The current global waste problem presents significant challenges worldwide, and Spain is no different. Factors such as rapid urbanization, population growth, intensive agriculture, linear production models, and changing consumption patterns contribute to the upward trend in waste generation. To address these challenges and meet EU requirements, Spain developed the Law 7/2022 on Waste and Contaminated Soils for a Circular Economy (LRSC) to establish a legal framework promoting waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and proper waste management. The LRSC includes green taxes on plastic and landfill waste, incineration, and co-incineration. This qualitative policy research investigates the drivers and barriers influencing Spanish small and medium companies (SMEs) in transitioning to a circular economy (CE) and evaluates the effectiveness of the LRSC in supporting this shift reducing the scope to packaging waste. The study also aims to assess the impact of the LRSC, particularly the two green taxes within it, and address any emerging issues. Through a literature review and interviews with ten SMEs, the research reveals challenges in waste management, low recycling rates, and high landfilling rates in Spain. Barriers to circular economic models include the need for EU-wide alignment of laws, consumer education, stagnation of recycling technology, lack of economic incentives, high prices of recycled plastic, greenwashing, and cost savings. Companies face challenges such as lack of availability of recycled plastic, concerns about food contact packaging approval if produced with recycled plastics, changing company values and workforce habits, lack of legislative harmonization which increase the system complexity, capitalist marketing strategies, investment requirements, and lack of education. However, drivers for transition include consumer choices, economic incentives, and market demand. Concerns about the LRSC’s effectiveness in reducing packaging waste and facilitating the transition to a CE, include late implementation, eco-design and circular economy foundation deficiencies, selective collection challenges, and the low availability of recycled plastics. The LRSC is believed to have potential positive impact for the environment, however further efforts are needed to overcome the challenges identified in the study.

Tidigare studier har visat på höga halter av per- och polyfluorerade alkylsubstanser (PFAS) ilakvatten från avfallsanläggningar. Avfallsanläggningar i Sverige har idag inga krav på attrena bort PFAS från lakvatten, och anläggningarna har generellt inte ett reningssystem som äranpassat för att rena den typen av ämnen. EU stramar hela tiden åt kraven kring utsläpp ochanvändning av PFAS och det kan därför vara bra för en avfallsanläggning att ha översikt påhur mycket PFAS det släpps ut från deponi- och avfallsverksamheten och vilka eventuellaåtgärder som skulle kunna vidtas för detta problem. I denna uppsats används analysresultat av22 PFAS ämnen från nio provtagningspunkter på Gärstad avfallsanläggning, för attundersöka avfallsanläggningens utsläpp av PFAS. Resultaten för studien visar att deuppmätta värdena för summa PFAS 22 för provpunkterna ligger mellan 410 ng/l – 58 000ng/l. PFAS ämnen med kortare kedja (4 – 8 kol) har uppmätts i högre halter än de med längrekedja (9 – 13 kol). Resultaten visade även högre halter av perfluorerade karboxylater (PFCA)än perfluorerade sulfonsyror (PFSA). / Previous studies have shown high levels of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS)in leachate from waste facilities. Waste facilities in Sweden currently have no requirements topurify PFAS from leachate, and the facilities generally do not have a treatment system that isadapted to purify this type of substances. The EU is constantly tightening the requirementsregarding the release and use of PFAS, and it can therefore be good for a waste facility tokeep track of how much PFAS is released from landfill and waste operations and whatpossible measurements could be taken for this problem. In this essay, analysis results of 22PFAS substances from nine sampling points at Gärstad waste facility have been used, toinvestigate the waste facility's discharge of PFAS. The results of studies show that themeasured values for total PFAS 22 at the sampling spots are between 410 ng/l - 58,000 ng/l.PFAS substances with a shorter chain (4 – 8 carbons) have been measured at higherconcentrations than those with a longer chain (9 – 13 carbons). The results also showedhigher levels of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) than perfluorinated sulfonic acids(PFSAs).

The landfill leachate is commonly treated for non-biodegradable organic matters, ammonia and colour. Experimental investigations using polyaluminium chlorite (PAC) and UV/O3 have been conducted for the determination of optimal pH value, reaction time and PAC concentration for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and colour. In pre-treatment coagulation stages, the highest COD and colour removal efficiencies were observed at the concentration of PAC ≥ 3,000 mglG1 and pH values between 7 and 8. However, these experiments also indicated significant removal efficiency for PAC starting with concentrations of 1,500 mglG1. The efficiency of COD and colour removal were approximately 30% and 70%, respectively. Similar efficiencies have been observed also during the second treatment stage where UV/O3 processes were used to treat coagulated leachate. After UV/O3 application, the pH of leachate reached the optimum value of 7.5 whereas the highest COD and colour removal efficiency was 55% and 72%, respectively, and the optimal reaction time was achieved after 80 min. / Nước rỉ rác sinh ra từ bãi chôn lấp chất thải rắn cần được xử lý các thành phần chất hữu cơ khó phân hủy sinh học, xử lí amoni và độ màu. Một số kết quả thử nghiệm về xử lý COD và màu của nước rỉ rác bằng việc sử dụng phương pháp keo tụ với PAC và quá trình UV/O3 đã được thực hiện cùng với việc xác định các giá trị pH tối ưu, thời gian phản ứng và nồng độ PAC tối ưu. Hiệu suất xử lý cao nhất đạt được khi nồng độ của PAC ≥ 3.000 mg/l, pH trong khoảng từ 7 đển 8 trong giai đoạn tiền xử lý. Tuy nhiên, hiệu quả loại bỏ COD và màu bắt đầu tăng rõ khi nồng độ PAC từ 1.500 mg/l trở lên. Hiệu quả loại bỏ COD và màu tương ứng là khoảng 30% và 70%. Các giá trị pH này phù hợp cho quá trình phản ứng UV/O3 được sử dụng sau giai đoạn keo tụ. Sau quá trình xử lý bằng hệ UV/O3, pH của nước rỉ rác tối ưu được xác định là 7,5 (hiệu suất xử lý COD và màu cao nhất tương ứng là 55% và 72%), thời gian phản ứng tối ưu là 80 phút.

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Wood waste containing formaldehyde based resins are generated yearly and disposed in landfills or burned. No regulations exist in most states and no studies have been conducted to address formaldehyde emission from wood waste buried in landfills. The objective of this study was to: a) determine the amount of formaldehyde released into air and leachate from MDF disposed in a simulated landfill, b) analyze the environmental impacts of leachate containing formaldehyde, and c) investigate change in chemical and morphological properties of disposed MDF. Sampling of MDF, soil and leachate were conducted for determination of formaldehyde weekly for 56 days by HPLC. Environmental impacts of leachate was determined by BOD, COD, and toxicity. Changes in the chemical composition and morphological structures were also determined. No detectable formaldehyde was observed in MDF, soil or leachate after 28 days. The BOD and COD levels indicated the leachate was not suitable for drinking.