Search Results (8)

The Ganga River, a lifeline for millions and a critical freshwater ecosystem, is under threat from escalating plastic pollution driven by widespread usage and inadequate disposal practices. While marine ecosystems have garnered extensive research attention, freshwater systems—particularly in the Global South—remain underexplored, leaving critical gaps in understanding plastic pollution’s sources and pathways. Addressing these gaps, the study documents the prevalence and typology of plastic debris in urban and underexplored rural communities along the Ganga River, India, aiming to suggest mechanisms for a reduction in source-based pollution. A stratified random sampling approach was used to select survey sites and plastic debris was quantified and categorised through transect surveys. A total of 37,730 debris items were retrieved, dominated by packaging debris (52.46%), fragments (23.38%), tobacco-related debris (5.03%), and disposables (single-use plastic cutleries) (4.73%) along the surveyed segments with varying abundance trends. Floodplains displayed litter densities nearly 28 times higher than river shorelines (6.95 items/m² vs. 0.25 items/m²), with minor variations between high- and low-population-density areas (7.14 items/m vs. 6.7 items/m²). No significant difference was found between rural and urban areas (V = 41, p = 0.19), with mean densities of 0.87 items/m² and 0.81 items/m², respectively. Seasonal variations were insignificant (V = 13, p = 0.30), but treatment sites displayed significant variance (Chi² = 10.667, p = 0.004) due to flood impacts. The findings underscore the urgent need for tailored waste management strategies integrating industrial reforms, decentralised governance, and community-driven efforts. Enhanced baseline information and coordinated multi-sectoral efforts, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), are crucial for mitigating plastic pollution and protecting freshwater ecosystems, given rivers’ significant contribution to ocean pollution. Full article

In spite of the amount of construction debris produced every year, recycled aggregates are still not commonly used in the concrete industry. A 100% recycled aggregate concrete—RAC—is not yet allowed by technical codes even though it would greatly help reduce the disposal of debris. This paper considers a construction site that can only be reached by small trucks, where concrete production is performed using manual procedures and the transportation of building materials is difficult and expensive. The aim of this research is to establish a mix design for 100% RAC for structural applications. In this context, recycled aggregates are obtained from the debris crushed by a small portable crusher Crunchy^©. Based on a series of tests on concrete cubes and cylinders of aggregates originating from different types of debris, it is shown that 100% RAC is also a promising material for structural applications. At the cost of more cement in comparison to standard concrete, RAC from high-strength aggregates (concrete and gres-porcelain tiles) may be used in r.c. structures. Some of its features, such as its low pH value and low compressive strength in the case of clay-originated aggregates, still need to be studied for an optimized mix design. In addition, it is shown that RACs have approximately the same carbon footprint as standard concrete. Full article

Mercury (Hg) emissions into the air can in some cases be a critical problem for public health and environmental protection. Hence, it is crucial to find cost-effective solutions to tackle this issue. An innovative solution is presented in this study using two case studies, diminishing drastically the emissions through covering high Hg-contaminated debris with industrial subproducts (fly-ashes and blast furnace slags). This solution is compared with other two conventional alternatives: (1) removal of the debris to an authorized landfill and (2) in situ encapsulation. The analysis is carried out by comparing costs, carbon footprint and the Environmental–Social–Governance (ESG) impact. It has been noted that the solution proposed has some advantages with respect to conventional alternatives, from both economic and environmental points of view, presenting lower costs and a lower carbon footprint. The worst solution is to remove the debris for ex situ treatment, while the encapsulation represents a middle solution with advantages and disadvantages. The findings of the study can be a step forward in the usage of industrial subproducts, that are currently placed in waste disposal, to solve the problem of sites contaminated by mercury and eliminate its emissions. Full article

Globally, construction and demolition wastes (C&DW) are rapidly increasing, occupying 3 billion square yards of land for landfill. In India, C&D debris reaches 150 million tons per year, leading to environmental damage and resource wastage due to poor waste management practices. This study focuses on environmental impact analysis of air and water quality for selected construction and demolition waste dump yards for Chennai metropolitan city in India for two recycling units with 15 legal dumping yards. The Internet of Things (IoT) and Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to monitor and analyze environmental effect due to C&D waste dump yard. The highest concentrations of CO and CO₂ in one dump site were observed at one point, with values of 7.49 ppm and 1656.06 ppm, respectively, and at another point with the lowest values of 2.3 ppm and 619.76 ppm. TDS values ranged from 269.2 mg/L to 1347.66 mg/L, and pH values ranged from 6.4 to 11.8, indicating pollution levels in drinking water. The findings suggest that improved waste management practices are urgently needed, including better regulation and enforcement of waste disposal laws, the establishment of recycling facilities with proper air and water pollution control measures, and public education campaigns for responsible waste disposal. Full article

On 6 February 2023, southeastern Turkey was struck by two major earthquakes that devastated 11 provinces. Tens of thousands of buildings collapsed and more were later demolished. During post-event field surveys conducted by the authors, several disposal sites set up in the most affected provinces were detected and checked for suitability. Based on field observations on the properties of sites and their surrounding areas as well as on the implemented debris management activities, it is concluded that all sites had characteristics that did not allow them to be classified as safe for earthquake debris management. This inadequacy is mainly attributed to their proximity to areas, where thousands of people reside. As regards the environmental impact, these sites were operating within or close to surface water bodies. This situation reveals a rush for rapid recovery resulting in serious errors in the preparation and implementation of disaster management plans. In this context, measures for effective debris management are proposed based on the existing scientific knowledge and operational experience. This paper aims to highlight challenges during earthquakes debris management and related threats posed to public health and the environment in order to be avoided in future destructive events. Full article

The use of single-use or disposable plastic objects has massively increased during the last few decades, and plastic has become the main type of litter found in marine environments. The Adriatic Sea is seriously prone to marine litter pollution, and it collects about one-third of all the freshwater flowing into the Mediterranean, mainly via the river Po. This study investigated the type and composition of large microplastic debris collected in different sites in the Po Delta area. Visual classification was performed by relevant criteria, while chemical composition was assessed by infrared spectroscopy. The main plastic fraction is composed of polyolefin (76%), followed by polystyrene (19%). This proportion roughly matches global plastic production, rescaled after excluding plastics with negative buoyancy: all the identified compounds have a specific gravity lower than that of the seawater. Fragments (irregularly shaped debris) represent the most abundant category fraction (85%), followed by pellets, which represent roughly 10% of the total. Overall, the results provided an insight into large microplastic pollution in beach sediments in the Po delta area. Full article

Coarse woody debris on the forest floor contributes to maintenance of forest biodiversity and long-term ecosystem productivity. Down wood is often dispersed over harvested sites during logging activities, thereby leaving piles of postharvest debris as “excess” material at landings and roadsides. These wood residues may be burned in most jurisdictions in North America to reduce a perceived fire hazard. The fire hazard debate needs to acknowledge the documented benefits of woody debris retention while striking a balance among biodiversity, bioenergy, and alternative uses for debris, while reducing ignitions by humans. The burning of excess woody debris also creates smoke, causes the release of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and creates human health issues, particularly for vulnerable individuals. The relationship of wildfire smoke to human health problems is well documented. However, there is no scientific evidence showing that postharvest debris piles are ignition points for forest fires, other than those caused by humans. Wood residues from forest harvesting or natural disturbance wood from wildfire and insect outbreaks may be used as renewable biomass “feedstocks” that could help improve energy supplies and reduce GHG emissions. If not marketable, the management of postharvest debris should seek alternative outlets that do not dispose of debris by burning, but still meet fire hazard abatement requirements. The construction of woody debris structures (e.g., piles and windrows) built at the time of forest harvesting and log processing, or later at the site preparation stages, has positive benefits for wildlife habitat and forest biodiversity. A windrow or series of piles may connect patches and reserves of mature forest and riparian areas on clearcut openings. Piles and windrows have consistently provided habitat on new clearcuts for southern red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) and Microtus voles, as well as a host of other forest-floor small mammal species, at least up to 12 years postconstruction. Woody debris provides important habitat for foraging and cover attributes for marten (Martes americana), weasels (Mustela spp.), and other furbearers. A list of “What to do?” and “When and Where?” with options for construction of woody debris habitats: poorest, good, better, and best are given. In the cases where fire risk from humans is minimized and there are no marketable wood products, eight alternative management scenarios for postharvest woody debris are provided. These include: (1) piles for wildlife habitat; (2) distribution of debris in partial cut forests; (3) machinery to break up and crush debris; (4) protection of riparian zones with barriers for cattle; (5) construction of range fencing; (6) reclamation of landings and skid-trails; (7) soil fertility and reduction in weed competition and drought for planted conifers; and (8) slope stabilization and revegetation. Advantages and disadvantages (if known) are given for each alternative. A flow chart for the fate of excess postharvest woody debris with respect to fire hazard abatement and markets or nonmarkets is given. Full article

The ecosystem of earth, the habitation of 7.53 billion people and more than 8.7 million species, is being imbalanced by anthropogenic activities. The ever-increasing human population and race of industrialization is an exacerbated threat to the ecosystem. At present, the global average waste generation per person is articulated as 494 kg/year, an enormous amount of household waste (HSW) that ultimately hits $3.71\times {10}^{12}$ kg of waste in one year. The ultimate destination of HSW is a burning issue because open dumping and burning as the main waste treatment and final disposal systems create catastrophic environmental limitations. This paper strives to contribute to this issue of HSW management that matters to everyone’s business, specifically to developing nations. The HSW management system of the world’s 12th largest city and 24th most polluted city, Karachi, was studied with the aim of generating possible economic gains by recycling HSWs. In this regard, the authors surveyed dumping sites for sample collection. The sample was segregated physically to determine the content type (organic, metals, and many others). Afterward, chemical analysis on AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry) of debris and soil from a landfill site was performed. HSW is classified and quantified into major classes of household materials. The concentrations of e-waste [Cu], industrial development indicator [Fe], and the main component of lead-acid storage batteries [Pb] are quantified as 199.5, 428.5, and 108.5 ppm, respectively. The annual generation of the aforementioned metals as waste recovery is articulated as 1.2 × 10⁶, 2.6 × 10⁶ and 6.5 × 10⁵ kg, respectively. Significantly, this study concluded that a results-based metal recovery worth 6.1 million USD is discarded every year in HSW management practices. Full article