scholarly journals Biodegradability of Synthetic Plastics and Polymeric Materials: An Illusion or Reality in Waste Managements?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-27
Author(s):  
Ji-Dong Gu ◽  
◽  
Elizabeth Ka Wing Wu ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Phthalate Esters ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Polymeric Materials ◽  
Biodegradable Plastics ◽  
Management Problem ◽  
Light Weight ◽  
Biodegradation Rate ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting

Petroleum-based plastics are an indispensable part of our daily life now because they are flexible, convenient, light weight, waterproof, and also have good mechanical strength and economical. They are especially suitable in products packaging, but they accumulate in soils, rivers and oceans, resulting in undesirable environmental and ecological hazards. Conventional plastics wastes in landfills occupy a much higher proportion of space because of their light-weight and extremely low biodegradation rate under anaerobic conditions. Composting is a treatment process to deal with biodegradable plastics (BPs) wastes and diverts a fraction of the wastes from landfilling to provide a feasible solution to the waste management problem. Biodegradability and degradation rate of plastics products depend on the fundamental chemical characteristics of the specific plastics mainly while environmental conditions and the establishment of an active degrading population of microorganisms contribute to a small extent of the fate of plastics after disposal. As the biodegradation rate varies among different plastics, a group of testing methods are available for assessing the degradability of different plastics and their products. Plasticizers in plastics and polymeric materials deserve a special attention up on their dispersal and ecological impact because of their endocrine-disrupting activity. The widely used phthalate esters are biodegradable by indigenous microorganisms in the environments, but the large quantity of them used is a serious issue to the environment and ecological health. However, there is an apparent cost difference between biodegradable and synthetic plastics, which hinder the commercialization of biodegradable ones for daily use. Separation of waste collection and education can contribute to the plastic waste management. It is unrealistic that biodegradable plastics are the solution to the problems facing today’s society on waste management. The ultimate goal is to reduce the use by society members so that amount of waste generated can be reduced so that waste products can be reduced from the sources.

Community Based 3R Waste Management Strategy (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Bantas Village, Selemadeg Timur District, Tabanan Regency

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (09) ◽  
pp. 21041-21049 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Putu Sudana Satria Artha ◽  
Nyoman Utari Vipriyanti ◽  
I Putu Sujana
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Inorganic Waste

Garbage can be interpreted as a consequence of the activities of human life. It is undeniable, garbage will always be there as long as life activities continue to run. Every year, it can be ascertained that the volume of waste will always increase along with the increasing pattern of public consumerism. The landfill which is increasingly polluting the environment requires a technique and management to manage waste into something useful and of economic value, Bantas Village, Selemadeg Timur District, Tabanan Regency currently has a Waste Management Site (TPS3R) managed by Non-Governmental Organizations (KSM ) The source of waste comes from Households, Stalls, Restaurant Entrepreneurs, Schools, Offices and Ceremonies which are organic and inorganic waste. The waste management system at Bantas Lestari TPS with 3R system is Reduce (reduction of waste products starts from the source), Reuse (reuse for waste that can be reused) and Recycle (recycling waste) to date it is still running but not optimal. The method used in this research is descriptive quantitative with data analysis using SWOT analysis. This study produces a Waste Management Strategy which is the result of research from the management aspect, aspects of human resources and aspects of infrastructure facilities.

Environmental exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their role in endometriosis: a systematic literature review

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diksha Sirohi ◽  
Ruqaiya Al Ramadhani ◽  
Luke D. Knibbs
Keyword(s):  
Bisphenol A ◽  
Phthalate Esters ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Environmental Chemicals ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Organochlorinated Pesticides ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractPurposeEndocrine-related diseases and disorders are on the rise globally. Synthetically produced environmental chemicals (endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)) mimic hormones like oestrogen and alter signalling pathways. Endometriosis is an oestrogen-dependent condition, affecting 10–15% of women of the reproductive age, and has substantial impacts on the quality of life. The aetiology of endometriosis is believed to be multifactorial, ranging from genetic causes to immunologic dysfunction due to environmental exposure to EDCs. Hence, we undertook a systematic review and investigated the epidemiological evidence for an association between EDCs and the development of endometriosis. We also aimed to assess studies on the relationship between body concentration of EDCs and the severity of endometriosis.MethodFollowing PRISMA guidelines, a structured search of PubMed, Embase and Scopus was conducted (to July 2018). The included studies analysed the association between one or more EDCs and the prevalence of endometriosis. The types of EDCs, association and outcome, participant characteristics and confounding variables were extracted and analysed. Quality assessment was performed using standard criteria.ResultsIn total, 29 studies were included. Phthalate esters were positively associated with the prevalence of endometriosis. The majority (71%) of studies revealed a significant association between bisphenol A, organochlorinated environmental pollutants (dioxins, dioxin-like compounds, organochlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls) and the prevalence of endometriosis. A positive association between copper, chromium and prevalence of endometriosis was demonstrated in one study only. Cadmium, lead and mercury were not associated with the prevalence of endometriosis. There were conflicting results for the association between nickel and endometriosis. The relationship of EDCs and severity of endometriosis was not established in the studies.ConclusionWe found some evidence to suggest an association between phthalate esters, bisphenol A, organochlorinated environmental pollutants and the prevalence of endometriosis. Disentangling these exposures from various other factors that affect endometriosis is complex, but an important topic for further research.

scholarly journals Ways of Arising of Public Awareness and Educational Level in Solid Waste Management Sphere of St. Petersburg

2017 ◽  
pp. 407-411
Author(s):  
Maria Lyubarskaya
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste Management ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Innovation Activity ◽  
Professional Skill ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
The Given ◽  
And Training

Whereas solid waste products influence deterioration of the environment and reduce quality of human life, intensification of activity on creation the effective solid waste management (SWM) system is necessary. In the usual conditions of management there is a necessity of application of the integrated approach allowing comprehensively to evaluate usual situation in the sphere of SWM and to find the most rational solutions. It demands significant improvement of the system of education, training and improvement of professional skill of technicians and managers for the given sphere. Use of experience of the Nordic countries in the field of scientific and practical researches on the given problem and in the organization of education and training specialists, will assist to the achievement of the object and solving the connected problems. For Elaborating of Educational course on Solid Waste Management for students of Saint Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics the following methods was used:- Revealing of problems in the SWM sphere in St Petersburg – organizational, legislative, technical, technological, psychological, informational, educational and environmental;- Studying of the experience of the organizational charts for the SWM in big and small citiesof adjacent Nordic countries, realization of the SWOT-analysis and benchmarking ofoperating of these systems;- Development of measures on improving organizational, economic and legal principles of SWM, on stimulation of innovation activity for attraction modern engineering andtechnologies, and also on radical improvement of education and training for improving professional skill of personnel for this sector of economy.

scholarly journals Dental laboratory waste management in respect of reusing and recycling in KwaZulu-Natal

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Yonela Ngombane
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Poor Understanding ◽  
Laboratory Waste ◽  
Waste Management Practices ◽  
Dental Technology

This qualitative study explored the management of waste in commercial and training dental laboratories in order to determine the practices and attitudes of dental technology practitioners and academics towards reusing and recycling dental laboratory waste products, and alert them to the benefits of waste management on the environment. The research objectives were to establish and report on the extent of waste management that entails waste reduction through reusing and recycling, to uncover alternative uses for dental laboratory waste and the possible economic benefits thereof and to influence dental technology industry on environmental sustainability. The research project was conducted in the interpretive paradigm. In the course of this study dental laboratory owners, dental technicians/technologists and academics from the dental technology programme at a training institution were interviewed. Waste handling in dental laboratories was observed in order to gain greater insight as to current practices in laboratories. Thematic content analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data. This study found that waste management was poorly understood and practiced amongst the dental laboratory owners, dental technicians/technologists and academics. The study adopted a waste management hierarchy conceptual framework which was influenced by the Waste Act (Act No. 59 of 2008). The negative attitudes towards responsible waste management practices and the poor understanding of waste management by dental laboratory owners, dental technicians/technologists were found to be as a result of the poor understanding of the possible impact that waste from dental laboratories can impose on the environment. The perceived lack of participation in constructive waste management legislation by the South African Dental Technicians Council was also seen to be a contributing factor to the negative attitudes towards responsible waste management practices within the industry. This finding reinforced the finding that the dental industry has no knowledge, understanding and desire to understand waste management and, more importantly, to understand that one does not practice things solely for legislative reasons but that there are economic as well as environmental reasons to practice constructive waste management. On the other hand, this study found that the industry was not averse to engaging in environmental friendly practices provided there is financial gain. This was established after the benefits of waste management practices were explained to the industry.

scholarly journals Production of Light Weight Blocks Using Rice Husk

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-30
Author(s):  
C. U. Okpoechi ◽  
C. A. Emma-Ochu ◽  
L. C. Ibemere ◽  
P. Ibe ◽  
E. O. Onwuka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rice Husk ◽  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Waste Product ◽  
Housing Construction ◽  
Management Problem ◽  
Solid Core ◽  
Structural Walls ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Wide Range

Affordable housing has remained a major challenge in Nigeria, as housing costs have continued to rise beyond the reach of the low income population. This paper explores the use of waste products like rice husk as alternative materials for housing construction. Rice husk is abundant as a waste product in areas where rice is processed commercially in Southeast Nigeria. The aim of the study is to create rice husk blocks that are cheap, lightweight, and appropriate for use in low income housing construction. The study was conducted through experimentation in the Building Technology workshop of Federal Polytechnic Nekede. A series of trial mixes were done involving a wide range of materials and mix proportions. Rice husk, Portland cement, and cassava starch, were found to be the most appropriate components for the blocks. The blocks produced were of good appearance, and lightweight. Five samples of solid core blocks measuring 150x150x150mm were tested in Strength of Materials laboratory of the Federal University of Technology Owerri. The average compressive strength of the blocks was 0.26N/mm2, which is below the Nigerian Industrial Standard NIS 87:2007. The blocks produced were considered appropriate for use as non-load bearing partitions and not structural walls. The result of the study is promising because the rice husk blocks help address the waste management problem in affected areas, and could also be an important component of a potentially useful material. This paper recommends further research in the area of improving the strength of the blocks, to make them usable as structural components in low rise buildings.

scholarly journals Material Flow Analysis and Resource Recovery Potential Analysis of Selected Fruit, Vegetable and Nut Waste in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven De Meester ◽  
Benson Dulo ◽  
John Githaiga ◽  
Katleen Raes
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Management Problem ◽  
Waste Collection ◽  
Waste Streams ◽  
Total Potential ◽  
Recovery Potential ◽  
Current Usage

Abstract In Kenya, agriculture is an important economic activity, which implies that a significant amount of bio-waste is generated. This is on one hand a waste management problem, but on the other hand, it is an opportunity for creating a sustainable bioeconomy. Therefore, this study investigates the potential recovery of bioresources from Kenyan bio-waste. The study first quantifies occurrence, current usage and disposal of three selected biomass types, being banana, potato and coconut waste. Next, material flow analysis (MFA) is used to systematically track the mass flow of these wastes. Finally, the potential of biomolecules, biomaterials and bioenergy from the waste streams is evaluated. The study revealed that 6007, 426 and 49.5 kt of banana, potato and coconut biomass is wasted. All these wastes can be biorefined, offering potential towards recovery of; flavonoids (88.3 kt), starch (377 kt), cellulose (2000.7 kt) and biogas (1757.0 GWh), being the total potential of the main bioresources from the three waste streams. The study therefore, concluded that, with proper waste collection, sorting and valorisation, there is a huge potential for bioeconomy in Kenya, at the same time reducing waste management problems.

To Be Black, Excess, and Nonrecyclable

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Jones
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Black People ◽  
African Descent ◽  
Management Problem ◽  
Black Lives Matter ◽  
Black Bodies ◽  
Do So ◽  
People Today

One way of understanding the white man’s burden is as a waste management problem. The White West abjected Africans and people of African descent, thereby enacting and enabling their perception and treatment as a form of waste. The value of black waste to white Western economies is discernable in the metaphysics of a white imaginary of black abjection. It is necessary to elucidate that metaphysics, which reveals the structure of a humanist discourse that imagines black bodies as alienated from language, and the degradation entailed by such alienation. For example, when Africana people today chant “Black lives matter,” they do so against the historical perception and treatment of black people as waste.

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