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This thesis examines the regional electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) recycling network in Malaysia and Singapore, with a secondary focus on the articulations of informal labour within the network. I argue that there is a need to theorise production networks post-consumption; i.e. to focus on the activities and processes that occur after a commodity is consumed and subsequently discarded. I argue that discarded e-waste are not ‘value-less’ waste, but instead embody value (specifically latent use value), and have the potential to be re-inserted as ‘raw materials’ into production networks through the processes of recycling. Also, key to the processes of value (re)creation, enhancement and capture is the labour process. I examine informal labour by focusing on karung guni (a local term for the rag-and-bone man) – analysing their critical role in value (re)creation in this regional e-waste recycling production network through the lens of petty commodity production. I argue that karung guni are constitutive of this production network through their collection and primary processing of e-waste, which forms the basis for subsequent value creation, enhancement and capture by downstream actors. Conceptualising karung guni as petty commodity producers – who own both the means of production and their own labour power – is significant in problematising as not so straightforward the separation of capital and labour into discreet categories as normally presented in global value chains (GVC)/global production networks (GPN) approaches. This thesis makes four significant contributions to the GVC/GPN literature. First, it recognises activities beyond the point of consumption (which has been the focus of present GVC/GPN research). Second, it conceptualises the constitutive role of informal labour in the development and structure of production networks. Third, it emphasises the continued relevance of the state. Fourth, by adopting a multi-sited case study method, it contributes to debates on how to carry out GVC/GPN research.

This work deals with the use of solidification technology for the disposal of hazardous waste with the aim of its material recovery. The goal of this Master's Thesis is to find and verify a new solidification way that will allow efficient transformation of hazardous waste into new material and its further use in civil engineering.

During the last decades, solid waste management has been going through a lot of changes regarding, regulation and applications of models and systems. New practices to solve environmental problems have been approached in different scenarios, situations and in different countries. Today the problem of waste management requires the application of broader approach including new methodologies, systems, practices and models to continue the development toward sustainable systems. The objective of this thesis to assess the waste management situation in the Provinces of Jujuy (Municipality of San Salvador de Jujuy) and Salta (Municipality of Salta Capital) located in the north of Argentina and to provide technical recommendations to implement or improve their waste management system. To carry out the technical and environmental assessment of the waste situation in the municipalities in Jujuy and Salta, the Integrated Waste Management (IWM) approach from UN-HABITAT and UNEP, Global Waste Management Outlook is applied; as well as the chronological and practical methodology WHAT (Waste Holistic Assessment Tool) from the Municipal Association in Sweden “Gästrike Återvinnare” based on ten (15) aspects that, according to praxis in Sweden, are considered relevant in order to assess the waste management system in a municipality. The Province of Jujuy and Salta are facing environmental problems as contamination of soil and groundwater, landfills producing greenhouse gas emissions and social problems of people living at the landfill that need to be addressed. The result of this thesis shows that in the province of Jujuy the waste management situation need to be prioritized. At the capital of Jujuy, there are produced 400 tonnes of household waste per day. The level of knowledge of the system perspective is very low and they need the creation of goals, objectives and policies for the implementation of a sustainable system. It is also necessary the assessment of the type and quality of the waste produced, to have a picture of the situation based on facts. The collection and transport need improvements on infrastructure and regarding the workers at the landfill. There is a lack of sorting system or sorting stations. Sorting of waste and recycling is only based on the activity of the informal workers living at the landfill. The construction of a sorting plant at Chanchillos is positive but the lack of separation system limit the usefulness of the equipment. Regarding the financing aspects, there is a system in place for charging the customers for services provided regarding collection of waste, but there is a problem with financing, to cover not only the costs for the daily services but to secure financing for needed investments in infrastructure, treatment facilities etc. In conclusion, the most important aspects with high priority In Jujuy to start with the implementation of an integrated waste management system in Jujuy are: system goals, source and quality of waste, waste sorting, waste treatment, cooperation, planning, financing, knowledge, socio economic aspects and environmental aspects. The results with lower priority are collection and transport, law and regulations, public awareness and business opportunities. On the other hand, the legislative framework shows that the legislation is in place concerning the issues of waste and environmental protection as well the legislative framework at national and provincial level. However, it is necessary to develop a specific legislation, regarding waste management practices, considering, waste hierarchy as well as the development guidelines regarding extended producer responsibility (EPR). In relation to the technical aspects of the landfill, the results show that there is a potential to implement two different solutions for waste treatment a) The capturing of the landfill gas to reduce gas emissions from the landfill. b) Possibility to build up a biogas plant with electricity generation or biodiesel production taking advantage of the raw material of the place as manure. The results in the Province of Salta shows the implementation of an integrated system is in place but it is necessary the improvement of the system. At the capital of the Province of Salta, there are produced 600 tonnes waste a day, that is deposited in a controlled landfill with biogas extraction and only a small percentage of the waste is sent for recycling. Regarding the waste collection and separation there are similarities with the problems of infrastructure described in the Province of Jujuy, such as the lack of trash cans, that makes the collection difficult and the lack of a separation system is a common deficit. The municipality does not have an update data of the quality and quantity of waste since 2003. In relation to public awareness there is a cooperative in cooperation with a private company that oversees the waste sorting. This program is a good initiative but it only covers 2000 blocks of the city and 14 000 households representing only the 10% of the total area. Regarding the financing there is a problem with financing, to cover not only the costs for the daily services but to secure financing for needed investments in infrastructure, treatment facilities, etc. The waste is transported to the landfill, which is using the cell method and is well constructed, considering important aspects as the size of the cells, quantity and variation of rainfall, the absorptive capacity of the waste as well as the control of the capacity of the cells for high degree compaction. However, the controlled landfill has technical problems during the extraction of biogas with leachates and oxygen that ingress into the holes where methane gas is extracted. In conclusion, the aspects with high priority in Salta are: classification of source and type of waste, cooperation, planning, financing, business opportunities and socio-economic aspects. The aspects with low priority are: system goals, collection and transport, waste treatment, law and regulations, public awareness, knowledge, environmental aspects. This shows that the government strategy is working positively regarding instruments and legislation. However, the control and financial system need improvement to afford the costs of the waste management system. The controlled landfill has technical problems during the extraction of biogas with leachates and oxygen that enter the holes where methane gas is extracted. There is also a potential to a) upgrade the biogas to biofuel or b) for generation of energy which is highly demanded in the Province. The conclusions of the assessment show that today the problem of waste management requires a broader approach and new methodologies to understand the situation of the decision makers in the area of waste management. Where not only the physical or technical aspects on a waste management system are considered but also broader and deeply oriented aspects that include other factors that describe the cause of the problems. The methodology applied in this thesis called WHAT (Waste Holistic Assessment Tool) can be used as a practical assessment tool in the future, for the analysis of the conditions for the establishment and development of integrated waste management system in a municipality. After the application of the WHAT methodology in this thesis it can be noticed that there is a potential of future improvements of the methodology as a) the inclusion of the Swedish knowledge and knowhow in the area.  b) potential to development of a software to provide a quick assessment in a municipality. c)  the inclusion of a database for the implementation of waste management. d) potential to include a financial tool with cost and benefits of the investments. According to the concept of sustainable waste management, the system needs to ensure health and safety aspects but in addition it must also be environmentally, effective, economically affordable and socially acceptable.

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Sheri Smith / America’s landfill space is quickly depleting as the population continues to experience rapid growth; as the population grows the amount of daily waste generated increases at an alarming as well. In fact, by the year 2024, America would have exhausted all land areas dedicated to landfills. Currently, nationwide mandated regulations or standards to decrease the amount generated solid waste, construction waste, composting waste, or reducing waste at the source; do not exists. The following report researches effective practices that would make a waste management system sustainable. In order to rate the sustainability of the management system, a score sheet was created drawing from literature written. By creating a score sheet, individual waste management systems are able to determine if they are indeed sustainable and/or in need of improvement. The City of Chicago, Illinois, was chosen as the city to be measured and has proven to have a promising future as a prototype in effective sustainable waste management practices.

The purpose of this report was to find out if grocery stores in Örnsköldsvik and Kramfors municipality recycle their producer responsibility package waste, hazardous waste and their food waste and in what way they get rid of their waste. Are there any differences in how these two municipalities does it? Are there any variance between different stores depending on size, location and finally come up with suggestions for improvements. To find out the answer to this questions phone interviews with 25 grocery stores in these two municipalities were conducted. The results from the survey shows that grocery stores in both municipalities sort out their producer responsibility package waste and hazardous waste to a great extent. Only four stores indicated that they sorted out food waste. Responses were varied regarding in what way the grocery stores get rid of their waste. Some stores get their waste picked-up by the municipality and others by different entrepreneurs. One of the big food chains have a contract with an entrepreneur to pick up their waste at all the stores in this part of the country. Some of the suggested improvements are to minimize the amount of food waste that gets thrown away and clarify the laws on what waste that the municipality have monopoly on. The conclusion of this report is that grocery stores in these two municipalities are good at sorting out their waste except food waste.

The Master of Engineering Management Project was sponsored by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) and consisted of two phases: The first was an analysis of existing information detailing the effects of hazardous natural events on Canterbury Lifeline Utilities in the past 15 years. The aim of this “Lessons Learned” project was to produce an analysis report that identified key themes from the research, gaps in the existing data and to provide recommendations from these “Lessons Learned.” The Second phase was the development of a practical “Disaster Mitigation Guideline” that outlined lessons in the field of Emergency Sanitation. This research would build upon the first stage and would draw from international reference to develop a guideline that has practical implementation possibilities throughout the world.

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