Sustainable Management of Biodegradable Waste in Guinea: Effect of Compost on Eggplant and Chilli Crop Yields Pepper

The fight against insalubrity in large urban and peri-urban agglomerations is a major challenge in developing countries. This problem is compounded by that of sustainable waste management mechanisms. Indeed, the current waste collection system in Guinea has proved inadequate, as moving garbage from point “A” to point “B” is tantamount to “moving the problem”. The aim of this experimental work is to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and benefits of sustainable waste management. As part of this drive to valorize biodegradable waste, the Waste Management Research Center has undertaken a series of activities ranging from composting organic waste to testing compost on certain crop varieties. An experimental field of 8024 m2 was laid out and treated with 1500 Kg of fine compost in doses ranging from 2.5 to 5 T/ha. Two crop varieties, eggplant and chili, were tested. Compost application increased production yields: 15 to 21 tonnes of eggplant and 10.4 to 11.1 tonnes of chili per hectare. Growth rates compared with usual yields varied from 50% to 64% and from 11% to 17% for eggplant and chili, respectively. This study resulted in an optimum compost dose of 2.5 T/ha for this phase.

Contribution to Computer Waste Management:Knowledge of the Regulatory Framework by Industry Stakeholders in Guinea

In African countries,regulations on the management of WTE(Waste from Information Technology Equipment)are non-existent or sometimes insufficient,if they exist.This study shows how to mention waste from information technology equipment in a country that does not have a regulatory legislative framework or organized management channels.A methodological approach based on documentary research and semi-directed interviews was adopted in this work.The results showed that 54.55%of institutional managers are unaware of the existence of regulations for the management of WTE,both at the national and international levels;72.72%of these managers do not have a specific implementing text for this management;72.73%of institutions have adopted an acquisition policy based on the needs of workers and 81.82%of institutions store WTE in warehouses.Relations with waste collection SMEs(Small and Midsize Enterprises),especially for IT equipment,are limited for 72.73%of institutions.In terms of improving the capacity to manage WEEE(Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment),90.91%of institutions do not offer training or awareness raising.Overall,no significant indicators are in place to assess WEEE management in institutions,which reflects a lack of commitment and awareness among institutional managers.In addition,there are no financial means for ecological and sustainable management.Although 27.27%of managers are aware of the dangers to human health and the environment related to IT equipment,they are often unaware of the harmful consequences of abandoning it in nature.

Current Situation Analysis and Suggestions for Solid Waste Management Practices among Households in Freetown

Freetown which is the capital city of Sierra Leone is facing challenges with population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, leading to an increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. The study aims to evaluate MSW generation, composition, and disposal methods, as well as the impact of collection fees, policy implementation, and women’s participation in municipal solid waste management (MSWM). The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection and analysis. The study administered 393 structured questionnaires in three selected sections to collect data on variables such as family size, education, level of knowledge, etc. The study used door-to-door data collection to determine the rate of solid waste generation, composition, and disposal in 66 households from two of the selected sections and 34 households from the other section to evaluate the current situation of MSWM practices among households in Freetown. The study used a descriptive statistic to analyze the data collected using Origin-Pro9 and MS Excel software. The findings showed that with a 4.2% urban growth rate, Freetown had a population of 1,467,543 in 2023, generating 851 tons of MSW per day, with organic waste accounting for 78% of the total MSW generated. Plastic waste generation also increased from 7.6% in 2020 to 13% in 2023. The study emphasizes the need to sustain the MSWM system by prioritizing solid waste collection fees, policy enforcement, and women’s participation in the MSWM sector. It further suggests and provides recommendations for developing an efficient and sustainable MSWM system in Sierra Leone, including knowledge transfer from countries like China and the US.

Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Farmgate Area of Dhaka North City Corporation

This investigation is focused on conducting a thorough analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM). MSWM encompasses a range of interdisciplinary measures that govern the various stages involved in managing unwanted or non-utilizable solid materials, commonly known as rubbish, trash, junk, refuse, and garbage. These stages include generation, storage, collection, recycling, transportation, handling, disposal, and monitoring. The waste materials mentioned in this context exhibit a wide range of items, such as organic waste from food and vegetables, paper, plastic, polyethylene, iron, tin cans, deceased animals, byproducts from demolition activities, manure, and various other discarded materials. This study aims to provide insights into the possibilities of enhancing solid waste management in the Farmgate area of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). To accomplish this objective, the research examines the conventional waste management methods employed in this area. It conducts extensive field surveys, collecting valuable data through interviews with local residents and key individuals involved in waste management, such as waste collectors, dealers, intermediate dealers, recyclers, and shopkeepers. The results indicate that significant amounts of distinct waste categories are produced daily. These include food and vegetable waste, which amount to 52.1 tons/day;polythene and plastic, which total 4.5 tons/day;metal and tin-can waste, which amounts to 1.4 tons/day;and paper waste, which totals 5.9 tons/day. This study highlights the significance of promoting environmental consciousness to effectively shape the attitudes of urban residents toward waste disposal and management. It emphasizes the need for collaboration between authorities and researchers to improve the current waste management system.

Issue of Managing Waste Computer Equipment in Conakry City (Republic of Guinea)

The digitization of administrative activities is a technique that not only optimizes resources, but also professionalizes the working methods of public and private services. This dematerialization process involves technologies based on computer equipment, which, after use, becomes cumbersome waste. The aim targeted consisted of taking stock of the management of waste computer equipment imported into the Republic of Guinea, with a view of proposing a mode of environmentally sustainable management methods in a short time. To achieve this, the data was collected through investigation methods (observations, interviews, and questionnaires). This study reveals an excess of imports of electrical and electronic equipment in general, and computer equipment in particular, over the last ten years (2009-2019), With an import rate ranging from 4.03 to 54.45%. This study demonstrated the different ways in which computer and electronic equipment of all kinds are managed, with her failings. This study demonstrated the different ways in which computer and electronic equipment of all kinds are managed, as well as their failings. For this purpose, the different ways in which electronic waste is managed by different users were identified as storage, recycling, or rejection into nature or at waste storage points, often mixed with household waste. Companies specializing in the management of this type of waste and the presence of a certain number of regulatory texts almost do not exist. One company is only for the entire country but unknown to the majority of users.

Lagos State Hospital Waste Management Practices: A Descriptive Overview with Stakeholders’ Role and Key Recommendations

Background: Waste generation and its disposal is an essential issue in the sustainability of the environment and the planet’s future. Waste management is essential across sectors, likewise the health sector. Therefore, there is a need to employ extra care and attention to handling waste generated from healthcare facilities to avoid the dangers of poor biomedical waste management. We carried out this study to examine the waste management practice in healthcare facilities in Lagos State. Methods: The study was a descriptive survey carried out in one-thousand two hundred and fifty-six (1256) healthcare facilities in Lagos State. Nine hundred sixty-nine (969) of these facilities are located in urban areas, while two hundred and eighty-seven (287) are rural. The facilities studied are government/public health facilities (15.45%), private-for-profit facilities (82.88%), NGOs, Mission/Faith-Based medical facilities (1.67%). The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Specifically, we utilized bar charts, frequency, and percentage. Result: The result shows that 98.4% (1236) of the studied facilities are registered with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), while 1.6% (20) are not registered. 98.5% (191) of the 194 government-owned facilities, 98.5% (1025) of the 1041 private-for-profit facilities, and 98.2% (20) of the 21 NGOs/faith-based health facilities are registered with Lagos State Waste Management Authority. The result also shows that 94% of the healthcare facilities studied in Lagos State use color-coded waste bags to segregate waste at the point of origin. 58.7% of the facilities use red-colored bags, 33.3% use yellow-colored bags, 10.7% use black-colored bags, and 1.3% use brown biohazard bags for segregating Infectious waste. Also, 34.2% of the health facilities in Lagos state use red-colored bags, 36.9% use yellow-colored bags, 11% use black-colored bags, and 4.1% use brown-colored bags to segregate their hazardous waste. Conclusion: Some healthcare facilities in Lagos State do not follow the recommended guidelines for medical waste segregation. Waste generated is not appropriately segregated at the point of origin into the recommended colored bags/bins in some facilities. Thus, a policy and procedure regulating healthcare waste are mandatory. It is important to regularly train healthcare workers on proper waste management practices and encourage staff to read and apply WHO rules in managing healthcare waste. Healthcare personnel should realize that hazardous material is a potential cause of a public disaster.

Deep Learning-Based Swot Analysis in Construction and Demolition Waste Management

Researchers worldwide have employed a varied array of sources to cal-culate the successful management of Construction and Demolition(C&DW).Limited research has been undertaken in the domain of Construction and Demoli-tion Waste Management(C&DWM)and consequently leaving a large gap in the availability of effective management techniques.Due to the limited time available for building removal and materials collection,preparing for building materials reuse at the end of life is frequently a challenging task.In this research work Con-volutional Neural Network-Long Short-Term Memory(CNN-LSTM)is proposed to predict the number of waste materials that are obtained from a building at the end of its useful life.As a result,an effective Waste Management(WM)plan has been established through SWOT analysis.The results of the study reveal that,given fundamental building characteristics,it is possible to predict the number of materials that would be collected with high precision from a building after demolition.The proposed deep learning models achieved an average R-squared value of 0.98 and a Mean Absolute Error of 18.1 and 20.14 better than existing methods such as random forest,CNN,and DBN(Data Bus Network).

A Cradle-to-Cradle Novel Approach for Wastewater Management in Sustainable Urban Communities

Water, a valuable resource to human lives, is being abused and driven to scarcity. This scarcity is leading some countries and areas to face difficulty in accessing drinking water. As the UN recently stated “by 2050 water shortages and harder access will be reached by around 2/3rd of the world total population” [1], thus, there is a high need to treat and reuse wastewater for domestic purposes, which will lead to less reliance on fresh water as an initial water source. Greywater—defined as the water produced in domestic houses including sinks and bathroom showers, and excluding any blackwater mix which is collected from toilets—is a type of wastewater. Greywater accounts for up to 75% of the daily water produced [2] while it has fewer contaminants when compared to blackwater. This makes greywater a focal point for treatment, and reusing to conserve fresh water and approach net zero water concept. Even though the definition of greywater is the same globally, its criteria can differ from one country to another, from one building to another, or even from the same person’s usage along the day. Accordingly, several treatment methods evolved over years aiming at treating the produced greywater for reuse mainly in irrigation and toilet flushing. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate a novel net zero wastewater approach applying cradle-to-cradle concept for urban communities;while also proposing a sustainable greywater treatment technique that is environmentally friendly, cost-effective and socially acceptable.

Assessing the Factors Influencing Effective Municipal Solid Waste Management System in Barishal Metropolitan Areas

Unorganized municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal system leads to stress on ecosystems and disturbs various nature cycles and human health. Solid waste management all over world is looked as a major challenge to civil bodies, especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. The proper management system of municipal solid waste depends on various factors like social, cultural, financial, political, environmental, physical and institutional and so on. The purpose of this study is to explore the leading factors that affect the solid waste management in Barishal city. For achieving this purpose, this research first has identified the socio-economic, cultural, physical and technical, institutional and environmental factors and then analyzed the factors which affect the solid waste management system in the study area. To achieve the purpose of the study, quantitative method has been used in this research. As a sample of this study, 150 household heads from total household members of the city have been selected randomly by using lottery method. A structured questionnaire has been constructed for collecting quantitative data. The quantitative data have been analyzed in this study by using SPSS Program, and Microsoft Excel. The findings of the study show that all city people know solid waste and solid waste management stakeholders present in the city and waste pickers collect all types of waste in the city and socio-economic, cultural, physical and technical, institutional factors affect the effective solid waste management in the study area where environmental factors have no influence on effective solid waste management in the study area. The study people have a bad impression of the current existing management system of the solid waste and they express their expectations where they mention that if municipal authorities improve the condition of the infrastructure, roads and vehicles;allow more budgets to manage waste;take proper strategies and planning to manage waste smartly like imposing fines, set up rules, then the municipal authorities will be able to manage solid waste properly. Finally, this research has proposed some recommendations that might be helpful for the policy-makers in the study area for making policies and further research regarding solid waste management.

Study of the Management and Recovery of Biodegradable Waste in the City of Kankan,Guinea

This research,carried out during September and October 2020 in the city of Kankan,made it possible to take stock of the city’s household waste management.The quantities of waste from the four main landfills in the city are assessed,namely:Sogbè(1350.3 m^(3)),Station(195.5 m^(3)),Station University of Kankan(2491.5 m^(3))and Salamani(369.6 m^(3)).Waste from three landfills/dumps was characterized for 26 days.This characterization covered 5,010.6 kg of waste,composed of 4263.9 kg of organic matter,462.1 kg of recyclable matter and 284.6 kg of inorganic matter.The survey concerned a target population of 403 inhabitants,which made it possible to determine a production ratio per habitant per day of(0.48 kg/habitant/d).Finally,a composting experiment of 2000 kg of organic matter was carried out.The results obtained during this study constitute the basic elements allowing defining a better policy of management of household solid waste in the city of Kankan.

The Six Sigma Approach to Solid Waste Management and Minimization： Moving towards Zero Landfill Facilities

This article provides an overview of an eleven step solid waste analysis and minimization process that is based on the six sigma approach to problem solving that may be applied at a wide variety of organizations. The six sigma approach provides a holistic process that focuses on minimizing defects, in this case, eliminating waste disposed at landfills. As many organizations are moving towards ＂zero landfill＂ facilities, such a process is needed to aid in achieving these goals. The eleven step processes provides details on establishing goals, creating process flowcharts, conducting waste sorts, data collection, establishing baseline data, identifying improvement opportunities, cost justification, executing improvement plans and validating results. The article also includes a case study that applies that eleven step process. The goal of the article is to provide the audience with a structured process to evaluate and minimize solid waste generation based on cost justified improvement opportunities.

Impact of Plastic Waste on the Human Health in Low-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Background: Plastic pollution is the accumulation of waste composed of plastic and its derivatives all over the environment. Whether in the form of visible garbage or microparticles, as it slowly degrades, plastic pollution poses significant threats to terrestrial and aquatic habitats and the wildlife that call them home, whether through ingestion, entanglement or exposure to the chemicals contained in the material. Unfortunately, there is a lack of documentation on the impact of plastic waste on human health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: We searched five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL and Web of Science) and gray literature, following the preferred reporting elements for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA), for the impact of plastic waste on human health in developing countries. We included quantitative and qualitative studies written in English and French. We assessed the quality of the included articles using the Mixed Methods Appraisal tool (MMAT). Results: A total of 3779 articles were initially identified by searching electronic databases. After eliminating duplicates, 3167 articles were reviewed based on title and abstract, and 26 were selected for full-text review. Only three articles were retained. The three articles dealt with practices likely to lead to oral exposure to plastic chemicals in human health, as well as the level of awareness of participants concerning the possible impact of plastic on human health, namely, the use of plastic baby bottles, the use of microwaves to cook food and reheat precooked food, the use of plastic bottles to store water in the refrigerator, water purifier containers with plastic bodies and plastic lunch boxes, the reuse of plastic bags and the inadequacy of treatment facilities. Conclusion: Plastic waste poses different risks to human health at every stage of its life cycle. Hence, strategies must be adopted to raise public awareness of the dangers of plastic waste to their health. Trial registration: The review protocol is registered in the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (ID = CRD42023409087).

Household Solid Waste Awareness and Practices among Residents of Windhoek, Namibia

This study explores household solid waste management (HSWM) practices and awareness among residents of Windhoek West, a rapidly urbanizing constituency in the Khomas Region of Namibia. Employing a descriptive methodology, the research investigates the interplay between public awareness, regulatory frameworks, and the availability of waste management facilities to assess their impact on waste management behaviors. Our findings indicate significant gaps in both knowledge and infrastructure that hinder effective waste management. The study reveals that while there is a high willingness among residents to engage in recycling and waste reduction, actual practices are limited due to inadequate facilities and lack of stringent enforcement of waste policies. This research identifies key factors that influence waste management practices, including demographic characteristics and access to waste management facilities. It also proposes actionable strategies such as expanding recycling and sorting facilities, enhancing educational campaigns tailored to local needs, and implementing regular enforcement mechanisms. These strategies are aimed at improving compliance with waste management protocols and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility. The results of this investigation show the critical role of ongoing education and infrastructural improvement in bridging existing knowledge gaps and facilitating effective waste management practices. This research lays a foundational step toward enhancing sustainable urban development and effective waste management in Windhoek, providing valuable insights for policymakers, community leaders, and stakeholders engaged in urban environmental management.

Solid Waste Sector Tested by Stakeholder Dynamics in Koudougou (Burkina Faso)

Solid waste management is one of the major concerns of the authorities in the town of Koudougou. The town’s dynamic is reflected in relative demographic growth and consumption patterns that are conducive to the formation of landfill sites. These landfills are the source of numerous environmental consequences and risk factors for local residents. The aim of this article is to analyze the dysfunctions in the solid waste sector caused by the interplay of actors. It draws on secondary data from the state of the art on the subject and primary data collected from 305 households and 89 actors in the sector between September 2022 and March 2023, as part of an ongoing thesis. These data show that the interplay of actors contributes to the malfunctioning of pre-collection and secondary collection, and remains a factor in the proliferation of illegal dumpsites.

Assessment of the Characteristics of the Municipal Solid Waste Compost in Lebanon

Waste management is crucial due to the fast increase of human population, causing an increase in solid waste generation which if not properly managed causes environmental problems. Around 57% of the wastes generated from homes are made up of green material (fruits, vegetables…). Thus, reusing and recycling green wastes through composting is one way of reducing the waste load to landfills. Composting is the transformation of raw organic materials into organic soil amendments that provide nutrients to crops and enhance the tilth, fertility, and productivity of soils. Aerobic windrow composting system at Sukomi Greensite facility located at Karantina is performed, where materials biodegrade under controlled conditions to produce compost. However, assessment of the quality of the compost is fundamental in order to determine its usages. Thus, regular testing of physical, chemical and biological parameters was performed for adequate monitoring purposes. The basic objective of this study was to determine the characteristics of the Lebanese municipal solid waste compost on a yearly basis and compare these characteristics amongst the years. Hence, each parameter was tested and compared to the BNQ international Canadian standards for proper classification of the compost and adequate identification of its usages. The preliminary data obtained were statistically diagnosed through principal component analysis by Spadv55 software. All the data reflected the normal content value of the studied parameters with minor differences between the years except for year 2007 which demonstrated higher levels of Potassium, Phosphate, Lead and Cadmium. The characteristics of the compost enabled it to be used as a soil amendment on all types of agricultural and landscape commodities at the adequate dosages and proper timing. This data will additionally reflect the efficiency of the solid waste management practices adopted via highlighting the importance of the implementation of the integrated solid waste management practices.

Medical Waste Management and Control

Medical centers including hospitals, clinics and places where diagnosis and treatment are conducted generate wastes that are highly hazardous and put people under risk of fatal diseases. Although the understanding of medical waste management and control techniques is important, technical elective courses that are offered in undergraduate chemical, civil or environmental engineering place less emphasis on this area of education. In this paper, the meaning of medical waste, the risks of exposure, medical waste management regulatory acts, medical waste management procedures and control techniques are presented. The contents presented in this paper served as a supplementary material in an undergraduate elective course on waste management and as an educational guide for medical staff training on waste handling.

Present Status of Solid Waste Management at Babylon Governorate, Iraq

Babylon Governorate covers an area of 5315 km2 with a population that reaches about 1,974,490 inhabitants in the central part of Iraq. Iraq produced 31,000 tons/day solid waste in 2013. The Governorate of Babylon produces annual 483,221 tons of solid waste. Management of collection and disposal of waste in Babylon Governorate is done through open dumping of waste and poor collection process. These sites do not conform to the scientific and environmental criteria applied in the selection of landfill sites. To find out how much solid waste is expected in the future, two methods were used to calculate the population growth in Babylon Governorate to the year 2030. The results showed that the total waste in 2030 will be 761,104 tons and 943055 tons while the cumulated quantity of solid waste expected till 2030 was 12,494,521 tons and 14,095,437 tons according to the first and second methods respectively.

Solid Waste Management Challenges in Urban Areas of Ghana: A Case Study of Bawku Municipality

This study was conducted in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East, Ghana, with the view to assessing the factors that impede the management of solid waste. Questionnaires were submitted to 150 randomly selected households, while face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with the municipal Waste Management Department and a private waste management company, Zoomlion Ghana Ltd. Data collected included components of solid waste generated, waste collection, transportation and final disposal methods, the challenges confronting waste management institutions, and respondents' knowledge and perceptions of the waste management system and their attitudes towards it. Components of wastes generated were organic waste, paper waste and plastics. Factors that adversely affected waste collection and transportation systems were the inadequate supply of waste collection containers, the existence of a weak waste transportation system and a low patronage of the door-to-door collection method. The study showed that the municipal landfill did not meet the required standard. The results also revealed the lack of public awareness on issues regarding waste and lack of a participatory approach that makes the people an active stakeholder in the waste management system. This situation accounted for indiscriminate disposals of waste by most respondents who viewed the issue of waste management as the exclusive responsibility of the local government. The study further showed that the waste management institutions were faced with financial difficulties, understaffing and poor logistics and nature of roads, and social constraints. The study therefore suggests the development of a strategic plan for efficient waste management which revolves around these findings.

Tourism Waste Management in the European Union: Lessons Learned from Four Popular EU Tourist Destinations

From a sustainability perspective, achieving greater efficiencies in environmental waste management is at the heart of current academic discussion on climate change science. Over the last few decades the tourism industry has developed exponentially and is now considered one of the most dynamic economic activities worldwide. Solid waste is a commonly identified and ever increasing aspect of tourism;the improper management of which can lead to substantial and irreversible direct and indirect environmental, economic and social impacts. However, the management of solid waste in tourism dominated island communities is particularly problematic due to climatic conditions, topography, financial restraints, planning issues, changing consumption patterns, transient population, and seasonal variations in solid waste quantity and composition. In addition, there is often a lack of momentum to implement new initiatives and programs as stakeholders involved in the design, construction and operation of tourist resorts have conflicts of interest. Using information gathered from key informant interviews, participation observations and literature reviews, this article appraises current waste management practices in four European tourist destinations, namely: Mallorca, Tenerife, Kefalonia and Rhodes. Findings indicate that, although there are signs of compliance with global best practice, a variety of locally-based measures need to be implemented to enhance sustainability.

Exploring Enablers and Barriers to Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management Technologies Adoption in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) becomes a point of focus globally due to its harmful effects on the environment and human health if it is not managed properly. MSW was proved globally to be used as a resource, and it has a major opportunity in the realm of conversion technologies. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the enablers and barriers to six different MSW management (MSWM) technologies adopted in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in order to ensure the successful adoption of these technologies that are Anaerobic Digestion (AD), Incineration, Pyrolysis, Gasification, Composting and Refused Derived Fuel (RDF). This study provides sufficient information to the decision and policy-makers for the processes of selection and adoption of the MSWM technologies in Bahrain, using a qualitative approach “mainly semi-structured interviews” with experts and then Thematic Analysis using nvivo12 software. The results show that the main themes that enablers and barriers fall under are: political (e.g. national waste management strategy), technical (e.g. segregation at source), managerial (e.g. capacity building), social (e.g. public awareness), economic (e.g. incentives to investment) and environmental (e.g. air quality). This study concluded that in order to succeed in the MSWM technologies adoption, the resulted barriers should be overcome. Furthermore, Incineration was recommended as the best solution to manage MSW which has the least barriers and most enablers in Bahrain as per the experts.