The continued growth of waste generation rates and the general concern for its impact on the natural environmental have resulted in a search for solutions to contain the problem before it spirals out of control. One such solution is organised recycling, the practice whereby municipalities require waste generators to set aside post-consumer materials so that they do not enter the mixed waste for collection and delivery to the markets. The practice is popular in developed countries, with municipalities engaging in household waste source separation schemes to meet statutory targets set by higher authorities. In developing countries too, NGOs, municipalities and national governments have started to include source separation in waste management policy and legislation. But this approach will present a new set of challenges to municipalities and waste generators alike, particularly when it is not preceded by a proper analysis of practical constraints on the ground. The purpose of this research is to develop workable recycling guidelines for cities in developing countries with similar characteristics to Gaborone from analysis of such constraints. The study began as an exploratory research process that evolved into a case study. A cross-sectional survey methodology was used including survey techniques such as waste characterisation sampling surveys for household and commercial waste, questionnaire-based interview surveys, semi-structured interviews with key informants representing stakeholders, and market survey for post-consumer materials. The research is directed by the hypothesis that: Despite the projection of organised recycling as an effective means to enhance waste recycling, its practicality as a waste management strategy in developing countries is constrained by the realities on the ground. The research found that, the major constraints to organised recycling are lack of practical official support for recycling, failure of public awareness to translate into participation in recycling initiatives, the attitude of municipal officials that favours maintenance of the status quo and relatively high recovery rates achieved by the existing recycling initiatives. The research concludes that under the prevailing conditions, it would not be practical to organise recycling schemes in the format used in developed countries and proposes guidelines that lake into consideration the established constraints.

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.

The bioreactor landfill is an emerging concept for solid waste management that has gained significant attention in the last decade. This technology employs specific operational practices to enhance the microbial decomposition processes in landfills. However, the unsupervised management and lack of operational guidelines for the bioreactor landfill, specifically leachate manipulation and recirculation processes, usually results in less than optimal system performance. Therefore, these limitations have led to the development of SMART (Sensor-based Monitoring and Remote-control Technology), an expert control system that utilizes real-time monitoring of key system parameters in the management of bioreactor landfills. SMART replaces conventional open-loop control with a feedback control system that aids the human operator in making decisions and managing complex control issues. The target from this control system is to provide optimum conditions for the biodegradation of the refuse, and also, to enhance the performance of the bioreactor in terms of biogas generation. SMART includes multiple cascading logic controllers and mathematical calculations through which the quantity and quality of the recirculated solution are determined. The expert system computes the required quantities of leachate, buffer, supplemental water, and nutritional amendments in order to provide the bioreactor landfill microbial consortia with their optimum growth requirements. Soft computational methods, particularly fuzzy logic, were incorporated in the logic controllers of SMART so as to accommodate the uncertainty, complexity, and nonlinearity of the bioreactor landfill processes. Fuzzy logic was used to solve complex operational issues in the control program of SMART including: (1) identify the current operational phase of the bioreactor landfill based on quantifiable parameters of the leachate generated and biogas produced, (2) evaluate the toxicological status of the leachate based on certain parameters that directly contribute to or indirectly indicates bacterial inhibition, and (3) predict biogas generation rates based on the operational phase, leachate recirculation, and sludge addition. The later fuzzy logic model was upgraded to a hybrid model that employed the learning algorithm of artificial neural networks to optimize the model parameters. SMART was applied to a pilot-scale bioreactor landfill prototype that incorporated the hardware components (sensors, communication devices, and control elements) and the software components (user interface and control program) of the system. During a one-year monitoring period, the feasibility and effectiveness of the SMART system were evaluated in terms of multiple leachate, biogas, and waste parameters. In addition, leachate heating was evaluated as a potential temperature control tool in bioreactor landfills. The pilot-scale implementation of SMART demonstrated the applicability of the system. SMART led to a significant improvement in the overall performance of the BL in terms of methane production and leachate stabilization. Temperature control via recirculation of heated leachate achieved high degradation rates of organic matter and improved the methanogenic activity.

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).

Thesis (M.P.A.)--Kutztown University. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2946. Typescript.

Mémoire (M.E.S.R.)-- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 1994. / Résumé disponible sur Internet. CaQCU Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Thesis (M.Eng.). / Written for the Dept. of Mining, Metals and Materials Engineering. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2009/06/15). Includes bibliographical references.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-06-13T13:02:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SARA HENRIQUE PONTES - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGRN) 2015.pdf: 1798026 bytes, checksum: c17366d45984394759aff29e4a3b3054 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-13T13:02:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SARA HENRIQUE PONTES - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGRN) 2015.pdf: 1798026 bytes, checksum: c17366d45984394759aff29e4a3b3054 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-27 / A prática de um eficiente sistema de gestão ambiental tornou-se exigência em todas as instituições, sejam elas públicas ou privadas. Havendo diversos fatores (legais, culturais, econômicos, sociais, além de vários outros) que as obrigam a desenvolver uma conduta ambiental dentro dos padrões estabelecidos. E visando atender a essas exigências, diversos mecanismos de apoio foram criados. Um deles foi a International Organization for Standardization (ISO), que normaliza diversos temas comuns à sociedade e as organizações. Mas, especificamente na área ambiental, foi criada a série de normas ISO 14000. Que tem a finalidade de uniformizar ações que visem uma nova concepção de proteção do meio ambiente. Com o desenvolvimento da Administração gerencial nas instituições públicas houve também a necessidade do desenvolvimento de práticas ambientais corretas, que culminassem em um eficiente sistema de gestão ambiental. Na UFCG não é diferente, mas especificamente no que tange a questão dos resíduos sólidos serão trabalhadas na presente pesquisa as normas ISO 14001 e ISO 14004. Dessa forma, o objetivo do trabalho foi elaborar um diagnóstico referente à gestão de resíduos sólidos na Universidade Federal de Campina Grande – UFCG, analisando os aspectos e impactos ambientais associados, de acordo com a série de normas ISO 14000:2004. No que se refere à metodologia a pesquisa é caracterizada como exploratória e descritiva, o método aplicado foi o Indutivo. O delineamento e a estratégia de investigação foram documentais, além de um estudo de caso na instituição alvo da pesquisa. Para análise do diagnóstico atual utilizou-se a avaliação dos aspectos operacionais e organizacionais que abordou diversas variáveis: Fonte geradora, armazenamento provisório, destino final, responsabilidade pelo gerenciamento dos resíduos, programas de educação ambiental e aspectos legais. A mensuração do grau e significância dos impactos ambientais causados pelos resíduos deu-se através da aplicação de três metodologias: Metodologia FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis – Análise dos Modos e Efeitos de Falha), Metodologia de Avaliação de Gestão Ambiental aplicada pela ISO 14000 e da adaptação Matriz de Leopold. A escolha da combinação das três metodologias justifica-se pelo fato de serem ferramentas comumente utilizadas na avaliação do processo de gestão ambiental, e quando utilizadas em conjunto, mostram de forma mais clara e completa a conclusão dos resultados. A população pesquisada foi constituída pela população fixa e flutuante da instituição. A amostra, foi a não probabilística estratificada intencional ou por julgamento, buscou-se entrevistar lideres representativos da população estudada de setores estratégicos relativos à área ambiental. Após a delimitação do atual diagnóstico organizacional e a avaliação de dezessete impactos observados, conclui-se que não há na instituição uma política ou programa de gestão dos resíduos sólidos, nem infraestrutura adequada para tal gerenciamento. / The practice of an effective environmental management system became required in all institutions, whether public or private. Having several factors (legal, cultural, economic, social, and several others) that require them to develop an environmental management within the established standards. And to meet these requirements, different support mechanisms were created. One was the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which normalizes many themes common to society and organizations. But specifically in the environmental area, the number of ISO 14000 was created What is the purpose of standardizing actions aimed at a new concept of environmental protection. With the development of management in public administration institutions there was also the need to develop correct environmental practices, which culminate in an efficient environmental management system. In UFCG is no different, but specifically with respect to the issue of solid waste will be worked in this study the ISO 14001 and ISO 14004. standards Thus, the objective was to make a diagnosis on the management of solid waste at the Federal University of Campina Grande - UFCG, analyzing the aspects and associated environmental impacts, according to the number of ISO 14000: 2004. With regard to the search methodology is characterized as descriptive and exploratory, the method used was the inductive. The design and research strategy were documented, and a case study in the target of the research institution. To analyze the current diagnosis used the evaluation of operational and organizational aspects which addressed several variables: generating Source, interim storage, final destination, waste management liability, environmental education programs and legal aspects. Measurement of the degree and significance of the environmental impacts of waste was made through the application of three methods: FMEA Methodology (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - Modes of Failure and Effects Analysis), Environmental Management Assessment Methodology applied for ISO 14000 and adaptation Leopold Matrix. The choice of combining three methodologies justified by the fact that they are tools commonly used in the evaluation of the environmental management process, and when used together, show more clearly and fully the conclusion of the results. The population studied consisted of the fixed and floating population of the institution. The sample was non-probabilistic intentional or stratified trial, we sought to interview leaders representative of the study population of strategic sectors related to the environmental area. After delineating the current organizational diagnosis and evaluation of seventeen observed impacts, it is concluded that there is no institution in a policy or program management of solid waste, or adequate infrastructure for such management.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-06-14T14:04:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 LUANA ANDRADE LIMA QUERINO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGRN) 2014.pdf: 2461709 bytes, checksum: 41036314ca6e787720226fc03a464872 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-14T14:04:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LUANA ANDRADE LIMA QUERINO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGRN) 2014.pdf: 2461709 bytes, checksum: 41036314ca6e787720226fc03a464872 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / O crescimento acelerado e desordenado das cidades tem provocado alterações e impactos ambientais ao meio ambiente. Dentre os problemas ambientais oriundos da urbanização destaca-se a disposição irregular de resíduos sólidos que estão ligados ao aumento da geração e a variedade de materiais. E possível encontrar na cidade de São Sebastião de Lagoa de Roça deposição de resíduos doméstico pelas ruas da cidade, em terrenos baldios a céu aberto. Neste sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a percepção ambiental dos moradores do município de São Sebastião de Lagoa de Roça quanto a geração, destino e impactos causados pelos resíduos sólidos de origem domiciliar, mediante a realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas. O trabalho foi desenvolvido por meio de uma pesquisa participante no período de Julho a Novembro 2014. Como instrumento foi utilizado entrevistas abertas e semiestruturadas. Com os dados obtidos, verificou-se que os moradores entrevistados não tem demonstrado preocupação com a geração de resíduo. Quando indagados sobre ações ou atitudes ambientalmente corretas, a grande maioria não as conhecem, mas reconhecem os efeitos dos danos causados no meio ambiente pelos resíduos. Faltam iniciativas por parte do poder público para solucionar o problema e disponibilizar aos cidadãos meios que criem laços entre a população e o meio em que vivem. É visível a necessidade de difundir hábitos sustentáveis que promovam a qualidade de vida dos habitantes da cidade. A falta de infraestrutura e condições básicas de vida, o indivíduo acabar por adequar a sua realidade, aquilo que parece impossível para uns, para outros é realidade cotidiana. / The rapid and unplanned growth of cities has been changing and environmental impacts to the environment. Among the environmental problems arising from urbanization highlight the irregular disposal of solid waste that are linked to increased generation and the variety of materials. It is possible to find in the city of São Sebastião de Roca Lagoon deposition of domestic waste in the city streets, in vacant lots in the open. In this sense, the objective of this study was to analyze the environmental perception of the residents of São Sebastião de Roca Lagoon as the generation, destination and impacts of solid home residues by conducting semi-structured interviews. The work was developed through a participatory research in the period from July to November 2014. The instrument used was open and semi-structured interviews. With the data obtained, it was found that the residents interviewed have not been concerned with the generation of waste. When asked about environmentally friendly actions or attitudes, the vast majority do not know, but recognize the effects of damage caused to the environment by waste. Lack initiatives by the government to solve the problem and provide citizens with a means to create links between the population and the environment in which they live. It is apparent the need to spread sustainable habits that promote quality of life of residents. The lack of infrastructure and basic living conditions, the individual end up suit your reality, what seems impossible for some, for others it is everyday reality.

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