Waste Management: impact and solution
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Transcript of Waste Management: impact and solution
University of Nicosia
MA Architecture
Ecological Design within the Built Environment (ARCH‐513)
Anna Papadopoulou / Petros Lapithis
Waste Management: impact and solution
Maria Georgiou: U104N0175
Context
Abstract
Introduction
Chapter 1: Waste generation
I. Municipal waste
II. Industrial waste
III. Hazardous waste
IV. Construction and demolition waste
V. Mining waste
VI. waste from electrical and electronic equipment
VII. biodegradable municipal waste
VIII. packaging waste
IX. Agricultural waste
X. end‐of‐life vehicles and tyres
Chapter 2: Impact of waste
Chapter 3: The case of Cyprus
i. Cypriot Legislation
ii. Projects and studies for solid waste management
Chapter 4: Innovative waste management: the case study of Hammarby Sjöstad
Conclusion
References
Appendix
A. Landfills
B. Waste incinerators
C. Mechanical – Biological Treatment (MBT)
D. Composting
E. Anaerobic digestion (AD)
F. Recycling
Abstract
This paper is about waste and waste management. The purpose of this paper is to address the
problem of impact that the waste and their management cause to the environmental quality and on
public health and also to inform the public and to raise awareness. It is very important to understand
the crucial situation around the waste sector in order to be able to deal with and contribute to a
common effort to proper waste management and giving the opportunity to live in a healthier
environment that will lead to prosperity and wellbeing.
Introduction
Waste is part of our everyday life, buy an item which is subsequently consider it useless and is
thrown away .The number of waste has increased dramatically in recent years. Studies attribute the
increased production of garbage in contemporary lifestyle of people. The high living standards drive
people to buy more, the upgrading in technology, the wide array of materials and objects in the
market, low cost and design items with a short lifespan, produce larger quantities of waste.
Everything you buy, sooner or later become waste. Think for a moment, how the world would be if
all these wastes tend not proper management? What problems can cause? The growing number of
waste and its management is one of the major problems plaguing our world today causing serious
problems to the environment and human health.
Chapter 1: Waste generation
According to European legislation ‘Waste’ is defined “as any substance or object which the holder
discards or intends to or is required to discard”.
There are ten categorization of waste according European Environment agency:
a. Municipal waste that including household and commercial. Waste that generally generated
by households, commercial activities or from other source with similar activities that
produce materials such as paper, cardboard, metals, textiles, organics (food and garden
waste) and wood.
b. Industrial waste including manufacturing are waste comprises many different waste flows
derived from a wide variety of industrial processes. This category includes the production of
basic metals, tobacco, wood and wood products and paper and paper products and more.
c. According to US environmental protection agency (2013) hazardous waste is waste material
characterized by ignitability (D001), corrosivity (D002), reactivity (D003), and toxicity (D004 ‐
D043) as defined by in 40 CFR Part 261 Subpart C Code of Federal Regulations. Hazardous
waste results from a broad spectrum of different sources, such as households, various
commercial activities but also by the industry of hazardous waste. The hazardous wastes
tend to different treatment than other non‐hazardous waste.
d. Construction and demolition waste have to do with the construction sector such as the
construction or maintenance or demolition of various infrastructures such as buildings and
roads. Materials subject to this category is concrete, glass, brick, metals, wood, plastics,
asbestos, solvents and others.
e. Mining waste includes waste from the processing of ore, waste rock, overburden, that is the
result of processing, mining of minerals.
f. Another waste category is the waste from electrical and electronic equipment known as
WEEE. In this sector is waste from electrical and electronic equipment and appliances such
as television set, washing machines etc. These wastes come from sources as household,
commercial and industrial sector.
g. Food waste and garden waste, paper and cardboard come from domestic sources but also
from several commercial activity classified as biodegradable municipal waste since these
materials can undergo biological decomposition.
h. Any material which can be used to contain, handle, protect, deliver and present goods such
as aluminium cans, glass bottles, food containers, plastic containers etc. classified as
packaging waste.
i. Agricultural waste is wastes from agriculture sector where classified materials such as
pesticides, machinery or even organic waste.
j. The last categorization of waste is the end‐of‐life vehicles and tyres that addressed only to
vehicles that have exceeded their life span.
The increase in waste directly related to population growth as well as urbanization.
Worldwide it is estimated that generated 1.3 billion waste tons per year that will be reach at 2.2
billion tonnes per year until 2025 according Daniel Hoornweg and Perinaz Bhada‐Tata (2012). Based
on statistics according Karin Blumenthal published on 2011 showed that Europe from 1995 to 2002
from approximately 490 Kilogram of waste per capita increase to 520 kg per capita, and from 2002
until 2009 decrease to 510 kg per capita.
The waste generation numbers vary by country, region, urban population and income level. For
example, data during 2012 shows that Africa region with 260 million of urban population generated
0.65 Kg/capita/day that total produce 169,119 tonnes per day. Although Europe and Central Asia
region with urban population 227 million, generates 1.1 kg/capita/day that total produce 254,389
tonnes per day.
Chapter 2: Impact of waste
Both waste disposal and waste treatment can have negative effects on both the quality of the
environment and human health. Waste adversely affect the area in which are deposited or process
contaminating the air, water and soil until their complete decomposition. The duration for the
complete decomposition of a material vary depending material and its composition. For example,
the plastic needs about 1000 years to decompose while the paper 2‐6 weeks. Furthermore
decomposition of aluminium lasts 80‐200 years in contrast to glass not decomposed at all. During
decompose emitted into the atmosphere methane and carbon dioxide gases that responsible for
global warming (International Environmental Technology Centre 2010). In addition, according to
Ken Geiser (2002) toxic waste containing mercury, lead etc. when are land disposed constitutes
extreme risk for the environment and humans. Τhe toxic liquid, contained in products, during
decomposition distributed the environment through air emissions or absorbed into the soil infecting
the land and thus infect any crops that are consumed by humans. Also toxic liquid through the soil
can reach groundwater causing serious infections.
Waste management practices
On 2007 in Rome a workshop held by the World Health Organization in order to discuss the
adverse effects to health and well being caused by the environmental exposure to waste, the
landfills and the waste incinerators. Expert from different fields like epidemiology, environmental
science and public health based on stydies and evidence discuss the problems.
Table 1. Routes of exposure in the nearby residents and in the general population
Population health and waste management: scientific data and policy options, Report of a WHO workshop Rome, Italy, 29–30 March 2007, World Health Organization 2007 The above table shows potential routes of exposure in the nearby residents of landfills in the general population. Some of the adverse health effects are breathing polluted gas by the emission of waste as well as the ingestion of contaminated water or food contaminated through the air water or soil. Through studies observe that people live near landfills stated that noticed symptoms as fatigue, sleepiness or headaches. Scientific evidence shows that the health risk of people live near of areas near landfills can cause low birth weight, birth defect and several type of cancer.
People lived near incinerators are exposed to high risk due to exposure to chemicals, polluted air, water and soil. Scientific evidence shows that population near those plants especially those that operate without the specific regulations increased the risk to affect among other by cancer or dioxin levels in blood.
Chapter 3: The Case of Cyprus
Although Cyprus is an extremely small part of the European Union measurements recorded on
waste exceeds greatly the EU average. According to Baka from 2001 until 2010 there is an increase
in the number of waste is at least 25%, with a dramatic increase over the period of 2009. The
number of waste generation from 669 kg per capita that record during the period 2001, up to 2010
reached to 760 kg per capita as estimated by the Eurostat.
Source: Eurostat (online data code: env_wasmun)
Solid waste in Cyprus is classified into 3 categories, municipal solid waste, industrial waste and other
types of solid waste. Surveys made in 1993 indicate that the annual quantity of solid waste per
capita in urban areas amounts to 468 kg, while in tourist areas 670 kg, figuring that a rate of 7% is
due to the tourist activity of the island, percentage which estimated to reach up to 20% during this
year.
Cypriot Legislation
The entry of Cyprus to the EU inevitably affects the field of environmental protection and arrested
in the creation and development of relevant legislation. The Republic of Cyprus to align its legislation
of the European Acquis has proceeded to establish relevant laws with the best possible management
of waste and consequently the protection of the environment.
In 2003 were issued "The Solid and Hazardous Waste Regulations" (Law 562/2003) in order to
harmonize the Cyprus legislation with the council directive 99/31/EC on the landfill of waste. As by
definition of the law is clear that the above regulations regulate the procedures and any issues that
arise on the landfilling of waste in order to reduce the negative environmental impact.
In 2011 the Waste Law was enacted for the Cypriot legislation harmonization with multitude
European directives and regulations. The scope of this law is broader since it is not limited to landfill
sites but more generally regulates the handling of waste by “adopting measures to protect the
environment and human health by preventing or reducing the adverse impacts of the generation
and management of waste and reducing the overall impact of resource use and improving their
efficiency” (N.185 (I)/2011 the Waste Law of 2011).
The Republic of Cyprus in 2002 adopted the Law on Packaging and Packaging Waste Law
(Directive 94/62 / EC). The law aims to reduce the impact caused by waste (packaging) into the
environment through the "adoption of measures for the management of packaging and other
products in order to re‐use and recovery of waste."
Projects and studies for solid waste management
In Cyprus, the solid waste management sector falls its competence of the Minister of Interior. The
minister follows a strategic planning in terms of waste management based on the above legislations.
Until recently more than 80% of waste ended to uncontrolled waste disposal sites, since was the
main way for the treatment and management of waste on the island, due to the lack of adequate
and appropriate facilities.
Source: Eurostat (online data code: env_wasmun)
Now according Ministy of Interior website (2015) have been constructed and operated an integrated
waste management facility for domestic solid waste of Larnaca and Famagusta, transit hub in
Skarinou to serve the greater area of Larnaca. In Paphos has also constructed a transit station in
Chrysochou to serve the wider region as also the first space which landfill meets the standards as
defined by the law.
At this stage there are a number of projects under study for the creation of integrated unit of Nicosia
waste management facilities, rehabilitation facilities uncontrolled disposal of Larnaca, Famagusta
and Paphos and manufacture green point network in Cyprus.
Recycling
The recycling sector in Cyprus is based on non‐governmental organizations. In 2006 with the
foundation of Green Dot Cyprus began efforts to inform and sensitize the public and promote
recycling. During the last ten years in the field of recycling observed slow but steady increase. The
recycling sector in Cyprus is only addressed to materials such as glass, paper, plastic and aluminium.
The competent authority has proceeded to a separate collection of materials into separate
containers in order to ensure the best quality of the new product.
Together with the Green Dot Cyprus Ltd have also licensed additional 3 companies, WEEE ‐
Electrocyclosis Ltd for electrical and electronic waste, the AFIS Ltd for batteries and latterly the RTM
for waste tires, that collect and export waste directly in units abroad because of the lack of proper
installation in Cyprus.
Chapter 4: Innovative waste management: the case study of Hammarby Sjöstad
Waste is an integral part of our society and particularly in our contemporary life . Waste
generation and the continuous growing number should be directly addressed by taking measures for
the handling and its treatment in order to reduce and control the environmental and health
problems that causes. Methods of waste management prevailing today as landfilled, incinerated and
recycling should be the basis for evolution and innovative ideas. The urban environment facing the
most acute problems because of increased populations. The waste sector should be part of city
infrastructure and planning such as mobility and natural environment in order to develop a city that
is functional and sustainable.
The Hammarby Sjöstad project is an example of a contemporary and innovative sustainable urban
design of the Hammaby Sjöstad district in Stockholm, Sweden. This environmental project started in
2004 and expected to be completed in 2016. The comprehensive planning of the project covers a
wide range of fields such as environment, transportation, waste, hygienic etc. The “Hammarby
Model” has it own eco – cycle of energy, waste, water and sewage. The planning of the city improves
the urban services system, the infrastructure developed and connect the city with Stockholm Water
Company, the energy Company Fortnum and the Stockholm waste management administration
(Eco2 Cities 2009).
Waste management is a crucial part of the city planning consisting of a high efficient automated
underground waste collection and transportation system that covers the hole area.
There are two Envac waste system types the stationary system and the the mobile system. The
stationary system consists of a system of underground pipes transporting waste to the collection
point outside of the city for easy access of special vehicles that transfer waste to recycling, landfill or
incineration. The transport of waste within in the pipelines controled through computers and is done
with the use of air, which before release to the atmosphere filtered and purified. On the other hand
the mobile system is particularly suitable for small residential areas and existing old buildings.
Waste and end up being stored for a short time in underground tanks. The storage tanks are
interconnected by a network of underground pipes that leads at connection points of extraction of
waste by special vehicles. The connection points are located in specific places to avoid access of
vehicles in courtyards and narrow streets (Envac quide). Due to its central position in gardens,
courtyards and playgrounds the units designed to be attractive.
The stationary system
The mobile system
Source: Envac (http://www.envacgroup.com/)
The waste management system addresses three streams combustible waste, organic waste and
newspaper. Combustible waste collected and transported to a plant where after the incineration
and recycling is used as heating and electricity. Organic waste collected and transported for
composting and their conversion into biogas and bio‐fertilizers. Aditionaly, newspapers are recycled
and converted into new paper.
The project provide to the community a practical waste system which aim the waste reduction,
the restricted use of special vehicles in order to reduce exhaust and carbon dioxide emissions, easy
separation of materials for recycle, landfill or incineration. The Hammarby Sjöstad project is an
international model of intefrated planning of sustainable development with the ultimate purpose to
improve the quality of life creating a clean residential environment.
Conclusion
The waste will not stop producing so will continue to be a key problem for the environment and
health. There are however ways of addressing and minimize the impact through innovative ideas
and practices, information and awareness of people achieving “In 2050, we live well, within the
planet’s ecological limits. Our prosperity and healthy environment stem from an innovative, circular
economy where nothing is wasted and where natural resources are managed sustainably, and
biodiversity is protected, valued and restored in ways that enhance our society’s resilience. Our low‐
carbon growth has long been decoupled from resource use, setting the pace for a safe and
sustainable global society." (DECISION No 1386/2013/EU)
Appendix
Appendix A ‐ Landfills
Landfills definition by cambridge dictionary is “the process of
getting rid of large amounts of rubbish by burying it, or a place where rubbish is buried”. The landfills
should be limited and the least preferred option because through the years and the evolution of
technology have invented various ways for managing and processing of garbage. In case that landfill
needed for specific materials have to meet the stringent technical specifications that European
Union has set of Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste that make landfills more “friendly” to
the environment and human by reducing the negative impact and controlled the polution on water,
soil, air and groundwater.
Appendix B ‐ Waste incinerators
The second way of waste treatment is the waste incinerators. This solution aim to controlled and
reduce the waste volume and height of garbage mountains by the combustion of waste. This metod
started at late of nineteenth century and the first incinerator called “Destructor” was found in UK,
Machester. The old technology that used on this laboratories cause the several impact due to the
uncontrolled emmission to the atmosphere of inorganic emissions include water (vapour), carbon
oxide(CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) etc, or organic emissions include VOC etc. The incinerators
nowadays also placed under strict EU standards with great improvement in the way the plants.
Appendix C ‐ Mechanical – Biological Treatment (MBT)
The mechanical‐biological treatment refers mainly to textiles, plastics and metals. The specific
treatment is a step before landfilling that aims the reduction of methane emission. The processing
includes sorting of waste through a series of mechanical and biological treatment in order to remove
non‐biodegradable components, reduce the volume and and then composted – landfilling.
Appendix D ‐ Composting
Composting is the process of anaerobic degradation of the waste. Addressed exclusively on organic
materials, food and garden waste, vegetable and fruit waste. The composting process can be done in
factories for large quantities, or even at home since it is not necessary specialized equipment. The
completion of the composting can last from weeks to months. After the procedure the composted
material can be used as top soil, soil improver in gardens or agricultural, horticultural development
as substrate as a natural fertilizer, thus avoiding harmful fertilizers that finding in the market.
Appendix E ‐ Anaerobic digestion (AD)
Another biological waste treatment is the anaerobic digestion (AD). The procedure is based
in the complete absence of air due to the sealed vessels that place in order to
decomposition the waste. The process converts biodegradable waste to a biogas containing
methane and carbon dioxide that can use as a fuel. The AD treatment, treated animal waste,
food and garden waste and even a small percentage of paper.
Appendix F ‐ Recycling
Recycling is a series of actions such as collection of materials described above and by their
separation. Then each material tends separate processing to create a new product.
Materials that can be recycled are paper (newspapers, magazines, cardboard), glass, plastic,
aluminium, metal, wood.
References
Journals:
1. Bakas, I. (2013) Municipal waste management in Cyprus. Copenhagen Resource Institute
2. European Union. Methodologies & Working papers. (2013) Manual on waste statistics: A handbook for data collection on waste generation and treatment
3. Hoornweh, D and Bhada‐Tata. (2012) P. What a Waste: a global review of Solid Waste
Management. No.15 .World Bank.
4. International Environmental Technology Centre. (2010) Waste and Climate Change: Global
trends and strategy framework
5. Report of a WHO workshop Rome. (2007) Population health and waste management:
scientific data and policy options. World Health Organization
6. Smith, A., Brown, K., Ogilvie, S., Rushton, K & Bates, J. (2001) Waste Management Options
and Climate Change. European Commission, Issue 1.1
7. Suzuki, H., Dastur, A., Moffatt, S. and Yabuki, N. (2009). Eco2 Cities: Ecological Cities as
Economic Cities. The World Bank
Books:
Geiser, K. (2002) Source reduction: Quantity and toxicity Part 6b Toxicity reduction. In
Tchobanoglous, G and Kreith, F. Handbook of solid waste management. 2nd edit. McGRAW‐HILL
Websites:
1. Code of Federal Regulations. (2012) Available from:< http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR‐
2012‐title40‐vol27/xml/CFR‐2012‐title40‐vol27‐part261‐subpartC.xml >. [Accessed 14/4/2015]
2. European topic centre on sustainable consumption and production. (2013) Available from :<
http://scp.eionet.europa.eu/themes/waste/#1>. [Accessed 17/5/2015]
3. Ministry of Interior. (2015) Available from:<
http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/moi.nsf/All/0D906373A3A74AC9C2257A98002FC82B>.[Accessed 8/5/2015]
4. US environmental protection agency. (2013) Available from :
< http://www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/wastetypes/characteristic.htm >. [Accessed 6/5/2015]