Municipal waste management aims to collect waste from people and businesses in a sustainable manner. Today's waste management relies on an old container system which is simple and flexible. There are some problems with this type of management for both waste generators and collectors. The working environment is not the best for municipal waste collectors, there is heavy lifting and risk elements in the handling of containers and bags. There are also risks involved with heavy vehicles moving in sensitive areas such as residential areas and around schools. Forecasts show that most urbanized areas are expected to grow further for some time. This creates problems of increasing waste volumes, thereby increasing traffic. This makes it interesting to evaluate new and existing solutions of the collection and transportation of municipal solid waste. The study aims to identify the current municipal solid waste management theories and evaluate the opportunities that exist to develop the theory forward with focus on the collection in urban areas. The study intends to review whether it is economically feasible to implement automated vacuum systems in existing infrastructure. The theory shows that it is often possible to implement this in new construction projects, but the research is vague and inadequate regarding implementation in existing infrastructure. The case study examines whether implementation of an automated vacuum collection system is possible in central Gothenburg. The analysis assesses the financial feasibility of the implementation. Specifically, the unused surface of the refuse rooms can be utilized differently, thus reducing the costs that arise initially. The study shows that it will be profitable to implement an automated vacuum system in the study area since the initial investment can be offset through the alternative use of the floor space in the waste rooms. The study results suggest that other areas in existing infrastructure can implement similar solutions without economic losses.

Marginal soils, including loose sands, soft clays, and organics are not adequate materials for construction projects. These marginal soils do not possess valuable physical properties for construction applications. The current methods for remediation of these weak soils such as stone columns, vibro-compaction, etc. are typically expensive. Waste materials such as scrap tires, ash, and wastewater sludge, offer a cheaper method for stabilizing marginal soils. As an added benefit, utilizing waste materials in soil stabilization applications keeps these materials from being dumped into landfills, thereby saving already depleting landfill space. Included in this report is an extensive investigation into the current state of research on waste and recycled materials in construction applications. Also included is an investigation on actual implementation of this research in construction projects. Upon completion of this investigation, an effort was made to determine waste materials specific to the state of Florida (waste roofing shingles, municipal solid waste ash, waste tires, and paper mill sludge) that could be used in stabilizing marginal soils through soil mixing techniques. Changes in the engineering properties of soils as a result of adding these waste materials were studied and recommendations on implementing these effects into construction applications are offered.

Over the last few decades, thermal treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW) has been strongly opposed in North America. The reasons for public opposition are complex and could vary from community to community. Typically, public antagonism towards thermal treatment option is clearly revealed during the planning process of energy-from-waste facilities. Concepts such as NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) have become synonymous with the siting of MSW thermal treatment facilities. Given the highly controversial nature of such projects, effective organization and conduct of the municipal planning process is of high importance. The literature suggests that public opposition can be fuelled by the perception of unfair outcome and unfair planning process. Therefore, the equity dimension of the planning process has gained importance. This research explores the planning processes surrounding the development of thermal treatment plants for MSW in the province of Ontario, Canada by focusing on the equity dimension. The research aims to reveal the role and the nature of substantive equity, procedural equity, and cost and time efficiency, as well as the role of contextual elements in planning processes. Additionally, the research intends to provide recommendations on the effective incorporation of the equity dimension into the waste management planning processes. Through a review of the literature on planning controversial facilities with a focus on waste disposal plants, it was revealed that the clear delineation of substantive and procedural equity as well as the identification of the main elements that fall under these notions are absent. Different studies present various elements of substantive and procedural equity, but they fall short in consolidation and analysis of linkages among the elements. In addition, it was revealed that the study of the contextual elements in relation to substantive and procedural equity has been quite limited. Three research questions were identified that were informed by two assumptions derived from the consulted literature. To answer the research questions, three cases of planning thermal treatment plants in Ontario were investigated using qualitative research methods. The first case studied the Halton region thermal treatment project that was initiated in 2006 but was soon dropped without reaching the stage of full environmental assessment. The second case study focused on the Niagara-Hamilton thermal treatment project that was a joint effort between the city of Hamilton and the regional municipality of Niagara to find a local solution to the waste problem. An environmental assessment was conducted; however, before its completion the parties decided to stop the project and concentrate on other waste management alternatives. Finally, the third case studied the Durham-York thermal treatment project that underwent a full environmental assessment process and is currently close to completion. This research contributes towards expanding the conceptual discourse about the role of equity in planning waste disposal facilities with a particular emphasis on thermal treatment plants. More specifically, the thesis contributes towards delineating the notions of substantive and procedural equity and distinguishing their elements. It introduces the notion of context and explores those contextual elements that influence substantive and procedural equity during planning processes for thermal treatment facilities. As a result, the thesis develops a comprehensive analytical framework that consolidates the major elements that fall under the domains of substantive equity, procedural equity, and context that have previously been dispersed in the literature. In addition, the research establishes linkages among the elements within each domain and across domains. Based on the findings of the case studies, the notion of distributional equity is reconsidered. Whereas the distributional aspect of the equity dimension is undoubtedly important, the thesis concludes that the substantive equity should go beyond the locational aspect of planning. The existence of cross-domain linkages and their importance and diversity confirms that the notion of equity should be studied and discussed in broader terms which acknowledge not only procedural or distributional issues, but also contextual elements and efficiency questions. The existing scholarship places particular emphasis on locational considerations (siting) and procedural issues; however, it fails to present a comprehensive and multidimensional view of equity and explain how this is embedded within the broader context. This research is an attempt to present equity with all its diversity and complexity and build a foundation upon which further work in this direction can be conducted. More broadly, this research contributes to the better understanding of the perceptions and motivations behind public opposition towards infrastructure projects, and particularly waste management facilities. Given the complex nature of public opposition phenomenon, the research addresses the need to build an in-depth understanding of public motivations and perceptions that shape attitudes towards proposed projects.

Land application of biosolid or industrial compost raises concerns regarding heavy metal accumulation in soils, plants and free-ranging livestock. A strip-split plot design evaluated two levels of sewage sludge (22/44 t ha-1) and municipal solid waste (21/42 t ha-1) compared to nitrogen fertilizer and an unfertilized control. Treatments were evaluated with three levels of limestone (CaCO3 at 0, 3 and 6 t ha-1) over two years corn seeded no-till. Swiss Chard cultivated in field soil samples within a greenhouse monitored heavy metal bioavailability. Compost amended soil was incorporated into chicken feed to simulate soil ingestion in a free-range production system. Compost application increased total soil Pb over time yet decreased both available soil and corn plant Cu levels over time. No heavy metal accumulation was observed in Swiss Chard or poultry tissue. Biosolid composts containing elevated Cu or Pb levels can be safely used for crop or free-range broiler production.

To ensure stability of a construction the physical properties of its components have tobe well known. In a landfill, waste presents the largest structural element and controlsboth the stability and integrity of the lining system. In spite of this critical role there is adearth of knowledge on behaviour of waste as an engineering material. Wastevariability and changes in waste stream aggravate the assessment of wastemechanical properties.In a literature review the main influences on shear behaviour of municipal solid waste(MSW) were identified. Design values and recommendation for shear parameter weresummarised. To assess mechanical behaviour in a systematic way the use of aclassification system was deemed crucial for a comparison of different findings fromliterature and a categorisation of waste in regard to its composition. A framework for aclassification system was introduced. Main elements of a comprehensive classificationsystem were identified in a literature review and discussed, and data from literaturewas applied to the classification framework. For the validation of a classificationsystem, municipal solid waste was examined in an in-situ waste sorting analysis andalso applied to the framework.The findings from the waste sorting and the classification system were also used todevelop a family of synthetic waste to gradually examine the influencing factors onwaste mechanical behaviour. For this, the materials, size ranges and shapes of wastecomponents identified in the waste sorting analysis were reduced to a minimum butstill representative amount. A range of synthetic waste compositions was engineeredand tested in a large-scale shear device. Compression tests were also conducted in alarge compression cell. The results from the laboratory testing were compared tovalues from the literature and MSW mechanical behaviour was subsequentlydiscussed in view to potential changes from changing waste streams.The results from shear and compression tests (constrained and shear modulus) onsynthetic waste were linked to the classification system and trends of the mechanicalbehaviour in relation to the tested synthetic waste compositions were identified.A framework for classifying MSW and comparing waste mechanical behaviour waspresented and demonstrated. A family of synthetic wastes was engineered and testedin shear and compression tests. The results were comparable to values from theliterature. Further research is recommended to refine the synthetic waste and theclassification.

ABSTRACT Bioreactor landfill operation has been promoted as a means of accelerating the degradation of waste for over 30 years. Accelerating the degradation of waste enables better predictability in biogas production and reduces aftercare costs. Most bioreactor landfill trials focus on the effect of leachate recirculation on otherwise conventional landfill cells. However, there is a range of design and operational measures that can be implemented with standard landfilling machinery to further enhance degradation. This thesis explores degradation rates that can be achieved in a landfill cell, designed to maximise degradation rate, with the constraint that it be constructed by standard earthmoving equipment, the waste be crudely shredded by sheep foot compactors to expose waste, and leachate recirculation be operable by landfill personnel. The major departures of these test cells from a conventional landfill cell operation were: the cells were only 3m deep; MSW loaded into the cell was crushed and bags ruptured with a sheep foot compactor; MSW was pre-mixed prior placement with digested sludge, as a ratio such that the buffering capacity of the sludge was equivalent to an amount of NaHCO3 known to successfully buffer the digestion of packed beds of MSW (10gL-1 NaHCO3 in packed bed at field capacity moisture content plus excess leachate equal to 10% of the bed volume (Lai et al 2001); and the waste was placed rather than compacted into the cell. The thesis examines the performance of two test cells, the second only containing MSW and inoculated and buffered by sequencing with the first. These performances are compared with an exhaustive set of control digestions in 200L laboratory reactors. The laboratory reactors were packed with 50kg sub-samples of the waste used in the cells, shredded to sub 5cm size. The laboratory reactors primarily focussed on the effect of temperature on degradation rates, to identify the optimum degradation rate for this sludge and MSW mixture. The laboratory scale reactors produced 231 L and 202 L of methane per kgVS at the mesophilic temperatures of 38°C and 45°C respectively. The degradation was faster in the 45°C reactor where methane production was completely exhausted after 35 days. A laboratory reactor operated at 55°C reactor showed little degradation activity. The pH of this reactor was initially over 8.5, and ammonia inhibition was suspected. However, the reactor did not respond to pH adjustments with hydrochloric acid, and subsequent step decreases in temperature did not have an effect until 47°C, where degradation suddenly accelerated. This suggests the methanogenic consortia in the sludge could not adapt to thermophilic temperatures. This was confirmed in the 63°C reactor which acidified and did not produce methane, until leachate from this reactor was transferred to the 45°C reactor where an established methanogenic community converted the soluble COD to methane. In order to compare laboratory reactor performance with the general literature, pure cellulose was added in a fed-batch fashion to the stabilised 38°C and 47°C leach-beds. The beds were fed under starved conditions, to clearly distinguish degradation products from the cellulose from background levels. This also allowed for the estimation of biomass growth by measuring the uptake of NH4-N, as all other bio-available N sources such as protein and amino acids were reduced to NH4-N under these starved conditions. Hydrolysis rates were determined to be 0.12±0.01 d-1 and 0.14±0.026 d-1 at the 38°C and 47°C temperatures. Degradation in the two test cells was completed within a 7 month period. Temperature in the cells was maintained between 25 – 30°C by biological activity, levels that were above ambient temperatures, but below ideal mesophilic conditions. Methane composition rapidly approached 50% in both cells, and biogas flow rates were consistent with a degradation timeframe in the order of less than year. Full flow rate data was not obtained from these trials due to mechanical problems with flow meters, however vigorous gas production was evident throughout the trial by monitoring gas composition, and the ballooning effect of the top cover. To confirm the degradation rates in the test cells, samples were collected from the second test cell and digested in laboratory reactors. Methane yields were only 2.4 and 6.4 L CH4 kgVS-1 confirming virtual exhaustion of biogas potential within 7 months of sequencing this MSW cell with the first MSW:sludge test cell. This is the first systematic experimental program that places the degradation performance of a test cell in the context of the potential degradation rate achievable with fine shredding, temperature control and thorough inoculation and buffering. Economically, in cases where degradation residues are left insitu as in landfills, the degradation enhancement in the test cells would effectively yield as much benefit as enhancing the degradation rate to a two to three week timeframe typical of an anaerobic digester (Clarke 2000).

Resumo: Sob o aspecto sanitário os resíduos sólidos representam problemas se não forem acondicionados, coletados, transportados, tratados e dispostos adequadamente. A disposição inadequada de resíduos sólidos urbanos é uma das atividades humanas com alto potencial de degradação físico/química e ambiental prejudicando inclusive a paisagem. Esta disposição tende a ser cada dia maior e enquanto novas tecnologias de tratamento e de destino final dos resíduos sólidos urbanos não surgirem, o aterro sanitário continuará sendo o elemento essencial de qualquer sistema de gerenciamento dos resíduos sólidos urbanos e uma das formas mais eficazes para evitar riscos à saúde e à segurança, minimizando os impactos ambientais. Esta realidade ilustra a necessidade da disposição adequada de resíduos que represente menores riscos à saúde do ser humano, dos animais e das plantas; evitando a contaminação e a poluição dos recursos naturais. Existe um consenso no meio técnico de que significativa redução dos prejuízos causados ao meio ambiente é obtida por alternativas gerenciais dos resíduos nos aterros. O presente trabalho propõe um modelo simplificado, mas eficiente de operação de aterro sanitário para cidades de porte pequeno e médio / Abstract: Under the sanitary aspect the solid waste represents problems if it is not conditioned, collected, transported, treated and disposed properly. The inadequate disposal of the municipal solid waste is one of the human activities with high potential for physical, chemical and environmental degradation, damaging even the scenery. This disposal tends to be even larger and while new technologies for treatment and final destination of the municipal solid waste do not come up, the landfill will continue being the essential element of any system for management of municipal solid waste and one of the more efficient ways to avoid risks to the health and to the security, decreasing the environmental impact. This reality illustrates the necessity for the adequate disposal of the waste that represents smaller risks to the health of the human being, animals and plants; avoiding the contamination and the pollution of the natural resources. There is an agreement in the technical circle on that significant reduction of the damages caused on the environment is obtained through managing alternatives of the waste in landfills. The present work proposes a simplified model, but efficient for the operation of the landfill in small and medium cities / Orientador: Luzenira Alves Brasileiro / Coorientador: Dib Gebara / Banca: Milton Dall'Aglio Sobrinho / Banca: Ricardo Nagamine Costanzi / Mestre

High solids anaerobic digestion (HS-AD) is an alternative for managing the organic fraction of municipal solids waste (MSW), which produces mainly methane (CH4) and fertilizer as byproducts. HS-AD offers a potentially more economically and environmentally sustainable option compared with landfilling or incineration waste-to-energy facilities. However, HS-AD is a complex process requiring specific microbial communities working together symbiotically. Previous studies have found that the substrate to inoculum (S/I) ratio affects CH4 production and yield in HS-AD reactors by affecting substrate mass and energy transfer as well as microbial activity. In this thesis, biochemical methane potential (BMP) assays were used to investigate the effect of S/I ratio on CH4 production and chemical properties during the digestion of food waste, yard waste, and biosolids. The results indicate that the S/I ratio of 1.0 based on total solids (TS) content was the optimum ratio for the mixtures, compared to 2.0 and 3.0 based on TS as well as an inoculum only blank. Specifically, the S/I ratio of 1.0 based on TS had the greatest cumulative CH4 production of 2,320-mL and maximum cumulative CH4 yield of 126 mL-CH4/ (g VSadded) over 47 days while reducing total TS and VS in the reactors. Weekly chemical analyses showed that the optimum values were produced in BMPs with S/I of 1.0 because this set was the least influenced by pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) induced microbial inhibition. Overall, these findings may assist in the design and operation of HS-AD systems with greater CH4 volume and CH4 production for the digestion of the organic fraction of MWS.

Neste trabalho foi estudada a caracterização gravimétrica dos resíduos sólidos da macroregião de Santa Maria (RS). A região estudada é composta pelos municípios de Júlio de Castilho, São Pedro, e pela região da Quarta Colônia, que por sua vez engloba os municípios de Faxinal do Soturno, Nova Palma, São João do Polêsine, Agudo, Paraíso do Sul e Dona Francisca. Os ensaios de caracterização gravimétrica foram realizados na Unidade de Triagem de Paraíso do Sul, município vizinho à Santa Maria no período entre julho e setembro de 2007. Avaliou-se a composição do resíduo in natura e após a triagem de material reciclável e orgânico para que fosse possível analisar a eficiência da triagem e estudar algumas características físicas do rejeito (resíduo sem as porções orgânica e reciclável). A massa de resíduos sólidos urbanos da macro-região de Santa Maria é bastante heterogênea e apresenta variações de acordo com as características sócio-econômicas das regiões. Os resultados da caracterização gravimétrica dos resíduos urbanos mostraram uma significativa influência de fatores externos, tais como a presença de umidade devido ao nível pluviométrico e a ação dos ventos. Isto é devido ao fato que materiais como papel e papelão são descaracterizados em presença de umidade e misturam-se às porções de rejeito e matéria orgânica. A realização da caracterização gravimétrica pré e pós-triagem permitiu uma análise da eficiência da caracterização (ou triagem) feita pela esteira e a verificação do potencial de aproveitamento dos resíduos. A média dos dados analisados indica uma eficiência de cerca de 86 % na triagem efetuada pela esteira, sendo que grande parte do material mal caracterizado é matéria orgânica, um material difícil de ser triado e que muitas vezes incorpora-se a outros materiais. O resíduo da região de Santa Maria apresenta um potencial de aproveitamento de 62 %, seja com a triagem de recicláveis, seja com a compostagem da matéria orgânica. Foi feito um ensaio de compactação no material de rejeito da esteira, o qual foi compactado em prensa estática com uma pressão equivalente de 250 kPa, obtendo-se um fardo com densidade de 7, 66 kN/m3 (ou cerca de 750 kgf/ m3). Este fardo de rejeito apresentou uma consistência firme que permitiu seu manuseio sem necessidade de reforços, mas seu elevado peso dificultou as operações de transporte. Este rejeito compactado não tinha uma significativa quantidade de material orgânico, e por isso, a compactação não gerou líquido (chorume) em quantidade significativa. A compactação do rejeito proporcionou uma redução volumétrica da ordem de 3,2 vezes. / On this work the gravimetric composition of solid wastes from Santa Maria (RS) region was studied. The region is composed by the towns of Júlio de Castilho and São Pedro and by the so-called Quarta Colônia, composed by Faxinal do Soturno, Nova Palma, São João do Polêsine, Agudo, Paraíso do Sul e Dona Francisca towns. The tests were carried out at the Separation Unity of Paraíso do Sul, close to Santa Maria town, which receive the municipal waste of the region. The gravimetric characterization tests were carried out from July to September 2007. The composition of the waste was determined just after arrival and also after the separation of organic matter and recyclables, in order to study the efficiency of the separation process and analyze some physical characteristics of the waste with and without these components. The municipal solid wastes from Santa Maria region is heterogeneous and presents variations which are related to socio-economic characteristics of the regions which originated them. The results of gravimetric characterization showed a significant influence of the external factors, such as the presence of humidity, due to rains, and the wind. This is due to the fact that materials like cardboard and normal paper loose their characteristics and aspect in presence of water, getting mixed up with the refuse and organic matter. The characterization carried out pre and post separation of recyclables allowed to examine the efficiency of the separation which is done on the mat and also to make an analysis of the potential of waste reuse. The data average indicates an efficiency of around 86% in the separation process on the mat, being organic matter a large part of the material wrongly classified as refuse, as it is a difficult material to select from the waste and one which easily incorporates into others. The waste from Santa Maria region has a potential of 62% of being reused or through recycling or by composting (organic matter). A compaction test was carried out on the refusal of the mat. The material was compacted statically on a frame with an equivalent pressure of 250 kPa. A block of refuse with unity weight of 7.66 kN/m3 was obtained. This block had a firm consistency and did not require reinforcing to be moved around, but its large weight imposed some difficulties. The refuse had little quantity of organic matter and so the test did not generate significant amount of liquid. The refuse compaction generated a volumetric reduction of 3.2 times.

O presente trabalho avaliou a composição gravimétrica dos resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) do município de Novo Hamburgo-RS. Foram realizadas 10 amostragens de diferentes setores de coleta ao longo dos meses de março e abril de 2014. Juntamente com a análise da composição gravimétrica foi avaliada a densidade dos RSU de Novo Hamburgo. No mesmo período foram realizadas amostragens da saída das esteiras de triagem da central de transbordo do município, com um total de 5 amostras. Os procedimentos amostrais seguiram a norma americana ASTM D5231/2008. A composição gravimétrica obtida para os RSU corresponde em: 57,13% matéria orgânica; 14,82% plástico; 12,69% papel; 4,34 têxtil; 1,62% metais ferrosos; 0,69% borracha; 0,49% metais não ferrosos; 0,40% couro; 0,35% madeira e 3,86% outros. O valor médio para a densidade do RSU encontrado foi de 173 kg/m³. Alguns resíduos encontrados como eletroeletrônicos, pilhas e baterias, embalagens contaminadas com óleo, alguns resíduos sólidos industriais (RSI) e outros, não deveriam ser destinados junto aos RSU. A maior fração da matéria orgânica era esperada visto que este comportamento é identificado na composição gravimétrica média dos RSU do Brasil. Os resultados demonstram um potencial para implantação do processo de compostagem pelo alto potencial de resíduos orgânicos, sendo necessário mais análises para garantir a qualidade e aplicabilidade do composto. O descarte inadequado de resíduos orgânicos e recicláveis juntos inviabiliza a reciclagem, aumentando as quantidades destinadas ao aterro sanitário. A composição gravimétrica obtida para a saída das esteiras de triagem corresponde em: 81,60% matéria orgânica; 8,63% plástico; 2,89% papel; 1,66 têxtil; 0,58% borracha; 0,52% metais ferrosos; 0,37% metais não ferrosos; 0,35% madeira; 0,23% couro e 1,81% outros. Foi identificada uma grande presença de materiais recicláveis na saída das esteiras de triagem. Ações foram propostas para aumentar a eficiência do processo de triagem e melhorar o aproveitamento dos recicláveis. Políticas públicas foram sugeridas visando à melhoria dos processos de gestão dos RSU do município. Os resultados obtidos são representativos para o período avaliado, sendo passíveis de alteração quando de amostragem em outros períodos. / The purpose of this paper is evaluate the gravimetric composition of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) of Novo Hamburgo - RS. Ten samples were collected in different areas between March to April 2014 according to ASTM D5231/2008. Simultaneously were evaluated the MSW density and the materials collection after sorting followed the ASTM D5231/2008. The gravimetric composition of MSW consists in 57,13% of organic matter; 14,82% of plastic; 12,69% of paper; 4,34% of textile; 1,62% of ferrous metals; 0,69% of rubber; 0,49% of noun ferrous metals; 0,40% of leather; 0,35% of wood and 3,86% of others. The MSW density were 173 kg/m³. Some residues as electronics, batteries, oil contaminated packaging and some industrial solid waste should not be disposed as MSW. A larger fraction of organic matter was expected as shown in the most Brazilian analyzed papers since that behavior is known about the gravimetric average composition of MSW in Brazil. The results demonstrate the potential implementation of the composting process considering the amount of organics, requiring further analysis to ensure the quality and applicability of the produced compounds. The inappropriate disposal of organic matter and recyclables together turn unfeasible the recycling. The gravimetric composition of material after sorting consists in: 81,60% of organic matter; 8,63% of plastic; 2,89% of paper; 1,66 of textile; 0,58% of rubber; 0,52% of ferrous metals; 0,37% of non ferrous metals; 0,35% of wood; 0,23% of leather e 1,81% of others. Amounts of recyclables was identified after sorting and based on this evidence actions were proposed to increase the sorting process efficiency and improve the recycling. Public policies were recommended to enhance the MSW management. The results are representative considering this measuring period, which could change if realized in another periods.