With the rapid and large increase of waste quantities, China, surpassed the USA as the world’s largest municipal solid waste (MSW) generator since 2004. The phenomena and critical issues of MSWM in China inspired this paper to investigate and analyse the MSWM in an urban area of China. Comparing with the increasing rates of MSW generation, little has been done concerning the municipal solid waste management (MSWM). Not only the local government and authorities are responsible for the MSWM, but also the individuals are playing a significant role in MSWM. An integrated waste management system should be built in order to improve the holistic MSW system and reduce the waste production. The aim of the study is to investigate and analyse the current status and problems of MSWM in an urban area of China and to analyse to what extent a viable reduction of the MSW can be implemented and management systems to be improved in the near future. In this study, two case studies of Shanghai and Linköping are employed and compared to explore the challenges and potentials for improving the MSWM system in China. The result indicated that inadequate facilities and infrastructure, less advanced technology, insufficient public participation, low awareness of environmental protection, problems in policy and laws are the major barriers for the improvement of MSWM. Involving international environmental cooperation activities, planning a sustainable and comprehensive policy and framework for MSWM, introducing economic incentive approaches, promoting the capacities of waste management technologies, raising public environmental awareness are believed to be viable solutions to improve the MSWM system in China.

Economic aspects of household recycling behavior and attitudes in City of Bryan are examined to improve solid waste management policies in the city. Using survey data collected by mail and personal interviews, residents’ attitudes towards solid waste management are analyzed, in general, and specifically, the factors influencing recycling behavior examined using logistic regression. In addition, three alternative policies are presented to respondents. First, support for an additional drop-off recycling center (Policy I) is examined. Second, WTP for two different recycling programs, curbside recycling service (Policy II), and curbside recycling with a drop-off recycling center (Policy III), as a function of socio-economic factors thought to influence WTP are computed using contingent valuation method, an indirect valuation tool. Finally, preference for a particular policy among the three alternatives presented to the residents of Bryan is explored. Because of the different data collection modes and assumptions on the bid prices two logit models are estimated to examine recycling behavior, and Policy I and two multinomial logit models for the most preferred policy, whereas four logit models are estimated for Policy II and III. The estimated models are similar both within the Policies and between the Policies in terms of the affects of variables, significance of coefficients, and consistency with previous studies indicating a potential set of factors that can be used to explain WTP for recycling services. Bryan residents that are female, white, employed, have higher incomes, have children, own a house, and are self-perceived environmentalists tend to recycle more. Similarly, males, nonwhites, older respondents, students, non-environmentalists and non-recyclers are more likely to support an additional drop-off center. WTP for Policy II is positively influenced by males, whites, respondents who are employed, low-income respondents, environmentalists, non-recyclers, and those who support Policy I. In comparison, WTP for Policy III is positively influenced by females, whites, respondents who are employed, younger respondents, environmentalists, non-recyclers, and those who support Policy I. In the case of both Policies I and II, the bid price negatively influences WTP as expected. While the WTP for Policy II is slightly higher than the estimated cost of a curbside recycling service ($2.50), the WTP for Policy III is lower than the estimated cost. No consistent pattern emerges across most of the coefficients and the four possible alternatives, three proposed policies and the current situation. However, probabilities computed using the multinomial logit results is the highest for Policy II, followed by either Policy III or no change to the existing solid waste management policy.

Titel: Waste Management – Förbättringsförslag av återvinningsprocessen inom hemelektronikbranschen. Bakgrund: I en bransch som kännetecknas av snabb teknologisk utveckling är det viktigt att se till att de produkter som kommer ut på marknaden också tas om hand på ett bra sätt i slutet av sitt funktionella liv. Hur ser återvinningsprocessen hos företagen ut idag och vad kan göras för att minska de växande problem som framkommer i samband med den ökade konsumtionen? Genom att granska fenomenet Waste Management avser uppsatsen angripa slöseri i logistikflödet och finna förbättringar av dagens återvinningsprocess av uttjänta hemelektronikprodukter. Syfte: Uppsatsens syfte är att kartlägga återvinningsprocessen inom branschen för hemelektronik i syfte att identifiera potentiella förbättringsåtgärder med det samhällsekonomiska målet att uppnå ett större returflöde i logistiksystemet ur ett företagsperspektiv. Metod: Studien utgår från en kvalitativ forskningsmetod som gjorts baserat på en flerfallsstudie. Primärdata har samlats in genom semi-strukturerade besöksintervjuer och asynkrona individuella intervjuer online utifrån ett bekvämlighetsurval. Studien intar ett positivistiskt synsätt och det vetenskapliga angreppssättet är abduktivt. Analysen utgörs enligt en mönsterjämförelse med avseende på produkttyper, kompensation och information till kund. Slutsats: Författarna kommer efter analys av funktionsflödesschema och mönsterjämförelse fram till ett antal punkter för förbättring vilka kan leda till ökad andel återvunna EOL-produkter. Dessa är; införande av ett fast returcenter, omhändertagande av ett större produktsortiment, föra statistik över returer, tydligare information till kund och kompensation för inlämnade produkter. Författarna kommer även fram till att det råder stora skillnader i hur man i dagsläget arbetar med Waste Management inom de olika företagen, där vissa företag är mer ambitiösa än andra. Företagen har mycket att lära av varandra och inom samtliga studerade företag finns något att förbättra.

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate a waste management project and its public awareness components, in the Korca region, Albania. We wanted to learn if the communication towards the population about the project had created an effect or not. We conducted interviews in the capital Tirana and in the Korca region situated south east in Albania. The focus on the study was on the population in the Korca region, and on the persons from the project who worked with the information towards the population. The research was a qualitative study consisting of a total of 22 standardized face-to-face interviews and 3 semi-structured interviews. A difference in the environment is now visible according to the inhabitants. We came to the conclusion that the messages conveyed to the target groups have reached an effect, but that an even bigger effect could be reached if the target groups had been more specified and the messages had been more specific.

Magistro darbe atlikta Europos Sąjungos ir Lietuvos juridinių aktų, reglamentuojančių atliekų tvarkymą, analizė. Išanalizuoti regioninių atliekų tvarkymo sistemų įgyvendinimo privalumai ir trūkumai, identifikuotos problemos. Ištirta Šiaulių miesto gyventojų nuomonė apie veikiančią sistemą, apibendrinti gauti rezultatai. Iš dalies pasitvirtino suformuluota mokslinio tyrimo hipotezė. Šiaulių regioninė atliekų tvarkymo sistema nėra rezultatyvi finansiniu požiūriu, nors jos įgyvendinimas vykdomas sklandžiai. Gyventojai teigiamai vertina jiems teikiamas paslaugas, tačiau neturi motyvacijos rūšiuoti ir yra nepatenkinti principo „teršėjas moka“ įgyvendinimu. / This master‘s work is the analysis of European Union and Lithuanian legal acts on waste management reglamentation. Advantages and disadvantages of regional waste management system implementation have been analysed and problems have been identified. The opinion of Siauliai population about existing system has been analysed and the results have been summarised. The scientific research hypothesis was partially correct. Siauliai regional waste management system is not financially efficient despite it is running smoothly. Residents are positive about services provided; however they have no motivation to sort the waste and are unhappy about the principle ‘whoever is polluting is paying’.

Economy and environment has for a long time been studied separately and seen as incompatible. With a growing society and increasing pressure on environmental issues the need of a new economy with the environment included is necessary. This study examine if European Union´s picture of the waste hierarchy match the reality. Since the purpose with the waste hierarchy is to benefit environmental and economy. A survey was made over Käppalaförbundets waste from 2013, to see where the waste falls in the waste hierarchy. The results shows that the waste falls on those steps that are favorable to the environment and the economy, but the environment aspect can be improved if some of the waste switch to a different step in the waste hierarchy. Better statistics on some waste areas is also necessary to get a result that is more certain. The conclusion in this study is that European Union´s picture of the waste hierarchy match the reality to a certain extent but in order to achieve sustainable development in the long run, several measures need to be taken.

Waste-to-Energy concept becomes increasingly popular from the perspectives of the waste management and alternative energy. South Africa, which is a country heavily dependent on the fossil fuel, can explore the opportunities of Waste-to-Energy in order to deal with increasing amount of waste generated while reducing what is deposited at non-engineered landfills, thereby increase the renewable energy share. This prefeasibility study attempts to identify Waste-to-Energy potentials in Gauteng provinceso as to develop a Waste-to-Energy facility under the new renewable Independent Power Producer procurement programme of South Africa. The analysis identifies abundant Wasteto-Energy incineration and landfill gas opportunities linked with municipal solid waste in twomunicipalities. The prefeasibility study further evaluates environmental, socio-economic aspects of Waste-to-Energy initiative. The financial viability of a Waste-to-Energy incineration facility with the Feed-in-Tariff proposed by the government of South Africa isalso detailed analysed.

This report investigates the possibilities and solutions for a sustainable municipal solid waste management in the community of Mutomo, situated in Kitui County, Kenya. The aim was to formulate an action plan to start reaching for a sustainable development in the waste sector, with citizen participation. Specific research questions were to find requests and ideas from the community members. Also, how the Swedish solid waste management system is built up in order to find potential good examples. Qualitative methods for data collection were used both in-depth interviews and focus group discussions conducted. Data collection was done with the help of an interpreter; interviewing guides and a recording device were used. The data was transcribed and thematic analysis done using NVivo. The interviews and discussions resulted in many requests and ideas regarding solid waste management. In brief; a legal dumping site, health education of the advantages of managing waste and the disadvantages if not, increase of public dustbins, increase of people employed for waste collection, an organized system for trade of waste and improved future planning of the town by the local authorities. To conclude, if a sustainable development within the waste sector is to be initiated, the local authorities have to take action and shoulder their responsibility. Improved collaboration between them and the public health office, community members and private stakeholders is essential. The proposed action plan is a good tool to use when initiating this work and would be created through co-operation with residents in Mutomo.

Solid waste management (SWM) is a growing problem in developing countries around the world. In Guatemala, indigenous communities, which are predominantly rural and remote, are particularly hard hit by a lack of basic SWM services. Todos Santos, situated in the Cuchumatanes mountain range of northwestern Guatemala, is one such community. As projects developed, planned, and implemented from 'the top down' continue to be ineffective, the literature provides little insight about remote communities' perspectives on exactly what issues SWM creates, influences, and exacerbates, and how they might respond to these concerns themselves. Using a participatory systems approach, this study investigated the systemic structures and behaviours that maintain and exacerbate SWM challenges in Todos Santos, and where key places (leverage points) to intervene in the system may exist. The study presents a wide selection of locally appropriate SWM solutions to target these leverage points in the form of four future scenarios These scenarios act as a step-wise implementation plan for gradual implementation in the community, each building upon the previous, ultimately reaching a community-defined vision for SWM.

Nutrient inflows from anthropogenic sources into water systems are causing eutrophication, algal blooms and trophic changes in Swedish lakes and seas. The European water framework directive was implemented to regulate member countries' policies to achieve a good status in surface waters. Reduction fishing has shown to be an effective lake restoration tool involving removal of large quantities of planktivorous fish, decreasing the internal nutrient loads and recovering the lake status. The Administrative board of Östergötland (Länsstyrelsen Östergötland) started this project with the aims to find out how to dispose of the fish from reduction fishing projects in a sustainable way in the county of Östergötland. With analysis of secondary lake data, the study also aims to highlight the ecological and chemical status in five of the county's most eutrophic lakes: Asplången, Värnässjön, Svinstadsjön, Nimmern and Hällerstadsjön. The amount of predicted catch during a reduction project, for each lake with the corresponding amount of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) removal, was calculated based on lake area and reduction fishing guidelines. To find out the prospects and possibilities fora sustainable catch disposal, literature review, interviews and communication with possible stakeholders in the area were conducted and analysed in a SWOT-analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) as wellas for three sustainability criteria based on the Swedish waste regulation. The results showed that the ecological status is ranging from bad to moderate in the five studied lakes and that approximately 162 - 218 tonnes of fishcould be removed which corresponds to a reduction of P by ca. 1.1 - 1.5 tonnes and N by ca. 4.4 - 5.9. Four possible disposal methods were determined: the use of bream and roach as food for humans, for animal feed, for production of biogas and waste disposal by incineration. Roach and bream for human consumption showed to be a possible option despite a huge resistance in acceptance of roach and bream as edible fishes. Fish as feed was also possible if used as bait for fishing. Biogas production from fish worked well at the local biogas plant as long as the fish was prepared in the right way. Incineration could work as an easy way to dispose off the fish. The SWOT-analysis showed most strengths and possibilities for the biogas option, whereas the food alternative had more weaknesses and threats. However, due to waste management regulations, the use of roach and bream as food or animal feed were the more sustainable options.