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PubMed2003

Comparison of infectious waste management in European hospitals.

A research project sponsored by the EC-LIFE programme was conducted to compare waste management in five different European hospitals. A comparison of the regulations governing current waste management revealed different strategies for defining infectious hospital waste. The differences in the infrastructure were examined and the consequences for waste segregation and disposal were discussed under economic and ecological aspects. In this context the definition of infectious waste is very important.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2005

GIS supported solid waste management in coastal areas.

Planning of solid waste management (SWM) facilities in terrestrial as well as coastal areas addresses several situations, and requires considering numerous factors. This leads to large amounts of data and information that must be organized and analyzed. However, in many SWM systems, all of the relevant information cannot be managed properly due to insufficiencies in methods/tools and/or resources. To assist the solid waste decision making process, GIS-based decision support systems can be applied to deal with the multi-attribute and spatial nature of SWM systems. In this study, the application potential of GIS based decision support systems to functional elements of the SWM system are reviewed first. Then particular emphasis is given to landfill site selection. In this context, landfill siting process and key siting criteria were developed to incorporate the environmental, socio-political, engineering, and economic factors for an appropriate solution. To aid decision makers to determine landfill area requirements, an area estimation model, containing population projection and waste quantity forecasting modules, was developed in Visual Basic. Following the development of a graphical user interface, suitable areas for proposed landfill were determined in an IDRISI environment.

Decision Support Techniques↗
PubMed2003

Carbon balance in bioregenerative life support systems: some effects of system closure, waste management, and crop harvest index.

In Advanced Life Support (ALS) systems with bioregenerative components, plant photosynthesis would be used to produce O2 and food, while removing CO2. Much of the plant biomass would be inedible and hence must be considered in waste management. This waste could be oxidized (e.g., incinerated or aerobically digested) to resupply CO2 to the plants, but this would not be needed unless the system were highly closed with regard to food. For example, in a partially closed system where some of the food is grown and some is imported, CO2 from oxidized waste when combined with crew and microbial respiration could exceed the CO2 removal capability of the plants. Moreover, it would consume some O2 produced from photosynthesis that could have been used by the crew. For partially closed systems it would be more appropriate to store or find other uses for the inedible biomass and excess carbon, such as generating soils or growing woody plants (e.g., dwarf fruit trees). Regardless of system closure, high harvest crops (i.e., crops with a high edible to total biomass ratio) would increase food production per unit area and O2 yields for systems where waste biomass is oxidized to recycle CO2. Such interlinking effects between the plants and waste treatment strategies point out the importance of oxidizing only that amount of waste needed to optimize system performance.

Biomass↗
PubMed2006

A novel sustainable decision making model for municipal solid waste management.

This paper reviews several models developed to support decision making in municipal solid waste management (MSWM). The concepts underlying sustainable MSWM models can be divided into two categories: one incorporates social factors into decision making methods, and the other includes public participation in the decision-making process. The public is only apprised or takes part in discussion, and has little effect on decision making in most research efforts. Few studies have considered public participation in the decision-making process, and the methods have sought to strike a compromise between concerned criteria, not between stakeholders. However, the source of the conflict arises from the stakeholders' complex web of value. Such conflict affects the feasibility of implementing any decision. The purpose of this study is to develop a sustainable decision making model for MSWM to overcome these shortcomings. The proposed model combines multicriteria decision making (MCDM) and a consensus analysis model (CAM). The CAM is built up to aid in decision-making when MCDM methods are utilized and, subsequently, a novel sustainable decision making model for MSWM is developed. The main feature of CAM is the assessment of the degree of consensus between stakeholders for particular alternatives. A case study for food waste management in Taiwan is presented to demonstrate the practicality of this model.

Cities↗
PubMed2004

Assessment of performance of solid waste management contractors: a simple techno-social model and its application.

Despite being in operation for more than 7 years now, privatised solid waste management (SWM) service in Tanzania has not been formally assessed. This is the premise for the techno-social performance assessment model for SWM contractors, which is presented in this paper. This paper outlines the background of SWM privatisation in Dar es Salaam City in addition to describing and demonstrating the application of the assessment model. The model has three components: service beneficiaries' assessment sub-model, service area technical assessment sub-model, and contractors' attributes sub-model. The model can be used to assess the performance of SWM contractors and in so doing provide data for assessing SWM privatisation as a whole. In the application of the model presented in this paper scores for 5 assessed contractors are in the range 24-65%. The contractor who scored highest is also the most experienced and also the best equipped. Nevertheless, all contractors scored poorly with the respect to their ability and attributes in SWM mainly because most of them are new to the solid waste management field.

Contract Services↗
PubMed2006

Modeling of urban solid waste management system: the case of Dhaka city.

This paper presents a system dynamics computer model to predict solid waste generation, collection capacity and electricity generation from solid waste and to assess the needs for waste management of the urban city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Simulated results show that solid waste generation, collection capacity and electricity generation potential from solid waste increase with time. Population, uncleared waste, untreated waste, composite index and public concern are projected to increase with time for Dhaka city. Simulated results also show that increasing the budget for collection capacity alone does not improve environmental quality; rather an increased budget is required for both collection and treatment of solid wastes of Dhaka city. Finally, this model can be used as a computer laboratory for urban solid waste management (USWM) policy analysis.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed2005

Medical wastes management in the south of Brazil.

In developing countries, solid wastes have not received sufficient attention. In many countries, hazardous and medical wastes are still handled and disposed together with domestic wastes, thus creating a great health risk to municipal workers, the public and the environment. Medical waste management has been evaluated at the Vacacai river basin in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A total of 91 healthcare facilities, including hospitals (21), health centers (48) and clinical laboratories (22) were surveyed to provide information about the management, segregation, generation, storage and disposal of medical wastes. The results about management aspects indicate that practices in most healthcare facilities do not comply with the principles stated in Brazilian legislation. All facilities demonstrated a priority on segregation of infectious-biological wastes. Average generation rates of total and infectious-biological wastes in the hospitals were estimated to be 3.245 and 0.570 kg/bed-day, respectively.

Brazil↗
PubMed2003

Building waste management in Bulgaria: challenges and opportunities.

Building waste recycling as aggregates is a modern approach for preventing environmental pollution through both reducing the stocks of waste and decreasing the use of natural aggregates. The reuse of building waste is a relatively new issue for Bulgaria despite the existing considerable quantity of building waste and the significant changes in the environmental rules applied. The paper discusses generated and potential waste streams in Bulgaria in the context of the social and economic restructuring and recent urban development undergone by the country. The main preliminary conditions for developing the recycling activity such as: streams of building waste, experience in recycling, technical and environmental standardization, appropriate technologies, etc. are examined. The authors analyze current practice and research activities with regard to the implementation of advanced EU building-waste recycling methods. Conclusions are drawn about existing opportunities and the priorities of the needed building waste management strategy in the country.

Bulgaria↗
PubMed2006

Estimating the public preferences for solid waste management programmes using choice experiments in Macao.

This paper reports on the potential to apply the choice experiment method to understand the public's preferences for solid waste management programmes in Macao. A random sample survey of 260 respondents in Macao was conducted during the summer in 2004. The survey data was analysed using conditional multinomial logit models. The study results indicate that Macao residents prefer: (1) waste segregation and recycling at source; (2) noise reduction during waste collection and transportation and (3) lower garbage fees. The study concludes that choice experiment is a reliable tool in the analysis of respondents' preferences for developing a suitable solid waste management programme in Macao.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

IFRP: a hybrid interval-parameter fuzzy robust programming approach for waste management planning under uncertainty.

In this study, an interval-parameter fuzzy-robust programming (IFRP) model is developed and applied to the planning of solid waste management systems under uncertainty. As an extension of the existing fuzzy-robust programming and interval-parameter linear programming methods, the IFRP can explicitly address system uncertainties with complex presentations. Parameters in the IFRP model can be represented as interval numbers and/or fuzzy membership functions, such that the uncertainties can be directly communicated into the optimization process and resulting solution. Furthermore, highly uncertain information for the lower and upper bounds of interval parameters that exist due to the complexity of the real world can be effectively handled through introducing the concept of fuzzy boundary interval. Consequently, robustness of the optimization process and solution can be enhanced. Results of the case study indicate that useful solutions for planning municipal solid waste management practices can be generated. They reflect a compromise between optimality and stability of the study system. Willingness to pay higher costs will guarantee the system stability; however, a desire to reduce the costs will run the risk of potential instability of the system. The results also suggest that the proposed hybrid methodology is applicable to practical problems that are associated with highly complex and uncertain information.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1982

Hazardous waste management system; standards applicable to generators of hazardous waste; state program requirements. Environmental Protection Agency. Final rule.

On February 26, 1980 and May 19, 1980, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published regulations establishing a system to manage hazardous waste. Those regulations allowed hazardous waste generators to accumulate hazardous waste on-site without obtaining a permit or meeting financial responsibility requirements if they shipped the waste off-site within 90 days. On November 19, 1980, the Agency published an interim final rule which expanded the scope of the provision to include generators who treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste on-site. The final rule published today retains this change. As a result of public comments, the Agency is making several changes to the interim final rule. These changes (1) Clarify that the provision is applicable to all generators, including those who accumulate hazardous waste for the purpose of use, reuse, recycling and reclamation, (2) remove the requirement for use of DOT containers, (3) revise the labelling and marking requirements for wastes accumulated in containers and tanks; and (4) allow an extension to the 90-day accumulation limit in certain circumstances.

Refuse Disposal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Assessment of medical waste management in a Palestinian hospital].

We studied medical waste management in a Palestinian hospital in the West Bank and the role of municipality in this management. In general, "good management practices" were inadequate; there was insufficient separation between hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, an absence of necessary rules and regulations for the collection of wastes from the hospital wards and the on-site transport to a temporary storage location inside and outside the hospital and inadequate waste treatment and disposal of hospital wastes along with municipal garbage. Moreover, training of personnel was lacking and protective equipment and measures for staff were not available. No special landfills for hazardous wastes were found within the municipality.

Benchmarking↗
PubMed2005

Medical waste management in Jordan: a study at the King Hussein Medical Center.

As in many other developing countries, the generation of regulated medical waste (RMW) in Jordan has increased significantly over the last few decades. Despite the serious impacts of RMW on humans and the environment, only minor attention has been directed to its proper handling and disposal. This study was conducted in the form of a case study at one of Jordan's leading medical centers, namely, the King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC). Its purpose was to report on the current status of medical waste management at KHMC and propose possible measures to improve it. In general, it was found that the center's administration was reasonably aware of the importance of medical waste management and practiced some of the measures to adequately handle waste generated at the center. However, it was also found that significant voids were present that need to be addressed in the future including efficient segregation, the use of coded and colored bags, better handling and transfer means, and better monitoring and tracking techniques, as well as the need for training and awareness programs for the personnel.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed2005

From dumping to sanitary landfills--solid waste management in Israel.

To address the problem of solid waste in Israel, the Ministry of the Environment has formulated a policy based on integrated waste management. The policy calls for reduction of waste at source, reuse, recycling (including composting), waste-to-energy technologies, and landfilling. Due to the implementation of this policy, all the large dumps were closed, state-of-the art landfills were built, and recovery rates have increased from 3% in the beginning of the 1990s to almost 20% in 2003. More than 95% of the municipal solid waste is disposed and treated in an environmentally sound manner - in comparison to a mere 10% just a decade ago. The policy was implemented utilizing both enforcement and financial support ("stick and carrot" approach).

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2005

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and 'dioxin-like' PCBs in flue gas emissions from municipal waste management plants.

The aim of this work is to give representative data on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) from stack gas emissions of an urban solid waste management plant which has to comply with the limit of 0.1 ng I-TEQ/Nm3. In particular, the study is focused on 29 target compounds, the seventeen 2,3,7,8-PCDDs/Fs, four non-ortho PCBs and eight mono-ortho PCBs which configure so-called 'dioxin-like' PCBs (DL-PCBs). To this end, emission measurements were performed during one year over the three operating combustion lines in a selected waste management plant. In general, accurate methodology allowed characterizing all target compounds in almost all the samples analyzed. In addition, a typical pattern for DL-PCBs is reported. The pattern presented PCB #118 to be the highest, nevertheless the figures demonstrated DL-PCBs contribution to the total TEQ around 3% being PCB #126 the most important congener due to its TEF of 0.1. Finally, remarkable differences were achieved in comparison with both environmental and biological samples such as soils, sediments, human milk or fish since these matrices may present DL-PCB contribution to the total TEQ up to 77%.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2003

Strategies for waste management in small and medium towns of developing countries: a case study of India.

This paper evaluates the issues of waste management in small and medium towns (SMTs) (with population in the range of 10,000-100,000) of India, and identifies the need for a multi-disciplinary approach encompassing technological, economic and financial aspects of the issues to effect improvements. A comprehensive set of cross-disciplinary strategies is suggested to improve the prevailing conditions with environmentally appropriate, economically efficient and financially self-sustaining waste management services. Based on a case study of four SMTs in the State of Tamil Nadu in India, this paper evaluates the application of the suggested strategies and offers policy recommendations.

Cities↗
PubMed2003

A two-stage interval-stochastic programming model for waste management under uncertainty.

This study introduces a two-stage interval-stochastic programming (TISP) model for the planning of solid-waste management systems under uncertainty. The model is derived by incorporating the concept of two-stage stochastic programming within an interval-parameter optimization framework. The approach has the advantage that policy determined by the authorities, and uncertain information expressed as intervals and probability distributions, can be effectively communicated into the optimization processes and resulting solutions. In the modeling formulation, penalties are imposed when policies expressed as allowable waste-loading levels are violated. In its solution algorithm, the TISP model is converted into two deterministic submodels, which correspond to the lower and upper bounds for the desired objective-function value. Interval solutions, which are stable in the given decision space with associated levels of system-failure risk, can then be obtained by solving the two submodels sequentially. Two special characteristics of the proposed approach make it unique compared with other optimization techniques that deal with uncertainties. First, the TISP model provides a linkage to predefined policies determined by authorities that have to be respected when a modeling effort is undertaken; second, it furnishes the reflection of uncertainties presented as both probabilities and intervals. The developed model is applied to a hypothetical case study of regional solid-waste management. The results indicate that reasonable solutions have been generated. They provide desired waste-flow patterns with minimized system costs and maximized system feasibility. The solutions present as stable interval solutions with different risk levels in violating the waste-loading criterion and can be used for generating decision alternatives.

Environment↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of multifarious solid waste management systems--a goal programming approach.

Globally the waste management systems are becoming resource generative by incorporating energy and material recovery components in the systems. These systems are expected to meet several objectives and thus cannot be analysed effectively by optimising models using single objective like cost minimisation. To study the system's performance under varying priority structures of the conflicting objectives an interactive goal programming model of multi-objective planning of the system is proposed. The model is applied to visualise the system performance for a typical county region and accordingly its utility has been demonstrated. The application highlights the effect of change in priority structure on the extent of meeting the objectives. The proposed analytical tool facilitates the use of the model for tactical and strategical planning not only in developed countries like the UK but would provide better insight in developing energy and material recovery units in developing countries like India.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗