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This project was a case study with a Local Authority (Charnwood Borough Council, Leicestershire) to research the options in response to the challenges of managing household waste. This research focused on establishing and analysing methods of improving the sustainability of household waste management operation within a Waste Collection Authority, where the interaction with a variety of external and internal stakeholders meant a holistic approach was needed. Waste management practices and performances in Charnwood were evaluated and benchmarked against national standards and the demography of a semi-rural Borough. Waste management practices nationally were also reviewed. The performance of the LA was quantitatively compared with other UK LAs where higher recycling performances are achieved. Differences were separate food waste collection and treatment; a larger proportion of urban housing and the university with a transient population. Other differences included strategy and operational practices for garden waste, the storage, collection, transportation and treatment of waste. A time series statistical model was modified and applied to investigate long term waste generation trends from the Boroughs official waste data returns to Defra. These were used to assess the success of interventions undertaken. This statistical model was able to differentiate interventions that were able to achieve lasting improvements in either waste minimisation or recycling. The declaration of a Zero Waste Strategy was to capture the public imagination. A series of focus groups and public consultations were held to judge public reaction and develop and refine the strategy. These were used to adapt the Zero Waste idea to suit the local conditions. A major conclusion was that householder involvement would be crucial for successful implementation of the further separation of waste that would be required.

An extensive series of experimental tests were carried out at the Sheffield municipal solid waste incinerator plant (30 MW) from September 1988 to July 1989 to investigate the influence of the design and operating parameters on the performance of the incinerator which burns domestic and commercial wastes (500 ton/day). The following measurements were made around the plant: temperature measurements, pressure measurements, flue gas composition analysis and determination of physical and chemical properties of Sheffield refuse. Several other miscellaneous measurements were also made to monitor the effect of variation of operating parameters on the performance characteristics of the incinerator. A combustion model of Essenhigh type was then employed to model the combustion processes inside the solid refuse bed on top of the travelling grate. In addition a mathematical model of the finite difference type (FLUENT) was used to predict the three dimensional reacting flows (gaseous phase) within the incinerator geometry. Experimental measurements of gas composition, temperature and exit velocity were compared with model predictions. Modelling results were generally in good agreement with measurements. As a result of the test data and the mathematical modelling of the whole process, suggestions for design improvements for the Sheffield municipal solid waste incinerator were made which will substantially increase the efficiency, reduce emissions of pollutants and reduce the maintenance costs at the plant. These are: a) replacing the existing secondary air system with secondary air nozzles and the use of more secondary air (up to 20 % of total air) in order to generate turbulence in the high intensity combustion zone where it is most needed and b) introducing a baffle into the main stream inside the radiation shaft in order to lower the gas temperatures entering the precipitator and to remove the existing recirculation zone in the shaft.

The response of the lux-biosensors to a range of environmental pollutants was determined, as well as the stability of the biosensors to a range of environmental parameters. The biosensors were found sensitive to a range of pollutants at environmentally relevant concentrations. These included the pollutants prevailing at the contaminated site (BTEX and major co-contaminants). Analysing the bioluminescence dose-response curves to different pollutants, it was observed that the shape of the response appeared to be indicative of the nature of the contaminant present. The application of the lux-biosensors in the screening of groundwater and sediment samples from the contaminated site, showed different levels of toxicity which correlated well with chemical analysis. The sample screening produced a toxicity map of the site, facilitating the identification of hot-spot areas that could be further investigated. Samples with high levels of toxicity were serial diluted and dose-response curves determined to increasing concentrations of the toxic sample, in site uncontaminated groundwater. The shape of the dose-response curve was indicative of the nature of the main pollutant present. The toxic effect of a pollutant detected by the biosensors in spiked environmental samples (groundwater from the study site) correlated with the effect of the same pollutant on mineralisation. This allowed subsequent use of biosensor toxicity for predictive assessment of degradation potential in the presence of the pollutant tested, validating the use of the lux bioassay as a management tool for bioremediation. The bioremediation of the major contaminants (BTEX) on site can be constrained by the presence of co-contaminants or adverse environmental conditions that inhibit microbial activity. The determination of these constraints is crucial for the success of the bioremediation technologies. Using biosensor response linked to sample manipulations, it was possible to determine the contribution of broad classes of pollutants to the total toxicity of the samples.

No description available.

Three techniques are investigated in order to assess their applicability for use in landfill design, construction and monitoring. Firstly, an assessment is made of QA procedures during liner construction through the detailed evaluation of two case studies. Construction QA procedures on-site are compared to available guidelines. The research illustrates the requirement for standardised, regulated QA procedures on landfill sites in order to provide a recognised framework for construction control. The Moisture Condition Value Test (MCV) is evaluated for use as a method of monitoring the placement of compacted clay landfill liners. London Clay and Mercia Mudstone, collected from the QA case study sites, are tested in terms of their suitability as engineered clay liners. Although, London Clay is the most acceptable it is this material which exhibits the poorest results in the MCV testing. This is due to seepage from the apparatus at high moisture contents. The research highlights the problems with the interpretation of the protocol for the testing and the differences between the Scottish and English Road Research Laboratory guidelines (Green & Hawkins, 1987). Thirdly, two airborne remote sensing techniques (ATM and CASI) are appraised as methods of monitoring landfill gas, or possibly leachate migration, from two case study landfill sites in South West England. Vegetation stress can be linked to landfill gas migration (Flower et al., 1981) and this stress can be detected as a deviation from normal spectral reflectances in vegetation (Honer et a!., 1983a). Anomalies are identified on-site through remote sensing but they cannot be directly attributed to the landfills. This research emphasises the effects of contamination from other sources. It also requires the use of a simultaneous ground survey to collate data from boreholes with measurements of soil and vegetation types. Essentially, the QA case studies and the remote sensing show potential for future use and suggestions are made in this thesis for further research. The MCV technique provides a method for assessing the controlling parameters of compaction. With further development of aspects outlined in this investigation there is the potential for specified use of these techniques In landfill engineering and monitoring.

The food production system has been acknowledged as a problem that needs to be addressed in order to achieve a sustainable society. Hertwich and Peters (2009), estimate that 10-30% of an individual’s environmental impact is related to the industrial production and consumption of food. The problem is aggravated by the wastage of one third of the global food production. The consequences of the wastage of food are the loss of resources, such as energy, water, land and labour and unnecessary emissions of pollutants. In order to address this problem several actions have been proposed. The Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which Sweden has committed to fulfil, aims to reduce by half the amount of food waste along the production and supply chain by 2030. Retail is an important player in the food supply chain. Its influence spreads both upstream to suppliers and downstream to consumers. Therefore, this research aims to contribute to reduction of the environmental impacts related to food waste in retail, by identifying products with high environmental impacts. The main goals of this study are 1) the quantification of food waste produced by the supermarket and 2) to examine the environmental impacts of selected products in order to assess the impacts generated by the waste production at the supermarket. The findings of the research revealed 1) the importance of not only measuring the food waste in terms of mass, but also in terms of environmental indicators and costs. The results indicate bread as an important contributor for the environmental footprint of the supermarket and a potential product for interventions 2) Sorting the organic content of the products from its packaging before sending it to the current waste treatment leads to a reduction in the carbon footprint. The research identified the following recommendations: 1) increasing supermarket personnel and consumers’ awareness regarding the environmental impact of food waste, 2) finding alternative routes for waste treatment and 3) improving logistic operations.

O aumento da população nas áreas urbanas associada ao crescimento e mudança no padrão de consumo resulta numa maior geração de Resíduos Domiciliares (RD). A Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos prevê a obrigatoriedade dos municípios elaborarem Planos Municipais de Gestão Integrada de Resíduos Sólidos, os quais devem ter como um dos conteúdos mínimos a caracterização física dos RD. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi atualizar a gravimetria do município, para dar suporte à elaboração do Plano e identificação de potencialidades e fragilidades na gestão de resíduos sólidos. Além disso, este trabalho usou uma metodologia baseada na NBR 10.007 e normas internacionais para realizar a caracterização física dos RD no aterro sanitário. As análises para verificar a influência do clima e da presença de coleta seletiva foram feitas pelo teste Mann-Whitney, enquanto que a relação da gravimetria com aspectos socioeconômicos foi feita pela correlação de Spearman. Por fim, realizou-se a análise de agrupamento hierárquica aglomerativa para formar grupos de setores similares, e assim, estimar a gravimetria do município considerando um setor de cada grupo formado. A estimação da gravimetria de São Carlos em 2018 foi: 37,48% de Matéria Orgânica; 5,13% de Papel; 4,59% de Papelão; 6,51% de Plástico filme; 7,25% de Plástico rígido; 3,10% de Vidro; 1,73% de Metais; 1,46% de Embalagem longa vida; 4,72% Têxteis, couro e borracha; 0,68% Resíduo eletroeletrônico; 0,99% Medicamentos, curativos e embalagens de medicamentos e cosméticos; 0,47% Embalagens de tintas, esmaltes, aerossóis e inseticidas; 25,89% de Rejeitos. Concluiu-se que houveram mudanças no padrão de consumo da população se comparada com estudos anteriores e que a coleta seletiva se encontra em uma situação regular no município. Também constatou-se que não há evidências estatísticas de diferença da gravimetria entre as estações climáticas e entre os setores com e sem coleta seletiva. Contatou-se também que é possível estimar a gravimetria por menos e que a combinação ideal variou com a estação da coleta de dados. / The population growth in the urban areas associated to the increase and change in the consumption pattern results in a greater generation of Household Waste (HW). The National Solid Waste Policy foresees the obligation of the municipalities to elaborate Municipal Integrated Solid Waste Management Plans, which should have as one of the minimum contents the gravimetry of the HW. In this way, the objective of this work was to update the municipality\'s gravimetry, aiming the elaboration of the Plan and identification of potentialities and weaknesses in solid waste management. In addition, this work used a methodology based on NBR 10.007 and international standards to perform the physical characterization of HW in the landfill. The analyzes to verify the influence of the climate and the presence of selective collection were done by the Mann-Whitney test, whereas the relation of gravimetry with socioeconomic aspects was made by the Spearman correlation. Finally, agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to form groups of similar sectors, and in sequence make combinations considering one sector of each group, to propose a set of reduced sectors to facilitate monitoring or to determine future gravimetrics of the municipality. The estimation of the gravimetry of São Carlos in 2018 was: 37,48% of Organic matter; 5,13% Paper; 4,59% Cardboard; 6,51% Soft plastic; 7,25% Hard plastic; 3,10% Glass; 1,73% of Metals; 1,46% of Multilayers packaging; 4,72% Textiles, leather and rubber; 0,68% Electronic waste; 0,99% Medicines, packaging of medicines and cosmetics; 0,47% Packaging of paints, enamels, aerosols and insecticides; 25,89% of Rejects. It was concluded that there were changes in consumption pattern of the population compared to pasts studies and that the selective collection is in a regular situation in the municipality. It was also verified that statistically there is no difference evidence of the gravimetry between the climatic seasons and between the sectors with and without selective collection. In relation to gravimetry estimation by less sectors, it was verified that it is possible and that the ideal combination varied with the climatic season that the data was collected.

The objective through my PhD has been to investigate radiation damage effects in materials related to fusion and to safe encapsulation of nuclear waste, using Molecular Dynamics (MD) methods. Particularly, using MD, we acquire essential information about the multi-scale phenomena that take place during irradiation of materials, and gain access at length and time-scales not possible to access experimentally. Computer simulations provide information at the microscopic level, acting as a bridge to the experimental observations and giving insights into processes that take place at small time and length-scales. The increasing computer capabilities in combination with recently developed scalable codes, and the availability of realistic potentials set the stage to perform large scale simulations, approaching phenomena that take place at the atomistic and mesoscopic scale (fractions of m for the first time) in a more realistic way. High-energy radiation damage effects have not been studied previously, yet it is important to simulate and reveal information about the properties of the materials under extreme irradiation conditions. Large scale MD simulations provide a detailed description of microstructural changes. Understanding of the primary stage of damage and short term annealing (scale of tens of picoseconds) will lead to better understanding of the materials properties, best possible long-term use of the materials and, importantly, new routes of optimization of their use. Systems of interest in my research are candidate fusion reactor structural materials (iron and tungsten) and materials related to the radioactive waste management (zirconia). High-energy events require large simulation box length in order for the damage to be contained in the system. This was a limitation for previous simulations, which was recently shifted with my radiation damage MD simulations. For the first time high-energy radiation damage effects were simulated, approaching new energy and length scales, giving a more realistic view of processes related to fusion and to high-energy ion irradiation of material.

Cette thèse propose deux études empiriques consacrées à l’analyse des déterminants du commerce international de déchets plus précisément les déchets dangereux d’une part et les déchets métalliques d’autre part. Cette analyse a été réalisée en utilisant des méthodes économétriques adaptées au contexte et à partir des données statistiques de l’Eurostat (pour les déchets dangereux) et de UN Comtrade (pour les déchets recyclables). Si la littérature sur les déterminants du commerce international de déchets est peu abondante et limitée, c’est à cause de l’absence d’une définition universelle du déchet (due à la pluralité des définitions) débouchant sur l’absence d’une base de données spécifique aux déchets en passant par les problèmes de classification et de non concordance des flux de déchets. Il revient au chercheur de construire sa propre base de données à partir de sa propre définition. Nous proposons dans cette thèse d’apporter des éclairages sur certains points encore peu étudiés. Le premier chapitre s’intéresse à la relation dialectique entre définition du déchet et réglementation s’y afférente et aux aspects théoriques du commerce international de déchets en se basant sur ceux du commerce international de biens normaux. L’analyse révèle que le déchet est un bien particulier ce qui rend son commerce aussi particulier. Aussi, ces définitions se superposent, s'opposent et / ou se complètent. En outre, l’Union Européenne est la zone pionnière en termes de politique de déchet et le déchet est très réglementé notamment avant sa production (prévention) et dès sa production jusqu’à son traitement final. Le deuxième chapitre examine les déterminants du commerce de déchets dangereux de l’UE et demande si la politique européenne en matière de déchets a réussi ou échoué. Nous constatons que la proximité et les différences de capacité de traitement de déchets entre les pays et les réglementations sont des déterminants importants de ce commerce. En particulier, les pays ayant des capacités de traitement des déchets dangereux élevées observent une augmentation de leurs importations de déchets dangereux. Nous constatons également que ces pays ont des indices de performance environnementale élevés . Ces résultats impliquent que la politique de gestion des déchets de l'UE joue un rôle important dans l'élaboration du commerce européen des déchets dangereux. Enfin, il semble qu'il n'y ait pas d'effet havre de déchet pour le commerce des déchets dangereux de l'UE. Le troisième chapitre teste les déterminants du commerce de déchets métalliques plus précisément les hypothèses selon lesquelles la spécialisation industrielle captée par les avantages comparatifs révélés, les prix de la matière vierge et de la matière secondaire sont des déterminants importants pour le commerce de déchets métalliques dans le monde. Nous trouvons que la spécialisation industrielle est un facteur motivant les exportations et décourageant les importations. La décision d’exporter ou d’importer dépend surtout de la sensibilité au prix comparé du métal et des déchets métalliques. Lorsque le métal coûte plus cher que les déchets métalliques les pays importateurs spécialisés dans la métallurgie préfèrent importer des déchets métalliques afin de les substituer à la matière vierge et/ou de conserver cette dernière. Les pays exportateurs préfèrent exporter les déchets métalliques lorsque leur prix est dans la phase ascendante et le prix de la matière vierge est dans sa phase descendante. Ceci, afin de conserver la matière vierge et utiliser la matière secondaire à sa place. Dans tous les cas, un arbitrage se fait entre les prix de la matière vierge et de la matière secondaire. Par ailleurs, l’écart de réglementation joue un rôle important dans l’arbitrage. Les déchets métalliques ne sont pas exportés vers les pays à faible performance environnementale. A l’inverse, les importations sont réalisées en provenance de ces derniers. / This thesis consists of two empirical studies on the analysis of international waste trade determinants, more precisely the hazardous waste on the one hand and the metallic waste on the other hand. Different econometric methods were used on statistical data from Eurostat (for hazardous waste) and UN Comtrade (for recyclable waste). If the literature on the determinants of international trade in waste is scarce and limited, it is because of the absence of a universal definition of waste (due to the plurality of definitions) leading to classification problems, non-matching of waste flows and the absence of a specific database. It is up to the researcher to build his own database from his own definition. We propose, in this thesis, to provide insights on some points which have been too few studied. The first chapter studies the dialectical relationship between waste definition and its related regulations; and focuses on the theoretical aspects of international trade in waste based on those of the international trade in goods. The analysis reveals that waste is a particular good, which makes its trade also particular. Thus, its definitions are superimposed, opposed and / or complement each other. Moreover, the European Union is the pioneer zone in terms of waste policy and waste is highly regulated, especially before its generation (prevention) and from its generation to its final treatment.The second chapter examines the determinants of trade in hazardous waste and asks whether the EU waste policy has succeeded or failed. We find that proximity and differences in waste treatment capacity across countries and in regulations are important determinants of this trade. In particular, countries with high hazardous waste treatment capacities demonstrate increased hazardous waste imports. We also find that these countries have high environmental performance indices. These results imply that EU waste management policy plays an important role in shaping European trade in hazardous waste. Finally, it seems that there is no waste haven effect for the EU hazardous waste trade.The third chapter tests the determinants of international trade in metallic waste, more precisely the assumptions that industrial specialization captured by revealed comparative advantages, virgin material and secondary material prices are important determinants of international trade in metallic waste. We find that industrial specialization is a motivating factor for exports and discouraging for imports. The decision to export or import depends especially on metal and metal scrap price sensitivity. When metal costs more than metallic waste, importing countries specialized in metallurgy prefer to import metallic waste in order to substitute it to the virgin material and / or to preserve the latter. Exporting countries prefer to export metallic waste when its price is in the ascending phase and the price of virgin material is in its downward phase. This, in order to preserve the virgin material and to use the secondary material at its place. In any case, an arbitration is made between the price of the virgin material and the price of the secondary material. Furthermore, the regulation gap plays an important role in arbitration. Metallic wastes are not exported to countries with low environmental performance. Inversely, imports are made from the latter.