Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management最新文献

Composting source-separated household organic waste offers a sustainable strategy to reduce landfill disposal while improving soil fertility and supporting circular bioeconomy objectives. The agronomic performance of rotary drum compost (RDC), particularly across a complete compost incorporation gradient, remains insufficiently documented. This study evaluated the maturity and physicochemical quality of RDC produced from household organic waste and assessed its effects on the germination and early growth of Solanum lycopersicum cultivated in six compost–soil mixtures containing 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% RDC. Compost maturity was confirmed by a germination index of 87%, a low NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ ratio, and a favorable nutrient composition. Compost incorporation significantly enhanced all plant performance indicators (p < 0.001), increasing germination from 10.0% in the control to 86.7% at 100% RDC, while shoot growth, root development, biomass accumulation, and vigor improved markedly. Large effect sizes (partial η² = 0.72–0.98) indicated that compost dose explained most of the observed biological variation. Strong positive correlations were observed between substrate fertility parameters and plant responses (r > 0.80). Quadratic dose–response models provided the best fit (R² up to 0.958), revealing accelerated growth responses without evidence of saturation. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the compost incorporation gradient accounted for 89.6% of total multivariate variation. These findings demonstrate the strong agronomic potential of mature RDC as a high-value organic amendment for enhancing tomato seedling establishment under greenhouse conditions and provide a scientific basis for future field validation in semi-arid agricultural systems.

Wastes from agriculture amount to more than 4 billion tonnes per year globally, posing an environmental challenge and an opportunity for sustainable bioenergy production. A systematic review of biorefinery frameworks for agricultural waste (corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw, and rice straw) in the circular bioeconomy is presented. The initial literature search across Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science (2011–2025) yielded 113,221 documents, of which 14 peer-reviewed studies were selected based on strict inclusion criteria and underwent a detailed synthesis. The reviewed studies show that an integrated biorefinery can produce 3–5 value-added products from a single feedstock (bioethanol, biogas, biochar, and platform chemicals). Reported greenhouse gas reduction benefits, however, are very sensitive to methodology choice, such as allocation method (economic: 67–72%; substitution: 85–90%), system boundaries (cradle-to-gate vs. cradle-to-grave), biogenic carbon accounting (dynamic accounting reduces reported reductions by 5–10%) and geographic grid carbon intensity (coal-dependent grids: 55–70%; low-carbon grids: >80%). There is significant variation in Geographic synthesis: Brazil reduces GHGs between 80 and 90% (∼110 g CO₂/kWh grid), while India and China reduce GHGs between 55 and 65% (∼525–670 g CO₂/kWh grid). Major challenges to scaling up include the lack of established LCA methodologies for agro-waste systems, the under-representation of indirect impacts (land-use change, changes in soil organic carbon), data limitations at local scales, and the maximum sustainable removal rates of residues (50–60%). Based on this review, the potential for agricultural waste biorefineries to reduce GHG emissions is high, but the benefits reported are dependent on the methodology and geographically variable. To promote the circular bioeconomy, a universal approach to LCA, regulatory support at the regional level and investment in economic and social aspects are key.

This study evaluates the effects of policy regulations on rural household waste management in Anhui Province and explores strategies to optimize waste reduction and resource recovery. A system dynamics model was developed to simulate three regulatory scenarios: environmental, economic, and technological. Results indicate that environmental regulation most effectively reduces waste generation, closely approaching the system’s optimization goal, while economic and technological measures show smaller impacts. To enhance predictive accuracy, the Random Forest Algorithm–Sparrow Search Algorithm (RFA-SSA) algorithm was applied, achieving a nonlinear fitting degree of 0.99. Mean Impact Value (MIV) analysis further reveals that rural development factors exert the strongest influence on annual recovery of waste and recyclable resources, whereas construction investment intensity most significantly affects the total annual amount of waste treated in an environmentally friendly manner. These findings provide both qualitative and quantitative evidence supporting public participation in rural waste resource utilization and offer a theoretical foundation for promoting sustainable and stable rural waste management practices.

The increasing electronic waste, overuse of natural aggregates, and high carbon emissions from cement production pose serious environmental challenges. Geopolymers offer a sustainable, low-carbon solution, especially when using industrial by-products. In this study, geopolymer mortars based on ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and cenospheres were developed to incorporate plastic e-waste as a partial replacement for natural river sand. An optimized binder composed of 50% GGBFS and 50% cenospheres was used as the reference system. E-waste aggregates were introduced at volumetric replacement levels of 10%, 20%, and 30%. To improve matrix quality and compensate for strength loss, nano silica was added at dosages of 1%–3%. Fresh properties, mechanical performance, and durability-related indicators were evaluated using both destructive and nondestructive testing methods. These included compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption, and electrical resistivity. The results show that e-waste aggregates reduce density but negatively affect strength and durability at higher replacement levels. Nano silica significantly improves matrix densification and interfacial bonding, leading to better mechanical performance and durability. Among all mixtures, 20% e-waste aggregate combined with 2% nano silica provided the best balance between strength, durability, and workability, achieving a compressive strength of ≥ 40 MPa and flexural strength of ≥ 5 MPa at 28 days. The use of e-waste aggregates and nano silica in GGBFS-cenosphere geopolymers provides a balanced solution for waste utilization and material performance, highlighting the potential for valorizing electronic waste within sustainable construction materials.

Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is one of the fastest growing waste streams globally, with an estimated annual growth rate of 3–5 wt%. Their recycling is crucial for both managing hazardous substances and recovering valuable materials. This paper focuses on the management of WEEE at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and proposes an environmentally sustainable and economically viable way for its proper management. The work employed bibliometric analysis, SWOT analysis, and an assessment of the currently applied WEEE management practices. A new institutional Management Plan is thus proposed, properly integrating personal equipment, financial contracts with recyclers, and a Resale-Oriented Website for the reusable equipment. The proposed scheme is economically viable, with an attractive Internal Rate of Return of 10.3% over an eight-year payback period. The work emphasizes that greater awareness, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable reuse are particularly important for achieving optimal environmental and economic benefits.

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Household waste separation remains limited in many Ghanaian secondary cities despite its importance for sustainable solid waste management. This study examined household waste separation awareness, willingness, and behavioural intentions in three peri-urban communities within Wa Metropolis. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected from 88 households selected through stratified random sampling in Gberu, Jonga, and Kpongu. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS, including chi-square, regression, and Kruskal–Wallis tests. The findings revealed high awareness of waste separation (87.5%), although only 30.7% of respondents fully understood the practice. Education level was significantly associated with understanding of waste separation (χ² = 15.061, p = 0.020), while confidence levels did not differ significantly across educational categories (H = 2.41, p > 0.05). Overall, 63.6% of respondents expressed willingness to participate in waste separation, and 95.5% indicated that financial incentives would encourage participation. The study concludes that households demonstrate behavioural readiness for waste separation, but sustained education and practical support are required to strengthen participation.

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The concern surrounding food waste is influenced by various societal factors. Previous research suggests that urbanization has a significant impact on the food system, resulting in increased food waste. Moreover, reducing food waste leads to sustainable production and consumption. Thus, this research aims to analyze the factors that influence food waste behavior in urban landscapes and develop a solution to tackle food waste behavior among households in Asian and Middle Eastern countries. According to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 41 articles were selected out of 7.058 papers retrieved from the Scopus database and Web of Science database and reviewed. The results indicated five domains essential in reducing household food waste: household attributes, psychological factors, behavioral factors, situational factors, and food attributes. The systematic review suggests that understanding consumer needs, family needs, and consumption patterns, as well as increasing awareness of the negative impact of food waste, enables the mitigation of household food waste production in the urban landscape.

Pakistan has experienced an increase in plastic waste generation from domestic consumption and imports from developed countries. Based on the 7th population census (2023), country generates approximately 3.2 million tons (Mt) of plastic waste annually which is projected to reach 4.79 Mt by 2050 at a 1.5% annual growth rate. Due to the limited infrastructure for collection, treatment, and recycling, around 85% of the plastic waste remains mismanaged in urban areas and 100% in rural regions. An estimated 200,000-333,000 waste scavengers serve as the primary recovery mechanism within the informal sector. This study adopts a bottom-up methodology to estimate the plastic waste using the waste amount characterization studies (WACS) from 14 cities. Moreover, assessment of trade, recycling potential, and regulatory frameworks were also discussed. Pakistan imported plastic waste worth of USD 18.77 million in 2024, mainly from the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and the United States. These imports constitute approximately 1.4% of domestic generation showing that the accumulation is largely driven by domestic consumption and inadequate end-of-life management. The analysis distinguishes two policy failure levels. Pakistan has had federal and provincial laws and single-use plastic bans since 1997. The second binding constraint is implementation, with six gaps: no operational Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, unharmonized federal and provincial mandates, non-recognition of the informal recovery sector, no collection and recycling infrastructure, weak customs enforcement of Basel-aligned import controls, and no national data Each gap is addressed by enforcement budgets, inter-provincial coordination, waste picker integration, and national monitoring. Adding limits is less credible than sequencing these efforts to satisfy Pakistan’s Basel Convention and Sustainable Development Goals.

Single-use plastic packaging is widely used, particularly in the food industry, and it causes significant environmental problems due to its low recycling rates and long environmental lifetime. This study investigates the environmental impact of polypropylene (PP) disposable plastic cups using life cycle analysis and real-world production data from a manufacturing plant. The system boundaries include the production and transportation of PP granules and packaging materials, as well as the cups’ manufacturing and packaging processes. Three improvement scenarios have been evaluated to reduce environmental impact: replacing PP with polylactic acid (PLA), incorporating renewable energy, and optimizing transportation routes. The results show that the largest environmental burdens come from the production and transport of PP granules, which has a significant impact on resources. Wind energy offers the most reliable reductions among renewable energy sources, and scenario analysis shows that switching to sea-based transportation routes can reduce environmental impacts by up to 45%. Furthermore, using PLA as an alternative raw material to PP significantly reduces toxicity and the use of fossil resources. However, the agricultural inputs required for PLA production contribute to increased eutrophication and acidification. These findings provide useful recommendations to legislators as well as those involved in the plastic sector.

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The development of eco-friendly geopolymers without commercial alkali activators has attracted considerable attention due to their superior economic and environmental advantages over conventional geopolymers. This study proposes a novel approach for synthesizing sustainable geopolymers using four industrial solid waste: red mud, phosphogypsum, ground granulated blast furnace slag, and calcium carbide slag. The effects of phosphogypsum and calcium carbide slag content, along with different curing methods, on flexural strength, compressive strength, and fluidity were systematically investigated. Four micro-characterization techniques were employed to elucidate hydration mechanisms under varying formulations and curing methods. The results indicate that appropriate incorporation of phosphogypsum under water curing significantly improves compressive strength and fluidity. However, excessive phosphogypsum addition causes expansion, cracking, and substantial strength loss. Among the curing methods evaluated, sealed curing proved more effective than heat curing, achieving high strength while offering greater practical convenience. The developed geopolymer exhibits potential for use in low-strength unreinforced applications, contributing to the sustainable advancement of green construction materials.