Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Agricultural waste management'

Soil-borne pests and pathogens, such as Verticillium dahliae, can devastate a wide range of annual and perennial crops. Current management options for organic production are limited and sustainable management of pathogens, weeds, and arthropods is important for staying profitable and reducing the use of harmful chemicals. Organic soil amendments play an important role in supplying some of the nutritional needs of vegetable crops and improving soil structure, while also contributing to pest control. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of grape and olive-based composts on soil pathogen load, arthropod communities, and weed biomass and diversity. Field experiments were conducted in both organic and conventionally grown bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) systems during the summer growing season of 2018 on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, California. Four different organic amendment treatments were tested including: olive based compost, grape based compost, dairy manure compost, and plant waste compost. Abundance of the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae was assessed from composite soil samples collected at several time points throughout the growing season. Olive, grape, and plant waste composts all displayed significant reduction of V. dahliae abundance between two to eight weeks post application of treatment when compared to the control. Insufficient evidence was found correlating farm management type with V. dahliae abundance after adjusting for treatment and time. Total dry weed biomass was assessed after one month of unhindered growth. The organic amendments tested appeared to alter weed species composition but not overall biomass though no significant differences were found. The soil arthropods symphylans and collembolans were sampled throughout the growing season, significant trends in population were found over time but not across treatments. This research demonstrates how agricultural waste-based compost amendments have potential as tools in pest management.

Thesis (MSc (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
As with any form of intensive agriculture, there are potential environmental impacts associated with the management and housing of livestock on dairy farms. Within the field of dairy farming, particular focus falls to the issue of environmental degradation of water resources, as this form of pollution is currently a major environmental issue around the world. Conventional agricultural practices involving the application of chemical fertilizers to land and crops are causing environmental problems as a result of poor management practices. Dairy wastewater and manures could however be a valuable resource for agricultural producers in the form of an alternate fertilizer for their crops. Waste application as a fertilizer is more environmentally friendly than chemical fertilizers, and could drastically reduce costs for farmers, whilst alleviating storage and management problems often associated with farmyard manures (FYM). The application of organic wastes, notably livestock manures, to land has historically been important for maintaining soil fertility on farms in terms of nutrient status and organic matter levels, as well as helping to reduce soil erosion and improve waterholding capacity. The research sought to investigate the environmental and economical feasibility of using dairy wastewater and manures as an alternative form of fertilizer within agriculture in South Africa.

Increased adoption of compost bedded pack dairy barns (CBP), a relatively new housing and manure handling strategy, warrants study to facilitate proper use of CBP waste as a soil amendment. This study: 1) characterized in situ nutrient content and availability of CBP waste in terms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P); 2) examined the decomposition of surface-applied CBP waste compared to an alternative processed solid waste amendment; 3) examined nutrient dynamics of incorporated CBP waste in high and low soil test phosphorus (STP) environments. Quick anaerobic mineralization assays revealed that bed management affects nutrient content and availability of CBP waste. A Fall surface-applied litter bag study showed that different particle sizes of CBP waste and a biosolid decomposed at similar rates. The biosolid had greater nutrient density and availability, but the decomposition was similar to CBP waste in terms of mineralization dynamics. Aerobic mineralization of CBP waste in high and low STP soils amended on a uniform P basis was compared with fresh manure. In general, CBP increased STP more and yielded more plant available P than fresh manure. These studies provide recommendations for CBP management and further study to ensure the proper land application of CBP waste.

Mestrado em Engenharia do Ambiente - Instituto Superior de Agronomia
This paper presents a critical analysis of the agricultural solid waste management, taking as case study the county of Vila Franca de Xira. In order to support this analysis we present the literature review and the contacts with public and private entities and organizations with an interest in the present work. It is made a brief introduction to clarify the reasons that explain the genesis of the problem of waste in general and the agricultural waste in particular and the importance of its managing. It is also mentioned the main problems raised by wastes in the environment, its management, and the main solutions adopted for each of these wastes. It is presented the legislation and institutional framework for the wastes of agricultural sources, indicating the documents and entities involved in waste management. For the case study, it was characterized the county in general and justified the decision to limit the analysis to the Lezíria Grande de Vila Franca de Xira. The data related to waste management in the area and a critical analysis of the actual situation, including suggestions for intervention in the management of agricultural waste that may help to improve the current situation.

Building on the development of a research agenda, the research used best practices in the UK and other developed countries to design the aims and objectives from which the methods were developed. Based on the research agenda, trends in household behaviour in Cameroon were examined in order to identify, and generate baseline information to provide a sound evidence base essential for robust policy development in education, capacity building in composting involving the third sector organizations in Cameroon. To determine attitudes, Q methodology was used. Factor analysis produced nine and eight factors representing distinct behavioural patterns of public concerns, opinions and beliefs in household waste management in Douala and Limbe. Interpreting these factors revealed 12 attitudes to household waste management practices and this will be used to design strategies. A waste composition analysis found the organic fraction >60% with the lowest per capita waste generation (0.86 kg) in the high income residential area (HIRA) and the highest (1.38 kg) in the low income residential area (LIRA) of Douala in the wet season. In the dry season, the medium income residential area (MIRA) had the highest (1.11 kg) with the lowest (0.71 kg) in the HIRA. For both seasons in Limbe, HIRA had the highest while the LIRA had the lowest. Pearson correlation and regression was used to show the relationship between waste generation and household size. The research determined barriers and success factors for composting as part of a strategy. Barriers included household hazardous waste (HHW) and odour at composting sites because more than 50% of the composted waste was food waste with high humidity especially in the wet season. This affected public acceptance to composting. A success factor is that the market for compost is increasing and is expected to increase to 30% by 2013. Added to this, more than 50% of the participating households showed positive intentions and willingness to composting. Hence, composting is expected to be a major economic activity for Cameroonians and become a national practice

Organic waste management presents challenges and opportunities alike for community-based economic development. Waste-to-compost transformation can be socially and economically successful by employing ecological design principles, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and values-based supply chains (VCs). An analysis of commercial buyers' preferences for compost will inform approaches to forming effective partnerships of public, private and nonprofit stakeholders to develop a market for local waste resource products. The thesis summarizes the results of a consumer preferences survey of current and prospective bulk compost purchasers and discusses strategies for implementing new organic waste management policies that will strengthen a local market for compost, build social capital and share economic value. A conjoint analysis of bulk compost preferences in Vermont was conducted to identify the market's preference for quality-based attributes of bulk compost. The data was taken from a survey administered by mail to Vermont business professionals in various fields that use--or could potentially use--compost products in providing goods or services. In addition to price (81 percent of the relative importance buyers place on an attribute), local provenance (8 percent) and suitability for organic production (7.6 percent) were demonstrated as statistically significant determinants of the value buyers placed on compost. Willingness to pay for local provenance and suitability for organic production were measured at 15% and 14% above the baseline product price, respectively. Current and prospective compost producers can effectively market their products and retain a competitive edge in the marketplace by collaborating with other businesses. A viable market for Vermont compost could be achieved through cultivation of niche specialties, stable institutional buyers, more stringent regulation of food waste and nutrient management behavior, and a collaborative effort to construct a product narrative that emphasizes compost's role in a larger social-ecological system of nutrient management and sustainable agriculture.

Westland petrels Procellaria westlandica breed only near Punakaiki on the West Coast of New Zealand. About 80 km offshore from their breeding colony, New Zealand's largest commercial fishery (for hoki Macruronus novaezelandiae) operates from mid June to early September, coinciding with the Westland petrel's breeding season. It has been assumed that Westland petrels feed extensively on fisheries waste and that this habit has been at least partly responsible for the increase in the Westland petrel population. Some seabird biologists have expressed concern that if a species comes to depend on scavenging at fishing vessels, such a species could experience a food crisis if fishing operations changed in a way that reduced the quantity of waste discharged. The aim of this research was to assess how dependent Westland petrels have become on fisheries waste for food. Diet studies showed that during the hoki fishing season, waste accounts for more than half by weight of the solid food Westland petrels bring back to the colony to feed their chicks. After the hoki season, waste contributes only about a quarter of their diet as birds switch to more natural prey and scavenge a wider variety of fish species presumably from smaller, inshore fishing vessels. Much of the fisheries waste eaten by Westland petrels was flesh which could not be identified using traditional techniques. The electrophoretic technique iso-electric focusing increased the number of fish samples that could be identified and consequently the diet was interpreted differently than it would have been had only traditional diet analysis been used. The survey of Westland petrel distribution off the west coast of the South Island, found that although hoki fishing vessels influence the distribution of Westland petrels, only a small proportion of the Westland petrel population appears to utilise this food resource at any one time. Westland petrels were tracked at sea by VHF radio telemetry and then by satellite tracking. Satellite tracking showed that there is considerable variation in the amount of time Westland petrels spend in the vicinity of fishing vessels. On average, satellite tracked birds spent one third of their time near vessels, but they foraged over much larger areas than that occupied by the West Coast South Island hoki fishing fleet. Although fisheries waste is an important component of the Westland petrel diet, it appears that the situation is one of opportunistic use of a readily available resource, rather than one of dependence. Several features of the Westland petrel's breeding biology and foraging ecology suggest that Westland petrels could compensate for a reduction in waste from the hoki fishery by switching to other sources of waste and increasing their consumption of natural prey. Nevertheless, much remains unanswered concerning the role of fisheries waste in the Westland petrel's diet. In particular, quantifying the waste available to seabirds, and the success of Westland petrels in acquiring that waste compared to other scavenging species, is needed in order to better predict the effect of a reduction in fisheries waste on Westland petrel population size.

The key objective of this multi-disciplinary research was to seek for feasible solutions to avoid effluent from livestock trucks spilling onto roads. Stock effluent spillage mainly poses road safety hazards and environmental damage, and also causes offence to road users and tourists. This task required reviewing previous institutional actions, assessing the power of the existing legislation, and evaluating the interests and attitudes of the stakeholder groups involved in the overall livestock supply chain. It was also necessary to consider politics, administration, public policy and economics, gaining the willing cooperation and confidence of the stakeholder groups through application of 'Soft Systems Methodology' (SSM). A key component was the creation of a 13 minute video and its associated brochure as a primary tool for a stakeholder educational awareness programme. It was necessary to analyse the complex relationships between livestock preparation prior to transport; effluent produced in-transit; and end product quality factors. Detailed information pertaining to the nature of livestock shipments by truck in the South Island of New Zealand had to be collected and verified. All the above information were fed into the calculation of an ideal network of in-transit effluent discharge sites on State Highways in the South Island of New Zealand. Assuming the adoption of best practice throughout the supply chain, it was possible to recommend sustainable solutions. The problem is amenable to solution. Adoption of a strong Industry Code of Practice, coupled with the construction of a strategic network of dump sites will enable the industry to avoid the heavy-handed legal consequences of allowing the status quo to continue.

Orientador: Egle Novaes Teixeira
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo
Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T12:16:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Barbosa_GeorgeLeandroMonte_M.pdf: 1812688 bytes, checksum: acc5549dd8817e0291e706503aaf1129 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005
Resumo: O meio rural não é mais um espaço onde são desenvolvidas atividades exclusivamente agrícolas, já que, tem passado por intensas mudanças, que induzem a pluriatividade, fazendo com que o espaço seja tido como um continuum da zona urbana. Estas mudanças que assemelham o rural ao urbano trazem, a reboque desta reestruturação, mazelas há muito discutidas e pouco solucionadas, das" cidades", como uso e ocupação do solo de maneira desregrada, ausência de saneamento básico, entre outras. A respeito do saneamento, o Gerenciamento Integrado de Resíduo Sólido ainda é uma realidade bem distante, para as comunidades rurais, mesmo para aquelas juntas às zonas urbanas. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho é a elaboração de um Plano de Gerenciamento de Resíduo Sólido para o Assentamento Sumaré II, localizado no município de Sumaré, no Estado de São Paulo, através do diagnóstico da situação do resíduo no local, caracterizando-o, bem como avaliando o programa de coleta de resíduo desenvolvido na comunidade. Para tanto, foi feita uma análise do espaço e dos indivíduos, por meio de dados bibliográficos e questionários de campo, bem como a caracterização do resíduo, para determinar a composição gravimétrica e a taxa de resíduo gerada na comunidade. O trato com o resíduo da comunidade, por parte da prefeitura, é incipiente e inconsistente. Há uma grande distinção de hábitos dos assentados, identificada pelo material que constitui o resíduo de cada família, bem como o modo de descarte do mesmo. De maneira geral, as taxas de resíduo não são geradas com a mesma magnitude, não havendo período do ano com uma produção diferenciada de resíduo. A partir das análises do resíduo é possível afirmar que existe uma "urbanização dos hábitos" dos assentados, realçando a idéia de que esta zona torna-se um continuum das urbanidades
Abstract: The agricultural area is not more a space where exclusively agricultural activities are developed since it has being passed for intense changes that induce the pluriactivities, making that the space is had as a continuum of the urban zone. These changes create, when comparing the agricultural and the urban area, problems that are very argued and little solved about the "cities", such as use and occupation of the ground in disordered way, absence of basic sanitation, among others. Regarding the sanitation, the Integrated Management of Solid Waste still is a very distant reality, for the agricultural communities, even for those near to the urban zones. The objective of this work is to elaborate a Solid Waste Management Plan for the li Assentamento Sumaré II", located in Sumaré city, in São Paulo State, through making a situation inventory of the waste in the place, characterizing it, as well as evaluating the existing program of waste collection developed in the community. In order to get it, analysis of the space and the individuals were made, by bibliographical data and field questionnaires, as well as the characterization of the waste to determine the gravimetrical composition and the taxes of waste generated in the community. The community waste management made by the city hall was incipient and inconsistent. It has a great distinction of habits of these rural people, identified by the waste content of each family, as well as the way of discarding it. In general way, the waste taxes are not generated with the same magnitude, not having a differentiated production of waste by period of the year. From the waste analysis it is possible to affirm that a "urbanization of the customs" of the rural people exists, corroborating with the idea that this zone becomes one continuum of the urbanities
Mestrado
Saneamento e Ambiente
Mestre em Engenharia Civil

Андрейченко, А. В. Науково-економічне забезпечення розвитку безвідходного виробництва в аграрному секторі : дис. ... д-ра екон. наук : 08.00.03 / А. В. Андрейченко. - Одеса, 2019. - 519 с.
У дисертації сформульовані концептуальні організаційно-економічні засади формування, впровадження та розвитку безвідходного виробництва в аграрному секторі економіки України, до числа основних з яких слід віднести: урахування зарубіжного досвіду та національних інституціональних особливостей; мінімізацію витрат сировинних і енергетичних ресурсів в аграрному виробництві; обмеження негативного впливу аграрного виробництва на природне середовище; забезпечення циклічності матеріальних та фінансових потоків; раціоналізацію аграрної виробничо-господарської діяльності, збалансування функціонування економічної, соціальної та довкільної сфер життєдіяльності людини в сільській місцевості. Розкрито питання впровадження безвідходного агровиробництва крізь призму проблематики забезпечення сталого розвитку та національної безпеки України. Викладено методико-методологічне обґрунтування впровадження безвідходного агровиробництва. Проаналізовано сучасний стан та структурно-динамічні тенденції розвитку безвідходного агровиробництва із зосередженням уваги на питаннях ресурсозбереження в аграрному секторі, вивченні кон’юнктури ринку продукції безвідходного агровиробництва. Розглянуто специфіку державної регуляторної політики у сфері розвитку безвідходного агровиробництва. Досліджено світовий досвід розвитку безвідходного агровиробництва. Запропоновано заходи посилення конкурентоспроможності суб’єктів господарювання безвідходного агровиробництва. Запропоновано заходи підвищення економіко-соціальної та екологічної результативності безвідходного виробництва в аграрному секторі економіки. Висвітлено особливості розвитку інвестиційно-інноваційного забезпечення безвідходного агровиробництва. Здійснено економіко-математичне моделювання ефективного розвитку безвідходного агровиробництва.
В диссертации сформулированы концептуальные организационно-экономические основы формирования, внедрения и развития безотходного производства в аграрном секторе экономики Украины, к основным из которых следует отнести: учет зарубежного опыта и национальных институциональных особенностей; минимизацию затрат сырьевых и энергетических ресурсов в аграрном производстве; ограничение негативного влияния аграрного производства на окружающую среду; обеспечение цикличности материальных и финансовых потоков; рационализацию аграрной производственно-хозяйственной деятельности, сбалансирование функционирования экономической, социальной и естественной сфер жизнедеятельности человека в сельской местности. Раскрыты вопросы внедрения безотходного агропроизводства сквозь призму проблематики обеспечения устойчивого развития и национальной безопасности Украины. Изложено методико-методологическое обоснование внедрения безотходного агропроизводства. Проанализировано современное состояние и структурно-динамические тенденции развития безотходного агропроизводства с сосредоточением внимания на вопросах ресурсосбережения в аграрном секторе, изучении рынка продукции безотходного агропроизводства. Рассмотрена специфика государственной регуляторной политики в сфере развития безотходного агропроизводства. Исследован мировой опыт развития безотходного агропроизводства. Предложены меры усиления конкурентоспособности субъектов хозяйствования безотходного агропроизводства. Предложены меры повышения экономико-социальной и экологической результативности безотходного производства в аграрном секторе экономики. Освещены особенности развития инвестиционно-инновационного обеспечения безотходного агропроизводства. Представлено экономико-математическое моделирование эффективного развития безотходного агропроизводства.
The thesis contains conceptual organizational and economic principles of formation, introduction and development of non-waste production in the agricultural sector based on national realities and international experience. The study of the issues of the non-waste agricultural production implementation into the practice of management has been carried out through the consideration of such major "blocks": theoretical-conceptual and methodological substantiation; analysis of the current state and trends of agricultural production development; organizational and economic provision of formation and development of non-waste agricultural production; investment and innovation support of non-waste agricultural production; implementation of economical and mathematical modeling of efficient development of non-waste production in the agricultural sector of the economy. The triad of properties of non-waste agricultural production has been proved: firstly, to extract the most valuable and complex components of raw materials, transforming them into useful products; secondly, to ensure the social effectiveness of agricultural production; thirdly: to eliminate or minimize the harm done to the environment as a result of production and economic activity. The applied significance of the application of the non-waste agricultural production principles, that minimizes the cost of raw materials and energy resources, limits the negative impact of production on the environment, ensures the cyclicality of material and financial flows, rationalizes the production and economic activity of the agricultural sector of the economy, balances the functioning of the economic, social and environmental spheres of human life has been ensured. The connection between the efficient functioning of non-waste production in the agricultural sector of the economy and the noosphere teaching has been highlighted, which are aimed at achieving the goal of a common harmonious development of nature and society. The peculiarities of the "mental" attitude to the problem of agricultural waste at the national and global levels have been investigated. The necessity of evaluating the efficiency of non-waste agricultural production on the system of indicators reflecting economic, social, ecological and institutional characteristics of the investigated phenomenon has been argued. The inextricable link between the intensification of agricultural production and resource conservation has been proved, which lies in the increase of the efficiency of the resources utilization and their comprehensive savings. The main types of products of non-waste agricultural production (foodstuffs, feed and feed additives, organic fertilizers, alternative sources of energy, products of technical purpose) have been determined, and economic, social and environmental benefits of such products have been identified: resource conservation, reduction of energy intensity of agroproduction; provision of regional electricity needs; financial benefits from the conversion of waste from the agricultural sector to biogas, biofertilizers, feed additives, etc.; absence of payment for emissions; competitiveness on the domestic and world markets; minimizing environmental damage and protecting the biosphere; assistance in preserving the health of the nation; protection of consumer rights; new jobs creation; development of rural territories. The author has identified the directions, the systematic implementation of which will provide the multifaceted task of strengthening the competitiveness of economic entities of non-waste agricultural production in the domestic and world markets. Economic-mathematical modeling of efficient development of non-waste production in agricultural sector have been presented. The directions of improvement of non-waste agricultural production marketing have been substantiated. The author has proved the significance of the increase of the economic, social and ecological efficiency in the field of non-waste agricultural production for the development of the agricultural sector of Ukraine and for each non-waste production entity in the agricultural sector, as: less resources and labor per unit of production are spent, that entails a decrease in the cost of production of non-waste agricultural production; reduction of the non-waste agricultural production cost affects the creation of economic conditions for the reduction of retail prices in the market of agricultural products; improvement of the non-waste agricultural production efficiency affects the increase of incomes and the level of profitability of economic entities of non-waste agricultural production; minimizes the damage to the environment during the production of products. Economic-mathematical modeling of efficient development of non-waste production in agricultural sector of economy have been presented

The ever-increasing population in the metropolis of Accra, Ghana resulting in con-cerns for finding lasting solutions to manage large volumes of waste produced can be tackled through composting for urban agriculture. With insanitary land filling serving as the major disposal option in the metropolis, plans to build the first ever sanitary landfill facility in the metropolis calls for measures to be taken in order to prolong the lifespan of the facility. This therefore necessitates the need to look into an alternative means of diverting organic waste from landfills. The objective of this research is to re-view the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management situations in Accra Metropolitan Assembly upon which an investigation is made into the various process steps involved in aerobic windrow composting and also finding out the possibility for integrating composting with urban agriculture. The study relied mainly on secondary data obtained from books, published articles, governmental documents, internet, and master thesis reports on related topics. By the help of a causal loop diagram, the interdependence of various policy actions and sys-tem elements in the waste management process are linked to illustrate the possibility of a composting programme for urban agriculture. Even though the metropolis for some time back has been operating a centralized composting facility, the facility is confirmed to be closed down due to problems ema-nating from financial inadequacy, power failure and mechanical breakdown. The study delve into the process steps in windrow composting and finally identified potentials for composting in the metropolis but however enumerated constraints ranging from human and environmental health, financial, institutional, policy directives, to public and leadership attitudes as stumbling blocks to the implementation of a centralized composting scheme. It finally concluded that the metropolis has the potentials to embark on composting for urban agriculture however, until measures are taken to overcome these constraints, implementing a centralized composting scheme in the metropolis may not be a sustainable option. It is further recommended that whiles the city authorities continue to tackle the constraints to pave way for the implementation of the program, efforts must be made in promoting small scale composting that rely on manually operated tools to help reduce organic waste loads in the municipal waste stream.

The effectiveness of using constructed wetlands to remove unwanted nutrients, increase dissolved oxygen while at the same time decreasing the biological oxygen demand, and to reduce the levels of the Fecal Coliform Bacteria from a swine operation was evaluated. The indicator of proper waste purification will be the result of testing for the following: ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus, total suspended solids, dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, and Fecal Coliform Bacteria. The wetland was divided into nine connected cells that covered approximately 3.8 hectares. Material was loaded from an anaerobic holding lagoon on four separate occasions during the testing period. As the material passed through the wetland, the vegetation, water column, substrate, and microbial populations functioned as the purification factors in the wetlands. During the sampling period, water was collected from each cell and analyzed for results. The data indicated that the constructed wetlands were effective in the waste management at a large swine production unit. Ammonia nitrogen showed an acceptable decrease, allowing nitrogen to be freed or converted into nitrate nitrogen. Total phosphorus and dissolved solids showed an expected decrease. Total suspended solids showed an overall decrease from the upper cells to the lower cells; however, results fluctuated during the testing period. Dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand showed an almost perfect inverse relationship with dissolved oxygen increasing as biological oxygen demand decreased. The removal of Fecal Coliform Bacteria was the most impressive, with the majority of bacteria being removed in the upper cells.

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2019
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2019
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 102-113).
Global food production faces severe challenges that will test the world's ability to mobilize technology, industry participants, and governments to develop a sustainable response. Feeding a growing population and accommodating for rapidly evolving diets calls for a significant expansion in production. Progress is needed to help produce more with less, limit the environmental impact of chemical inputs, and curb agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The agricultural workforce is facing increasingly challenging economic conditions, a lackluster generation of new producers, and industrywide labor shortages that threaten the continuity of food production. Innovative systems are crucially needed to boost productivity, while protecting natural resources and sustaining a vital workforce. In the past decade, Agriculture has witnessed the rise of a novel proponent of such systems stemming from an unprecedented wave of investments, innovations, and entrepreneurial ventures, referred to as AgTech for the purpose of this work. The aim of this work is initially to analyze the most pressing challenges faced by global food production, communicate on their magnitude, and highlight opportunities for innovation. In parallel, this work aims to increase awareness on the magnitude of food waste and loss, and present opportunities associated with food waste reduction and prevention. Then, this work will briefly define AgTech, present its benefits, and evaluate its impact on the food production industry. Based on this evaluation, limitations of AgTech will be presented, and industrywide recommendations to enhance its impact will be proposed. Finally, this work will propose a concept to reduce food waste in agricultural production.
by Guillaume Defrance de Tersant.
S.M. in Engineering and Management
S.M.
S.M.inEngineeringandManagement Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program
S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering

New agricultural constructions in Czech Republic happen, in better case, privilege of civil engineer, in the worse case only privilege of the investor, in the past. While architects or enlightenment project architects with inventive and feeling for architecture, rarely interfered to their projection. In the practice, the preferred and implemented misconception, that it is a purely purpose-built buildings with economical advantageous solution type, when external design of the building and his effect in landscape plays just a minor role, meant a huge mistake, which disfeature face of a lot of villages. With the gradual development of organic and sustainable agriculture is obvious, that to the design of these buildings gets back the idea of invention and emotion of construction into the landscape. Essence of a dissertation is how to proceed with the draft of a new or completion of original organic farm in conditions of the Czech Republic and on which specific points to focus in the design. Objective of thesis is generalization of rules design new modern organic farm or new buildings on the existing organic farm, using the principles of organic architecture and architecture undemanding of energy, renewable source of energy and non-waste management and verification on the specific examples in the Czech Republic and neighboring Europa countries. Where else should apply the principles of organic architecture more than in the construction of organic farms. Moreover, organic farm offers a great number of functions and with related different operations with requirements for specific areas. This is an added bonus, diversity of construction and the possibility of building creativity in architectural solutions. It is then mainly limited functionality of the building, legislative, public health, fire and traffic regulations, with which any proposal must cope. Organic farms are a phenomenon, but also the future of sustainable agriculture in the Czech Republic, as well. Not only production side of organic farms, but also neglected building stock deserves the attention of experts. Only organic farm with the right comprehensive created building and energy concept on an ecological principle is becoming a well-functioning self-contained unit connected with the cycle of nature, the surrounding landscape and regional tradition.

The purpose of this thesis will be to explore conceptions of waste in Nepal’s rural village of Simigaau to understand what constitutes waste and in what ways it is critical to the community’s physical and cultural survival. Due to the contribution of many aspects of daily life in the creation of “waste” in Simigaau –what it is and what it means – I hope to use a whole systems approach to understand the multitude of factors that affect how villagers view waste and whether its value can provide insight into a local way of life. Moreover, I aim to explore whether a community’s waste – seen and unseen – provide insight into a local way of life and if so, how this insight may be applied to both Nepal at large and connotations of “waste” in the West.

Thesis (M. Sc.) (Hons) -- University of Western Sydney, 2005.
" A thesis presented to the School of Environment and Agriculture, University of Western Sydney, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Honours)." Includes bibliography : leaves 165 -175, and appendices.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior
A regiÃo Nordeste se caracteriza por apresentar uma agricultura em sua grande maioria de base familiar. Dentre as culturas produzidas o feijÃo caupi se destaca sendo uma das mais importantes. Um dos principais entraves da agricultura familiar à o gasto com aquisiÃÃo de adubos. O desenvolvimento de prÃticas que visem substituir esse modelo à bem aceito principalmente quando apresenta reduÃÃo nos custos de produÃÃo. Uma das tÃcnicas que vem sendo estudadas à a utilizaÃÃo de resÃduos industriais e agroindustriais. O trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar o desenvolvimento do feijÃo-caupi a partir da utilizaÃÃo de resÃduos da indÃstria de cafà em comparaÃÃo com adubaÃÃo potÃssica convencional foi desenvolvido em Casa de VegetaÃÃo da Universidade Federal do Cearà Campus do Pici. A unidade experimental foi representada por um vaso plÃstico contendo 22 kg de solo. Como substrato foi utilizado solo coletado na camada de 0-20 cm do perfil na Ãrea DidÃtica do Departamento de Fitotecnia as formas de adubaÃÃo foram o resÃduo oriundo do processo de torrefaÃÃo do cafà e o cloreto de potÃssio convencional. ApÃs a conclusÃo do primeiro experimento foi realizado um segundo cultivo com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito residual da adubaÃÃo. As caracterÃsticas avaliadas foram comprimento da haste principal diÃmetro do caule ao nÃvel do solo nÃmero de folhas Ãrea foliar aos 17 e 60 dias apÃs semeadura Ãndice de Ãrea foliar evapotranspiraÃÃo Ãndice de colheita eficiÃncia no uso da Ãgua nÃmero de vagens por planta comprimento da vagem nÃmero de sementes por vagem massa das vagens massa das sementes e teores de N P K no tecido foliar. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial duplo 2x6 sendo duas fontes de potÃssio (cloreto de potÃssio e resÃduo do cafÃ) e seis nÃveis de adubaÃÃo (0 50 100 150 200 250 kg/ha-1). Como resultados foram observados que o potÃssio no feijÃo caupi apresenta respostas satisfatÃrias mesmo em baixas concentraÃÃes desse nutriente em ambos os cultivos o teor de K na folha foi maior quando utilizado o resÃduo. As elevadas temperaturas influenciaram na produÃÃo em ambos os cultivos provocando abortamento floral assim como tambÃm a infestaÃÃo da cochonilha no segundo cultivo limitou a produÃÃo do caupi. O resÃduo do cafà pode ser utilizado como fonte de potÃssio para a cultura do feijÃo caupi
The northeast region is characterized by presenting an agriculture mostly family based. Among the crops produced the cowpea stands out being the most important. One of the major obstacles family agriculture is spent on with purchase of fertilizers. The development practices aimed replace this model is well accepted principally when shows a reduction in the production costs. One of the techniques that has been studied is the utilization of industrial and agro-industrial residue. The work aimed of evaluate the development of the cowpea from the use of industrial residue coffee, compared with conventional potassium fertilization was developed in a greenhouse of University Federal of Cearà Campus do Pici. The experimental unit was represented by a plastic pot containing 22 kg. As substrate was used soil collected in the 0-20 cm layer profile in the experimental area Department of Fitotecnia, the forms fertilization were the residue originating from the process of roasting coffee and the conventional potassium chloride. After the conclusion the first experiment was realized one second cultivation with the objective to evaluate the residual effect of fertilization. The Characteristics evaluated were length of the main stem stem diameter at the ground level number of leaves leaf area at 17 and 60 days after seeding leaf area index evapotranspiration harvest index water use efficiency number of pods per plant pod length number of seeds per pod mass of the pods seed mass evapotranspiration and levels of N P K in leaf tissue. The experimental design was randomized blocks in double factorial scheme 2x6 with two sources of potassium (potassium chloride and coffee residue) and six levels of fertilization (0 50 100 150 200 250 kg/ha-1). As results were observed that potassium in cowpea presents satisfactory answers even at low concentrations of this nutrient in both crops the K content was higher in the leaf residue when used. The high temperatures influenced the production of in both crops causing floral abortion as well as also infestation of cochineal in the second crop limited production of cowpea. Taking in consideration the cost benefit the coffee residue can be used as source of potassium for the crop of cowpea

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a small-scale biomass gasification system within the context of a cooperative wine cellar operation in the Western Cape of South Africa. Central to this goal was the questions whether the time for the implementation of such small-scale renewable energy technologies in South Africa has arrived, in light of the status quo which has changed drastically from the days of abundant and cheap coal-based electricity, and whether the new opportunities afforded by the CDM can help foster financial feasibility. There are various macro-drivers contributing to the current-day emphasis on renewable energy and cogeneration projects. The first and most pressing driver is the global climate change imperative, while the others include the increased aspiration of countries towards energy security, the realization of the importance of sustainable development and the subsequent renewable energy policies that falls within the ambit of sustainable development. Small-scale biomass gasification technology still poses some challenges, particularly when it comes to the gasification of agricultural residues, as with grape residues in the case of this project. The most important technical feasibility problem to overcome is the low ash agglomeration temperature of grape residues reported in the literature. Although the local equipment manufacturer foresees no problem in this regard with their system design - since they have conducted tests on sunflower seed residues, which have similar ash properties, without experiencing any agglomeration problems - the seriousness of this aspect will be confirmed during pilot trials. In order to be eligible for emissions reduction trading under the CDM, the project must adequately demonstrate that the emissions reductions are additional to the business-as-usual scenario, in both the environmental and financial sense. The project will satisfy the environmental additionality requirement, since in its absence the wine cellar will continue its full reliance on coal-based electricity from the grid. Financial additionality, in its strictest sense, requires for the project to be infeasible if it does not pursue CDM participation, which the financial feasibility modeling results indicated to be true in this case. A feasibility model was developed to - subject to the input parameter values assumed and basic assumptions made - be able to assess the financial viability of the project. The main assumptions were that the private feed-in into the national electricity grid was available to all IPPs, in spite of the fact that in its Medium Term Power Purchase Program me (MTPPP) of May 2008 Eskom had only requested expressions of interest from IPPs that had a generating capacity of 5MW and higher to install private base load capacity. This assumption is commensurate with the country's renewable energy targets and the official government aim of achieving a 30% contribution from IPPs to the national electricity mix. The second assumption was that the 65 to lOOclkWh offered by Eskom in its MTPPP will be applicable to sub-SMWe IPPs as well (Creamer, 2008), and that this lower bound electricity price of 65clkWh can be applied over the whole project lifetime. Inherent to this assumption is the further supposition that the progressive decline of electricity prices to an eventual level of 35clkWh by 2018 foreseen by Eskom will not materialize, due both to the sustained pressure an expanding South African economy will put on the considerable but time-consuming supply-side initiatives launched by Eskom, and the likelihood for price premiums to be introduced for clean electricity in order to meet the country's renewable energy targets. From the assumed input parameter values the initial capital and COM expenditures, operating revenues and costs over the project lifetime were determined, and then used to calculate the net cash flows, where after the NPV was computed to serve as the deciding criterion on financial feasibility. A discount rate of 18% was assumed, corresponding with the subjectively judged risks that the project posed as a small-scale renewable energy system within the wine cellar operations. In the case where the project excluded all CDM aspects, the NPV was negative at - ZAR342 573, but this improved to ZAR325 193 if the project participated in the CDM. Thus it was concluded that the project will only be financially feasible if it includes CDM participation, and that this positive contribution can be leveraged by pursuing a programmatic CDM approach. This entails the development of this project as part of a larger program in which similar projects are implemented as they arise, up to the official UN limit of 15MWe in total to still qualify as a small-scale program. The nature of the assumptions that form the backbone of this study indicate that the positive financial feasibility result in the case where the project includes COM participation will become practically relevant only over the short- to medium-term as these assumptions become reality in South Africa. Therefore, although the time for such small-scale renewable energy projects has clearly not arrived as yet, it would seem that it is indeed around the corner.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die mikpunt van die navorsing was om die lewensvatbaarheid van 'n klein-skaal biomassa vergassing sisteem binne die konteks van 'n kooperatiewe wynkelder in die Wes-Kaap van Suid-Afrika te ondersoek. 'n Sentrale aspek was die vrae of die tyd aangebreek het om klein-skaal volhouhare energie projekte in Suid-Afrika tot uitvoering te bring, gesien in die lig van 'n status quo wat drasties weg beweeg het van die tydperk toe elektrisiteit volop en goedkoop was, en of die geleentheid wat die CDM bied sulke projekte finansieel lewensvatbaar kan maak. Daar is verskeie eksterne makro-drywers wat bydrae tot die huidige fokus op sulke volhoubare energie projekte. Hieronder tel globale klimaatsverandering as die dringendste drywer, terwyl die res onder andere die hernuwe strewe van lande tot verbeterde energie-sekuriteit, die besef van die belangrikheid van volhoubare ontwikkeling en die daaropvolgende volhoubare energie beleid stappe insluit. Daar bestaan nog etlike tegniese uitdagings tot die toepassing van klein-skaal biomassa vergassing tegnologie, spesifiek met betrekking tot die vergassing van afval landbou byprodukte, soos wat die geval is met druiwe afval in hierdie projek. Die belangrikste tegniese uitvoerbaarheids-aspek wat aandag verg is die lae smeltpunt van druifafval-as wat in die literatuur rapporteer word. Alhoewel die plaaslike toerustings-vervaardiger nie enige probleme in hierdie verhand voorsien nie, aangesien toetse met sonneblom afval - met as-eienskappe rofweg identies aan die van druiwe-afval - geen smelting van die as getoon het nie, sal dit tog nogsteeds aan verdere toetse onderwerp word. Vir die projek om te kwalifiseer as geskik vir verhandeling in kweekhuisgas vermindering deur middel van die COM, moet dit voldoende bewys kan word dat alle uitlaatgas vermindering addisioneel is tot wat die geval sou wees in die gewone gang van besigheid. Hierdie addisionaliteit is relevant in beide 'n omgewings- en finansiele sin. Hierdie projek sal orngewings-addisionaliteit bevredig deurdat die wynkelder in sy afwesigheid volkome afhanklik van die steenkool-gebaseerde elektrisiteit vanaf die nasionale netwerk sou bly, terwyl finansiele addisionaliteit bewys is deur die finansiele lewensvatbaarheids-model wat getoon het dat die projek slegs ekonomies uitvoerbaar sal wees indien dit CDM deelname insluit. Die lewensvatbaarheids-model is ontwikkel om die ekonomiese uitvoerbaarheid van die projek te evalueer, onderworpe aan die aangenome inset parameter waardes en basiese aannames in die studie. Die hoof-aanname was naamlik dat privaat terugvoer in die nasionale elektrisiteits-netwerk vir alle grootte IPPs moontlik is, ten spyte van die feit dat Eskom se MTPPP van Mei 2008 slegs kapasiteite van 5MW en groter aanvaar bet. Hierdie aanname is gebaseer op Suid-Afrika se volhoubare energie teikens en die regering se offisiele mikpunt om 30% van alle krag-voorsiening vanaf IPPs te bekom. Die tweede hoof-aanname was dat die 65 tot 100clkWh wat Eskom in sy MTPPP aangebied het, ook van toepassing sal wees op sub-SMW IPPs (Creamer, 2008), en dat die laer prys-limiet van 65c/kWb oor die hele projek-leeftyd toegepas kon word. Inherent tot hierdie aanname is die verdere veronderstelling dat die progressiewe daling in elektrisiteits-pryse tot 'n eventuele vlak van 35clkWh voorsien deur Eskom nie sal realiseer nie, beide as gevolg van die volgehoue druk wat die groeiende Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie op die aansieniike, maar tydrowende, opwekkings-kapasiteit uitbreidings van Eskom behoort te plaas, en ook die hoe waarskynlikheid dat prys premiums vir skoon elektrisiteit ingestel word sodat Suid-Afrika sy volboubare energie telkens kan bereik. Die aanvanklike kapitaal en CDM uitgawes, en bedryfsuitgawes en - inkomstes oor die projekleeftyd is vanaf die aangenome inset parameter waardes afgelei, waarop die NPV van die projek uitgewerk is om te dien as die beslissende maatstaf van ekonomiese haalbaarheid. 'n Diskontokoers van 18% is gebruik, ooreenstemmend met die subjektief beraamde risikos wat die projek inhou as 'n klein-skaal volhoubare energie sisteem. Die resultate van die finansiele lewensvatbaarheids-model het getoon dat in die geval waar die projek geen CDM aspekte bevat nie, die NPV hoogs negatief sou wees met 'n waarde van -ZAR342 573, terwyl dit verbeter na ZAR325 193 as die projek CDM deelname insluit. Die gevolgtrekking is dus gemaak dat die spesifieke projek slegs ekonomies haalbaar sal wees indien dit wel CDM deelname insluit, en dat hierdie positiewe finansiele bydrae van die CDM geoptimaliseer kan word deur 'n programmatiese CDM benadering te volg. Dit behels die ontwikkeling van die projek as deel van 'n groter program waarin soortgelyke projekte mettertyd geimplementeer word soos hulle ontstaan, tot by die offisiele VN limiet van 15MWe om sodoende nog te kwalifiseer as 'n algehele klein-skaalse program. Die aard van die hoof-aannames in hierdie studie is indikatief dat die positiewe finansiele lewensvatbaarheid in die geval waar die projek CDM deelname insluit, eers oor die kort- tot medium-termyn prakties relevant sal word soos die aannames bevredig word. Dus, alhoewel die era van klein-skaalse volhoubare energie projekte nog nie aangebreek het in Suid-Afrika nie, lyk dit tog asof dit om die draai is.

At the retail level, 25% of sellable food is wasted, and perishable foods account for 72% of food waste in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the food waste reduction strategies used by supermarket perishable food department managers, which are covered under the Good Samaritan Food Donation Acts (state and federal). The participant population was comprised of 17 managers who are responsible for perishable foods departments (bakery, deli, meat, dairy, and produce) at local, regional, and national supermarkets in Midland, Michigan. Goal systems theory served as the conceptual framework lens for which the findings of this study are viewed. Data collected centered around long interviews and publicly available company documents. Interviews and field notes, including member checking, were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo software. Using methodological triangulation of these data sources, 3 themes emerged from the data analysis: the knowledge level of participants relative to the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, factors that influence food waste and management strategy, and existing food waste reduction strategies. Most front-line managers are not aware of the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. Factors that influence food waste include sell-by dates, personal bias, and food handling regulations. Existing food waste reduction strategies include donations, price reductions, stock rotation, and in-store repurposing. Positive social change may result from the results of this study if food waste can be further reduced or more food redirected to the needy. The study findings may be useful to supermarket managers as they consider the protection at the state and federal levels that the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act offers.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In situ Informal Settlement Upgrading (ISU) was explored in this thesis, focussing on its relevance to waste service upgrading options immediately available and practically implementable for residents of Enkanini, a poorly serviced township (slum) in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Household food waste (kitchen scraps) was chosen as a key point of entry for exploring the context and viability of in situ improvement of solid waste management services in the area. This was done by investigating ways biological and social aspects of soil quality and food waste management can be incrementally improved in the settlement. Transdisciplinary methodology, Participatory Action Learning and Social Learning perspectives, combined with ecological thinking were used to explore different methods of managing food waste in Enkanini. A food waste collection pilot project was initiated in Enkanini by the Stellenbosch Municipality in 2012. The project was modified and continued in 2013, which served as the case study for this thesis. In 2013, food waste was collected by 56 households over five months. It was treated with Bokashi Effective Micro-organisms (Bokashi EM) containing yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, actinomycetes and photosynthetic bacteria. The Bokashi EM partially fermented the waste before it was used for composting or feeding to Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae. Laboratory testing of food waste, compost, soils and larvae waste residue determined the safety, potential and sustainability of food waste for recycling and contribution to local urban agriculture by closing the organic waste loop, and for generating an income stream. A total of 5851kg food waste was collected, saving 6m3 landfill space. Households generated 5,2kg - 9,6kg food waste per week. Extrapolating this lower figure for all of Enkanini (about 2400 households), about 50,2 tonnes of food waste could be generated per month. If this were collected and recycled or composted, this would save 51,2m3 landfill space per month. The most commonly cited benefit of food waste collections by participants was reduction of vermin in or around their homes. Laboratory testing indicated that some samples had high levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. No traces of Salmonella were found in food waste, compost and soil samples, and most were within acceptable limits for heavy metals. It was cautioned that vegetables grown on soils or compost with high E. coli be washed or cooked before consumption. Following socially and ecologically sustainable management of Enkanini’s food waste requires a combination of waste management methods. Options include localised composting - burying EM treated food waste in soil; in situ container composting of waste and adding this to soil; processing of EM treated food waste by Black Soldier Fly larvae (and their subsequent use as feed for chickens or fish); and finally by anaerobic digestion for generation of biogas and effluent fertiliser in local biodigestors. The thesis showed that biological elements (such as bacteria and soil nutrients) have impacts on residents in communities and these need to be considered significant. The thesis suggests ecological elements be considered as indicators or building blocks for ISU locally, nationally and internationally. Keywords: in situ incremental upgrading, food waste management, Effective Micro-organisms, social learning, urban agriculture, closed-loop systems, organic waste management, informal settlements.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In situ Opgraderingsprojek vir Informele Nedersetting (OIN) is in hierdie tesis ondersoek, met die fokus om die relevansie van afval diens opgradering opsies prakties te implementeer vir die inwoners van Enkanini, Stellenbosch, Suid Afrika, 'n gemeenskap met swak dienslewering. Huishoudelike kombuis voedselafval is gekies om die konteks en lewensvatbaarheid van in situ verbetering van vaste afval bestuur dienste te ondersoek. Dit is bereik deur maniere te ondersoek om die biologiese en sosiale aspekte van die kwaliteit van grond en voedselafval bestuur in die nedersetting te verbeter. Transdissiplinêre metode, Deelnemende Aksie Leer en Sosiale Leerprosesse, gekombineer met ekologiese denke, is gebruik is om verskillende metodes van die bestuur van voedselafval in Enkanini te verken. 'N Enkanini voedselafval versamelingsprojek is in 2012 deur die Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit begin. Dit is in 2013 aangepas en vir hierdie studie gebruik. Gedurende vyf maande in 2013 is voedselafval deur 56 huishoudings ingesamel. Dit is behandel met Bokashi effektiewe mikro-organismes (EM Bokashi) met gis, melksuur bakterieë, aktinomisete en fotosintetiese bakterieë. Die Bokashi EM het die afval gedeeltelik gegis voordat die afval gebruik was vir kompos of voeding aan Swart Soldaat Vlieg (Hermetia illucens) larwes. Voedselafval, kompos, grond en larwe oorskot laboratourim toetse het die veiligheid bepaal, asook die potensiaal en volhoubaarheid van die afval vir herwinning en die bydrae tot die plaaslike stedelike landbou deur middel van die organiese afval siklus, en vir inkomste generering. 5851kg voedselafval is ingesamel en 6m³ se opvullingsruimte bespaar. Die huishoudings het 5,2kg – 9,6kg voedselafval per week gegenereer. Die laer syfer in aggeneem, kan sowat 50,2 ton voedsalafval per maand in Enkanini (ongeveer 2400 huishoudings) gegenereer word. As dit ingesamel, herwin of gekomposteer was, sou 51,2 m³ opvullingsruimte per maand bespaar word. Die belangrikste voordeel van die voedselafval versamelings was die vermindering van knaag en aasdiere rondom wonings. Laboratoriumtoetse het hoë vlakke van Escherichia coli (E. coli) bakterieë in sommige monsters gevind. Geen spore van Salmonella is in die voedselafval, kompos en grondmonsters gevind nie en meeste was binne die aanvaarbare perke vir swaar metale. Die gemeenskap is gewaarsku om groente wat in die grond of kompos gekweek is voor verbruik in chloorwater te was of kook. Die sosiale en ekologies volhoubare bestuur van Enkanini se voedselafval vereis 'n kombinasie van afval bestuursmetodes. Opsies sluit gelokaliseerde kompos - begrawe EM behandelde voedsel afval in die grond; in situ houer kompos afval en die toevoeging van hierdie tot die grond; verwerking van EM behandelde voedselafval deur Swart Soldaat Vlieg larwes (en hul daaropvolgende gebruik as voer vir hoenders of vis); en uiteindelik deur mestvergisting vir die generasie van biogas en kunsmis in biovergisters. Die tesis toon dat biologiese elemente (soos bakterieë en voedingstowwe in grond)'n impak het op die gemeenskap se inwoners en as n belangrik faktor beskou moet word. Die tesis dui ekologiese elemente as n toekomstige aanwysers aan indien OIN plaaslik, nasionaal of internasionaal oorweeg word. Sleutelwoorde: in situ toenemende opgradering, kos afval bestuur, effektiewe mikro-organismes, sosiale leerproses, stedelike landbou, geslotestelsel-sisteme, organiese afval, informele nedersettings.

Decades  ago,  1  ton  of  steel  required  80  kg  of  refractory  material.  While  the  scenario  has completely changed over the years. Today, 1 ton of steel needs approximately 11 kg of refractory material   depending   on   the   steelworks.   Refractories   are   accustomed   to   high-temperature processes,  for  example,  producing  steel,  glass,  etc.  The amount of  spent  refractories has  also increased  with the increase in demand for its production. For the manufacturing of refractories, there is a tremendous use of virgin raw materials but with the increase in price and reducing raw material   sources,   it  will   be  difficult  to   continue  in  that   way  in  the  future.  While,  the environmental  concerns  in  steel  industries  are  increasing  on  a  rapid  scale  such  as  global environmental pollution, natural  resource conservation, and the most important increase in cost for  landfilling.  Therefore,  achieving  zero  waste  and  proper  usage  of  material  from  spent refractories is necessary for economic and environmental reasons in future. This project work focuses on collecting information regarding the refractory waste management for  aid  towards   more   sustainable  Swedish  steel  industries.  The  project  is  carried  out  in collaboration  with  KTH  Royal  Institute  of  Technology  and  the  Swedish  steel  producers association  Jernkontoret.  This  work  focuses  on  a   survey   of  well-known  Swedish  steel companies Sandvik Materials Technology (SMT) AB and Höganäs AB. The scientific work concentrates on the investigation of MgO-C bricks mixed waste, collected from Mireco AB, up to a grain size of 20 mm. Three samples of varying compositions and different grain sizes were collected  from  the  recycling  site  and  processed  for  carbon  reduction.  On  several  trails,  the maximum  carbon  elimination  was  achieved at a  temperature higher than  800°C with holding time longer than 5h. The fines underwent mechanical pressing of 40 MPa to form pellets of 16 mm and 32 mm in diameter. The main traced elements of MgO, SiO2, CaO, Al2O3  and Fe2O3  can be utilized for applications in the agricultural industry. MgO is present in the maximum quantity (70-80%).  By  possible  extraction  of  MgO  from  the  fines  can  be  employed  in  the  crucible industry,  construction industry  and steel  industry for slag  formation. The MgO  in the form of supplements for magnesium deficient soils or calcium magnesium oxide for neutralizing the pH of  the  soil  by  balancing  the  acidity  can  be  employed.  The  compatibility of the  fines can be helpful  to  resolve  transportation  issues and benefit  convenient addition to processes. Overall, this  work  brings  to  the  fore  a  high  potential  for  using  such  waste  refractory  materials  forapplications besides landfilling with an emphasis on agriculture.
För decennier sedan krävde 1 ton stål 80 kg eldfast material. Medan scenariot har förändrats helt genom åren. Idag behöver 1 ton stål cirka 11 kg eldfast material beroende på stålverk. Eldfasta produkter är vana vid högtemperaturprocesser, till exempel produktion av stål, glas etc. Mängden förbrukade  eldfasta  produkter  har  också  ökat  med  ökad  efterfrågan  på  dess  produktion.  För tillverkning av eldfasta produkter finns det en enorm användning av jungfruliga råvaror men med prisökningen  och  minskade  råvarukällor  blir  det  svårt  att  fortsätta  på  det  sättet  i  framtiden. Medan  miljöproblemen  inom  stålindustrin  ökar  i  snabb  skala,  såsom  global  miljöförorening, bevarande av naturresurser och den viktigaste ökningen av kostnaderna för deponering. Därför är det  nödvändigt  att  i  framtiden  uppnå  noll  slöseri  och  korrekt  användning  av  material  från förbrukade eldfasta anläggningar av ekonomiska och miljömässiga skäl. Detta projektarbete fokuserar på att samla in information om eldfast avfallshantering för stöd till mer  hållbar  svensk  stålindustri.  Projektet  genomförs i samarbete  med KTH Royal  Institute of Technology och den svenska stålproducentföreningen Jernkontoret. Detta arbete fokuserar på en undersökning  av  välkända  svenska  stålföretag  Sandvik  Materials  Technology (SMT) AB  och Höganäs AB. Det vetenskapliga arbetet koncentrerar sig på undersökningen av blandat avfall av MgO-C-tegel,  samlat  från Mireco  AB, upp till en kornstorlek på 20 mm. Tre prover med olika kompositioner  och  olika  kornstorlekar  samlades  från  återvinningsstället  och  bearbetades  för kolreduktion. På flera stigar uppnåddes den maximala kolelimineringen vid en temperatur högre än 800 ° C  med en hålltid  längre än 5 timmar.  Böterna  genomgick mekanisk  pressning av 40 MPa  för att bilda pellets med 16 mm och 32 mm i diameter. De viktigaste spårade elementen i MgO,  SiO2,  CaO,  Al2O3 och Fe2O3  kan användas för applikationer inom jordbruksindustrin. MgO finns i den maximala kvantiteten (70-80%). Genom möjlig utvinning av MgO från böterna kan användas i degelindustrin, byggindustrin och stålindustrin för slaggbildning. MgO i form av tillskott  för  magnesiumbristjord  eller kalciummagnesiumoxid för neutralisering av jordens pH genom balansering  av surheten  kan användas. Böternas kompatibilitet kan vara till hjälp för att lösa transportproblem och gynna praktiska tillägg till processer. Sammantaget ger detta arbete en hög   potential   för   att   använda   sådana   eldfasta   avfallsmaterial   för   applikationer   förutomdeponering med tonvikt på jordbruk

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Are there successful composting experiences of municipal solid waste (MSW)? Is it possible to have alternative solutions for urban organic waste different from the conventional model of centralized composting plants? Answering these questions was the main objective of this work. The state of São Paulo was the focus of the research. Methodology included a survey of primary and secondary data of centralized and decentralized composting experiences in São Paulo and semi-structured interviews with managers in face to face, telephone or e-mail contacts. Six modalities of composting and fifteen treatment routes of organic waste with source separation had been identified, as well as factors boosting and restricting the development of composting activities in the State. The results showed the diversity of alternatives for organic waste recovery in urban areas, pointed out gaps that benefit final disposal groups and revealed the lack of public support to the composting activities undertaken by several actors in the State. The study concludes that decentralizing activities, diversifying technological routes of composting and stimulating social, public and private entrepreneurs can accelerate the diversion of MSW from landfills and dumps. Such actions can also contribute to urban and rural agriculture and enable implementation of a rational culture of solid waste management.
Existem experiências bem sucedidas com compostagem de resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU)? É possível implantar soluções para os resíduos orgânicos urbanos, alternativas ao modelo convencional de usinas de triagem e compostagem? Responder a estas perguntas foi o principal objetivo deste trabalho. O estado de São Paulo foi o foco da pesquisa. A metodologia incluiu o levantamento de dados primários e secundários acerca de experiências paulistas de compostagem centralizada e descentralizada e entrevistas semiestruturadas com gestores, em contatos pessoais, telefônicos ou via correio eletrônico. Foram identificadas seis modalidades de compostagem e quinze rotas de tratamento de resíduos orgânicos com separação na fonte, além de fatores que impulsionam e que restringem o desenvolvimento de atividades de compostagem no estado. Os resultados desvelam a diversidade de alternativas para valorização de resíduos orgânicos em meio urbano, apontam brechas para a atuação de grupos que lucram com a disposição final e revelam a falta de apoio e incentivo público às atividades de compostagem empreendidas por diversos atores no estado. Conclui-se que a descentralização da atividade, a diversificação das rotas tecnológicas de compostagem e o estímulo aos empreendedores sociais, públicos e privados pode acelerar o desvio de RSU dos aterros sanitários e lixões, contribuir para a agricultura urbana e rural e permitir a implantação de uma cultura racional de gestão de resíduos sólidos.

Current global agricultural practices are recognized as unsustainable. The increase in overall human population as well as the global trend of rural to urban migration, partially as a result of historically and continual unsustainable agricultural practices, exacerbates the vicious cycle of poverty and hunger in developing countries. Furthermore, cities and regions in developed countries practice unsustainable food production, distribution and consumption patterns, and as a result, exceed their global ecological footprint (Rees 2009). Consequently, the world is facing a global food (FAO 2009) and water crisis (UN Sick Water 2010). Cities and Regions must learn to feed themselves to address local food insecurity as well as protect from the climate effects of increased urbanization, including the Urban Heat Island effect (UHIe) by optimizing and fully integrating the local ecosystem services of food, water and forest within a tightly woven compact urban form through the implementation of strategic urban and regional food system planning. Cities can mitigate climate change and reduce the UHIe, by implementing sustainable intensive urban agriculture approaches through policy and zoning interventions that include concepts such as intensively productive urban agriculture that includes green roofs, vertical farming and greenways as continuously productive and edible urban landscapes, referred to in this paper as continuously productive urban agriculture and forestation (CPUAF) in the private and public realm. A highly participative, adaptive systems approach is explored as the key to sustainability within an economic world order that included corporate social responsibility and social enterprise as the foundation for the integration of multiple synergies. An increasing body of evidence often links urban forestation with urban greenery initiatives, as a carbon sink to reduce UHI effects, to reduce GHG emissions and as a tool for urban beautification and place making (ISDR: 2009,109). Urban agriculture, through the production of local food is increasingly recognized as a means to reduce fossil fuel emissions by reducing transportation and production outputs, to provide a secure local food source, enhance biodiversity and educate the public regarding food source while fostering a sense of community, environmental awareness and stewardship. This thesis explores the links between intensive urban agriculture and forestation, and the relationship between climate change, and the UHI’s as an adaptation and mitigation process in global cities, implemented as a interconnected, integrated, holistic urban management approach that has a further benefit of providing food security and a sustainable and local urban food source.
Dissertation (MTRP)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Town and Regional Planning
unrestricted

Deep anthropogenic topsoils – those augmented through long-term additions of mineral bulk among fertilising agents – retain in both their physical and chemical make-up significant indicators for cultural activity. This project researched the geographical distribution and historical context of deep anthropogenic topsoils in Scotland and the Isles, and used this information to investigate the impact of current land cover upon the cultural information they retain. In so doing, the project investigated the potential for conservation of this significant cultural resource. A review of the historical information available on agricultural and manuring practices for Scotland identified several factors likely to affect deep topsoil distribution and frequency. These were: the availability of bulk manures to Scottish farmers, the significance of the seaweed resource in determining fertiliser strategies in coastal areas, and the influence of urban settlement and associated patterns of domestic and industrial waste disposal on the location of deep topsoils. Evidence for widespread deep topsoil development was limited. The primary data source used – the First Statistical Account of Scotland – was manipulated into a spatial database in ArcView GIS, to which geographical data from the Soil Survey of Scotland and national archaeological survey databases were added. This was used to devise a survey programme aiming both to investigate the potential factors affecting soil development listed above, and to locate deep topsoil sites for analysis. Three sites were identified with deep topsoils under different cover types (woodland, arable and pasture). The urban-influenced context of two of these highlighted the significance of urban settlement to the location of Scottish deep topsoils. Analysis of pH, organic matter, and total phosphorus content showed a correlation between raised organic matter and a corresponding increase in phosphorus content in soils under permanent vegetation. By contrast, soils under arable cultivation showed no such rise. This was attributed to the action of cropping in removing modern organic inputs prior to down-profile cycling. The potential for pasture and woodland cover to affect relict soil signatures was therefore observed. Thin section analysis aimed to both provide micromorphological characterisation of the three deep topsoil sites and investigate the effect of modern land cover on micromorphological indicators. Distinctive differences in micromorphological character were observed between the rural and urban deep topsoils, with the latter showing a strong focus on carbonised fuel residues and industrial wastes. All sites showed a highly individual micromorphological character, reflective of localised fertilising systems. There was no correlation between land cover type and survival of material indictors for anthropogenic activity, with soil cultural indicators surviving well, particularly those characteristic of urban-influenced topsoils. Suggestions for preservation strategies for this potentially rare and highly localised cultural resource included the incorporation of deep anthropogenic topsoil conservation into current government policy relating to care of the rural historic environment, and the improvement of data on the resource through ongoing survey and excavation.

Im EU finanzierten Projekt "Die Verwendung von kompostiertem Haushaltsmüll in der vorstädtischen Landwirtschaft von Westafrika als Pflanzenschutzmittel", das in Rufisque im Senegal, Conakry und Timbi Madîna in der Republik Guinea sowie Lomé und Tsévié im Togo von 1999 bis 2002 stattfand, wurden die Daten für diese Arbeit erhoben. Diese Orte sind hauptsächlich von Wolofs, Fulfulbe, Sussus und Ewes bewohnt. Ihre Größe variert zwischen 4 000 und 1,4 Mill. Einwohner. Es wurden städtische Gemüsebau- und vorstädtische Ackerbausysteme untersucht. Ziel der Arbeit ist die Einführung von Kompost als Pflanzenschutzmittel zu erleichtern. Dazu wurden Bereitschaften untersucht: die der städtischen Haushalte Biomüll zu sammeln und die der vorstädtischen Bauern Kompost aus Haushaltsmüll als Pflanzenschutzmittel einzusetzen. Dafür wurden standardisierte Befragungen von 1802 Bauern und 1775 Haushalten durchgeführt. Etwa 10 % dieser Antworten wurden in 18 logistischen Regressionsmodellen mit Interaktionen des 1. Grades analysiert. Den Modellen wurden die qualitativen Ergebnissen aus den standardisierten, halbstandardisierten und unstrukturierten Interviews sowie Beobachtungen und Einzelfallstudien gegenübergestellt. Daraus läßt sich schließen, dass es keine traditionellen Hemmnisse gegen Biomüllsammlung und -verarbeitung, sowie die Verwendung von Kompost aus Müll gibt. Wilde Deponien stören die Einwohner. Sie sind bereit sich finanziell an einer Müllsammlung zu beteiligen. Für die Mülltrennung brauchen sie zusätzliche, an Klima und Menge angepasste Mülltonnen. Die Haushalte wollen geringere Müllgebühren bezahlen, wenn sie Müll trennen. Müllsammen ist rentable. Eine transparente Buchführung der Müllgebühren ist unerlässlich für die Nachhaltigkeit. Für eine Kompoststation eignet sich am besten eine Kleinstadt mit vielen Müllproblemen und noch ohne Müllsammelorganisation sowie mit vielen Gemüsebauern mit einem hohen Krankheitsbewußtsein. Die Kompostherstellung ist sehr arbeitsintensiv und nur rentable, wenn der Kompost zu Pflanzenschutzmittelpreisen verkauft werden kann. Kompost ist in Westafrika bekannt. Die Verwendung von Kompost als Pflanzenschutzmittel gegen bodenbürtige Krankheiten ist eine Neuerung. Daher benötigt eine Kompoststation ein sehr wirksames Marketing.
By the EU financed project called "Utilisation of composted waste from urban households in the peri-urban agriculture for plant protection purpose in West Africa" with took place in Rufisque in Senegal, Conakry and Timbi Madîna in the Republic of Guinea the same as Lomé and Tsévié in Togo from 1999 to 2002, the data which are the base of this study have been collected. These towns are mainly settled by Wolofs, Fulanis, Sussus and Ewes. The size of the towns varies from 4 000 to 1.4 mill inhabitants. Production systems of urban vegetable farmers as well as peri-urban rain fed farmers have been investigated. The objective was to analyse the willingness of household, to collect organic waste, and of farmers, to use composted household waste for plant protection, to facilitate the introduction of compost for phytosanitary purpose. Hence standardised interviews of 1802 farmers and 1775 households have been done. About 10 % of the answers have been standardised in a way which allowed analysing them in 18 models of logistic regression with the first level of interactions. The results of the models have been compared to the qualitative results of the standardised, the half standardised and the unstructured interviews as well as the observations and the case studies. We find out that: There are no traditional obstacles inhibiting the collection of organic waste, the processing and the use of compost. Wild waste heaps disturb the people. They are ready to participate financially on waste collection. For the separation of waste the households need bins adapted to the climate and to the amount of waste. Anyway households separating waste would like to pay reduced waste fees. The waste collection is actually a rentable economic activity. A conflict avoiding accountability for waste fees is essential for the long lasting of a waste collection organisation. An optimal place for a compost station is a small rural town with many waste problems, without an institutionalised waste collection and with many vegetable farmers aware of diseases. The production of compost is very labour-intensive and rentable only if the compost is sold on organic pesticide prices. Compost is well known in West Africa. The innovation would be the application of compost for pest treatment of soil related diseases. Therefore a compost station needs a very efficient marketing.

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ambiente, Saúde e Segurança.
Milhões de toneladas de resíduos sólidos urbanos são gerados a partir de fontes agrícolas, urbanas e industriais, a cada ano. Esses valores devem aumentar exponencialmente devido ao crescimento da população mundial e ao aumento das áreas urbanizadas. A agricultura representa o principal pilar da economia da região autónoma dos Açores, contribuindo decisivamente para o equilíbrio da balança comercial. O setor agrícola representa atualmente cerca de 50% da economia dos Açores. Neste contexto, a os municípios da Ilha de São Miguel, a maior do arquipélago, pretendia perceber qual o destino final geralmente dado pelos agricultores a resíduos agrícolas específicos: plásticos, embalagens de produtos fitossanitários e veterinários, pneus usados e óleos usados. O instrumento utilizado para a coleta de dados foi um questionário. Para o efeito, foi construída uma tabela com questões de investigação. Este estudo concluiu que o conhecimento legal da maioria dos agricultores acerca dos resíduos era reduzido. Isto pode dever-se à falta de planos de formação e de campanhas de informação eficazes. Ainda assim, os agricultores mostraram preocupação em relação ao impacte ambiental dos resíduos produzidos na sua atividade, embora a maior parte não tenha conhecimento do destino final correto a dar aos resíduos. Embora os agricultores tenham referido que consideram muito importante tratar os resíduos de forma adequada, não tinham a certeza de qual a sua responsabilidade no processo. Concluiu-se que, uma parte considerável dos tipos de resíduos-alvo nesta investigação, não têm o destino final adequado. Para reverter essa situação devem ser implementadas campanhas de formação e sensibilização dirigidas aos agricultores.
ABSTRACT: Millions of tons of solid wastes are generated from agricultural, municipal and industrial sources every year. These amounts are expected to increase exponentially due to the growth of the world’s population and the increase of urbanized areas. Agriculture represents the main pillar of the economy of the Autonomous region of the Azores, contributing decisively to the equilibrium of the trade balance. The agricultural sector currently represents approximately 50% of the Azores economy. In this context, the Municipalities in the largest island, São Miguel, were interested in understanding what is the final destination generally given by farmers to particular types of agricultural waste: plastic, packages of phytosanitary and veterinary products, used tires and used lubricant oils. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire. To that end, a table with research questions was built. This study concluded that the legal knowledge of the majority of farmers regarding waste was reduced. This might be related to the lack of effective training and information campaigns. Even so, farmers showed concern about the environmental impact of waste produced in their activity though most are unaware of the correct final destination that should be given to waste. Although farmers stated that they consider important to dispose of the waste properly, they were not sure about their responsibility in the process. It is concluded that a considerable portion of the targeted waste types in this research does not have the adequate final destination. In order to reverse this situation, training and awareness campaigns directed to farmers should be implemented.

Non-point sources of water pollution from agricultural production are a growing problem in British Columbia. In response, the government has adopted the Code of Agricultural Practice for Waste Management. This thesis outlines the environmental impacts of agricultural non-point source pollutants in general, and the difficulties of regulating manure nitrate contamination in particular. This is followed by a brief discussion of the political, social, and economic factors that affect agroenvironmental policy-making. These factors help to set the context for the Code's development. The Code was developed using an industry-government multi- stakeholder negotiation. The goal of the thesis was to describe and evaluate the negotiation process used in the Code's creation, and to evaluate how the process affected the Code's implementation. Qualitative data were gathered through tape-recorded personal interviews with 12 selectively sampled respondents who were involved in the Code's negotiation, and ten selectively sampled respondents who were involved in the Code's .implementation. In addition to the interview transcripts, other sources of data were documents produced during the Code's negotiation, and the proceedings of a non-point source pollution workshop. The major findings were that the Code's negotiation was a productive process (it met eleven of the sixteen criteria for negotiated rulemaking), and i t did increase farmers' awareness of environmental issues. However, it was not sufficient - by itself to motivate farmer compliance. It was concluded that the Code was part of a larger "package" of programs (e.g. cost-sharing programs, Environmental Guidelines booklets, producer conservation groups), that in total are helping to motivate compliance.

Surface water quality of the Liverpool Plains (NSW), a series of floodplains comprising the floodplain of the Mooki River, is poor despite the introduction of conservation tillage that has reduced soil erosion and, with it, the transport of sediment, nutrients and chemicals to streams.The aim of this thesis was to provide a basis for recommending the possible wider use of biofilters, by determining their effectiveness in reducing pollutant (mainly atrazine) transport at multiple scales in the Liverpool Plains, quantifying the importance of relevant processes, including the capacity of soil biofilters to degrade the retained pollutants, and evaluating the effect of pollutants on the biofilter vegetation. These objectives were explored in two sub-catchments within the Liverpool Plains, namely Big Jacks Creek and the Blackville.Soils are predominantly vertosols that crack deeply on drying, resulting in initially high infiltration rates on wetting and high water holding capacity. Field monitoring revealed that biofilters such as grassed waterways, natural grasslands or vegetated filter strips (VFS) positioned at multiple catchment scales can significantly reduce pollutant concentrations in runoff. The use of biofilters is discussed, along with other best management practices that will be needed to manage pesticide loads both at source and in the transport pathway.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The dissertation focuses on the topic of packaging waste management and treats the subject from two different approaches. From a qualitative point of view, it aims to compare the compliance schemes implemented in Portugal and Italy and the model of calculation of the financial support to local authorities. Moreover, from a quantitative point of view, it aims to evaluate the relative cost efficiencies, in both its time invariant and time varying components, by means of stochastic frontier analysis. Regarding the first objective, the main difference between the financial transfers to the local authorities are the presence, in Portugal, of a factor evaluating the quality of the service; while, in Italy, the implementation of a progressive financial compensation, based on different bands for the quality of the waste collected. Furthermore, in the second part, a deterministic time invariant persistent cost efficiency and a stochastic time varying residual cost efficiency are estimated from two panel data, one for each country. The results obtained for the Portuguese system show a little impact of time varying inefficiencies and set the sector on an overall cost efficiency which is half the score of the most efficient firm in the panel. For Italy, the analysis detected a higher impact of time varying factors on the overall cost efficiency of the sector, which, on average, is about one third of the efficiency of the best entities.
A presente dissertação discute a gestão de resíduos de embalagens e analisa o tema a partir de duas abordagens diferentes. Do ponto de vista qualitativo, visa comparar os esquemas de conformidade implementados em Portugal e na Itália, e o modelo de cálculo do apoio financeiro às autoridades locais. Além disso, sob ponto de vista quantitativo, pretende-se avaliar as eficiências de custo relativas, nas suas componentes variantes e invariante no tempo, por meio da análise de fronteira estocástica. Em relação ao primeiro objetivo, as principais diferenças entre as transferências financeiras para as autarquias locais são a presença, em Portugal, de um fator de avaliação da qualidade do serviço; enquanto, em Itália, existe a implementação de uma compensação financeira progressiva, baseada em faixas diferentes para a qualidade dos resíduos coletados. No que respeita à segunda parte, uma eficiência determinística de custo persistente e invariável no tempo e uma eficiência residual estocática de custo, e variável no tempo, estimadas a partir de dois panel data, um para cada país. Os resultados obtidos para o sistema português mostram um pequeno impacto de ineficiências variáveis no tempo, e definem o setor com uma eficiência de custo geral que é metade do score apresentado pela empresa mais eficiente no panel. No que concerne a Itália, a análise detetou um impacto maior dos fatores variáveis no tempo na eficiência geral de custo do setor, que, em média, é cerca de um terço da eficiência da melhor entitade.

Recycling is one possible option within municipal solid waste (MSW) management to deal with the growing quantities of MSW produced. Only a few scholars have analysed the costs of this service and asked the question whether municipal solid waste management service utilities benefit from providing waste disposal and recycling services jointly. This dissertation tries to answer this question in the Portuguese context. In other words, it tries to find whether there are economies of scope in the Portuguese municipal solid waste management market between waste collection and disposal and recycling services. To answer the question, this study estimates a cost function of the municipal solid waste collection and disposal and recycling services in Portugal. Using a panel of 260 Portuguese retail municipal solid waste management service providers observed from 2001 to 2015, a multi-output translog cost function is estimated. The index value for scope economies is -0.27, meaning diseconomies of scope have been found.
A reciclagem é uma opção possível na gestão de residuos sólidos urbanos para lidar com a crescente quantidade deste tipo de resíduos que é produzida. Não existem muitos Estudos que tenham analisado este serviço e perguntado se as entidades gestoras de resíduos sólidos urbanos beneficiam do fornecimento simultâneo dos serviços de recolha de lixo e de reciclagem. Esta dissertação procura responder a essa questão no contexto português. Por outras palavras, ela tenta descobrir se existem economias de gama na gestão de resíduos sólidos urbanos no mercado português entre a recolha de resíduos e os serviços de reciclagem. Para responder à questão, este estudo estima uma função de custo para os serviços de recolha de resíduos sólidos urbanos e de reciclagem em Portugal. Usando um painel de 260 entidades gestoras de serviços de gestão de resíduos sólidos urbanos observadas de 2011 a 2015, estima-se uma função de custos multi-produto translog. O índice de economias de gama é de -0.27, significando que existem deseconomias de gama.

Orientação: Cândida Leonor Pinto Rocha ; co-orientação: Maria Adília Januário Charmier
Nos últimos anos a economia circular tem cativado a atenção no mundo, como uma forma de alterar o atual modelo de produção e consumo. Pretende-se fechar o ciclo de produção dentro do sistema económico. A economia circular visa aumentar a eficiência na utilização dos recursos, com um enfoque especial em resíduos urbanos e industriais, para alcançar um melhor equilíbrio e harmonia entre a economia, o ambiente e a sociedade. A Gestão de Resíduos, nas empresas portuguesas, é maioritariamente considerada como uma despesa, vista simplesmente como uma forma de eliminar materiais, gerando uma enorme perda de recursos valiosos e consequentemente graves impactes ambientais. Utilizando como caso de estudo o Grupo Esporão analisou-se de que forma esta empresa colocava em prática os conceitos de economia circular e identificaram-se oportunidades de transformação de alguns resíduos produzidos em matérias-primas. No sentido da inclusão da abordagem da economia circular nos processos produtivos, analisou-se a possibilidade de valorização do bagaço de uva, resultando assim, na possibilidade de extração de compostos antioxidantes e, devido à presença de açúcares redutores, a obtenção de biocombustível ou outros produtos com interesse comercial. Ficou então demonstrado um grande potencial na transformação dos resíduos de bagaço em novos produtos de valor acrescentado.
Over the last years Circular Economy has been captivating the attention of the world has a way to modify the current production and consumer model. It intends to close the cycle of the production inside the economic system. The Circular Economy aims to increase the efficiency in the use of resources with a special focus on urban and industrial residues to achieve a greater balance and harmony between the economy, the environment and society. The Waste Management on the Portuguese enterprises is highly considered as an expense and is seen simply as a way to eliminate materials which generates a huge loss of valuable resources and consequently has grave environmental impacts. Using the case study of the “Grupo Esporão” it has been analyzed in which way this enterprise already placed into practice the concepts of circular economy and it was identified opportunities of the transformation of produced residues into raw materials. In order to include the approach of the circular economy in the production processes the possibility of valorization of grape marc was analyzed resulting in the possibility of the extraction of antioxidant compounds and (due to the presence of reducing sugars) the acquisition of biofuel or other products with commercial interest. It has been demonstrated the enormous potential of the conversion of grape marc in new value-added products.

The last decade has been a period of great expansion and land use intensification for the New Zealand dairy farming industry with a 44% increase in national dairy cow numbers. Intensive dairy farming is now considered to be a major contributor to the deterioration in the quality of surface and ground water resources in some regions of New Zealand. Previous research has demonstrated intensive dairy farming is responsible for accelerated contamination of wateways by nutrients, suspended solids, pathogenic organisms and faecal material. A number of common dairy farming practices increase the risk of nutrient leaching. In particular, farm dairy effluent (FDE) has been implicated as a major contributor to the degradation of water quality. With the introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991, the preferred treatment for FDE shifted away from traditional two-pond systems to land application. However, on most farms, irrigation of FDE has occurred on a daily basis, often without regard for soil moisture status. Therefore, it has been commonplace for partially treated effluent to drain through and/or runoff soils and contaminate fresh water bodies. The objectives of this thesis were to design and implement a sustainable land application system for FDE on difficult to manage, mole and pipe drained soils, and to assess the impacts of FDE application, urea application and cattle grazing events on nutrient losses via artificial drainage and surface runoff from dairy cattle grazed pasture. To meet these objectives a research field site was established on Massey University's No.4 Dairy farm near Palmerston North. The soil type was Tokomaru silt loam, a Fragiaqualf with poor natural drainage. Eight experimental plots (each 40 x 40 m) were established with two treatments. Four of the plots represented standard farm practice including grazing and fertiliser regimes. Another four plots were subjected to the same farm practices but without the fertiliser application and they were also irrigated with FDE. Each plot had an isolated mole and pipe drainage system. Four surface runoff plots (each 5 m x 10 m) were established as subplots (two on the fertilised plots and two on the plots irrigated with FDE) in the final year of the study. Plots were instrumented to allow the continuous monitoring of drainage and surface runoff and the collection of water samples for nutrient analyses. An application of 25 mm of FDE to a soil with limited soil water deficit - simulating a 'daily' irrigation regime - resulted in considerable drainage of partially treated FDE. Approximately 70% of the applied FDE left the experimental plots with 10 mm of drainage and 8 mm of surface runoff. The resulting concentrations of N and P in drainage and runoff were approximately 45% and 80% of the original concentrations in the applied FDE, respectively. From this single irrigation event, a total of 12.1 kg N ha-1 and 1.9 kg P ha-1 was lost to surface water representing 45% of expected annual N loss and 100% of expected annual P loss. An improved system for applying farm dairy effluent to land called 'deferred irrigation' was successfully developed and implemented at the research site. Deferred irrigation involves the storage of effluent in a two-pond system during periods of small soil moisture deficits and the scheduling of irrigation at times of suitable soil water deficits. Deferred irrigation of FDE all but eliminated direct drainage losses with on average <1 % of the volume of effluent and nutrients applied leaving the experimental plots. Adopting an approach of applying 'little and often' resulted in no drainage and, therefore, zero direct loss of nutrients applied. A modelling exercise, using the APSlM simulation model, was conducted to study the feasibility of practising deferred irrigation at the farm scale on No 4 Dairy farm. Using climate data for the past 30 years, this simulation exercise demonstrated that applying small application depths of FDE, such as 15 mm or less, provided the ability to schedule irrigations earlier in spring and decreased the required effluent storage capacity. A travelling irrigator, commonly used to apply FDE (a rotating irrigator), was found to have 2-3 fold differences in application depth and increased the risk of generating FDE contaminated drainage. New irrigator technology (an oscillating travelling irrigator) provided a more uniform application pattern allowing greater confidence that an irrigation depth less than the soil water deficit could be applied. This allowed a greater volume to be irrigated, whilst avoiding direct drainage of FDE when the soil moisture deficit is low in early spring and late autumn. A recommendation arising from this work is that during this period of low soil water deficits, all irrigators should be set to travel at their fastest speed (lowest application depth) to minimise the potential for direct drainage of partially treated FDE and associated nutrient losses. The average concentrations of N and P in both 2002 and 2003 winter mole and pipe drainage water from grazed dairy pastures were all well above the levels required to prevent aquatic weed growth in fresh water bodies. Total N losses from plots representing standard farm practice were 28 kg N ha-1 and 34 kg N ha-1 for 2003 and 2004, respectively. Total P losses in 2003 and 2004 were 0.35 kg P ha-1 and 0.7 kg P ha-1, respectively. Surface runoff was measured in 2003 and contributed a further 3.0 kg N ha-1and 0.6 kg P ha-1. A number of common dairy farm practices immediately increased the losses of N and P in the artificial drainage water. Recent grazing events increased NO3--N and DIP concentrations in drainage by approximately 5 mg litre-1 and 0.1 mg litre-1, respectively. The duration between the grazing and drainage events influenced the form of N loss due to a likely urine contribution when grazing and drainage coincide, but had little impact on the total quantity of N lost. Nitrogen loss from an early spring application of urea in 2002 was minimal, whilst a mid June application in 2003 resulted in an increased loss of NO3--N throughout 80 mm of cumulative drainage suggesting that careful timing of urea applications in winter is required to prevent unnecessary N leaching. Storage and deferred irrigation of FDE during the lactation season caused no real increase in either the total-N concentrations or total N losses in the winter drainage water of 2002 and 2003. In contrast, land application of FDE using the deferred irrigation system resulted in a gradual increase in total P losses over the 2002 and 2003 winter drainage seasons. However, this increase represents less than 4% of the P applied in FDE during the lactation season. An assessment of likely losses of nutrients at a whole-farm scale suggests that it is standard dairy farming practice (particularly intensive cattle grazing) that is responsible for the great majority of N and P loss at a farm scale. When expressed as a proportion of whole-farm losses, only a very small quantity of N is lost under an improved land treatment technique for FDE such as deferred irrigation. The management of FDE plays a greater role in the likely P loss at a farm scale with a 5% contribution to wholefarm P losses from deferred irrigation.

Globally, one third of the food produced for human consumption is wasted or lost every year. This has serious economic, environmental and social consequences, namely in industrialized countries. As intermediaries between producers and consumers, food retailers such as supermarkets play a significant role in mitigating food waste. Further research is required to enable professionals to be effective in developing food waste mitigation strategies. The study's aim is to find the most effective food waste mitigation strategies in grocery retail and to develop a "Food Waste Strategy Framework" that combines knowledge from previous research with the experience of experts in Germany. In the context of qualitative content analysis, eight semi-structured interviews with food waste experts from supermarkets, food charities and other organizations in the German grocery retail sector were conducted. Data was coded and analyzed with a deductive-inductive approach. Results reveal five internal and five external causes driving food waste, plus sixteen strategy areas with forty-one possible food mitigation strategies. German experts suggested price reduction on dairy products and perishables, employee awareness training, customer campaigns about the best-before date, updated inventory control systems and donation to food charity organizations as the most effective strategies against food waste.
A nível global, um terço dos alimentos produzidos para consumo humano é desperdiçado ou extraviado a cada ano. Particularmente nos países industrializados, isto tem enormes consequências económicas, ambientais e sociais. Enquanto intermediários entre produtores e consumidores, retalhistas alimentares, como os supermercados, desempenham um papel importante para mitigar o desperdício alimentar. Faltam estratégias de mitigação de desperdício alimentar para apoiar os profissionais do setor. O objetivo deste estudo é encontrar as estratégias mais eficazes de mitigação de desperdício alimentar no retalho de mercearia e desenvolver um "Quadro Estratégico para o Desperdício Alimentar" que combine o conhecimento anterior com a experiência de especialistas na Alemanha. No âmbito da análise qualitativa de conteúdos, foram conduzidas oito entrevistas semi-estruturadas com especialistas em desperdício alimentar de supermercados, instituições de caridade alimentar e outras organizações do retalho alemão. Os dados foram codificados e analisados através de uma abordagem dedutiva-indutiva. Os resultados revelam cinco fatores internos e cinco fatores externos que levam ao desperdício alimentar, bem como dezasseis áreas estratégicas com quarenta e uma estratégias possíveis para a mitigação do problema. Os especialistas alemães identificam a redução de preço em lacticínios e outros produtos perecíveis, formações de sensibilização para os funcionários, campanhas sobre data de consumo preferencial para os clientes, atualização de sistemas de controlo de inventário e donativos a instituições de caridade alimentar como as estratégias mais eficazes contra o desperdício alimentar.

Numa envolvente em que os resíduos sólidos urbanos têm ganho uma importância crescen-te na lista de preocupações das entidades públicas, a gestão destes merece especial atenção. Muitas entidades têm recorrido a organizações externas para gerir os seus resíduos procu-rando soluções mais sustentáveis. Neste sentido procura-se avaliar as razões que levam os municípios a recorrer a esta externalização da gestão de resíduos sólidos urbanos. Através de estatísticas simples, bem como de testes estatísticos não-paramétricos, procu-rou-se identificar quais os aspectos que mais contribuem para esta decisão, e quais os que, podendo justificá-la no sector privado, não têm uma importância relevante neste caso espe-cífico da gestão de resíduos sólidos urbanos. Procuraram-se também diferentes padrões de resposta, consoante características intrínsecas do município. Para finalizar tentou-se explo-rar eventuais correlações entre algumas das variáveis iniciais. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que a decisão da externalização não é só afectada por razões relacionadas com os custos e investimento, mas também por motivos de nature-za mais operacional, como sejam a procura de melhorias ou questões de âmbito mais orga-nizacional. Referir ainda que nada aponta no sentido de eventuais variações na importância dos vários motivos, consoante as características dos municípios. Por fim são identificadas limitações aos resultados obtidos bem como dadas pistas para investigação futura.
In an environment in which municipal solid waste have been gaining increasing im-portance in the concerns of the public, its management deserves special attention. Many entities have resorted to outside organizations to manage their waste, looking forward to get more sustainable solutions. Bearing that in mind, this work tried to assess the reasons for the municipalities to outsource the management of municipal solid waste. Through simple statistics, as well as statistical non-parametric tests, this work tried to iden-tify which aspects contribute most to this decision, and what, between those that could jus-tify this kind of decision in the private sector, do not have a significant impact in what con-cerns the management of municipal solid waste. It also sought different response patterns between the intrinsic characteristics of the municipalities. Lastly, it tried to explore eventu-al correlations between the initial variables chosen. The results indicate that this decision is not only affected by reasons related to costs and investment, but also by more operational aspects, such as improvement driven reasons or more organizational driven issues. Also, deserves note that there was not found statistical evidence pointing to significant differences depending on the characteristics of the munici-pality. Finally, limitations to the results obtained were identified and clues were given for future research.

A pandemia causada pelo vírus Sarscov-2, e as suas sucessivas variantes espalhadas pelo mundo provocaram um aumento do consumo de diversos produtos nomeadamente de Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPI), que assumiram uma função muito relevante a nível global, trazendo esta medida de segurança usada para conter a propagação do vírus uma maior complexidade em diversos sistemas. Na Associação Regional de Saúde (ARS) de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo para o desempenho das tarefas diárias é obrigatório o uso de fatos cirúrgicos em certas funções. O elevado consumo deste tipo de materiais descartáveis fez com que tivessem um impacto ambiental muito significativo e a oferta por vezes não fosse suficiente face à elevada procura, por estes motivos outras alternativas devem ser consideradas. A presente dissertação incide na redefinição do sistema logístico atual que permita a substituição de fatos cirúrgicos descartáveis por fatos cirúrgicos recicláveis, e consequente estudo dos impactos relacionados com estas medidas. Com base na revisão de literatura é possível concluir que estas mudanças resultam num impacto positivo para as organizações que adotem este tipo de medidas quer em termos de conforto e segurança para os utilizadores e utentes, como a nível ambiental e económico. Para encontrar a solução ótima foram identificadas as variáveis-chave, definidas hipóteses e construídos diferentes cenários. O custo mais baixo foi atingido pelo cenário que se traduz na triagem ser feita junto com a roupa da lavandaria, a lavagem ser feita na SUCH e o registo ser feito apenas após a lavagem.
The pandemic caused by the Sarscov-2 virus, and its successive variants spread around the world, caused an increase in the consumption of several products, particularly Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that assumed a very relevant role at a global level, with this safety measure being used to prevent the spread coming into a greater complexity in various systems. In the Regional Health Association (ARS) of Lisboa and Vale do Tejo for the performance of daily tasks the use of surgical suits is mandatory in certain functions. The high consumption of this type of single-use material has caused a very significant environmental impact, and the supply is sometimes insufficient, and for these reasons other alternatives should be considered. This dissertation focuses on the redefinition of the current logistics system that allows the replacement of disposable surgical suits by recyclable surgical suits, and consequent study of the impacts related to these measures. Based on the literature review, it is possible to conclude that these changes might result in a positive impact for organisations that adopt this type of measures, both in terms of comfort and safety for users, and at an environmental and economic level. To find the optimal solution, key variables were identified, hypotheses were defined and different scenarios were built. The lowest cost was reached by the scenario that results in the sorting being done together with the laundry, the washing being done in the SUCH and the registration being done only after the washing.

Integrated organic waste management, based on the door-to-door collection and decentralised processing of organic waste for urban agriculture, can be conceptualised as a socio-ecological process of re-circulating environmental amenities for social equality and environmental sustainability. In this thesis, a framework for participatory integrated waste management is presented, based on the findings of an empirical study carried out in the Brazilian city of Diadema, in 2008. The results reveal that the capacity exists for the collection and processing of organic waste, while civil society is sufficiently mobilised to ensure a reliable supply of good quality food waste. The quantity and quality of the resulting fertiliser helps enhance community food security through direct production for self-provision, reciprocal distribution networks, and increased income generation. Barriers include conflict over land and insecure political support. Such insecure support is characterised by the paradox of Brazilian politics, whereby rhetorical support for social policies contrasts their neoliberal implementation. This thesis addresses the ways in which the national political paradox affects the potential for integrated organic waste management in Diadema, paying particular attention to the need for combined social and environmental policies, the political culture of project implementation, the rhetoric of public participation versus neoliberal policy enforcement, and the contested nature of deliberative decision-making spaces. The thesis concludes with suggestions for progressive policy reform, such as a remuneration agreement with the recyclers and firm land tenure arrangements with the gardeners.

Os resíduos são uma preocupação crescente e transversal a toda a sociedade. A sua gestão enfrenta novos desafios todos os dias, com os países obrigados a adotar novas medidas e estratégias como resposta. Neste estudo é elaborada uma comparação entre Portugal e Alemanha, ao nível dos seus modelos de gestão de resíduos de embalagem, com o intuito de retirar possíveis medidas a implementar que permitam a melhoria do desempenho do modelo nacional. Inicia-se o estudo por uma revisão de literatura sobre a gestão de resíduos e respetivos sistemas e sobre o Princípio da Responsabilidade Alargada do Produtor, princípio este fundamental nos modelos de gestão de resíduos. Aborda-se ainda a questão da presença de monopólios e quais os efeitos da concorrência entre as Organizações de Responsabilidade do Produtor - ORP’s. Seguidamente, desenvolve-se uma investigação qualitativa para avaliar os modelos de gestão de resíduos de embalagem, consoante a sua configuração, performance e concorrência. Os resultados revelaram que Portugal necessita de tomar medidas urgentes para conseguir alcançar as metas de reciclagem e valorização impostas pela UE até 2025. Nesse sentido, apresentam-se possíveis estratégias que podem contribuir para o cumprimento das metas. Por fim, efetua-se uma análise particular ao sistema português, avaliando as consequências da introdução de concorrência entre as ORP’s. Para tal, irá aferir-se qual o impacto no número de embalagens declaradas, na produção de resíduos de embalagem produzidos e respetiva retoma, bem como na prestação financeira Ecovalor e ao nível do investimento em sensibilização e Investigação & Desenvolvimento.
The waste is a growing concern that affects the society. Its management faces new challenges every day, with countries forced to adopt new measures and strategies in response to face it. In this study, a comparison is made between Portugal and Germany, in terms of their packaging waste management models, to take possible measures to be implemented that allow the improvement of the Portuguese’s system performance. The research begins with a literature review about waste management and their respective systems, and the Principle of Extended Producer Responsibility, this is a fundamental principle of waste management models. It also discusses the issue of the presence of monopolies, and what are the effects of competition between Producer Responsibility Organizations - PRO's. Subsequently, a qualitative investigation is carried out to evaluate the packaging waste management models, depending on their configuration, performance, and competition. The results of this investigation revealed that Portugal needs to take urgent measures to achieve the recycling and recovery targets imposed by the EU until 2025. In this sense, possible strategies are presented that can contribute to the achievement of the goals. Finally, a particular analysis is conducted to the Portuguese system, assessing the consequences of the introduction of competition between PRO's. It will try to quantify the impact on the number of packages declared, on the production of packaging waste produced and the respective recovery, as well as on the financial provision (Ecovalor) and on the level of investment in awareness and Research & Development.

O presente projeto tem como objetivo geral compreender como foram mantidas as relações comerciais durante o período pandémico para que, posteriormente, seja criado um plano de atuação comercial para a Olimec para o ano 2022. Os anos 2020 e 2021 ficarão lembrados na história mundial pela maior pandemia alguma vez registada. A doença COVID-19, obrigou ao encerramento de inúmeras atividades, serviços e indústrias para contenção da pandemia. Existiram determinados setores em que foi mantida a atividade, por se considerarem de funcionamento essencial, nomeadamente a manutenção e reparação de viaturas afetas à limpeza urbana e setorial. Foi por isso necessário continuar a manter relações com fornecedores e clientes durante este período, para que fosse possível continuar a operar, dentro das restrições e limitações impostas pela pandemia. Em termos de estrutura, o projeto inicia-se no primeiro capítulo com a introdução, sendo feito no segundo capítulo um enquadramento sobre o setor, através de uma revisão bibliográfica. No terceiro capítulo é definida a metodologia para realização de uma análise ao mercado, para identificar e analisar a estratégia de abordagem comercial que a Olimec e os seus concorrentes estabeleceram durante este período. No quarto capítulo é realizada a análise externa e interna da empresa. No quinto capítulo são analisados os resultados obtidos na análise de mercado e, no sexto capítulo é realizada uma sugestão de implementação de um plano de atuação comercial para a Olimec para 2022. No sétimo e último capítulo são realizadas as conclusões juntamente com as limitações na realização do projeto.
The present project has as general objective to understand how commercial relations were maintained during the pandemic period and create a commercial plan for Olimec for the year 2022. The years 2020 and 2021 will be remembered in history as the biggest pandemic ever recorded. The disease called COVID-19, forced the shutdown of numerous activities, services and industries to contain the Pandemic. In the meantime, it was also necessary to maintain certain sectors of activities as they were considered essential, such as the maintenance and repair of waste collection vehicles. The relationship between suppliers and customers was highly important to keep during this period of uncertainty, in order to continue operating, within the restrictions and limitations imposed by the pandemic. Following a brief introduction in the first chapter, the second chapter focus on a theoretical and technical framework on the sector through a bibliographical review. The third chapter defines the methodology adopted to carry out a market analysis in which Olimec operates, with the purpose of identifying and analyzing the costumer strategy and commercial approach that Olimec and its competitors established during this period. In the fourth chapter, the company's external and internal analysis is carried out.In the fifth chapter, the results obtained in the market study are analyzed, to give in the sixth chapter a suggestion to implementation of a commercial plan for Olimec for the year 2022. The project will be concluded in the seventh chapter, together with the limitations felt in the project.