1,721,070 research outputs found
Nearest neighbour effects in kerbside household waste recycling
No full textAlthough the factors influencing householders’ kerbside recycling behaviour are generally well understood, our understanding derives primarily from research that has considered households or householders as discrete, individual entities. Relatively little is known of whether and how the recycling behaviour of discrete households is influenced by social interactions with other households in close proximity, such as immediate neighbours. This study aimed therefore to assess social interaction effects on householders’ recycling behaviour at the level of immediate neighbours. Quantification of nearest neighbour interactions involved first the construction of a model to produce repeated randomly-allocated distributions of recycling participants. Spatial distributions of both modelled and observed kerbside recyclers were then enumerated in terms of the numbers of recycling households located between two neighbouring recycling participants, normalized to the number of houses in contiguous blocks and the number of participating households. Comparison of observations to model outputs showed that recycling households were more clustered than for randomly-modelled distributions in relatively few cases. Positive clustering effects were more common for contiguous cul-de-sac blocks than for linearly-oriented blocks of similar size. Clustering also diminished as numbers of houses in linear contiguous blocks increased. The study concluded that the potential for enhancing kerbside recycling by invoking social interactions and norms may be limited due to (1) the low frequency of social interactions between householders and (2) the influence of street architecture on social interactions
The effect of pH, dissolved humic substances, and ionic composition on the transfer of iron and phosphate to particulate size fractions in epilimnetic lake water.
Full text linkTransformations of dissolved iron and phosphate to particulate material (>0.2 \mu m) were investigated by adding ^55 FeCl_3, and ^32 PO_4^3- to pH adjusted epilimnetic lake water samples of contrasting ionic strengths and dissolved humic substances (DHS) concentrations. The distributions of these tracers between particulate size fractions in samples without appreciable DHS after 24 h of dark incubation varied markedly over the pH range 4-8. The effect of pH on the movement of ^55 Fe and ^32 P to particulate size fractions in clear-water samples depended on the ionic strength. Over the same pH range, the presence of DHS suppressed the movement of ^55 Fe and ^32 P to particulate size fractions. There was little difference between low and high ionic strength DHS-rich samples. The capability of DHS to maintain added ^55 Fe and ^32 P in solution (<0.2 \mu m) was confirmed by simultaneous measurements of precipitation losses.<br/
Concepts and Communication in the Early Stages of an Environmental Science Degree: A Case Study of Formative Activities and Tasks
No full textTo meet the needs of the professional environment sector, environmental science graduates need to be suitably equipped in terms of their knowledge, understanding, and skills. At the University of Southampton, the first-year module Environmental Science: Concepts and Communication aids students in their journey into Environmental Science by preparing them to face the challenges of university study and beyond. This module thus engages students in independent learning and provides them with opportunities to develop and enhance the skills necessary to do so. Formative and student-led activities and tasks are considered important tools to achieve this aim. This review provides an overview of selected formative and student-led activities with focus on methods and approaches, values and benefits, and the practicalities of delivery. Three assessments are reviewed: a practice essay, a communication exercise, and a practice presentation. The intended benefits and value of these assessments are (1) engagement with environmental issues and topics and (2) development and enhancement of study skills. The value of such work is only realized, however, with student engagement. Delivering this module has demonstrated that formative elements are most effective when orientated to tutor group activities. Motivation for engagement appears most effective when the visibility - or absence - of students’ work is brought to the foreground through working in small groups. There is added value in that the collation and sharing of feedback within a small group permits students to learn not only from their own work but also from their peers
What is the future for public communications about waste and resources?
No full textContemporary society faces many pressing problems, of which the development of a sustainable approach to waste and resource management is just one. Enabling effective resource management requires active public engagement and motivation – alongside appropriate infrastructure and service provision - and this is hugely challenging. Many political, environmental, social, technological, legal and economic approaches have been trialled, but only slow progress has been achieved thus far in many settings. Communication is a vital tool for scientists’ findings to make some form of impact. Research around topics such as climate change, water pollution and food waste often needs to inspire changes in public knowledge and behaviourto catalyse necessary, rapid public action
Global E-waste management: Can WEEE make a difference? A review of e-waste trends, legislation, contemporary issues and future challenges
No full textWaste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) comprises a globally important waste stream due to the scarcity and value of the materials that it contains; annual generation of WEEE is increasing by 3–5% per annum. The effective management of WEEE will contribute critically to progress towards (1) realisation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, (2) a circular economy, and (3) resource efficiency. This comprehensive review paper provides a critical and contemporary examination of the current global situation of WEEE management and discusses opportunities for enhancement. Trends in WEEE generation, WEEE-related policies and legislation are exemplified in detail. Four typical future WEEE management scenarios are identified, classified and outlined. The European Community is at the forefront of WEEE management, largely due to the WEEE Directive (Directive 2012/19/EU) which sets high collection and recycling targets for Member States. WEEE generation rates are increasing in Africa though collection and recycling rates are low. WEEE-related legislation coverage is increasing in Asia (notably China and India) and in Latin America. This review highlights emerging concerns, including: stockpiling of WEEE devices; reuse standards; device obsolescence; the Internet of Things, the potential for collecting space e-debris, and emerging trends in electrical and electronic consumer goods. Key areas of concern in regard to WEEE management are identified: the partial provision of formal systems for WEEE collection and treatment at global scale; further escalation of global WEEE generation (increased ownership, and acceleration of obsolescence and redundancy); and absence of regulation and its enforcement. Measures to improve WEEE management at global scale are recommended: incorporation of circular economy principles in EEE design and production, and WEEE management, including urban mining; extension of WEEE legislation and regulation, and improved enforcement thereof; harmonisation of key terms and definitions to permit consistency and meaning in WEEE management; and improvements to regulation and recognition of the informal WEEE management sector.</p
Quantitative analysis of recyclable materials composition: tools to support decision making in kerbside recycling
No full textFor UK statutory recycling targets to be met, kerbside collection schemes must strive towards optimal performance levels at which the quantities and composition of materials recovered closely match potentially recoverable materials in the household waste stream. Multivariate analysis of recyclable materials data for regions in the UK showed that there exist substantial differences between the composition of recovered and recoverable materials per household, per week. The similarity between recovered and recoverable materials was not closely related to the range of materials collected at the kerbside. The provision of kerbside recycling facilities for two or more materials, as required by the Household Waste Recycling Act [Household Waste Recycling Act. Office of Public Sector Information, London, UK; 2003, http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/20030029.htm (accessed 19 May 2004)], does not appear to lead necessarily to high levels of recycling. Modes of behaviour revealed by statistical analysis showed that frequently recycling households were characterised by elements of episodicity and persistence; enhancement of cans and plastics recovery should be a key aim for the promotion of kerbside recycling amongst such households. We conclude that if multi-material kerbside recycling of household waste is to perform well, modification of kerbside schemes to broaden the range of targeted materials must be accompanied by promotional and educational campaigns, focused, as a short term priority, on medium and high recyclers and with emphasis on recognition of cans and plastics
Provision of feedback to promote householders’ use of a kerbside recycling scheme: a social dilemma perspective
No full textAs English local authorities develop strategies to deal with the growing volumes of municipal waste created in their districts, householder participation in recycling initiatives is becoming increasingly important. Taking a social dilemma perspective, this paper adopts an individual (psychological) strategy as a means of enhancing kerbside recycling use in the London Borough of Havering. Three groups of householders received motivational messages on recycling performance with a different bias: critical, neutral or encouraging, whilst a further group acted as a control. Although differences in recycling behaviour prior to and following intervention were not statistically significant for any treatment group, average use of the scheme was found to decrease post-leaflet in all cases, but less so for those in the 'encouraging' message group. Responses to a questionnaire survey indicated that householder attitudes did not vary significantly between treatment groups. The study shows that an individual (psychological) approach alone is not sufficient to enhance householder recycling behaviour in Havering over the short term. Future promotional strategies are suggested that combine both the individual and the collective approach to motivate and encourage recycling participation
Kerbside recycling in the London Borough of Havering: progress and priorities.
No full textAs municipal waste continues to increase, English waste managers face decisions regarding the adoption of effective and sustainable waste strategies. Kerbside recycling is one essential component, for which evaluations of existing systems can provide useful guidance as to which type of scheme should be implemented. This study evaluates the performance of a co-mingled recycling service operating in an outer London Borough, considering the barriers to progress and opportunities for enhancement. Problems were found to relate to contamination, the supply of clear bags for recyclate, residual waste and misperception about the service. For the co-mingled system to improve it is suggested that promotion and education campaigns should aim specifically to reduce contamination, deliver a waste minimisation message, and dispel householders’ beliefs that disposal to landfill is the fate of all co-mingled materials. A comparison between separate collection of clear bags and the current system would also enable a more robust evaluation of effectiveness
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