercise, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: environmental analysis; environmental impact assessment; environmental pollution; wastewater
Dr. Eros Mossini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Interests: nuclear waste management; development of treatment and conditioning methods for challenging nuclear waste
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Adopted in 2015 by the United Nations, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), constitute a new approach to protecting the environment against degradation through sustainable resource management and sustainable consumption, production and waste management. The implementation of the SDGs in the European Union is carried out through transformation of the linear economic model into a circular economy (CE) model based on the principle of reduce, reuse and recycle (the 3Rs). An important element of CE is the effective management of waste. However, implementing the assumptions of a circular economy is associated with many socio-environmental, economic and technological challenges. Therefore, it is important to identify problems that arise during the transition to CE as well as ways to solve them.

Thus, we welcome original research articles, reviews and case studies that address topics including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Problems related to the management of various types of waste (e.g., healthcare and medical, hazardous household, sewage sludge, municipal, demolition, agricultural, nuclear or radioactive);
  • The environmental, health, social and economic aspects of waste management;
  • Legal, organizational and economic activities to increase the effectiveness of waste management in the context of sustainable development;
  • Innovative waste management technologies;
  • Circular economy models and strategies that promote the reduction in, reuse and recycling of waste materials to minimize environmental impacts.
  • The development of pre-disposal treatment and the conditioning of radioactive waste aims to improve the safety, sustainability, and environmental footprint of the nuclear industry, e.g., unlocking recycling and reuse opportunities in a circular economy.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Justyna Rogowska
Dr. Grazyna Galezowska
Dr. Eros Mossini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • waste management
  • circular economy
  • environmental, health and social impacts of waste management
  • technologies for waste management
  • sustainability
  • recycling

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

36 pages, 2613 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Municipal Solid Waste Management in Hangzhou: Analyzing Public Willingness to Pay for Circular Economy Strategies
by Jiahao He, Shuwen Wu, Huifang Yu and Chun Bao
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 3269; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073269 - 7 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1128
Abstract
Effective municipal solid waste (MSW) management is crucial for urban sustainability, especially in fast-growing cities, like Hangzhou, China. This study examines residents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the following five key MSW measures: differentiated waste charging, smart recycling points, on-site organic waste recovery, [...] Read more.
Effective municipal solid waste (MSW) management is crucial for urban sustainability, especially in fast-growing cities, like Hangzhou, China. This study examines residents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the following five key MSW measures: differentiated waste charging, smart recycling points, on-site organic waste recovery, volunteer-based waste sorting supervision, and a community self-governance fund. Based on a survey of 521 residents across 13 districts, we use logistic and interval regression models to identify factors influencing WTP and payment amounts. Key findings include the following: Higher-income and more educated residents prefer cost-efficient, technology-driven solutions, like smart recycling and differentiated charging. Newcomers (≤5 years of residence) show higher WTP and greater sensitivity to environmental information, highlighting the need for targeted outreach. Providing explicit environmental benefits (e.g., waste reduction, increased recycling) significantly boosts WTP rates and payment levels. Community characteristics matter—residents in high-density areas favor waste charging, while those in older neighborhoods support volunteer programs and self-governance funds. Policy implications center on targeted outreach, transparent fee structures, and incentive programs to foster public trust and enhance participation. Although MSW management in Hangzhou remains predominantly government-led, select collaboration with private enterprises (e.g., in specialized recycling services) may offer additional efficiency gains. By aligning these measures with localized preferences and demographic patterns, Hangzhou—and other quickly urbanizing regions—can develop robust and inclusive MSW systems that contribute to broader sustainable development objectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management for Sustainability: Emerging Issues and Technologies)
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19 pages, 775 KiB  
Article
Trends of Industrial Waste Generation in Manufacturing Enterprises in the Context of Waste Prevention—Shift-Share Analysis for European Union Countries
by Agata Mesjasz-Lech
Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010034 - 25 Dec 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1971
Abstract
The problem of waste in the European Union is still present—from 2010 to 2022, the amount of hazardous waste generated increased by an average of 2.25% per year, while non-hazardous waste decreased by an average of 0.06% per year. The increase in the [...] Read more.
The problem of waste in the European Union is still present—from 2010 to 2022, the amount of hazardous waste generated increased by an average of 2.25% per year, while non-hazardous waste decreased by an average of 0.06% per year. The increase in the amount of hazardous waste and the very slight decrease in non-hazardous waste over the 13-year period testify to the ever-present problem of waste generation. To effectively address this issue, it is necessary to understand the trends that characterize the amount of waste generated. This study focuses on the amount of waste generated in manufacturing companies. Panel data from 27 European Union countries from 2010–2022 were analyzed to examine what factors contribute to the generation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. For this purpose, a shift-share analysis was used. The research showed that, in comparison to 2010, the total amount of EU waste generated by manufacturing companies in 2022 was 3,632,096 tons lower for hazardous waste and 15,149,754 tons lower for non-hazardous waste. A shift-share analysis of hazardous waste suggests that companies in the manufacturing sectors should show an upward trend in the amount of waste generated in all the European Union countries. In fact, however, there has been a decline in the amount of this waste overall across the EU (though only in 15 countries), driven by both structural (industrial mix) and geographic (regional shift) factors. The dominance of the geographic component was particularly pronounced in countries with a decrease in hazardous waste (negative total effect). The situation was different for non-hazardous waste. Negative values of the national shift component for all the countries suggest a decline in non-hazardous waste at companies in the manufacturing sector. In reality, the decline occurred in only 16 countries, and in most, due to the regional shift component. The analysis shows that policies on hazardous and non-hazardous waste management in European Union countries vary. Positive changes in hazardous waste have taken place in 12 EU countries that differ in terms of levels of economic and social development, suggesting the need for further analysis of the reasons for these trends. In the case of non-hazardous waste, the largest number of countries have made positive changes related to their competitive potential, indicating that the decline in non-hazardous waste is mainly due to their macroeconomic situation. Thus, there is considerable regional heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of the waste change component. The research provides valuable insights for companies and institutions responsible for shaping waste management policies, helping them to recognize the regional advantages and disadvantages of waste reduction and strengthen regional cooperation in this regard. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management for Sustainability: Emerging Issues and Technologies)
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13 pages, 1456 KiB  
Article
Potential Use of Jarosite Industrial Waste in Developing Hybrid Composites
by Daniel Pugar, Lidija Ćurković, Ivana Gabelica and Mihone Kerolli Mustafa
Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 11155; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411155 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 836
Abstract
Jarosite is a by-product of the zinc manufacturing industry. The potential use of jarosite processing waste as a component in hybrid composites offers a valuable opportunity for addressing waste management and environmental challenges. Therefore, in this study, hybrid composites were prepared using a [...] Read more.
Jarosite is a by-product of the zinc manufacturing industry. The potential use of jarosite processing waste as a component in hybrid composites offers a valuable opportunity for addressing waste management and environmental challenges. Therefore, in this study, hybrid composites were prepared using a polyester matrix reinforced with five layers of a fiberglass chopped strand mat and incorporating 5, 10, and 15 wt.% of jarosite waste particles as fillers. The hand lay-up technique was used for the composite preparation, with jarosite particles pre-dispersed in the polyester resin by an ultrasonic probe treatment to ensure the uniform dispersion of the jarosite particles within the matrix. The flexural properties (the flexural strength, modulus, and apparent interlaminar shear strength), Charpy impact strength, and hardness of the composites were determined and analyzed. The results showed that adding 10 wt.% of jarosite significantly improved the flexural strength (30% higher than the base composite) and hardness (15% higher). Composites with 5 wt.% and 15 wt.% of jarosite showed similar properties to the base composite. These findings demonstrate the potential of jarosite waste as a sustainable filler in hybrid composites, balancing mechanical properties and sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management for Sustainability: Emerging Issues and Technologies)
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24 pages, 7440 KiB  
Article
Waste Tyre Textile Fibre Composite Material: Acoustic Performance and Life Cycle Assessment
by Robert Ružickij, Francesco Romagnoli and Raimondas Grubliauskas
Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6281; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156281 - 23 Jul 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2337
Abstract
The development of new sound absorbing materials and the transition to net zero emissions production have become inseparable. This paper investigates a new type of composite sound absorbing material made of waste tyre textile fibre (WTTF) and different binders: polyurethane resin (PU), polyvinyl [...] Read more.
The development of new sound absorbing materials and the transition to net zero emissions production have become inseparable. This paper investigates a new type of composite sound absorbing material made of waste tyre textile fibre (WTTF) and different binders: polyurethane resin (PU), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), and starch (POS). Non-acoustic and acoustic parameters were studied, and life cycle assessment was performed for the considered composite sound absorbing materials. The airflow resistivity was determined according to the ISO 9053-1 standard, while the sound absorption coefficient was determined according to the ISO 10534-2 standard, and the LCA was performed based on the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. Composite sound absorbing materials subjected to sound absorption coefficient tests showed results in the range of 0.04 to 0.99 and peaking in the frequency range of 800 to 2000 Hz, while airflow resistivity varied between 17.4 and 83.6 kPa⋅s/m2. The combination that gave the highest sound absorption coefficient was experimentally found to be PU composite material. Life cycle assessment results revealed that the lowest potential impact on the environment is obtained when composite materials are produced using starch as a binder and its total potential impact on the environment varied between 0.27 and 0.55 Pt, while the highest potential impact was observed by PU composites (0.33 ÷ 0.64 Pt). The results obtained experimentally and by LCA modelling revealed great attractiveness and promising development of composites using WTTF and different binders’ potential for sound absorbing applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management for Sustainability: Emerging Issues and Technologies)
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