<p>Biodegradation of untreated cotton, linen, and hemp textiles as three substrates – measured through biogas production – was studied to compare digestion yield and the ability of anaerobic sludge as inoculum to utilize the sugars in these textiles without pretreatment. Digestion of these textile substrates was carried out over a 26-day study, with daily sampling of biogas production, to measure biogas production rate and accumulation. The flasks were maintained at 37 °C and 150 RPM with a substrate to inoculum ratio (SIR) of 0.5 g sugars from substrate g-1 VSinoculum from anaerobic sludge. Biogas samples were analyzed through gas chromatography (GC) to determine general biogas composition produced by each textile. Biogas production was notable after the four-day mark; with first peaks occurring on day five (hemp, cellulose), day seven (cotton), and day nine (linen). Production of biogas in the control largely outperformed trials with no added substrate, but overall the methane fractions of the gas was lower than expected, indicating that pretreatment is likely necessary for more complete biodegradation of natural textiles. </p>

[pt] Esta tese tem por objetivo avaliar o potencial de geração de biogás, por degradação anaeróbica de resíduos sólidos urbanos em perfis de um aterro sanitário. As amostras foram obtidas a partir de perfis de sondagem compostos por materiais dispostos em épocas distintas e com diferentes idades em relação a seu estágio de decomposição. Foi elaborado protocolo específico para determinação da temperatura, pH, composição gravimétrica, distribuição granulométrica, teores de umidade, de matéria orgânica, de sólidos voláteis e de lignina nessas amostras e criada metodologia com o uso de dados topográficos, para a determinação das idades de disposição dos resíduos. Foi ainda desenvolvido equipamento eudiométrico para a determinação potencial bioquímico de metano, com medidas de variação volumétrica e avaliação do prognóstico de geração de metano por modelos de primeira ordem mais consagrados (LandGEM e IPCC). Os dados experimentais indicaram que poucas propriedades apresentaram uma correlação com o perfil e com a idade dos RSU, devido à alta heterogenidade do material. Embora o potencial de biogás e a idade dos RSU não tenham apresentado correlação entre si, o material mais novo, de quase um ano, produziu maior quantidade de biogás e houve uma redução de 78 porcento dessa produção para a do material de 3 anos. Verificou-se uma relação entre o teor de matéria orgânica e de sólidos voláteis com a produção de biogás para materiais com até 4 anos. O prognóstico da geração de biogás aplicando os dados experimentais aos modelos EPA e IPCC foi menor do que quando adotados os parâmetros default. A retroanálise segundo o IPCC, com os dados experimentais, indicaram valores de DOC muito inferiores aos usados com default, resultando em menores emissões de biogás. / [en] The aim of this thesis is to evaluate of the potential biogas generation formed in the anaerobic phase from the degradation of urban solid waste with variables ages of deposition in a sanitary landfill. The materials were obtained from borehole profiles, being composed of materials disposed at different times and with variables ages in relation to their state of deposition. The knowledge of the physic-chemical characteristics is essential for assessing the biochemical potential of gases. Thus, it was developed: (i) a protocol for determination of properties, such as temperature, pH, gravimetric composition, particle size distribution, moisture content, organic matter content, volatile solids content, lignin content; (ii) one eudiometer device was constructed, with volume variation measurements for determining the biochemical methane potential; (iii) methodology to identify the ages of waste disposal by topography; and (iv) a methodology for predicting methane generation by well-known first order models (LandGEM and IPCC). Due to the high heterogeneity of the material, the experimental data indicated that few properties showed a trend in their behavior with respect to the profile and the age of MSW. Although the potential for biogas generation and the age of MSW showed no correlation, the newer material (almost one year old) showed higher biogas production. Gas production related to the 3 year old material was 78 percent lower compared to the newer one. Even with limited data, there is a relationship between the content of organic matter and/or volatile solid matter with the production of biogas for materials with more than 4 years. The prediction of biogas generation by applying experimental data was lower compared to the results applying EPA and IPCC models. The backcalculation analysis with the experimental data determined of IPCC indicated much lower DOC values than those used with the default, resulting in lower emission of biogas.

Efficient waste management enables the protection of human health, reducing environmental pollution, saving of natural resources, and achieving sustainable and profitable management of energy. In many countries, the general guidelines for waste management are set by national or local waste management plans. Various models provide local authorities with decision-making tools in planning long-term waste management scenarios.This study aims at providing a special model framework for the evaluation of ecological–economic efficiency (ECO-EE) of waste management. This will serve as an information support tool for decision making by actors of a solid waste management (SWM) scheme, primarily at the municipal and regional levels. The objective of this study is to apply the waste management’s efficient decision (WAMED) model along with the company statistical business tool for environmental recovery indicator (COSTBUSTER) model to SWM and municipal solid waste (MSW) schemes in general in order to evaluate and improve their ECO-EE. COSTBUSTER is a mathematical indicator for the size and extent of implementation costs of a certain SWM scheme, compared with the total size of the average financial budget of a SWM actor of a certain kind. In particular, WAMED is proposed for evaluating the suitability to invest in baling technology. Baling of solid waste is an emerging technology which is extensively used worldwide to temporarily store waste for either incineration or recovery of raw materials. The model for efficient use of resources for optimal production economy (the EUROPE model) is for the first time applied to emissions from baling facilities. It has been analysed how cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and full cost accounting (FCA) can facilitate environmental optimisation of SWM schemes. The effort in this work represents a continuation of such ambitions as an enlargement of the research area of CBA based modelling within SWM. In the thesis, certain theoretical and economic aspects of SWM were analysed as case studies. A shift of viewpoints within the field of waste management is presented. This shift is in accordance with the prevailing concept of sustainable development, as commonly understood. It is concluded that in the practical SWM context, the findings of the study point at the possibilities to modify the common CBA- and FCA-based methods by WAMED, COSTBUSTER, and EUROPE. Therefore, it can be said that estimations in a SWM scheme can be carried out by using certain economic model, if properly modified in a logical and plausible way. New principles for cost allocation to SWM residual products are presented in the current work. They imply strong industrial cost saving incentives through promoting the introduction of new and improved processing technologies for rest-waste. Such incentives then strongly promote investments that are likely to improve both the environment and the corporate profitability. Thereby, the occurrence of non-commercialised, and hence not utilized, wastes is reduced. This improves the short term corporate economy through saving raw materials such as solid waste fuel, spending less time for administrating waste flows, and less wear and tear of the plant machinery. Additional environmental advantages which affect the balance sheets in a favourable way are related to the long-term business economy and extended environmental goodwill. This is due to the recently introduced way of considering solid waste as regular goods in financial terms - the equality principle. If waste is seen as goods, and not wasted in landfills, the environment will improve. This, in turn, leads to an improved quality of life. Based on the current study, it is recommended to apply WAMED to SWM schemes in order to evaluate their ECO–EE to justify decision making and investments. Also, it is recommended to apply COSTBUSTER, based on the current WAMED outcome, to SWM schemes to determine their relative size and extent. It is recommended to apply EUROPE to the emissions in case of accidental burning, treatment of leachate, andabatement with odours at any SWM scheme, based on the induced economic incentives, in order to reduce unwanted substances and phenomena.

Dans une optique de maîtrise du procédé d’incinération des ordures ménagères et de ses possibles émissions polluantes, nous avons développé un modèle mathématique qui simule un lit d’ordures ménagères en combustion sur une grille mobile. Ce modèle décrit la plupart des phénomènes physicochimiques et thermiques intervenant lors de l’incinération : séchage et pyrolyse de la charge, combustion et gazéification du carbone résiduel, transferts thermiques, effondrement du lit, brassage… Il intègre également une description des mécanismes de volatilisation des métaux lourds et de formation des NOx. La cinétique de départ des métaux lourds est modélisée en tenant compte des différentes étapes de transport (transfert externe, diffusion intraparticulaire, volatilisation) au moyen de l’approche des temps caractéristiques additifs. Dans le cas simulé du cadmium, la prédiction d’une volatilisation quasi-complète est conforme aux résultats de la littérature. Le sous-modèle NOx prend en compte les mécanismes de formation thermique, prompt, combustible, par l’intermédiaire de N2O, ainsi que les mécanismes de réduction homogène par recombustion et hétérogène par le carbone résiduel. Les calculs révèlent que prédominent la formation par le mécanisme combustible et la destruction par la réduction hétérogène. Enfin, le modèle de lit a été utilisé pour étudier l’influence des divers paramètres opératoires : température, débit et distribution d’air primaire, taille des particules de déchets, brassage et schéma de brassage. Les résultats sont présentés et discutés en détail. L’influence des conditions opératoires sur l’efficacité du procédé et sur les émissions de Cd et NOx est analysée / As a tool for controlling the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) incineration process and its possible pollutant emissions, a mathematical model of the MSW bed burning on travelling grate of an incinerator was developed. The model describes most of the physico-chemical and thermal phenomena taking place in incineration like the drying and pyrolysis of the feed, combustion and gasification of char, oxidation of pyrolysis gases, heat transfer, bed shrinking, feed stirring, etc. Also described in the model are the mechanisms of Heavy Metals (HM) volatilization and NOx formation. Kinetics of HM release was modelled using the approach of additive reaction times accounting for the various transport mechanisms involved: external transfer, intra-particle diffusion and actual volatilization. In the case simulated, i.e. of Cd, almost total volatilization is predicted, which is confirmed by literature findings. The NOx sub-model takes into account most of the common mechanisms of formation like thermal, prompt, fuel, N2O intermediate and also NOx reduction by homogeneous reburning and heterogeneous reduction by char. Calculations show that NOx formation is predominated by the fuel mechanism and destruction by the heterogeneous reduction. Finally, the bed model was applied to study the influence of various operating parameters like flow rate, temperature and distribution of air under grates, waste particle size, feed stirring and the stirring scheme. The results are presented and discussed in detail and the influence of operating conditions on process efficiency and on emissions of Cd and NOx is analyzed

[pt] Este estudo apresenta o comportamento de um solo arenoso estabilizado com cinzas obtidas através da incineração de Resíduo Sólido Urbano (RSU) e cal. Através de um estudo experimental, objetiva-se avaliar a aplicabilidade de misturas solo-cinza e solo-cinza volante-cal em obras geotécnicas como, por exemplo, camadas de aterros sanitários, aterros sobre solos moles e estabilização de taludes. Para isso, foram realizados ensaios de caracterização física, química e mecânica (ensaios triaxiais CID) para os materiais envolvidos. Para as misturas solo-cinza volante-cal, adicionou-se 3 porcento de cal em substituição ao peso seco das cinzas. Foram avaliadas as influências do teor de cinza (30 e 40 porcento) e tipo de cinza (volante - CV e fundo - CF), bem como o tempo de cura (0, 60 e 90 dias) para misturas com cinza volante e cal. Os resultados mostram que tanto as misturas com CV, como CF, apresentam resultados satisfatórios. Para ambas as cinzas, as porcentagens de 30 e 40 porcento apresentaram resultados similares, podendo-se adotar o valor de 40 porcento como teor ótimo, uma vez que proporciona a utilização de uma maior quantidade de resíduo. Comparando-se as cinzas, a CF apresentou resultados mais satisfatórios que a CV. Para as misturas com cura, observou-se que no tempo de 60 dias o material sofreu um maior ganho de resistência. Foram utilizados dois métodos de moldagem de corpo de prova para o ensaio com cura, obtendo-se melhor resultado para o método onde a cura era realizada em um corpo de prova pré-moldado. Portanto o uso das cinzas de RSU em mistura com este tipo de solo se mostra satisfatório, uma vez que apresentou um bom comportamento, contribui com o menor consumo de material natural e proporciona uma destinação ambientalmente correta deste resíduo. / [en] This study presents the behavior of a sandy soil stabilized with municipal solid waste ash, and lime. In order to evaluate the applicability of mixtures soil-ash and soil-fly ash-lime for using in geotechnical projects as layers of landfills, embankment on soft soils and slope stability, an experimental campaign is presented. Thus, physical, chemical and mechanical (isotropically consolidated-drained triaxial test) characterization tests were performed for each material and mixtures. It was used 3 percent of lime in the mixtures soil- fly ash-lime, being added in replacement to the dry weight of fly ash. Were evaluated the influence of ash content (30 and 40 percent), type of ash (fly ash and bottom ash) and curing time (0, 60 and 90 days) for mixtures containing fly ash and lime. The results have shown that mixtures with both kinds of ashes present a satisfactory behavior, increasing or maintaining the shear strength parameters similar to the pure material. For both kinds of ashes the variation of the content has not provided significant changes in the strength parameters, therefore, 40 percent can be considered as best content, once it provides a bigger destination of the residue. Comparing fly and bottom ash, the last has presented better results than fly ash. For mixtures with lime and cure, it has been observed better results for 60 days of cure, with greater gain of strength. Two molding methods have been used for preparing the mixture specimen, being obtained a better result with pre modeled specimen. Therefore, the use of municipal solid waste ash for stabilizing this kind of soil for using in the cited works, could minimize the current problems of waste disposal, contribute with the reduction of consumption of natural resources and give a noble use for this material.

The increase of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation along with the current inadequate waste management and the issue of the Solid Waste National Policy (PNRS) in 2010, have brought a bigger concern in regards to the matter to Brazilian municipalities. Besides all the demands of the Policy, improper waste disposal sites still represent 40% of the destination of the waste collected in Brazil. In addition, only about 3.6% of recyclables are currently recovered. Campo Grande is the state capital of Mato Grosso do Sul and has a sanitary landfill with two more years of lifespan. The city has recently published its new tool to aid waste management &#8211; the Selective Collection Plan (PCS), which is comprised of planning and goals for the next 20 years. Facing this situation, the aim of this research was to analyze and compare different waste management systems for Brazil (Chapter 2) and Campo Grande (Chapter 3). A consequential Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was employed, with the software EASETECH for modelling. The general results showed that the improper disposal sites (i.e. dumps) have the highest environmental impacts due to the untreated landfill gas and leachate. The combination of high recycling rates and low amounts of waste disposed in landfills presented overall good performance in both cases. From all the scenarios assessed, the best performance was achieved by anaerobic digestion of the biowaste, with biogas utilization as fuel substitute, combined with a material recovery facility and a mixed waste mechanical biological treatment, with residue derived fuel directed to cement kilns avoiding coke combustion. In conclusion, the environmental awareness must be raised towards the population and the decision-makers are entitled to the changes that need to happen in order to decrease the environmental impacts of the systems and comply with the Brazilian waste legislation. / O aumento da geração de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos (RSU) juntamente com a atual gestão inadequada de resíduos e a promulgação da Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS) em 2010, trouxeram uma maior preocupação em relação ao assunto nos municípios brasileiros. Apesar de todas as exigências da Política, os locais de disposição inadequados ainda representam 40% do destino dos resíduos coletados no Brasil. Além disso, apenas cerca de 3,6% dos recicláveis são atualmente recuperados. Campo Grande é a capital do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul e possui aterro sanitário com apenas dois anos de vida útil. O município publicou recentemente sua nova ferramenta para auxiliar a gestão de resíduos sólidos &#8211; o Plano de Coleta Seletiva (PCS), que é composto por planejamento e metas para os próximos 20 anos. Diante desta situação, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar e comparar diferentes sistemas de manejo de resíduos para o Brasil (Capítulo 2) e Campo Grande (Capítulo 3). Foi utilizada a Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) consequencial, com o software EASETECH para modelagem. Os resultados gerais mostraram que os locais de disposição inadequados (ou seja, lixões) possuem os maiores impactos ambientais devido à falta de tratamento do gás de aterro e do lixiviado. A combinação de altas taxas de reciclagem e baixa quantidade de resíduos dispostos em aterros apresentou bom desempenho global em ambos os casos. De todos os cenários avaliados, o melhor desempenho alcançado foi através da digestão anaeróbia dos resíduos orgânicos, com a utilização de biogás como substituto de combustível, combinada com uma unidade de triagem e um tratamento mecânico biológico de resíduos misturados, e combustível derivado de resíduos destinado a fornos de cimenteiras evitando a combustão de coque. Em conclusão, a conscientização ambiental deve ser direcionada à população e a responsabilidade conferida aos tomadores de decisão para as mudanças que precisam ocorrer visando a redução dos impactos ambientais dos sistemas e o cumprimento da PNRS.

This degree project focused on examining new possible application of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for quantitative and qualitative characterization of refuse derived fuel (RDF). Particularly, two possible applications were examined as part of the project. Firstly, use of NIR hyperspectral imaging for classification of common materials present in RDF. The classification was studied on artificial mixtures of materials commonly present in municipal solid waste and RDF. Data from hyperspectral camera was used as an input for machine learning models to train them, validate them, and test them. Three classification machine learning models were used in the project; partial least-square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), support vector machine (SVM), and radial basis neural network (RBNN). Best results for classifying the materials into 11 distinct classes were reached for SVM (accuracy 94%), even though its high computational cost makes it not very suitable for real-time deployment. Second best result was reached for RBNN (91%) and the lowest accuracy was recorded for PLS-DA model (88%). On the other hand, the PLS-DA model was the fastest, being 10 times faster than the RBNN and 100 times faster than the SVM. NIR spectroscopy was concluded as a suitable method for identification of most common materials in RDF mix, except for incombustible materials like glass, metals, or ceramics. The second part of the project uncovered a potential in using NIR spectroscopy for identification of inorganic chlorine content in RDF. Experiments were performed on samples of textile impregnated with a water solution of kitchen salt representing NaCl as inorganic chlorine source. Results showed that contents of 0.2-1 wt.% of salt can be identified in absorbance spectra of the samples. Limitation appeared to be water content of the examined samples, as with too large amount of water in the sample, the influence of salt on NIR absorbance spectrum of water was too small to be recognized. / FUDIPO

A aprovação da Lei Federal nº 12.305, de 02 de agosto de 2010 Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS) tem como uma das diretrizes fundamentais a gestão integrada, que inclui a ordem de prioridade ou hierárquica na gestão dos resíduos sólidos e a inclusão dos catadores de materiais recicláveis. Considerando que a consolidação dessas diretrizes demanda colocar a PNRS na agenda governamental e, ainda, da capacidade estatal para a implementação de políticas públicas, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a inter-relação dos arranjos institucionais municipais das políticas de resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) e a implementação da PNRS. A estratégia metodológica adotada incluiu a pesquisa bibliográfica e documental sobre o contexto histórico nacional e local das políticas de resíduos sólidos e saneamento básico. Também foram analisadas as transferências voluntárias de recursos fiscais do governo federal para ações sobre resíduos sólidos, por meio da consulta de fontes como Portal da Transparência e dos Planos Plurianuais da União. Para a análise da implementação da PNRS no nível local, utilizou-se estudo de casos múltiplos em Salesópolis, Mogi das Cruzes e São Paulo. A coleta de dados secundários incluiu os Planos de Gestão Integrada de Resíduos Sólidos (PGIRS), leis, documentos e dados oficiais. Para a obtenção de dados primários, foram utilizados questionário, realização de entrevistas e registros fotográficos, posteriormente analisados por meio de indicadores sobre os resultados e desempenho das políticas públicas de limpeza urbana e gestão de resíduos sólidos, à luz das diretrizes da PNRS. Os principais limites à capacidade estatal na implementação da PNRS revelaram-se em Salesópolis pela restrição orçamentária e baixa densidade populacional, enquanto que em Mogi das Cruzes e São Paulo esses limites estão diretamente associados com a transferência do manejo de RSU para o setor privado. Ao mesmo tempo, esses arranjos municipais apontam, em maior ou menor escala, para a consolidação do aterro sanitário como destinação prioritária dos RSU, uma tendência nacional. Entretanto, justamente a dependência tecnológica da solução pelos aterros sanitários tem se mostrado como a principal barreira no cumprimento da ordem hierárquica da gestão de resíduos sólidos postulada pela PNRS / The enactment of Federal Law No. 12,305, August 2, 2010 Nacional Solid Waste Policy (NSWP) has the fundamental principle of integrated management, which includes the order of priority or hierarchy for solid waste management and inclusion of collectors of recyclable materials in partnership with the government. Considering that the consolidation of these guidelines demands to regard NSWP in the governmental agenda and of the state capacity for the implementation of public policies, the objective of this work was to analyze the interrelationship of the municipal institutional arrangements of municipal solid waste (MSW) policies and the implementation of NSWP. The methodological strategy adopted included bibliographical and documentary research on the national and local historical context of solid waste and basic sanitation policies. Voluntary transfers of fiscal resources from the federal government to actions on solid waste were also analyzed, through the consultation of sources such as the Transparency Portal and the Pluriannual Plans of the Union. For the analysis of the implementation of the NSWP at the local level, a multiple case study was used in Salesópolis, Mogi das Cruzes and São Paulo. Secondary data collection included the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP), laws, documents and oficial data. To obtain primary data, questionnaire, interviews and photographic records were used, later analyzed through indicators on the results and performance of the public policies of urban cleaning and solid waste management in light of NSWP guidelines. The main limits on state capacity in implementation of the NSWP were revealed in Salesópolis by budget constraint and low population density, while in Mogi das Cruzes and São Paulo these limits are directly associated with the transfer of MSW management to the private sector. At the same time, these municipal arrangements point, to a greater or lesser degree, to the consolidation of the landfill as a priority destination for MSW, a national trend. However, the technological dependence of the solution by the landfills has proved to be the main barrier in the hierarchical order of solid waste management postulated by the PNRS

A aprovação da Lei Federal nº 12.305, de 02 de agosto de 2010 Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS) tem como uma das diretrizes fundamentais a gestão integrada, que inclui a ordem de prioridade ou hierárquica na gestão dos resíduos sólidos e a inclusão dos catadores de materiais recicláveis. Considerando que a consolidação dessas diretrizes demanda colocar a PNRS na agenda governamental e, ainda, da capacidade estatal para a implementação de políticas públicas, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a inter-relação dos arranjos institucionais municipais das políticas de resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) e a implementação da PNRS. A estratégia metodológica adotada incluiu a pesquisa bibliográfica e documental sobre o contexto histórico nacional e local das políticas de resíduos sólidos e saneamento básico. Também foram analisadas as transferências voluntárias de recursos fiscais do governo federal para ações sobre resíduos sólidos, por meio da consulta de fontes como Portal da Transparência e dos Planos Plurianuais da União. Para a análise da implementação da PNRS no nível local, utilizou-se estudo de casos múltiplos em Salesópolis, Mogi das Cruzes e São Paulo. A coleta de dados secundários incluiu os Planos de Gestão Integrada de Resíduos Sólidos (PGIRS), leis, documentos e dados oficiais. Para a obtenção de dados primários, foram utilizados questionário, realização de entrevistas e registros fotográficos, posteriormente analisados por meio de indicadores sobre os resultados e desempenho das políticas públicas de limpeza urbana e gestão de resíduos sólidos, à luz das diretrizes da PNRS. Os principais limites à capacidade estatal na implementação da PNRS revelaram-se em Salesópolis pela restrição orçamentária e baixa densidade populacional, enquanto que em Mogi das Cruzes e São Paulo esses limites estão diretamente associados com a transferência do manejo de RSU para o setor privado. Ao mesmo tempo, esses arranjos municipais apontam, em maior ou menor escala, para a consolidação do aterro sanitário como destinação prioritária dos RSU, uma tendência nacional. Entretanto, justamente a dependência tecnológica da solução pelos aterros sanitários tem se mostrado como a principal barreira no cumprimento da ordem hierárquica da gestão de resíduos sólidos postulada pela PNRS / The enactment of Federal Law No. 12,305, August 2, 2010 Nacional Solid Waste Policy (NSWP) has the fundamental principle of integrated management, which includes the order of priority or hierarchy for solid waste management and inclusion of collectors of recyclable materials in partnership with the government. Considering that the consolidation of these guidelines demands to regard NSWP in the governmental agenda and of the state capacity for the implementation of public policies, the objective of this work was to analyze the interrelationship of the municipal institutional arrangements of municipal solid waste (MSW) policies and the implementation of NSWP. The methodological strategy adopted included bibliographical and documentary research on the national and local historical context of solid waste and basic sanitation policies. Voluntary transfers of fiscal resources from the federal government to actions on solid waste were also analyzed, through the consultation of sources such as the Transparency Portal and the Pluriannual Plans of the Union. For the analysis of the implementation of the NSWP at the local level, a multiple case study was used in Salesópolis, Mogi das Cruzes and São Paulo. Secondary data collection included the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP), laws, documents and oficial data. To obtain primary data, questionnaire, interviews and photographic records were used, later analyzed through indicators on the results and performance of the public policies of urban cleaning and solid waste management in light of NSWP guidelines. The main limits on state capacity in implementation of the NSWP were revealed in Salesópolis by budget constraint and low population density, while in Mogi das Cruzes and São Paulo these limits are directly associated with the transfer of MSW management to the private sector. At the same time, these municipal arrangements point, to a greater or lesser degree, to the consolidation of the landfill as a priority destination for MSW, a national trend. However, the technological dependence of the solution by the landfills has proved to be the main barrier in the hierarchical order of solid waste management postulated by the PNRS

Waste management has gone through a history of shiftingproblems, demands, and strategies over the years. In contrastto the long prevailing view that the problem could be solved byhiding or moving it, waste is now viewed as a problem rangingfrom local to global concern, and as being an integral part ofseveral sectors in society. Decisive for this view has beensociety’s increasing complexity and thus the increasingcomplexity of waste, together with a general development ofenvironmental consciousness, moving from local focus on pointemission sources, to regional and global issues of more complexnature. This thesis is about the development and application orware;a model for computer aided environmental systems analysis ofmunicipal waste management. Its origin is the hypothesis thatwidened perspectives are needed in waste managementdecision-making to avoid severe sub-optimisation ofenvironmental performance. With a strong foundation in lifecycle assessment (LCA), orware aims to cover the environmentalimpacts over the entire life cycle of waste management. It alsoperforms substance flow analysis (SFA) calculations at a ratherdetailed level of the system. Applying orware has confirmed the importance of applyingsystems perspective and of taking into account site specificdifferences in analysis and planning of waste manage-ment,rather than relying on overly simplified solutions. Somefindings can be general-ised and used as guidelines to reduceenvironmental impact of waste management. Recovery of materialand energy resources from waste generally leads to netreductions in energy use and environmental impact, because ofthe savings this brings about in other sectors. Waste treatmentwith low rate of energy and materials recovery should thereforebe avoided. The exact choice of technology however depends onwhat products can be recovered andhow they are used. Despite the complexity of the model and a certain degree ofuser unfriendliness, involved stakeholders have expressed thevalue of participating in orware case studies. It providesimproved decision-basis, but also wider understanding of thecomplexity of waste management and of environmental issues ingeneral. The thesis also contains a first suggestion of a frameworkto handle uncertainty in orware, based on a review of types ofuncertainty in LCA and tools to handle it. / QC 20100413