1,721,108 research outputs found
Industrial Metabolism
No full textTerms such as "life cyele management," "industrial ecology," "industrial metabolism," and "industrial symbiosis" are common in the literature on enviwnmentally conscious production, but the precise definition of these concepts and the distinction between them varies with authors. For clarity on these topics, we wll present a brief review of the work done by authors who first proposed these disciplines of study and related concepts. We also intend to explain how industril ecology is embedded within the development of related disciplines. This approach is relevant because a multidisciplinary approach is followed in implementing industrial ecology. Because of its multidisciplinary character, the field that is covered by industrial ecology has been gradually extended to domains beyond its original concepts. Therefore, it might be useful to redefine industrial ecology while reconsidering the original definitions of this topic. The essential aspect in which industrial ecology differs from other approaches is in the comparison between the industrial system and the naturaJ ecological system. This comparison is not only of academic interest, but it is considered a tooI for the redesign of the industrial system on various levels of aggregation aimed at achieving i.ncreased sust.linability. Must of the industrial ecologists advocate the closing of the materials cycles as an essential path toward this end. The method of quantitative materials-and energy flow analysis - also called industrial metabolism, is the principal instrument for achieving this goal. Therefore, this chapter describes the basic concepts of industrial metabolism
Plastic waste as a resource. Strategies for reduction and utilization of plastic waste
No full textPlastic materials have experienced a spectacular rate of growth in recent decades, consequently, production of plastics, and likewise their consumption, has increased markedly since 1950. Moreover, they are lightweight and durable, as well as can be moulded into a variety of products that can be manufactured in many different types of plastic and in a wide range of applications. Inevitably, continually increasing amounts of used plastic are originating daily, resulting in a plastic waste problem.
The final objective of this research is to achieve a good overview of currently plastic waste situation in order to propose several improvement strategies for favouring the reduction and utilization of this type of waste. Definitely, contribute to sustainable development and protection of natural resources through proposals of recovery and reduction of plastic waste disposed in landfills.
In order to improve the reduction and recovery rates of plastic waste, it is important to implement the 4Rs strategy in waste management, or waste hierarchy, a sequence of actions in the order of decreasing environmental desirability, including reduce, reuse, recycle materials and recover energy, with prevention as the most favoured option and disposal in a landfill as the least desirable management strategy.
For this reason, many measures in order to reduce the volume of plastic waste generation are proposed, that is, actions to be implemented before product end-of-life, during pre-consumption and consumption. Finally, some proposals to increase the utilization of recovered plastic and to improve plastic waste treatments are proposed, that is, actions to be implemented after product end-of-life or post-consumption. In addition to this, current applications of recycled plastic waste and future research are reported.Outgoin
Environmentally conscious management of waste electrical and electronic equipment
No full textRapid technological change, low initial cost, and the fast obsolescence of the electrical and electronic equipments have resulted in a fast‐growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe.
Electronic waste, e‐waste, e‐scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) describes loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, broken, electrical or electronic devices. The processing of electronic waste in developing countries causes serious health and pollution problems because electronic equipment contains some very hazardous contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and bromine‐containing flame retardants. Even in developed countries recycling and disposal of e‐waste involves significant risk, for example to workers and communities, and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaching of materials such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes.
The purpose of this thesis is to figure out the challenges that represent an adequate management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) due to the complexity of this waste. In order to achieve this, the study will be focused on the waste of electrical and electronic equipment within the context of the general waste streams. The current legislation on WEEE will be studied, as well as the collection and recycling methods carried out. The reporting and the economical part will be studied as well. The thesis also points out the environmental impact caused by this waste with the aim to find a solution to its increasing amount of WEEE generated. Hence, the education and awareness regarding with it will be analyzed, finishing at the end with some conclusions and recommendations. The differences between The Netherlands and Spain will be investigated in order to achieve improvements in these systems.Outgoin
Environmentally conscious management of waste electrical and electronic equipment
No full textRapid technological change, low initial cost, and the fast obsolescence of the electrical and electronic equipments have resulted in a fast‐growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe.
Electronic waste, e‐waste, e‐scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) describes loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, broken, electrical or electronic devices. The processing of electronic waste in developing countries causes serious health and pollution problems because electronic equipment contains some very hazardous contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and bromine‐containing flame retardants. Even in developed countries recycling and disposal of e‐waste involves significant risk, for example to workers and communities, and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaching of materials such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes.
The purpose of this thesis is to figure out the challenges that represent an adequate management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) due to the complexity of this waste. In order to achieve this, the study will be focused on the waste of electrical and electronic equipment within the context of the general waste streams. The current legislation on WEEE will be studied, as well as the collection and recycling methods carried out. The reporting and the economical part will be studied as well. The thesis also points out the environmental impact caused by this waste with the aim to find a solution to its increasing amount of WEEE generated. Hence, the education and awareness regarding with it will be analyzed, finishing at the end with some conclusions and recommendations. The differences between The Netherlands and Spain will be investigated in order to achieve improvements in these systems.Outgoin
Environmentally conscious management of waste electrical and electronic equipment
No full textRapid technological change, low initial cost, and the fast obsolescence of the electrical and electronic equipments have resulted in a fast‐growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe.
Electronic waste, e‐waste, e‐scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) describes loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, broken, electrical or electronic devices. The processing of electronic waste in developing countries causes serious health and pollution problems because electronic equipment contains some very hazardous contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and bromine‐containing flame retardants. Even in developed countries recycling and disposal of e‐waste involves significant risk, for example to workers and communities, and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaching of materials such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes.
The purpose of this thesis is to figure out the challenges that represent an adequate management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) due to the complexity of this waste. In order to achieve this, the study will be focused on the waste of electrical and electronic equipment within the context of the general waste streams. The current legislation on WEEE will be studied, as well as the collection and recycling methods carried out. The reporting and the economical part will be studied as well. The thesis also points out the environmental impact caused by this waste with the aim to find a solution to its increasing amount of WEEE generated. Hence, the education and awareness regarding with it will be analyzed, finishing at the end with some conclusions and recommendations. The differences between The Netherlands and Spain will be investigated in order to achieve improvements in these systems.Outgoin
Plastic waste as a resource. Strategies for reduction and utilization of plastic waste
No full textPlastic materials have experienced a spectacular rate of growth in recent decades, consequently, production of plastics, and likewise their consumption, has increased markedly since 1950. Moreover, they are lightweight and durable, as well as can be moulded into a variety of products that can be manufactured in many different types of plastic and in a wide range of applications. Inevitably, continually increasing amounts of used plastic are originating daily, resulting in a plastic waste problem.
The final objective of this research is to achieve a good overview of currently plastic waste situation in order to propose several improvement strategies for favouring the reduction and utilization of this type of waste. Definitely, contribute to sustainable development and protection of natural resources through proposals of recovery and reduction of plastic waste disposed in landfills.
In order to improve the reduction and recovery rates of plastic waste, it is important to implement the 4Rs strategy in waste management, or waste hierarchy, a sequence of actions in the order of decreasing environmental desirability, including reduce, reuse, recycle materials and recover energy, with prevention as the most favoured option and disposal in a landfill as the least desirable management strategy.
For this reason, many measures in order to reduce the volume of plastic waste generation are proposed, that is, actions to be implemented before product end-of-life, during pre-consumption and consumption. Finally, some proposals to increase the utilization of recovered plastic and to improve plastic waste treatments are proposed, that is, actions to be implemented after product end-of-life or post-consumption. In addition to this, current applications of recycled plastic waste and future research are reported.Outgoin
Yesterday pro-active, responsive today. Use of information to enhance planning in closed loop supply chains
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