Search Results (1,323)

Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration projects often trigger “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) conflicts, which pose persistent crises to social development and sustainable governance. This study introduces a novel “reputation–interest” space model grounded in scenario–response theory to reframe NIMBY conflicts as processes of crisis transformation. We construct a multi-stakeholder indicator system and propose a crisis resilience degree model to capture both the risks and opportunities embedded in conflict dynamics. The application object is a waste incineration project in Hangzhou, China. The analysis reveals how NIMBY conflict can evolve from strong resistance to a neighbor–benefit effect. Empirical results show that the crisis resilience degree of the project evolved from 37.26% to 89.26%, from the initial strong resistance of the residents to the successful in situ landing, which improved the crisis resilience, recovering resilience from the crisis. The results provide actionable insights for policymakers to turn NIMBY conflicts into drivers of social trust and sustainable urban transformation. Full article

The leather industry produces a substantial amount of solid waste, which is frequently disposed of via incineration or landfilling. While hydrolysis offers a valuable and sustainable method to chemically recycle leather waste, both acidic and alkaline processes present challenges due to the salts produced during neutralization. This study aims to upcycle leather scraps through hydrolysis, producing a powdered filler for versatile composites suitable for both LCD vat photopolymerization and Direct Ink Writing 3D printing technologies. A zero-waste hydrolysis process was adopted using sulfuric acid neutralized with calcium hydroxide, achieving a yield of 91.3%. The composites featured a matrix composed of polyethylene-glycol-diacrylate and glycerol dimethacrylate, with embedded leather hydrolysate powder at concentrations up to 20% w/w_matrix. Tensile tests conducted on neat resin and composites demonstrated the strengthening effect of leather hydrolysate filler. Additionally, rheological tests displayed a viscoelastic behavior suitable for the adopted 3D printing technologies. The composites were successfully 3D-printed using both Direct Ink Writing and vat photopolymerization techniques, showing promising printing accuracy. This work demonstrates the potential of valorizing leather waste, upcycled via a hydrolysis method, to produce composites suitable for additive manufacturing to advance the sustainability and the circularity of the fashion sector. Full article

This paper reviews various emerging alternative SCMs derived from minerals and biomass sources, industrial byproducts, and underutilized waste streams. The paper compiles and evaluates physicochemical properties, reaction mechanisms in cementitious systems, resource availability, supply chain dynamics, technology readiness, the impact on concrete performance, and environmental and cost factors for each candidate SCM. Specifically, the review examines wood ash from bioenergy plants, volcanic and sedimentary natural pozzolans, and construction and demolition waste. This includes recycled concrete fines, asphalt plants’ rock dust (baghouse fines), aggregate production fines, and post-consumer waste, particularly municipal solid waste incinerator ash and wastewater sludge ash. Additionally, the paper explores innovative additives such as cellulose and chitin nanomaterials and calcium–silicate–hydrate nanoseeds to address challenges of slower strength development and rheological changes. The key contribution of this review is a multifactor framework for assessing alternative SCMs, emphasizing availability, supply chain, market readiness, and environmental performance, combined with an engineering performance review. Full article

The photoreforming of plastics into fuel and small organic molecules at ambient temperature presents a sustainable alternative to landfills and incineration. However, most existing photocatalysts depend on noble or toxic metals, limiting their environmental compatibility. Here, we present a non-toxic, eco-friendly Cu-doped ZnS photocatalyst synthesized via a simple one-pot wet chemical method for efficient plastic waste conversion in an alkaline solution. This earth-abundant catalyst exhibits broad visible light absorption and exceptional charge transfer efficiency, enabling high photocatalytic activity. By optimizing Cu doping levels, we achieve a promising H₂ generation rate of 201.5 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹. We elucidate the photoreforming mechanism, paving the way for scalable and sustainable plastic upcycling. Full article

As landfill mining becomes more widely applied, growing attention is being paid to the waste-to-energy conversion of landfill waste. Co-disposal of landfill waste with municipal solid waste represents one of the primary strategies for achieving energy recovery of landfill waste. In this paper, the emission characteristics of pollutants were systematically analyzed during the co-disposal of landfill waste and municipal solid waste in a full-scale municipal solid waste incineration. The study investigated the formation patterns of toxic PCDD/Fs and gaseous pollutants under different co-disposal ratios of landfill waste (0%, 15%, 25%, 35%, and 45%). In total, 136 PCDD/Fs were analyzed to investigate the influence of co-disposal ratios on PCDD/F formation in both flue gas and fly ash. The influence of varying co-disposal ratios on the phase and elemental composition of fly ash was also investigated. Co-disposal led to a significant reduction in the toxic PCDD/F concentration at the boiler outlet, mainly attributed to the higher sulfur content of LW compared to MSW. With increasing co-disposal ratios, the annual emission amounts of toxic PCDD/Fs in fly ash significantly increased. The ∑PCDD/∑PCDF ratio in both flue gas of boiler outlet and fly ash also increased, indicating an enhancement of the precursor formation pathway, while the de novo synthesis pathway was relatively suppressed. The fly ash exhibited a high proportion of highly chlorinated dioxins (degree of chlorination: 7.19–7.23), likely due to their low saturated vapor pressure. According to the Hagenmaier congener distribution, high co-disposal ratios (25–45%) suppressed the chlorination of DD/DF in fly ash but promoted the formation of gas-phase PCDFs. Different co-disposal ratios significantly influenced both the emission concentrations and removal efficiencies of air pollutants, including NOx, SO₂, and HCl. Although co-disposal did not alter the crystalline phase composition of fly ash, it led to an increased content of heavy metals such as Cu, Hg, and Pb. Full article

In this research work, five different types of post-consumer plastics were mechanically ground into fine aggregate, and each type was used to prepare 2 in. (50 mm) mortar cubes by partial volumetric replacement of the sand. The purpose is to evaluate the effect of the plastic type and its shape on the density and the compressive strength of concrete. The plastic products used in this study are usually not collected by curbside recycling facilities and are discarded in landfills or incinerated. The different types of plastics investigated were Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). A total of 180 cubes with 5%, 10%, and 15% replacement were prepared and tested for their densities at the age of 28 days and their compressive strengths at the ages of 7 and 28 days. This work concluded by proposing general equations to predict the reduction in the density and compressive strength of the mortar with the increment in the plastic replacement. Full article

Solid waste for incineration and wastewater from the country’s largest city, Mexico City (CDMX), is transported to the southern region of Valle del Mezquital (MV). This area also hosts an oil refinery, a thermoelectric plant (PEMEX-CFE), cement factories, industrial corridors, and mining operations, all of which harm environmental and public health. From a Political Ecology (PE) perspective, we examine the mechanisms of accumulation, emphasizing the allocation of property titles and the extraction of rent as an environmental reservoir. We also explore the power of socio-environmental movements to provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental conflict. Based on economic power structures, we identify a geopolitical configuration that deepens the spatial divisions between labor in the MV and consumption in CDMX, exacerbating health disparities. We conclude that an unequal geography has been built that has produced capitalist and rentier landowners who are exempt from the externalities that have produced a sacrifice zone. The Mexican State is a key stakeholder, collaborating with the industrial elite in both legal and illegal spheres. Within this sacrifice zone, the inhabitants of the MV have resisted pollution and industrial accidents for over 50 years. Despite publicizing their struggle internationally and collaborating with academics, members of the movement have been assassinated. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a global concern due to their persistence, ubiquity, and accumulation in living organisms. Found in soils, biosolids, water, and the food chain, they pose health risks such as hormone disruption, immune damage, reproductive issues, and cancer. Regulations mainly target older PFAS like PFOA and PFOS, while many newer PFAS, including breakdown products, are poorly understood in terms of distribution, behavior, and toxicity. To address this complex issue, this review offers a detailed overview of human exposure to PFAS and their toxic effects. It highlights biosolids as a key, understudied source of PFAS in the environment. The review also discusses limitations of testing, missing long-term cleanup data, and regulatory issues that neglect total exposure and vulnerable populations. Additionally, it evaluates, in the specific context of biosolids management, the effectiveness, scalability, benefits, and drawbacks of various treatment technologies, such as thermal processes (pyrolysis, incineration, smoldering combustion), advanced oxidation, adsorption, hydrothermal liquefaction, and biological degradation. This work combines environmental science, toxicology, and engineering to outline PFAS management in biosolids and proposes a research and policy plan. Focusing on regulating PFAS as a group, validating real-world results, and employing adaptable treatment strategies underscores the need for a coordinated, science-based effort to reduce PFAS risks worldwide. Full article

This study analyses the potential electricity output from different bio wastes using various energy conversion technologies to enhance the share of renewable energy. Furthermore, it evaluates the carbon emissions mitigated by replacing fossil fuels with bioenergy, contributing to efforts to reduce environmental pollution. The findings reveal that Egypt’s annual biomass waste (BW) could total approximately 80 million tons, with the most significant contributions from agricultural crop residues and municipal solid waste (MSW). MSW incineration and crop residue combustion were found to have the highest power generation compared to other techniques. Additionally, the anaerobic digestion of various biomass types offers the benefits of lower greenhouse gas emissions while still generating significant energy. The electricity generation from different BW sources is approximately 49.14 TWh/year. This energy can be predominantly generated through direct combustion of agricultural crop residues (66%), incineration of MSW (29%), anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge (3%), and animal waste (2%). Furthermore, the reduction in carbon emissions from substituting fossil fuels with bioenergy is estimated at up to 30.47 million tons of CO₂ annually, supporting efforts to mitigate climate change and combat global warming. Full article

Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) is recognized as a hazardous solid waste due to its enrichment in toxic heavy metals and high leaching potential. This review systematically summarizes the current understanding of heavy metal occurrence in MSWI FA and associated environmental risks. Solidification and stabilization methods, such as cement-based curing and chemical immobilization, are widely applied due to their cost-effectiveness and operability, though their long-term stability and recovery potential remain limited. Thermal treatment technologies, including sintering, vitrification, thermal separation, and molten salt processes, have shown excellent performance in reducing volume and enhancing the immobilization or recovery of heavy metals. However, these methods are often limited by high energy demands and operational complexity. Recently, emerging technologies such as electrodialysis, bioleaching, and electrokinetic remediation have demonstrated promising capabilities for selective metal recovery under relatively mild conditions. Nevertheless, these novel approaches remain at an early stage of development and have thus far been validated only at the laboratory or pilot scale. Overall, integrating multiple treatment technologies while advancing resource-oriented and low-carbon approaches will be essential for the sustainable management of MSWI FA. Full article

Accurate temperature control across different zones during the combustion and heat exchange stages is crucial for both the economic efficiency of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) power plants and the consistent achievement of environmental targets. To address limitations in existing research, such as single-point temperature prediction models and the difficulty in characterizing the correlation mapping between adjacent zones, this article proposes a multi-point serial temperature prediction modeling method for the combustion and heat exchange stages of the MSWI process. Firstly, based on identifying five key temperature points across different zones in these stages, the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) is utilized for regional feature selection targeting each individual temperature point. Subsequently, multiple single temperature point prediction models based on a linear regression decision tree (LRDT) are constructed using the selected feature variables. Finally, considering the mutual influence between temperatures in neighboring zones, a serial multi-point temperature prediction model is built by using the knowledge transfer. To our knowledge, this is the first interpretable multi-point temperature prediction model for the MSWI process. It can assist in precise temperature control across different zones during the combustion and heat exchange stages in future studies. Validation results demonstrate that the minimum MSE attained 0.0238, the minimum MAE reached 0.1223, and the maximum R² achieved 0.9985 across multiple temperature points. The proposed method is validated using actual operational data from an MSWI power plant in Beijing. Full article

Poly(lactide) (PLA) is the most versatile biopolymer with few possible end-of-life scenarios, like recycling, biodegradation/composting, and incineration. Biodegradation occurs under strictly defined conditions, and ultimately, PLA is landfilled, where it behaves like conventional plastics. To completely utilize the potential of PLA, it is necessary to increase the recycling and upcycling rates. In this work, the influence of 10 cycles of reprocessing PLA pre-consumer industrial waste on the material’s properties was examined. The mechanical milling of the material was followed by injection molding, and after each cycle, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and optical properties were studied. Between the cycles, no virgin PLA or any additives were added to enhance the properties. Results showed a slight decrease in molecular weight, while the thermal properties remained unchanged compared to the starting material. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of bottom ash samples generated during municipal waste incineration. A total of 52 samples were collected and subjected to statistical analysis for 17 elements and 2 element sums using techniques such as correlation analysis and one-way ANOVA. The results confirm a high degree of heterogeneity in the elemental content, reflecting the variability of waste streams and combustion processes. Strong correlations were identified between certain elements, including Cu-Zn, Co-Ni, and HREE-LREE, indicating common sources and similar geochemical properties. The analysis also revealed significant seasonal variability in the content of Ba and Sr, with lower average values observed during the spring season and greater variability noted during summer and winter. Although Al and HREE did not reach classical significance levels, their distributions suggest possible seasonal differentiation. These findings underscore the need for long-term monitoring and seasonal analysis of incineration bottom ash composition to optimize resource recovery processes and assess environmental risk. The integration of chemical data with operational data on waste composition and combustion parameters may contribute to a better understanding of the variability of individual elements, ultimately supporting the development of effective strategies for ash management and element recovery. Full article

Incineration at sea is a significant source of marine pollution, threatening biodiversity and public health. Although Peru ratified the 1996 London Protocol in 2018, key deficiencies persist in its domestic legal framework, particularly the absence of clear and internationally aligned definitions for “incineration” and “incinerator.” These gaps hinder effective enforcement by the National Maritime Authority (NMA-DICAPI) and limit regulatory compliance with international obligations. This study analyzes Peru’s current legislation in light of the London Protocol and includes a comparative overview of regional regulatory approaches in Latin America. Based on this analysis, the study identifies regulatory inconsistencies that compromise environmental protection and proposes three key legal reforms: (1) refining the definition of “incineration” to reflect international standards; (2) formally incorporating a definition for “incinerator”; and (3) establishing specific administrative and economic sanctions for related infractions. Through comparative analysis with Mexico and Colombia’s approaches, we propose targeted amendments including refined definitions aligned with IMO standards and explicit administrative/economic sanctions. Implementing these recommendations would enhance Peru’s legal clarity, enforcement capacity, and compliance with international maritime law, reinforcing its role as a responsible actor in marine environmental governance. Full article

Carbon fiber (CF) and carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are widely used in the aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors due to their high strength, stiffness, and low density. However, significant waste is generated during manufacturing and after the use of CFRPs. Traditional disposal methods like landfilling and incineration are unsustainable. CFRP machining processes, such as drilling and milling, produce fine chips and dust that are difficult to recycle due to their heterogeneity and contamination. This study investigates the oxidation behavior of CFRP drilling waste from two types of materials (tube and plate) under oxidative (non-inert) conditions. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed from 200 °C to 800 °C to assess weight loss related to polymer degradation and carbon fiber integrity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze morphological changes and fiber damage. The optimal range for removing the polymer matrix without significant fiber degradation has been identified as 500–600 °C. At temperatures above 700 °C, notable surface and internal fiber damage occurred, along with nanostructure formation, which may pose health and environmental risks. The results show that partial fiber recovery is possible under ambient conditions, and this must be considered regarding the harmful risks to the human body if submicron particles are inhaled. This research supports sustainable CFRP recycling and fire hazard mitigation. Full article