Nowadays, with concerns about environmental and health issues, the awareness of more environmentally friendly and sustainable waste disposal is growing. However, due to the widespread disposal of waste items in the fashion field, such as landfills and incineration, the problems caused by these disposal methods cannot meet people’s sustainable needs for waste treatment. Therefore, the project is based on consumers, focusing on the sustainable treatment of used garments, and provides some possibilities for solving problems related to other types of used products.  In order to achieve this goal, this project starts from the literature review of garments disposal behavior, and through the understanding of the theories such as life cycle assessment and waste hierarchy, as well as the collection and analysis of user survey data, completed the design of the project solution. By reference to the theoretical framework and application of the methodological framework, the project finally proposed a solution composed of three consumer-oriented design ideas, mainly in the form of social design to facilitate people’s recycling, reuse and other sustainable disposals of used garments.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The response of several plant species to heavy metal contaminated soils was evaluated using plant bioassays with a soil substrate. A natural soil was collected from Dinwiddie County, Virginia and soil analysis was performed. The plant species, Lolium multiflorum, setaria italica and Trifolium rep ens latum, Robinia pseudoacacia, Andropogon gerardi, Asclepias syriaca, Echinacea purpurea, Rudbeckia hirta and Festuca rubra were grown in to determine the response to cupric and cadmium chloride in soils (mg Cu/kg soil). A few plant species were grown in small pots in a plant growth chamber for 28 days using control, 10, 30, 100 and 300mg Cu or Cd/kg soil. Germination proved to be less sensitive than root length. S. italica had highest ECSOs. In eu 20.7 and 15.3 in Cd. All plant species were grown for 7 days in 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 10.0, and 30.0mg Cu/kg soil and in control. Germination was not effected by metal concentrations in most species (p=0.07-0.6), except T.repens latum, R. hirta and F. rubra at 30mg/kg (p=0.0007). Root length was significantly effected by Cu concentrations for almost all species (p=0.0001-0.0112). Setaria italica had the highest EC50 at 10.86mg/kg. Robinia pseudoacacia root length was not significantly affected by CU concentrations. The other species had EC50s ranging from 3.74-7.51mg/kg. Both inhibition and stimulation of root growth were observed. Preliminary studies regarding germination rates, fungicides and rangefinding are included. / Master of Science

Source water protection planning (SWPP) is an approach to prevent contamination of ground and surface water in watersheds where these resources may be abstracted for drinking or used for recreation. For SWPP the hazards within a watershed that could contribute to water contamination are identified together with the pathways that link them to the water resource. In rural areas, farms are significant potential sources of pathogens. A risk-based index can be used to support the assessment of the potential for contamination following guidelines on safety and operational efficacy of processes and practices developed as beneficial approaches to agricultural land management. Evaluation of the health risk for a target population requires knowledge of the strength of the hazard with respect to the pathogen load (mass concentration). Manure handling and on-site wastewater treatment systems form the most important hazards, and both can comprise confined and unconfined source elements. There is also a need to understand the modification of pathogen numbers (attenuation) together with characteristics of the established pathways (surface or subsurface), which allow the movement of the contaminant species from a source to a receptor (water source). Many practices for manure management have not been fully evaluated for their impact on pathogen survival and transport in the environment. A key component is the identification of potential pathways of contaminant transport. This requires the development of a suitable digital elevation model of the watershed for surface movement and information on local groundwater aquifer systems for subsurface flows. Both require detailed soils and geological information. The pathways to surface and groundwater resources can then be identified. Details of land management, farm management practices(including animal and manure management) and agronomic practices have to be obtained, possibly from questionnaires completed by each producer within the watershed. To confirm that potential pathways are active requires some microbial source tracking. One possibility is to identify the molecular types of Escherichia coli present in each hazard on a farm. An essential part of any such index is the identification of mitigation strategies and practices that can reduce the magnitude of the hazard or block open pathways.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Reynaldo Palácios Bereche / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Energia, 2015. / O Brasil possui crescente taxa de geração de resíduos sólidos urbanos. Tal resíduo é, em sua grande parte, alocado em aterros sanitários sendo que boa parte tem destinação inadequada. Em 2008, o governo brasileiro instituiu a política nacional de resíduos sólidos, que indica que somente o resíduo sem viabilidade econômica deve ser alocado em aterros sanitários sendo que aterros controlados e lixões devem ser fechados. Entre as diversas opções de tratamentos disponíveis, a incineração com aproveitamento energético se apresenta como uma opção a ser estudada uma vez que o país possui uma alta demanda de energia. Sendo assim, esse trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo das tecnologias e do potencial de geração de energia elétrica a partir de resíduos sólidos urbanos em ciclos de potência a vapor. O trabalho foi dividido em quatro estudos: (I) Estudo das correlações para determinação do poder calorífico; (II) Análise da influência da composição dos resíduos; (III) Análise técnico-econômica da planta; (IV) Análise econômica. O estudo (I) consistiu na comparação de diversas correlações e composições de RSU de forma a avaliar a melhor opção para o cálculo do PCI do combustível. O estudo comparou a resposta das correlações em relação aos valores experimentais e mostrou que os erros encontrados não são maiores do que o esperado pela variação da composição devido à mudança dos hábitos da população. Os estudos (II) e (III) levaram em conta a separação de materiais e alterações na configuração dos ciclos a vapor. O estudo (II) revelou que a separação da matéria orgânica é benéfica à incineração enquanto a remoção de plásticos é nociva do ponto de vista do aproveitamento energético. O estudo (III) revelou que existe um potencial de ganho considerável no aumento da eficiência desses ciclos. Por fim, o estudo (IV) mostrou que, para o Brasil, esta tecnologia ainda possui custo elevado e para viabilização, deveria ser buscado um aumento da eficiência com o aumento da escala de plantas desse tipo, além de fomentos econômicos na forma de financiamentos e redução de impostos. Como conclusão do trabalho foi possível observar o custo elevado da tecnologia e o potencial desta para o futuro. Esse potencial pode ser atingido com planejamento e conscientização da população para que, com o fim da vida dos aterros, essa tecnologia possa ser implementada com custo que viabilize este tratamento. / Brazil has an increasing rate of waste generation where such waste is, for the most part, allocated in landfills. In 2008, the Brazilian government established a national solid waste policy that states that only the economically unviable waste must be placed in landfills, while the controlled landfills and dumps should be closed. Among the available treatments, incineration with energy recovery is presented as an option to be studied once the country has a high energy demand. Therefore, this study aims to study the technologies and the potential for electricity from municipal solid waste incineration in steam cycles. This work was divided into four studies: (i) Study of correlations; (II) Analysis of the influence of the composition; (III) technical and economic analysis of the plant and (IV) economic analysis. The study (I) consists in comparing different correlations and compositions to assess the best choice for calculating the fuel¿s lower heating value. The study¿s goal was to shown the correlations with less difference compared to experimental data and showed that the errors found are not higher than expected by varying the composition due to changing population's habits. Studies (II) and (III) take into account the separation of materials and configuration changes in steam cycles. The study (II) revealed that the separation of the organic matter is beneficial to incineration while removing plastics is harmful. The study (III) revealed that there is considerable upside potential in increasing the efficiency of these cycles. Finally, the study (IV) revealed that, in Brazil, this technology still has high cost and, to make this technology viable, would be important to have higher efficiency and bigger plant scale along with economic stimulation to this technology. As conclusion, was possible to observe the high cost of technology and the potential in the future. This potential can be achieved with planning and public awareness so that, with the end of life of landfills, this technology can be implemented at a cost that enables this technology.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Composting of pig slurry (DLS) is an important strategy to mitigate the environmental damage of intensive pig farms. Despite being a promising strategy, one of the problems from composting is still the losses of nitrogen (N) by volatilization of ammonia (NH3). Acidification of DLS before to addition to the piles, reducing the pH and thus, the piles, may be a possibility to circumvent this problem. However, little is known about the effect of acidification of DLS, not only on emissions of (NH3) as with respect to emissions of greenhouse gases (GEE) (CO2, CH4 e N2O) during the process, especially in automated systems where the addition of manure and mixing of piles are frequent. This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effect of acidification of pig slurry on ammonia and greenhouse gases emissions during an automated composting process. The study was conducted at the Federal University of Santa Maria, RS, during 154 days in compost piles containing the mixture of wood shavings and sawdust as substrate, with weekly additions of DLS, followed by two revolving piles during the first 106 days. Between 107 and 154 days were made only weekly turnings piles. Two treatments were tested, one with manure acidification with H3PO4 to pH around 6.0 and another without acidification. The evaluation of emissions of NH3 was carried out in semi-open static chambers, while the GEE was performed in static chambers. The pH of DLS was reduced on average 0.87 units with acidification compared to the original values and the average value of all applications was 5.84. In compost piles, the pH decreased from 8.11 to 6.72 on average during all period of the experiment. The concentrations of NH4+ at the end of the experiment were, on an average of two evaluated layers, 102.98 mg kg-1 in the pile without acidification and 398.81 mg kg-1 in the pile with acidification, while the levels of NO3- were 13.37 mg kg-1 in the pile without acidification and 1371.04 mg kg-1 in the pile with acidification. The cumulative emission of NH3 in the treatment with acidification was 32.6 g m-2, 70% lower than the treatment without acidification (107.8 g m-2). Acidification of DLS also reduced the cumulative CO2 emissions to the atmosphere of 91.65 kg m-2 to 69.05 kg m-2 (25%) and the CH4 of 639.97 g m-2 to 227.13 g m-2 (65%). On the other hand, acidification of DLS at the time of addition to the substrate increased the cumulative emission of N2O by 30.4 g N-N2O m-2 (130%) at 154 days of composting. / A compostagem de dejetos líquidos de suínos (DLS) é uma importante estratégia para mitigar o passivo ambiental da suinocultura intensiva. Apesar de ser uma estratégia promissora, um dos problemas decorrentes da compostagem são, ainda, as perdas de nitrogênio (N) por volatilização de amônia (NH3). A acidificação dos DLS previamente a adição às pilhas, reduzindo seu pH e, consequentemente, das pilhas, pode ser uma possibilidade para contornar esse problema. Todavia, pouco se conhece sobre o efeito da acidificação dos DLS, não somente sobre as emissões de NH3 como no que tange às emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) (CO2, CH4 e N2O) durante o processo, sobretudo, em sistemas automatizados, onde a adição de dejetos e o revolvimento das pilhas são frequentes. Esse trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da acidificação de dejetos líquidos de suínos sobre as emissões de amônia e gases de efeito estufa durante um processo de compostagem automatizada. O trabalho foi conduzido na Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, RS, durante 154 dias, em pilhas de compostagem contendo a mistura de maravalha e serragem como substrato, com adições semanais de DLS, seguidas de dois revolvimentos das pilhas durante os primeiros 106 dias. No período entre 107 e 154 dias foram efetuados apenas revolvimentos semanais das pilhas. Foram testados dois tratamentos, sendo um com acidificação dos dejetos com H3PO4 até pH próximo a 6,0 e outro sem acidificação. A avaliação das emissões de NH3 foi realizada em câmaras estáticas semi-abertas, enquanto a de GEE foi realizada em câmaras estáticas. O pH dos DLS foi reduzido em média 0,87 unidades com a acidificação em relação aos valores originais, sendo o valor médio de todas as aplicações de 5,84. Nas pilhas de compostagem, o pH reduziu de 8,11 para 6,72 na média de todo período de condução do experimento. Os teores de NH4+ ao final do experimento foram, na média das duas camadas avaliadas, de 102,98 mg kg-1 na pilha sem acidificação e 398,81 mg kg-1 na pilha com acidificação, enquanto os teores de NO3- foram de 13,37 mg kg-1 na pilha sem acidificação e 1371,04 mg kg-1 na pilha com acidificação. A emissão acumulada de NH3 no tratamento com acidificação foi de 32,6 g m-2, 70% inferior ao tratamento sem acidificação (107,8 g m-2). A acidificação dos DLS reduziu, também, as emissões acumuladas de CO2 para a atmosfera de 91,65 kg m-2 para 69,05 kg m-2 (25%) e CH4 de 639,97 g m-2 para 227,13 g m-2 (65%). Por outro lado, a acidificação dos DLS no momento da sua adição ao substrato aumentou a emissão acumulada de N2O em 30,4 g N-N2O m-2 (130%) em 154 dias de compostagem.

The subject of these theses contains an evaluation of the waste policy in the A.S.A. České Budějovice company. More precisely is oriented on waste dump in Lišov. Firstly, as an result of my work, the proposition of better economic and technology solution is offered. The proposal covered also the problem of the ecological waste handling. In the frame of the ecological treatment the biodegradation is included. This will lead to another direction of the waste treatment policy. The way is under EU environmental policy legislature. The final result of these theses is a real project of the waste assorting line with the direct link towards the manipulation with the biodegradation material. These procedures are proposed in accordance with the economical situation of the A.S.A. České Budějovice division.

Swedish state has been promoting alternative renewable fuels like biogas to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and to curb related greenhouse gas emissions. Owing to many policies like subsidies and tax exemptions for using biogas, the country has seen a surge in demand for biogas. Meanwhile, the increase in production of biogas in Sweden has been modest in recent years, though many studies have estimated substantially higher potentials from many sources. Agricultural feedstock/biomass is one among these sources where production and use of biogas could address many challenges faced by farmers like agricultural waste management, soil nutrient management, methane emissions from manure etc. while closing the nutrient cycle and contributing to sustainability.This work is an investigation on how to stimulate the growth of biogas production based on agricultural feedstock/biomass production in Sweden. Since policies give different results in different states/countries depending on the local preconditions, locally developed policies, national policies and EU policies should integrate well in all the policy sectors in that particular region to give the intended result. The current production capacity is about 2 TWh worth of biogas/year but the theoretical potential is estimated to be up to 15 TWh that has been claimed by many researches and literature works like in (Westlund, et al., 2019). Much of the potential has not been explored especially in the field of agriculture. It is asserted in many articles that the true potential of biogas production from Swedish agriculture is far greater than what is produced today. Yet, all the regulations, financial and other financial instruments failed to stimulate local biogas production in Sweden to attain its full theoretical potential. The results presented in this study show where these policies failed and what else apart from the policies could be improved in order promote biogas production.Farmers are hesitant to invest in biogas production because of the complexity and unpredictability of the existing policies. There has been significant negative impact from lack technological training of anaerobic digestion (AD) technology. This is also reflected as difficulties in finding trained and dedicated staff for biogas plant operations. Low profitability of biogas business exists ever since the production started and the financial aids are insufficient. Strict digestate regulations along with worsening substrate competition also creates problems. Permits to run the biogas plants are perceived to be expensive alongside increasing investment costs and taxes, affecting already low profitability. There is also a lack of infrastructure in terms of electricity/gas grid connectivity. Feed in tariffs for electricity produced from renewable sources are not bringing enough profitability to the business. Technological improvements are needed in terms of agricultural machinery that can use upgraded biogas as fuel and treatment of digestate to eliminate heavy metal content. Producers need more long term, sure market for their biogas. / Biogasmarknadsutredningen of BRC