Integrated synthesis, modeling, and assessment (iSMA) of waste-to-resource alternatives towards a circular economy: The case of the chemical recycling of plastic waste management

The need to transform economic models to implement a circular use of resources is crucial due to the current waste accumulation crisis. New waste-to-resource alternatives are constantly emerging to close material loops; therefore, tools are needed to identify the best synergies to upcycle waste. An approach has been developed to identify and...

Opposing Expectations: Why Food Waste Remains a Problem in Cologne: An Institutional Network Analysis on Food Waste in Germany

Food waste remains a large problem globally, not only in the light of global greenhouse gas emissions, but also in the light of decreasing resource availability. Research in this area has so far mainly focused on behavioral factors influencing production of food waste, while the formal and informal institutions that relate to the management of...

Coupling ORCHESTRA to Python: A modelling framework for simulating waste degradation in a bioreactor

Over the years, modelling frameworks have been proposed to describe and predict the degradation of municipal solid waste in landfills. These frameworks, however, fail to couple the kinetic solutions to the real-time equilibrium state of the system. Because of this, fundamental processes such as pH changes, NH4+ adsorption to the waste surface...

Optimizing landfill aeration strategy with a 3-D multiphase model

In order to reduce the environmental and financial burden for future generations, approaches are needed to shorten aftercare of landfills. Aeration of the waste-body is a promising approach, however, the poor understanding of transport of gas and water through a waste-body makes it difficult to design an effective aeration strategy. The aim of...

Theoretical analysis of municipal solid waste treatment by leachate recirculation under anaerobic and aerobic conditions

Long-term emissions of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills are a burden for future generations because of the required long-term aftercare. To shorten aftercare, treatment methods have to be developed that reduce long-term emissions. A treatment method that reduces emissions at a lysimeter scale is re-circulation of leachate. However, its...

Use of concrete recycled aggregates as a raw material in lightweight mortar fabrication

Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) raises an environmental problem due both to the lack of prevention in their production process and little use of recycled material. In order to improve this situation, over the last years the new legislation on the CDW has entered into force, fostering the recovery of waste at its end-of-life and...

Realizing Steady Supply to a Treatment Plant from Multiple Sources

In sewer systems sewage from different areas is often treated in a shared Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). Currently the flows from different areas are usually determined by needs local to that area. During dry weather this may result in large variations in the flow into the WWTP. There are two reasons why this may be undesirable. Due to...

Process Development of Thermal HydroDechlorination