Environmental and Earth Sciences

Sort by

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Marian Kusi-Appiah

,

Francisca Kusi-Appiah

,

Lirong Liu

,

Richard J Murphy

,

Valentine Seymour

Abstract: The rapid urbanisation in Ghana has outpaced municipal infrastructure, leaving cities like Accra struggling to manage daily waste. Municipalities and private waste management companies are struggling with significant uncollected municipal solid waste and a high reliance on unsanitary disposal methods. These problems have resulted in serious environmental degradation and public health issues. Despite Ghana having a strong legislative system, there is a significant functional disconnect between policy formulation and local implementation. This study evaluates the existing policies and acts governing Ghana's solid waste management system and explores the potential to integrate informal waste pickers into the formal system. Also, by identifying systemic gaps and policy-driven opportunities, the study seeks to recommend data-driven modelling approaches that prioritise both technological improvement and social inclusion to achieve a sustainable circular economy. Employing a convergent mixed-methods research design, the study utilised semi-structured questionnaire to collect data from 13 purposively selected expert stakeholders across different governing bodies. This allowed for quantitative descriptive method to identify systemic trends and a qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended responses, ensuring a complete evaluation of MSW governance landscape in Ghana. The findings reveal an institutional maze characterised by fragmented law enforcement, financial constraints and a complete absence of formal monitoring systems. The findings also show that informal waste pickers lack recognition, social protection and technical support. The study recommends data-driven modelling approaches such as optimisation models, multi-criteria decision-making tools and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) that align and integrate institutional frameworks with inclusive social policies.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Arystan Dikhanbaev

,

Bayandy Dikhanbaev

,

Marat Koshumbayev

,

Kuat Baubekov

,

Khakim Yessentay

,

Sultan Ybray

Abstract: In the Republic of Kazakhstan, more than 300 million tons of ash are stored in dumps, containing substantial quantities of valuable metals. The aim of this work is to achieve waste-free and carbon-neutral processing of Ekibastuz coal. The innovations include: a smelter using new "ideal mixing–ideal displacement" method, lowering energy consumption by two to three times compared to current models; extraction degree exceeding 70% for germanium and zinc, and successful production of stone-cast products; a distiller based on the "counter colliding jets" method, with tenfold reduction in energy consumption, compared to a traditional one; a zinc-method for hydrogen production, reducing electricity to one-third of that required by electrolysis; carbon reduction from its dioxide by hydrogen. The analysis suggests that reaching carbon neutrality by 2060 for a boiler with a power rating of 125 MW will necessitate increasing its power output by approximately 2.58 times. A comprehensive assessment of the economic efficiency related to the processing of Ekibastuz coal, including 15% gas decarbonization, suggests that the system could realize a payback period of around eight years.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Nadia Belen Ambriz-Gonzalez

,

Juan Ricardo López-Longoria

,

Fabián Robles-Martínez

,

Ana Belem Piña-Guzmán

Abstract: Agricultural and agro-industrial waste can be valorized through biodrying, a process that uses microbial activity to accelerate water loss to obtain a biodried material (BM) with high calorific value and potential use as a biofuel. This material has the advantage of being easily transported, stored, and preserved until later use. However, its high organic matter content allows it to be used for other purposes. In this study, the use of BM (made from orange peel, grass, mulch, pruning waste, and compost), either alone or mixed with fresh organic waste (FOW) as feed for Eisenia foetida in a vermicomposting system was evaluated over a period of 49 days. The proportions of BM used were: 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0%, with the remainder completed with FOW. During the bioprocess, temperature, humidity, and pH were monitored, and at the end of the experiment, the survival and reproduction of E. foetida as well as the quality of the humus obtained were analyzed. In the treatments containing 100% and 75% BM, the worm population decreased by 28.5% and 7.7%, respectively, although the highest number of cocoons (28 and 24 cocoons kghumus-1) was observed in these treatments compared with all others. The humus obtained from all treatments complied with the NMX-FF-109-SCFI-2008 standard, which designates quality grades as Extra, First, and Second. The treatment with 100% BM produced First quality humus, but the treatments with mixtures of BM and FOW produced Extra quality humus. The results support the diversification of BM uses and its incorporation into sustainable bioprocesses such as vermicomposting and the production of new value-added products.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Victor Frimpong

Abstract: This paper argues that evaluating AI–IoT climate adaptation in water systems cannot rely solely on performance metrics; it requires legitimacy stress-testing grounded in contextual validity and incident-based assessment. While artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are transforming water management—enhancing forecasting, monitoring, and decision-making for floods, droughts, and agricultural use—current evaluations remain largely model-centric, prioritising predictive accuracy over real-world viability. As a result, even technically robust systems can fail in practice, manifesting as missed events, false-alarm fatigue, delayed escalation, exclusion of vulnerable groups, and weak accountability—especially under climate variability and institutional constraints. The paper introduces a Legitimacy Stress-Test as a structured protocol for evaluating AI–IoT water systems as socio-technical infrastructures. Anchored in the Contextual Research Validity Index (CRVI), the framework comprises eight dimensions: data reliability, sensor performance, institutional readiness, governance of decision rights, equity, contestability, redress, and auditability. It links weaknesses across these dimensions to specific incident pathways, enabling proactive identification of governance risks and mitigation priorities. An illustrative flood early-warning case shows how strong predictive performance can fail to deliver resilience when contextual and governance conditions are misaligned. The proposed stress-test complements, rather than replaces, hydrological validation by clarifying when and why model performance breaks down. It offers a practical evaluation tool for agencies, donors, and regulators scaling AI–IoT climate adaptation systems.

Review
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Xiaoyan Zheng

,

Lixia Wang

,

Yingdui He

,

Binling Ai

Abstract: Aerobic composting is an important pathway for the resource utilization of agricultural waste. However, nitrogen loss during composting not only reduces the nutrient value of the final product but also causes environmental burdens, particularly through ammonia (NH3) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This review critically examines the sources, pathways, and mechanisms of nitrogen loss during aerobic composting of agricultural waste, with emphasis on nitrogen transformation and the major loss routes, including NH3 volatilization, N2O emissions, and nitrate leaching. From a multiscale perspective, the review synthesizes control strategies spanning feedstock pretreatment (e.g., C/N ratio optimization, adsorbent amendment, and microbial inoculation), in-process regulation (e.g., aeration, moisture, temperature, pH), and post-treatment approaches for nitrogen stabilization and resource recovery. The supporting roles of reactor innovation, intelligent process control, and policy and regulatory measures are also discussed. Finally, current bottlenecks and future research directions are summarized from environmental and economic perspectives, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary integration and technological innovation to enhance nitrogen retention during composting.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Lieve Göbbels

,

Karoline Raulf

,

Setenay Orbatu

,

Kathrin Greiff

Abstract: In this work, the development and validation of an AI- and sensor-based inline quality monitoring system for the analysis of particle size distributions (PSDs) of comminuted construction and demolition waste (CDW) material flows are described. In this, a custom-developed multitask CNN (CDW-MT-CNN) was developed using manually sieve analyzed particles. This model is able to rapidly and simultaneously predict the particle class and weight, essential for the determination of the PSD. The single particle data are then aggregated per raw image, usually consisting of around 1000 particles for full-scale experiments, to acquire a per-image PSD. The inline mounted RGB line scan sensor records high-resolution images in subsecond frequencies. With an inference time of around 54 ms for a single image, this model would be able to provide a PSD every minute in a full-scale plant. For the purpose of inline monitoring of CDW material flows in a comminution process, such intervals are sufficient according to experts and solves existing gaps regarding the upscaling of laboratory-developed systems. Together with the high predictive performance of the model, especially in terms of classification, it is shown that this technology has potential for monitoring in full-scale plants, for instance by offering operators new insights to improve operation efficiency. Further research should focus on increasing the precision for weight prediction, for instance by increasing the labeled data set with a larger number of unique particles and on methods to verify the performance of the model on pilot or full-scale plants during live operation.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Olayemi Zainab Oduola

,

Yusuf Olanrewaju Raufu

,

Morufu Olalekan Raimi

,

Ibraheem Adedayo Adediran

Abstract: Rationale: Informal waste scavenging is a critical livelihood strategy in many Nigerian urban settings, yet it exposes workers to occupational hazards and psychosocial stress. Limited data exist on how socio-demographic factors and work duration influence perceived stress and psychosocial challenges among waste scavengers. Objectives: To examine the socio-demographic characteristics of waste scavengers, assess associations between duration of engagement and perceived stress, and identify primary psychosocial challenges related to scavenging in Ilorin and Oshogbo, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 155 waste scavengers recruited from Ilorin and Oshogbo. Data on age, gender, education, marital status, duration of engagement, perceived stress levels, and primary psychosocial challenges were collected using structured questionnaires. Associations were assessed using Pearson chi-square tests, with consideration of expected cell counts. Descriptive statistics summarized socio-demographics and psychosocial profiles. Results: The workforce was predominantly young (18-27 years, 27.1%), male (52.3%), and had primary or secondary education (55.5%). Most scavengers had engaged in waste collection for less than three years (69.7%). Perceived stress varied with duration but was not statistically significant (χ²(12) = 14.680, p = 0.259), though higher proportions of extreme stress were observed among longer-duration workers. Feelings of shame or embarrassment (38.8%) and anxiety about safety (31.6%) were the most frequently reported psychosocial challenges, consistently observed across stress categories, with no statistically significant association (χ²(20) = 16.666, p = 0.675). Conclusion: Waste scavengers experience persistent psychosocial challenges regardless of duration, highlighting stigma and occupational hazards as key stressors. Recommendation: Implement psychosocial support programs, cooperative frameworks, and safety interventions to mitigate occupational stress and improve well-being. Thus, addressing psychosocial and occupational risks among informal waste workers is essential for reducing mental health burden and enhancing safety in urban waste management.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Jizhong Gan

,

Xiantao Liang

,

Yang Song

,

Bingxu Chen

,

Dongsheng Liu

,

Wanzhi Cao

,

Danhua Chen

Abstract: Gravelly soil is widely distributed in the central and western regions of China and serves as a crucial fill material for transportation infrastructure. However, its poor gradation, poor water stability, and low freeze - thaw resistance limit its direct application. To address the problems of high energy consumption and high carbon emissions of existing solidifying agents (such as cement, lime) and achieve the resource utilization of waste foam concrete, this study took waste foam concrete as the raw material, prepared a novel gravel soil stabilizer through crushing, ball milling, and high - temperature calcination, and systematically studied the solidification performance (unconfined compressive strength, water stability, freeze - thaw resistance) of the prepared stabilizer on gravelly soil and its solidification mechanism. The results show that the prepared stabilizer can significantly improve the mechanical properties of gravelly soil. At a dosage of 30%, the unconfined compressive strength reached 6.5 MPa after 28 days, an increase of 333% compared to the control group. The water stability is enhanced with the increase of dosage, and the water stability coefficient is significantly improved at a dosage of 30%. In terms of freeze - thaw resistance, at a dosage of 30%, the mass loss rate was only 2% after 5 freeze - thaw cycles, and the unconfined compressive strength reached 9.56 MPa, an increase of 437% compared to the control group. XRD and SEM analysis indicate that the stabilizer generates cementitious products such as calcium silicate hydrate gel and katoite through hydration reactions, which fill the pores of gravelly soil, cement particles, and optimize the microstructure, thereby improving its mechanical properties, water stability, and freeze - thaw resistance. This study provides a new way for the efficient resource utilization of waste foam concrete and also offers a low - energy and environmentally friendly novel stabilizer for the reinforcement of gravel soil subgrades in cold regions.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Sergio Hernández-Suárez

,

Jennifer López-Sánchez

,

Julio César García-Martínez

,

Paulina Gutiérrez-Macías

,

Odín Rodríguez-Nava

Abstract: Garden pruning waste from Cynodon sp. is a lignocellulosic resource with high lignin content, which limits anaerobic digestion efficiency. While white-rot fungi can delignify biomass through solid-state fermentation (SSF), their efficacy depends on balancing lignin removal with preservation of fermentable carbohydrates. This study evaluated the effect of SSF times (8, 21, and 36 days) with Trametes hirsuta on enzymatic activity and subsequent biogas production. Laccase activity increased progressively, reaching 983.84 U/L at 36 days; whereas manganese and versatile peroxidases peaked at 21 days. Fungal-pretreated samples exhibited lower methane yields, a maximum of 225.32 NmL/gVS at 8 days, compared to untreated biomass (381.66 NmL/gVS). Total lignin content apparently increased across treatments, suggesting pseudo-lignin formation during autoclave sterilization, while glucose and xylose decreased. Biological pretreatment affected methane production by reducing sugar availability, potentially forming inhibitory furanic compounds and antimicrobial metabolites, thereby negating the benefits of enzymatic delignification. These results underscore the complexity of optimizing fungal pretreatment and highlight the need to balance fermentation time to preserve carbohydrates while modifying lignin structure.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

David Braga

,

Diogo Assunção

,

A. M. Rosado da Cruz

,

Pedro M. Faria

,

João Oliveira

,

Leopoldo O. Silva

,

Estrela F. Cruz

Abstract: The textile and clothing industry has historically exerted a significant negative impact on the environment. Excessive water consumption, chemical pollution, and soil degradation are just a few of the pressing environmental concerns linked to this sector. Addressing these issues has become a priority not only for regulatory bodies, at National and European level, but also for the industry itself. More recently, growing attention has turned to reducing the huge volume of waste generated by consumers' unbridled purchase of clothing. Two promising solutions to this challenge are the Circular Economy (CE) model and the implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP). CE aims to reintegrate discarded garments back into the value chain, reducing the need for new raw materials and minimizing waste, straightforwarding reuse and recycling. Complementing this, the DPP provides comprehensive information about a garment’s life cycle, enhancing transparency, enabling traceability, and empowering consumers to make more informed choices. In this context, consumers play a pivotal role. They have the responsibility to adopt more sustainable habits, namely purchasing less, choosing eco-friendly options, and extending the lifespan of their clothing through reuse, donation, or recycling. This article proposes a gamified platform designed to inspire and support consumers in embracing more sustainable behaviour. The platform enables users to manage their wardrobes by tracking garment usage and documenting each item’s end-of-life journey. This data not only fosters consumer awareness and accountability but also contributes to the broader implementation of the DPP and CE practices.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Samir Hafizov

,

Gharib Hafizov

Abstract: Since pomegranate peel polyphenols have several biological activities, their demand and competition for sales markets are growing. Therefore, manufacturers of polyphenols of this type should be able to force the buyer to choose their product rather than a competitor, and for this it is necessary to achieve cost reduction and offer them at a lower price. This study was conducted precisely with the aim of developing a new way to obtain them, commensurate with such difficult tasks as cost and cost reduction. It has been tested for this: 1- extraction of polyphenols from the raw coarse peel from manual or machine peeling of pomegranates into an extract as a result of its fermentation using ethanol-forming yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; 2- separation of the resulting extract as a result of natural association and provoked (using gelatin). The technical result is a new method for producing three clots of different polyphenols in co-production with red dry wine "Aztanna". Although in the proposed method, the degree of presence of target substances in these clots (39-54% of their dry matter) is lower than in some commercial polyphenolic preparations (40-90% of dry matter and higher), it does not require, like them, the use of drying, grinding, heating, stirring and adsorption chromatography systems. It is also important that the best known methods are patented and protected by law, while the proposed solution can be freely implemented in the existing workshop of any winery, and without investing additional funds for the purchase of new equipment.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Cengiz Okay

,

Irfan Basturk

,

Selda M. Hocaoglu

,

Recep Partal

,

Georgy Mozzhukhin

,

Pavel Kupriyanov

,

Bulat Rameev

Abstract: The application of low-field time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) to measure water content and assess the distribution of water fractions in sludge samples has been investigated. The results of TD-NMR measurements on 26 dewatered sludge samples revealed a strong correlation between sludge water content and key features of the T₂ distribution curves, including the maximum relaxation time and peak area, demonstrating the potential of the TD-NMR method for estimating sludge moisture content. We have not observed a direct relationship between the peaks in T2 relaxation distribution curves obtained by Inverse Laplace Transform (ILT) and the expected water fraction ratios, apparently because sludge structure is highly variable from sample to sample. Despite the bio-complexity of sludge samples, the direct correspondence between key features of the T₂ relaxation curves and moisture content demonstrates the high potential of TD-NMR as a tool for controlling sludge moisture content, even in an online device configuration.

Review
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Felipe Anchieta-Silva

,

Amélia de Santana Cartaxo

,

Antônio Demouthié de Sales Rolim Esmeraldo

,

Elaine Meireles Senra

,

José Carlos Pinto

Abstract: The widespread utilization of plastic materials across various sectors has led to significant increase of plastics demand over the decades. This growth has been accompanied by a mounting challenge related to managing of generated plastic waste, as substantial portions of the plastic residual end up in landfills due to limited recycling efforts. Addressing this global concern demands the development of innovative strategies to better assess and recover polymer waste, which should be treated as a different feedstock. In order to do that, efficient sorting techniques are crucial to integrate valuable materials like plastics into municipal solid waste management and improve recycling outcomes. As a matter of fact, technological innovations in this area have given rise to more sophisticated sorting methods, exploring automated sorting techniques to enhance recycling efficiency. Nevertheless, among traditional and modern sorting approaches, manual strategies are still used to perform plastic waste segregation. In this context, the present study aims to comprehensively review and assess pre-treatment classification techniques employed to transform waste streams into valuable compounds, specifically focusing on polyolefin materials present in large quantities in urban solid waste treatment environments.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Yusuf Olanrewaju Raufu

,

Tawakalitu Tope Abolayo

,

Awotunde Opeyemi Olusegun

,

Henry Olawale Sawyeer

,

Morufu Olalekan Raimi

Abstract: Rationale: The escalating volume of solid waste generated globally poses significant environmental and public health challenges, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. Effective solid waste management planning relies on the quantification and characterization of waste streams. However, in Nigerian universities, critical processes such as waste collection, transportation, characterization, and disposal remain significantly under-investigated and poorly implemented, limiting evidence-based policy development. Objectives: This study assessed the quantity, composition, spatial distribution, temporal variation, and resource recovery potential of solid waste at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun (FUHSI), aiming to propose actionable recommendations for sustainable waste management aligned with circular economy principles. Methods: A six-month prospective waste segregation and collection study was conducted across eight strategic locations on campus, including the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS), Senate Building (SB), Faculty of Science (FS), Former Administrative Building (FAB), Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (FBM), Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), Nursing Science (NS), and Library and ICT complex (LI). Waste was segregated at source, transported to the mini–Material Recovery Facility (m-MRF), and measured weekly. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA, were employed to examine spatial variations in waste composition. Results: Over the monitoring period, a cumulative 1,846.4 kg of waste was recorded, with an overall mean of 9.62 kg per week per collection point. FAHS contributed the largest share (17.87%; average 13.75 kg/week), followed by SB (12.65%) and FS (12.55%). Temporal analysis revealed a gradual decline from 513.3 kg in Week 1 to 413.6 kg in Week 4, suggesting operational intensity patterns. Waste composition analysis demonstrated food waste as the dominant fraction (~600 kg; 32.7%), substantially exceeding plastics (~320 kg; 17.3%) and papers (~310 kg; 16.8%). Intermediate quantities were observed for carton/cardboard (~270 kg) and polythene nylons (~240 kg), with smaller proportions for metals/cans (~50 kg), styrofoam (~40 kg), and glass bottles (<10 kg). One-way ANOVA revealed statistically significant spatial variations across locations for food waste (p < 0.001), plastic waste (p < 0.001), polythene nylon (p < 0.001), and paper (p < 0.001), while glass bottles showed uniform distribution (p = 0.272). Recovery assessment documented 603.8 kg of food waste composted (averaging 25.16 kg weekly), 320 kg of plastics recycled, and substantial paper (310.2 kg) and carton (272.6 kg) recovery. Over 80% of the waste stream was identified as either biodegradable or recyclable.Conclusion: FUHSI generates substantial waste with significant spatial and compositional variability, yet exhibits remarkable potential for resource recovery through composting and recycling interventions. Recommendations: The university should implement extensive source segregation programs, conduct awareness campaigns, establish infrastructure for organic waste composting, and develop plastic and paper recycling partnerships to advance circular economy principles. Health Significance Statement: Improper waste management directly threatens campus community health through occupational exposures, environmental contamination, and increased disease transmission risks. Implementing sustainable waste management systems is essential for protecting population health, reducing environmental hazards, and fostering institutional sustainability.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Anmol Soni

,

Banna Das

,

Matthew Brand

,

Aaron Bivins

Abstract: On-site wastewater treatment systems are known to be sources of aquatic pollution; however, limited data precludes systems level assessments. Aerobic treatment units (ATUs) are widely utilized in Louisiana, where groundwater and soil conditions limit septic tanks. By combining a limited ATU permitting record with housing unit build data, we estimate there were 412,552 permitted ATUs in Louisiana by end of 2023. We conservatively estimate the annual surface water loading from ATUs in the 24 coastal parishes is 7.51 million pounds of nitrogen, and 2.18 million pounds of phosphorus, which are equivalent to 57% and 84%, respectively, of the nitrogen and phosphorus discharged by all the major wastewater treatment plants in Louisiana. Despite a state-wide ATU utilization rate of 73.7%, our analysis of policy documents indicates ATU management in the two coastal parishes with the highest number of ATUs is best described as “basic” with limited compliance monitoring, enforcement, and public awareness. Simultaneously, we estimate the deployment of Environmental Impact Bonds premised on nutrient recovery and optimized energy consumption could be sufficient to fund routine ATU inspection and maintenance programs. Our findings strongly suggest the on-site wastewater treatment status quo jeopardizes water quality at scale demanding the pursuit of creative solutions.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Erica Sparaventi

,

Rafael Nuez

,

María Pilar Yeste

,

Miguel Ángel Cauqui

,

Marta Sendra

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) are routinely present throughout wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) due to their widespread occurrence, while current treatment technologies achieve only partial removal. Therefore, WWTP effluents can still discharge a substantial fraction of MPs to receiving water bodies leading to environmental contamination. Most previous studies reported MP concentrations at specific time points, precluding a long-term monitoring and may result in over- or underestimation. The aim of this study is to examine the concentration, size, and polymer composition of MPs at inlet and outflow waters over a six-month period, from July to December, to assess the temporal variability of MPs across seven conventional urban WWTPs located in the Andalusia region, southern Spain. MPs were found in all sampling campaigns. In influent samples, concentrations were found to reach 6 – 78 MP/L, while the WWTP effluents contained a range of 12 – 65 MP/L. Fibers were the most abundant shape across all the WWTPs. The average size in the influent was 848 ± 1427 μm and effluent 918 ± 1221 μm. Polymers such as PA, PP, PVC and LDPE were the most abundant, reflecting the domestic origin of water samples.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Marek Szajt

,

Marcin Zawada

Abstract: The problem of environmental pollution due to emissions of carbon monoxide, sulfur, or dust is not only ecological, but also economic in nature — losses from environmental degradation impact nearly all aspects of life. Monitoring of positive changes resulting from research and corrective actions seems appropriate in terms of their use and optimization. In this article, the goal is to identify the periodic and seasonal fluctuations in pollutant emissions and their corresponding levels over 10 years. Częstochowa, a medium-sized town in the Silesian Voivodeship of Poland, was used as a research area. It is assumed that the changes – reducing emissions-are the result, among other things, of environmental actions of local governments. The study utilized data from a measurement station located in the city center and employed statistical analysis and econometric modeling to analyze the data. The results show statistically significant differences in weekly and monthly emissions, as well as their constant limitation.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Irfan Basturk

,

İbrahim Sani Ozdemir

,

Hande Gulcan

,

Selda Murat Hocaoglu

,

Recep Partal

,

Burak Bozcelik

,

Saamantha Charuka Meegoda

,

Harsha Ratnaweera

,

Zakhar Maletskyi

Abstract: Accurate and rapid determination of moisture content in waste sludge is essential for optimizing dewatering processes, reducing disposal costs, and minimizing environmental impact. This study investigates the use of Fourier Transform Near-Infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy combined with Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS-R) for predicting the moisture content of dewatered sludge. A total of 96 sludge samples, with dry matter contents ranging from 12.4% to 24.6%, were collected from two treatment plants. FT-NIR spectra were acquired over the 800–2500 nm range, and chemometric models were developed to correlate spectral information with gravimetrically determined moisture content. The optimized PLS-R model demonstrated strong predictive performance, achieving a cross-validated coefficient of determination (R²CV) of 0.87, a root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) of 0.92%, and a residual predictive deviation (RPD) of 2.73. Independent test set validation confirmed the robustness of the model (R²test = 0.88, RMSEP = 0.88%, RPD = 2.92), supported by strong calibration results (R² = 0.95, RMSEE = 0.60%, RPD = 4.46). Principal component analysis indicated that spectral variability observed in sludge samples was primarily associated with WWTP-specific characteristics, reflecting moisture–organic matter interactions. These results demonstrate that FT-NIR spectroscopy is a promising tool for sludge moisture prediction.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Wisdom M. D. Dlamini

Abstract: Municipal solid waste (MSW) management remains a persistent sustainability chal-lenge in low- and middle-income countries, where uneven service coverage and rapid spatial change produce heterogeneous household disposal behaviours and substantial environmental externalities. This study develops a spatially explicit Bayesian network framework to map and explain six dominant household solid-waste disposal pathways across Eswatini using enumeration areas (EAs; n = 2,326) and nationally consistent census-linked predictors. Separate Tree-Augmented Naïve Bayes (TAN) models were trained for regular collection, irregular collection, open burning, public dumping, backyard pit disposal, and undesignated disposal, integrating socio-demographic, in-frastructural, accessibility, environmental, and neighbourhood-context variables, while explicitly quantifying predictive uncertainty using posterior entropy and Kull-back–Leibler (KL) divergence. Hold-out evaluation (465 test EAs; 1,861 training EAs) shows strong pathway-specific performance, with overall accuracy ranging from 0.497-0.989 across targets and ex-pected-value prediction errors of RMSE = 0.148-0.289 and MAE = 0.141-0.242. Uncer-tainty surfaces reveal low entropy in structurally homogeneous, well-served urban cores and elevated uncertainty in peri-urban transition zones where disposal behav-iours are mixed and services are unreliable. KL divergence highlights a limited subset of EAs where local conditions strongly update national expectations—priority loca-tions for targeted interventions and improved data collection. The framework provides policy-ready, uncertainty-aware evidence to support area-based service planning and sub-national monitoring relevant to SDG 11.6.1 in data-constrained contexts.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Neven Voća

,

Karla Gašparić

,

Tomislav Karažija

,

Anamarija Peter

,

Ivan Brandić

,

Matija Harcet

,

Jona Šurić

Abstract: Abstract Cockroaches are a promising biological tool for processing biodegradable waste due to their resilience and ability to consume a wide range of organic material. Through their metabolism, they convert organic material into a humus-like substrate known as frass or blatticompost, which can potentially be used as an agricultural fertiliser. This study investigates the ability of the cockroach species Blaptica dubia, Blatta lateralis and Blaberus giganteus to process slaughterhouse by-products and compares their biocon-version efficiency, nutrient composition, chemical properties and microbiological pro-file of the resulting frass as a compost with that of cockroaches fed on conventional biowaste. By comparing these properties with conventional composting methods and the relevant literature, this research aims to provide new insights into the efficiency of blatticomposting as an alternative organic waste management strategy. The results suggest that cockroaches can effectively break down organic material, significantly reducing the volume of waste while producing compost with favorable chemical and microbiological properties. Furthermore, the inclusion of slaughterhouse waste in the process extends the potential application of blatticomposting to protein-rich organic residues that are otherwise difficult to manage sustainably. This study contributes to this topic by exploring the feasibility of integrating blatticomposting into existing waste management systems, highlighting both the benefits and the necessary precautions in terms of biosecurity and public health risks. Proper containment and monitoring of cockroach populations and risk assessment for pathogen transmission are key consid-erations for the practical implementation of this approach. The absence of hazardous levels of heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms indicates that cock-roach-mediated bioconversion can produce a chemically stable and microbiologically safe organic amendment.

of 15

Prerpints.org logo

Preprints.org is a free preprint server supported by MDPI in Basel, Switzerland.

Subscribe

Disclaimer

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Privacy Settings

© 2026 MDPI (Basel, Switzerland) unless otherwise stated