Search Results (176)

Household food waste is a complex issue shaped by socioeconomic conditions, household size, time and resource constraints, and routine food management behaviors. Understanding the practices, attitudes, barriers, and motivators that influence food waste is crucial for designing effective and sustainable interventions for low-income households experiencing high rates of food insecurity. Guided by community input, a food waste reduction education program was developed and piloted in seven California counties. In total, 50 adults were enrolled; 40 completed pre/post surveys, 17 completed food waste audits, and 14 responded to a four-month follow-up survey. Survey results showed significant increases in key food management behaviors: making and using a shopping list, freezing food, and using leftovers in future meals. The percentage of participants discarding food because of package dates declined from 53% to 30%. All measures of barriers and self-efficacy improved. Food audit results indicated the volume and weight of solid and liquid food waste decreased, although the changes were not statistically significant. At follow-up, all respondents reported checking their refrigerator and cupboards before shopping, making a shopping list, and storing and reheating food safely all or most of the time. Overall, the findings demonstrate that practical, skills-based education can help low-income households reduce food waste. Full article

The rapid growth of online food delivery in urban areas reflects changing consumer lifestyles, but it has also contributed to increasing plastic waste and challenges in waste management. This study investigated the composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) related to online food delivery, consumer ordering behavior, and single-use plastic (SUP) generation in households in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. Data were collected from 385 food delivery customers via online questionnaires. The results show that the proportion of plastic waste in MSW has increased, with 76.6% of participants reporting higher online food delivery usage. SUPs from food delivery, including non-essential items such as plastic films, spoons, and cutlery, were prevalent, and participants rarely selected green options to opt out of receiving them. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, including closed-loop management involving producers, platforms, consumers, and government. Policy recommendations include implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) for environmentally friendly packaging, providing incentives for merchants and consumers to reduce SUP, applying the polluter-pays principle (PPP) to users, and designing government policies to regulate SUP and improve plastic waste management. Full article

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a rapidly escalating global challenge, with Thailand exemplifying the persistence of a policy–practice gap in zero-waste transitions. Despite national initiatives such as Zero Waste Thailand, household segregation and recycling rates remain modest, particularly in semi-rural municipalities. This study addresses this gap by introducing and validating the ARUN Model, a competency-based governance framework for community-level zero-waste management. Using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, quantitative data from 300 households were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and regression modeling, complemented by focus group interviews with local leaders to interpret behavioral mechanisms. The findings revealed that Responsibility and Nurturing competencies exert the strongest positive effects on household zero-waste behavior, confirming the model’s reliability and construct validity. These results empirically demonstrate how community competencies shape sustainable waste practices and bridge the structural–behavioral divide in waste governance. This research provides the first empirical validation of a competency-based governance framework in a semi-rural Thai context, extending beyond participatory and capacity-based models. By integrating statistical rigor with community insight, the ARUN Model advances theoretical and practical understanding of competency-driven sustainability transitions. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers and supports the achievement of SDGs 11, 12, and 13, offering a locally rooted yet globally relevant pathway toward circular economy governance. Full article

The estimated increase in urban solid waste generation in the near future worldwide may negatively impact the environment and public health, and produce a significant economic impact on solid waste management. Recycling is crucial in mitigating this solid waste generation growth by diverting materials from landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, conserving resources, and extending end-of-life strategies. In this study, we address the bin location–allocation problem for the collection of recyclable household waste, a key challenge in the context of the circular economy and efforts to mitigate the sustained growth of household waste generation. To tackle this problem, this study generalizes a previous mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to address different types of waste, particularly recyclable household waste, while minimizing total bin costs and ensuring that each generation point is assigned to the nearest collection site within a given threshold travel distance. Additionally, the model compares single and multi-stream collection strategies. For each case, we evaluate the options of locating recycling bins at road intersections and in open public spaces. Real-world data from the commune of Quinta Normal in Santiago, Chile is used to test our approach. This study also reports results of a sensitivity analysis of key parameters, including the generated household recyclable waste and the maximum distances users are willing to travel to dispose of their recyclable waste. Finally, managerial implications that emerge from this study are discussed, which may help authorities improve recyclable household waste collection, and outline future research directions. Full article

The co-firing of coal and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from municipal solid waste recycling is gaining support in countries in which energy production is based on solid fuels. It is the result of the rising priority given to renewable energy sources, the circular economy, and effective waste management through sorting, recycling, and thermal conversion. Despite the increasing efficiency of recycling and the ever-lower quantities of waste delivered to waste dumps, the problem of the residual fraction remains unsolved. The portion of mixed municipal waste that cannot be recycled exhibits a high energy value. For this reason, it should be neither stored nor burnt in household boiler rooms, as doing so would constitute an environmental hazard. However, the waste can be used as an additive to fine coal in power boilers, provided that they are equipped with flue gas monitoring and purification systems. Tests involving proportionally prepared compositions of fine coal and refuse-derived fuel burnt in a laboratory boiler revealed a major variability in the flue gas parameters (physicochemical), depending on the applied proportions of the individual components. For instance, when burning a composition of 50% fine coal and 50% refuse-derived fuel, a reduction in CO₂ emissions by about 12% was noted compared with that when burning fine coal exclusively. Furthermore, when burning refuse-derived fuel, an addition of 20% fine coal is enough to produce a 2.8% reduction in CO emission. Meanwhile, a composition of 80% fine coal and 20% refuse-derived fuel would reduce the emissions by 393 ppm. During the measurements, it was also noted that most of the measured parameters indicated a decrease in individual gas contents relative to the emissions obtained when burning fine coal or refuse-derived fuel exclusively. These relationships can be applied to prepare fuel compositions based on refuse-derived fuel and fine coal, depending on the power and flue gas purification capabilities of individual cogeneration systems. Full article

The present article examines the relationship between the changing residential net floor area of residential units in Warsaw, driven by ongoing urban growth, and the spatial requirements for household municipal waste collection. Analyzing 20 years from 2003 to 2023 across 18 districts of Warsaw, this article examines how the interplay between building morphology, demographic structure, and municipal waste generation influences the spatial and infrastructural requirements for separate collection. The study panel regression and volume simulations were applied to assess these dynamics. The results demonstrate that the number of residents per unit is the strongest predictor of waste generation, while the effect of floor area is less robust but still relevant. Waste generation per unit increased by 20% during the study period, accompanied by a sevenfold rise in plastics and a nearly eightyfold increase in biowaste, which together impose growing spatial burdens on households and collection infrastructure. The study emphasizes the significance of integrating waste infrastructure planning with housing design, considering the urban areas’ heterogeneous and evolving nature (identified at the district level). In the transition to a circular economy, the results highlight the need for locally sensitive strategies that link everyday household waste management with systemic urban sustainability goals. Full article

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is the most significant portion of solid waste generated throughout the European Union (EU). CDW represents more than a third of the waste generated, considering the waste generated by all economic activities and household waste. The central reuse of CDW is as a base for roads, and in specific cases, it can be reused as recycled coarse aggregates (RA) in the manufacture of precast concrete, new building blocks, bricks, and as RA on new concrete formulations, among other activities. This work aims to enable the concentration of the aggregates mixed in the CDW with the jigging process. The recovered RA was replaced in the concrete, and four different replacement levels (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) were analyzed for reuse in new C30/40 concretes. Physical characterization of the material was performed, and compressive strength tests were conducted to verify the RA replacement’s influence on the concrete. The work tests allowed us to observe the positive variation of the material’s physical properties according to the jigging processing and the efficiency of recovering the aggregates. After analyzing the results obtained in the strength force tests, it is possible to conclude that the RA generated can be a substitute for natural aggregates (NA) in new C30/40 concrete formulations. When 100% RJA is used as a replacement, the 28-day compressive strength reaches 33.2 MPa, which is only 6% lower than that of the NA group, reducing the environmental liabilities inherent in the aggregate mining process and generating an economically viable material. Full article

The exponential increase in global solid waste generation poses significant environmental, economic, and social challenges, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. Traditional waste management methods that focus on handling and disposal have proven unsustainable because of their negative impacts on air, soil, and water quality, and their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. In response, the concept of zero-waste cities, rooted in circular economy principles, has gained increasing attention in recent years. This study proposes a comprehensive and integrated waste management system designed to optimize resource recovery across four distinct waste streams: household, healthcare, green/organic, and inert. The system integrates four specialized facilities: a Secondary Sorting Facility, Energy Recovery Facility, Composting Facility, and Inert Processing Facility, coordinated through a central Primary Sorting Hub. By enabling interconnectivity between these processing units, the system facilitates material cascading, maximizes the reuse and recycling of secondary raw materials, and supports energy recovery and circular nutrient flow. The anticipated benefits include enhanced operational efficiency, reduced environmental degradation, and generation of multiple revenue streams. However, the implementation of such a system faces challenges related to high capital investment, technological complexity, regulatory fragmentation, and low public acceptance. Overcoming these limitations will require strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive governance. Full article

The sustainable management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) relies heavily on community participation in separating it at the source and delivering it to collection systems. These practices are crucial for reducing pollution, protecting ecosystems, and maximizing resource recovery. However, in the Global South context, with conditions of socioeconomic vulnerability, community participation in the sustainable management of MSW remains limited, highlighting the need to generate context-specific interventions. MSW includes items such as household appliances, batteries, and electronic devices, which require specialized handling due to their size, hazardous components, or material complexity. This study implemented a Community-Based Social Marketing approach during the research and design phases of an intervention focused on promoting source separation and management of hard-to-manage MSW in five municipalities within the administrative region of Norte de Santander (Colombia), which borders Venezuela. Using a mixed-methods approach, we collected data from 1775 individuals (63.83% women; M _age = 33.48 years; SD = 17.25), employing social mapping, focus groups, semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and a survey questionnaire. The results show that the source separation and delivery of hard-to-manage MSW to collection systems are limited by a set of psychosocial, structural, and institutional barriers that interact with each other, affecting communities’ willingness and capacity for action. Furthermore, a prediction model of willingness to engage in separation and delivery behaviors showed a good fit (R2 = 0.83). The strongest predictors were awareness of the negative consequences of non-participation and perceived environmental benefits, with subjective norms contributing to a lesser extent. Based on these results, we designed a context-specific intervention focused on reducing these barriers and promoting community engagement in the sustainable management of hard-to-manage MSW. Full article

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) on islands involves several challenges relating to politics, society, the environment, and technology. This paper addresses the potential for producing biogas and biomethane from food waste on Tenerife, including waste from households, with the aim of reducing landfill and primary fossil energy consumption. The study also introduces the European and Regional policy framework and requirements. Effective microorganisms have been studied as proposals to stabilise the food waste from households, avoiding odours and decomposition during storage. The trials show positive results in terms of the preservation of organic matter until the food waste is transported to the biogas plant. In addition, a new concept for a small biogas plant made of textile materials, which are suited to the municipalities of Tenerife, is presented to provide an easy-to-build solution, with ranges of up to 75 kW in electrical power. With a theoretical potential of 299,012 tons of food waste being available per year (based on 2022), preliminary laboratory experiments with real samples of the island showed a theoretical potential of 28.97 × 10⁶ Nm³ for biogas and 264,612 tons for digestate, which can be used as fertilisers, with potential savings of 18.15 × 10⁶ L of gasoline and 42.66 × 10³ equivalent CO₂ tons. Full article

This study investigates a hybrid renewable energy system combining the municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification and solar photovoltaic (PV) for electricity generation in Lobito, Angola. A fixed-bed downdraft gasifier was selected for MSW gasification, where the thermal decomposition of waste under controlled air flow produces syngas rich in CO and H₂. The syngas is treated to remove contaminants before powering a combined cycle. The PV system was designed for optimal energy generation, considering local solar radiation and shading effects. Simulation tools, including Aspen Plus v11.0, PVsyst v8, and HOMER Pro software 3.16.2, were used for modeling and optimization. The hybrid system generates 62 GWh/year of electricity, with the gasifier contributing 42 GWh/year, and the PV system contributing 20 GWh/year. This total energy output, sufficient to power 1186 households, demonstrates an integration mechanism that mitigates the intermittency of solar energy through continuous MSW gasification. However, the system lacks surplus electricity for green hydrogen production, given the region’s energy deficit. Economically, the system achieves a Levelized Cost of Energy of 0.1792 USD/kWh and a payback period of 16 years. This extended payback period is mainly due to the hydrogen production system, which has a low production rate and is not economically viable. When excluding H₂ production, the payback period is reduced to 11 years, making the hybrid system more attractive. Environmental benefits include a reduction in CO₂ emissions of 42,000 t/year from MSW gasification and 395 t/year from PV production, while also addressing waste management challenges. This study highlights the mechanisms behind hybrid system operation, emphasizing its role in reducing energy poverty, improving public health, and promoting sustainable development in Angola. Full article

Encouraging farmers to adopt pro-environmental practices for the management of rural solid waste is a sustainable solution that can prevent significant harm to rural residents. However, there is limited research focused on the pro-environmental behaviour of rural residents in relation to rural solid waste, and the determinants influencing it. To address this gap, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Guizhou Province, China, and 240 valid responses were collected. A regression equation for the determinants influencing pro-environmental behaviour was developed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26 software, and the model was cross-validated using partial least squares structural equation modelling analysis to ensure the reliability of the results. The data analysis shows that environmental commitment, subjective norms, and attitude are fundamental predictors of pro-environmental behaviour. Additionally, environmental knowledge and perceived ecological benefits are significant determinants of farmers’ environmental commitment, subjective norms, and attitude. This study presents practical and theoretical implications for farmers and local authorities, along with recommendations for improving the current situation of rural solid waste management and enhancing the pro-environmental behaviour of farming households. Full article

With the global emphasis on sustainable growth and development, the depletion of natural energy reserves due to reliance on fossil fuels and non-renewable sources remains a critical concern. Despite strides in transitioning to electrical mobility, rural and agricultural communities depend heavily on liquefied petroleum gas and firewood for cooking, lacking viable, sustainable alternatives. This study focuses on community-led efforts to advance biogas adoption, providing an eco-friendly and reliable energy alternative for rural and farming households. By designing and developing balloon-type anaerobic biodigesters, this initiative provides a robust, cost-effective, and scalable method to convert farm waste into biogas for household cooking. This approach reduces reliance on traditional fuels, mitigating deforestation and improving air quality, and generates organic biofertilizer as a byproduct, enhancing agricultural productivity through organic farming. The study focuses on optimizing critical parameters, including the input feed rate, gas production patterns, holding time, biodigester health, gas quality, and liquid manure yield. Statistical tools, such as descriptive analysis, regression analysis, and ANOVA, were employed to validate and predict biogas output data based on experimental and industrial-scale data. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were also utilized to model and predict outputs, inspired by the information processing mechanisms of biological neural systems. A comprehensive database was developed from experimental and literary data to enhance model accuracy. The results demonstrate significant improvements in cooking practices, health outcomes, economic stability, and solid waste management among beneficiaries. The integration of statistical analysis and ANN modeling validated the biodigester system’s effectiveness and scalability. This research highlights the potential to harness renewable energy to address socio-economic challenges in rural areas, paving the way for a sustainable, equitable future by fostering environmentally conscious practices, clean energy access, and enhanced agricultural productivity. Full article

Unmanaged waste can cause environmental pollution, as well as hygiene and health problems. Sitimulyo Piyungan Bantul at the coordinates of −7.86409, 110.42888 was established in 1994 and is the final waste repository area in Yogyakarta, and it is now completely closed; consequently, causing joblessness in the surrounding community. There are activities that can be undertaken to recycle waste such as managing rubbish. Waste can be divided into four categories scrapping, composting, and producing maggot food. However, unmanaged and useful waste, namely, inorganic and hazardous waste, remains a big problem. This research work aims to solve the problem by re-engineering and making an initial simulation using computational fluid dynamics of an incinerator to complete unmanaged inorganic and hazardous rubbish. The incinerator was produced to process non-organic solid and medical waste, which should be combusted at temperatures higher than 800 °C to reduce combustible rubbish that can no longer be recycled, and toxic chemicals, to kill bacteria and viruses. The main incinerator frame is made of an iron elbow. Construction of the incinerator is divided into the chamber, recirculation zone, and chimneys. The wall of the incinerator machine is made of refractory stone and insulators. To measure and control the temperature, thermocouples and a thermocontrol are placed at the inner wall of the incinerator machine. The function of the incinerator machine was tested, and it ran normally. Initial operation of an incinerator for solid hazardous waste such as infusion bottles, pets, glass bottles, pampers, and expired medicines was undertaken. The performance showed that the achieved temperature was 705 °C during the process of the operation, and all of the hazardous waste became ash and the recycled material became a paving block that is economically worthwhile. Hence, the incinerator can be operated as a household industrial tool for a solid medical waste processing apparatus. An initial computational study of the incinerator was also carried out briefly using the student version of commercial software. Full article

The sustainability of coastal environments is becoming a major issue in the face of constantly changing urban populations correlated with anthropogenic activities. As a result, in-depth knowledge is needed to assess the vulnerability of coastal areas in African cities faced with a profusion of solid waste. In Libreville and Lomé, the aim of the study was to carry out a systematic inventory of coastal macrowaste, and to break down and characterize the data collected at 12 sites and 6 sites, respectively. The methodological approach adopted combines documentary research, direct observations and characterization using the MODECOM tool (household waste characterization method) to reveal the widespread presence of macrowaste in the coastal areas of the two towns. With regard to the MODECOM method, the study is based specifically on the sorting of materials according to three granulometric fractions: >100 mm, between 20 and 100 mm, and <20 mm. In addition to the dimensions of the objects, the classification of solid waste according to its nature enabled thirteen (13) categories of macrowaste to be generated. The results show that the quantity of macrowaste inventoried in Libreville was 654.21 kg, while in Lomé the weight of waste collected was 510 kg. On the whole, the proliferation of solid waste is due to physical factors and human activities, especially economic activities and recreational activities, which increase the rate of production. In terms of sustainable material management, the results point to a prosperous future for the biodegradable, non-biodegradable and inert waste streams. Full article