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Cutforth, Claire Louise. "Understanding waste minimisation practices at the individual and household level." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2014. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/69484/.
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Over recent years, the issue of how to manage waste sustainably has intensified for both researchers and policy makers. From a policy perspective, the reason for this intensification can be traced to European legislation and its transposition into UK policy. The Welsh Government in particular has set challenging statutory targets for Local Authorities. Such targets include increases in recycling and composting as well as waste reduction and reuse targets. From a research perspective there has been dissatisfaction with behavioural models and their willingness to explore alternative social science thinking (such as leading approaches to practice). Despite policy interest in sustainable waste practices, there remains little research which focuses specifically on waste minimisation at the individual or household level. What research exists focuses on pro-environmental or recycling behaviour, and tends to focus upon values, intention and behavioural change, rather than on what actual practices occur, and for what reasons. This research focuses on what practices take place in order to access a more complex range of reasons why such practices take place. The methodology adopts a qualitative approach to uncovering practices in a variety of contexts, and discovers a number of key insights which underpin waste minimisation practice. This thesis demonstrates that waste minimisation performances take place, but often do so ‘unwittingly’. Coupled to this, many witting or unwitting waste minimisation actions occur for reasons other than concern for the environment. Furthermore, this research suggests that practices (and their motivations) vary dependent upon the context in which they occur. In general, three key themes were found to be significant in influencing the take up and transfer of practice: cost, convenience, and community. As a waste practitioner, the researcher is able to engage with these themes in order to suggest future directions for waste minimisation policy as well as research.
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Schanes, Karin, Karin Dobernig, and Burcu Gözet. "Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications." Elsevier, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.030.
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In recent years, food waste has received growing interest from local, national and European policymakers, international organisations, NGOs as well as academics from various disciplinary fields. Increasing concerns about food security and environmental impacts, such as resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions attributed to food waste, have intensified attention to the topic. While food waste occurs in all stages of the food supply chain, private households have been identified as key actors in food waste generation. However, the evidence on why food waste occurs remains scattered. This paper maps the still small but expanding academic territory of consumer food waste by systematically reviewing empirical studies on food waste practices as well as distilling factors that foster and impede the generation of food waste on the household level. Moreover, we briefly discuss the contributions of different social ontologies, more particularly psychology-related approaches and social practice theory. The analysis reveals food waste as a complex and multi-faceted issue that cannot be attributed to single variables; this also calls for a stronger integration of different disciplinary perspectives. Mapping the determinants of waste generation deepens the understanding of household practices and helps design food waste prevention strategies. Finally, we link the identified factors with a set of policy, business, and retailer options.
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Venter, Natashka Rosa. "Consumers' knowledge of date labelling and the influence thereof on household fresh produce waste practices in Gauteng." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/65953.
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Globally, it is estimated that one-third of the food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, which amounts to a concerning 1.3 billion tons per year (FAO, 2011). More concerning is the fact that much of the wastage is unnecessary because consumers often misinterpret product attributes such as date labels (i.e. sell-by; use-by and expiry-date), which they often rely on as a primary indication of product quality and/or safety. This tendency often leads to premature discarding/wastage of food products such as fresh produce. The problem is further exacerbated as current retail procedures and policies determining the date labelling on food products such as fresh produce are seldom regulated and also contribute towards food losses and wastage in the pre-and post-consumption stages. In order to reduce the current levels of food waste, it is imperative that improvements are made not only at household level, but in all stages of the supply chain, thus from farm to fork. This study first and foremost aimed to explore consumers’ current fresh produce waste practices in order to investigate date labelling as a pertinent reason for unnecessary fresh produce wastage. The study secondly aimed to explore consumers’ knowledge of fresh produce date labelling (in terms of subjective and objective knowledge dimensions), i.e. their understanding and interpretation of date labelling, not only in order to describe consumers’ current fresh produce wastage practices, but also to propose mitigating strategies. The Systems Theory was found appropriate and therefore used to guide discussions as it enabled the researcher to understand the sequence, relationship and interdependency of fundamental elements that influence fresh produce wastage. Data collection was executed in two phases. An electronic questionnaire was implemented to gather data pertaining to Phase 1. Data collection for Phase 2 relied on focus group discussions. The respondents were recruited across Gauteng using a convenience sampling technique. The overall findings regarding consumers’ food wastage revealed that fresh produce is indeed the product category wasted the most, particularly vegetables, with respondents indicating that of all fresh produce purchased per month, an estimate of 41.24% is wasted. In terms of consumers’ knowledge of date labelling, the results revealed that consumers might be somewhat overly confident (subjective knowledge). Many consumers eagerly noted that they knew enough about date labelling in order to make wise consumer decisions, but failed to present that knowledge when tested objectively. The results from the focus group discussions supported these findings and emphasised the fact that confusion in terms of Date Labelling Theory, i.e. the difference between the dimensions of date labelling (i.e. sell-by, use-by and best-before dates) is mostly the reason for misinterpretation and subsequent produce wastage. In terms of the main barriers that hinder more sustainable consumption, the results indicated that although poor planning and purchasing ranked as the most worrisome, date labelling still featured amongst the top five reasons for wastage. Possible avenues to mitigate consumers’ misinterpretation of date labelling and fresh produce wastage included: 1. Making use of an app that alerts users, 2. Removing sell by dates, and 3. Getting more support from the South African government through education and awareness campaigns. Whilst several studies have been done on household food waste practices, few have studied consumers’ subjective and objective knowledge dimensions on date labelling. To the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first paper exploring consumer date labelling knowledge and the impact it has on household fresh produce wastage practices in Gauteng. By assessing the reasons for wastage, greater insight is gained with regard to presenting possible avenues that could mitigate fresh produce wastage.Dissertation (MConsumer Science)--University of Pretoria, 2017.
Consumer Science
MConsumer Science
Unrestricted
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Steingrube, Anna Pauline. "Integration of food stock management applications into everyday food practices : Tackling the food waste problem in households by supporting everyday food practices." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Människa-datorinteraktion, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-447586.
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Household food waste levels pose a considerable problem in terms of sustainability. Food stock management applications for smartphones are interventions that support people in planning and keeping an overview of their food stock in order to reduce food waste. So far mainly their usability and effectiveness for reduction of food waste have been researched in HCI. This study aimed at investigating how these applications are being integrated into people’s food practices, and how their features contributed to the integration. In a three-week long field study seven participants used one of two applications in their daily lives. Through interviews and diary entries it was observed that some people integrated the applications into their food practices to replace other actions like checking one’s food stock. New connections to the food practices were created through expiration reminders and providing means to check the food stock from a distance. Reminders were seen as helpful even if not always necessary and can be seen as an opportunity to further support the integration process. The main issues for the integration were the high-effort adding processes and remembering to update the inventory after consumption.
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Bissmont, Mimmi. "Reducing household waste : A social practice perspective on Swedish household waste prevention." Licentiate thesis, Malmö universitet, Malmö högskola, Institutionen för Urbana Studier (US), 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-13752.
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This thesis studies household waste prevention from a social scienceperspective. Swedish waste management is efficient in handling wastebut has not succeeded in reducing its quantities, even though theissue of waste prevention is being raised at both international andnational levels.The aim of this thesis is to study and analyse the practice ofhousehold waste prevention. I seek to understand and explainhow it may be possible for households in their everyday to reducethat waste. With understanding comes an aspiration to mitigatewhatever impedes households from reducing their waste. A secondaim is therefore to apply these new understandings and make policysuggestions as to how household waste prevention can be promotedand supported. My research questions are:• How is everyday household waste prevention as a practicenarrated and discussed? And how can this practice andthe activities in it be understood in connection with socialstructures?• What obstacles and opportunities do households experience inconnection with the practice of everyday waste prevention?• What policy suggestions can be drawn from these findings? Household waste prevention has in earlier research often beenstudied from a waste management perspective, juxtaposing it withrecycling. These studies has identified a need to approach the areafrom a consumption perspective. Sustainable consumption has,however, in general failed to incorporate disposal as a practicesin itself, in that disposal involves competence in knowing what todo with certain things, as well as relation between things and theirmeanings. This runs the risk of leaving waste and waste preventionas part of consumption scarcely researched. It is in this identified gapthat I place my study.In order to address my questions, two studies were carried out.The first is presented in Article I, ‘Household practices of disposal –Swedish households’ narratives for moving things along’. The datawas gathered using in-depth interviews with Swedish households not explicitly devoted to waste prevention. The study focused oneveryday disposal activities. The second study, presented in Article II,is called ‘The practice of household waste minimisation’. This studycollected data from Swedish bloggers engaging in waste-minimisationpractices, sometimes called ‘zero-waste bloggers’, focusing on howthese forerunners describe practising waste minimisation in theireveryday.In both studies I used sociological theories of how humans asactors relate to the social structures and how humans act in theireveryday. The theories applied were derived from the extensive workof Anthony Giddens on structuration and late-modernity. As I placehousehold activities at the centre of my study, I have also appliedtheory of practice. My analysis starts off with the claim that waste is an unintendedconsequence of keeping up shared practices: in other words, thathousehold waste production is neither deliberate nor completelyvoluntary. For waste prevention practices to happen, the prevailingidea that recycling alone is good enough needs to be challenged.There need to be other opportunities to act, such as buying secondhandclothes, unpackaged groceries, repairable electronics etc. Theseopportunities need to be normalised, meaning that they need tobe socially spread and accepted. They also need to be reasonablyconvenient, as in not demanding too much time and effort. The studyof the minimising forerunners reveals that these households have tostruggle in their everyday to minimise their waste. This implies thathousehold waste prevention is not supported by the social structuresin Sweden and, therefore, will not increase by itself.I move on to suggest a new model for the understanding ofsustainable consumption. This model takes the perspective of practicetheory and presents four stages of consumption: need, obtain, use anddispose. All four stages should be recognised as possible situationsfor interventions. There is also a need for a holistic perspective onconsumption, where none of the stages is studied in isolation fromthe rest.I conclude the thesis by pinpointing the identified major obstaclesto household waste prevention, and by suggesting necessary changesin order for household waste prevention to become a shared practice.
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Teague, Christine. "Household hazardous waste: What is best practice?" Thesis, Teague, Christine (2003) Household hazardous waste: What is best practice? Masters by Coursework thesis, Murdoch University, 2003. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/51326/.
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In Western Australia there have previously been very limited attempts to deal with the issue of household hazardous waste (HHW). This report presents the findings of a worldwide literature review to determine “best practice” in the collection of household hazardous waste. The Waste Division of the Department of Environment Western Australia determined the need for this review, to assist in developing their strategies to deal with the problematic household hazardous waste stream.
This research initially examined the legislative framework for the management of HHW within Australia, and overseas in Europe, United Kingdom (UK), New Zealand, Canada, United States, Africa, Asia, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Japan. The research then focused on identifying and analysing the existing HHW collection systems within Australia and overseas, the collection methods that were used and the costs incurred. The research identified that countries where separate collections of HHW are organised, usually rely on a combination of methods to collect the HHW.
Examination of the literature identified the costs of collecting HHW varied considerably between different countries and the various identified programs. During the research, it also became evident that a number of interesting initiatives for specific items of HHW were being undertaken, such as the Community RoPaint Program in the UK.
Education and promotion programs for the collection of HHW were also reviewed during the research, and it was apparent that the success of any HHW collection program is largely dependent on educating the public using all forms of media.
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Mbiadjeu-Lawou, Sosthène Parole. "Quelle économie circulaire spontanée pour une ville moyenne camerounaise ? : Le cas des déchets solides ménagers de Bangangté (Cameroun)." Thesis, Le Mans, 2019. http://www.theses.fr/2019LEMA3007/document.
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Pour appréhender l'économie circulaire spontanée à Bangangté, ville moyenne camerounaise, avec le cas des déchets solides ménagers, nous avons formulé une hypothèse principale montrant les liens forts des pratiques alternatives ou spontanées de cette gestion avec l’économie circulaire. Pour y parvenir, nous avons adopté une approche transversale, explicative et analytique. Des recherches documentaires nous ont permis d’obtenir des données relatives à notre problématique. Sur la base d’un échantillonnage aléatoire, nous avons enquêté 200 ménages dans 10 quartiers de la ville de Bangangté. De plus, nous avons réalisé 30 entretiens avec plusieurs acteurs : administration publique en charge de la gestion des déchets, entreprise Hygiène et Salubrité du Cameroun (HYSACAM), récupérateurs, emplois verts, associations, etc. Des observations empiriques, souvent illustrées, nous ont permis d’identifier et d’évaluer les facteurs de risques et les conséquences liés aux déchets solides ménagers. Nous avons pu suivre les activités de valorisation par les bangangtéens et la municipalité, pour une gestion efficace et rentable de ces déchets. Cette démarche nous a permis d’obtenir des résultats sur la caractérisation des déchets, les pratiques courantes, les filières de l’économie circulaire et la réalisation de la cartographie des gisements et composition des déchets, leur répartition par quantités et par quartiers, les sites de transformation et de vente des matières de récupération et de recyclage. A Bangangté, la pratique de l’économie circulaire de proximité a eu des conséquences socio-économiques positives et à plus de durabilitéTo understand the spontaneous circular economy of Bangangte, a Cameroonian medium-sized city, with the case of solid household waste, we formulate a main hypothesis showing the strongly linked that alternative or spontaneous practices for managing to the circular economy. To achieve this, we have adopted a transversal, explanatory and analytical approach. Documentary research permitted us to obtain data related to our topic. Based on a random sample, we surveyed 200 households in 10 neighbourhoods or quarters in Bangangte city. In addition, we conducted 30 interviews with several stakeholders : public administration in charge of waste management, Cameroon Sanitary and Hygene company (HYSACAM), reclaimers, green jobs, association, etc. Empirical observations, often illustrated, allowed us to identify and assess the risk factors and consequences related to household solid waste. We were able to monitor the recovery activities by the Bangangteans and the municipality, for the efficient and profitable waste management. This approach has enabled us to obtain results on waste characterization, current practices and the mapping of waste deposits and compostion, their distribution by quantity and neighbourhood, and the processing and sale sites for recovery and recycling materials. Knowledge of the different perceptions and ways of using waste is also important. In Bangangte, the practice of the local circular economy has had positive socio-economic and has generated more than a hundred local jobs in the field of recovery, recycling activities, composting, reuse,etc. to go further, the mutualization between several actors
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Van, Wyk Josly. "A practice-led exploration of the aesthetics of household waste in selected South African visual artworks." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/60437.
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In this practice-led exploration, I investigate the aesthetic potential of household waste. With household waste as the object of investigation, I explore the cultural signification of waste in terms of the role it plays in art practice. I look into the found object, bricoleur culture and the sculptural process of assemblage. By considering how assemblage allows for the inclusion of waste materials, the lowly status of household waste leads my art practice to a do-it-yourself approach. This approach of incorporating waste materials into artworks shifts the focus from the physical state to the conceptual meaning of waste. The shift that occurs when the waste object is displaced into art is central to this research study, owing to the capacity of these objects to connote meaning. I refer to this capacity as the social agency of waste materials. My investigation pertains to how art practice may alter or enhance the meaning of household waste. The physical cycle of waste, the constant change in use value that is promoted by consumer society and the process of conceptual adaptation instil a nomadic quality in household waste. I view the nomadic quality of waste as a means to activate viewer participation.
I investigate, in particular case studies, how the interrelationship of installation art, site-specificity and community-based art may contribute to an experiential mode of viewing. I apply the lens of phenomenology and contemporary environmental aesthetics to interpret how viewers engage with art installations. My investigation of confrontational art installations has informed the approach of my own creative research. To convey the nomadic quality of waste, I have developed a series of quasi-functional sculptural artworks that act as mechanical modes of movement to signify an industrial influence of consumerism. Through community art practice as an interrelated field of research, the community members of Rietondale, particularly the school learners from workshops I presented, influenced my approach to my own art practice as I had sought to influence theirs. This mini-dissertation serves as a reflection on the coinciding thought process, material journey and collaborative initiative of a practice-led exploration of the aesthetics of household waste.Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
Visual Arts
MA
Unrestricted
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Mokhasi, Lucky. "The knowledge and practices of mercury coated bulbs disposal among households at ga-Mokgwathi village, Limpopo Province, South Africa." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/1353.
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Thesis ( MPH.) --University of Limpopo, 2014The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and practices among households at Ga-Mokgwathi Village regarding the disposal of mercury coated bulbs. Cross-sectional design with quantitative approach was used in this study. The study objectives were to determine the knowledge about the disposal methods of mercury coated bulbs and also to determine the practices of handling broken mercury coated bulbs among the villagers of Ga-Mokgwathi. Data collection was done using self-administered questionnaires. Cluster random sampling was used in the study where a total number of 338 households were randomly selected to participate in the study. The results indicated that 36.7 % of the households at Ga-Mokgwathi Village had knowledge of safe disposal methods of mercury coated bulbs, 7.7% were not sure and 55.6% did not have such knowledge. Furthermore, the results indicated that 51.5% of the households had improper practices regarding the handling of broken mercury coated bulbs, 6.2% were not sure and 42.3% had proper practices regarding the handling of broken mercury coated bulb. The results of the study concluded that the majority of people were lacking knowledge of proper disposal methods and the handling of mercury coated bulbs. These results necessitate education of people about the disposal methods and handling of mercury coated bulbs.
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Åberg, Helena. "Sustainable waste management in households from international policy to everyday practice : experiences from two Swedish field studies /." Göteborg : Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis, 2000. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/45542448.html.
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Ligon, Victoria K. "Shop More, Buy Less: A Qualitative Investigation Into Consumer Decisions That Lead To Food Waste In U.S. Households." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/332880.
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Estimates suggest that 40% of the food grown in the United States ends up in landfills. Household losses are the highest contributor to volume of waste overall, and individual households are estimated to discard around 15% of their total acquired food inventory. Consumers are generally waste averse and a vast majority have been shown to object to wasting food in particular, yet almost all consumers discard a substantial volume of potentially edible food each year. This exploratory qualitative study sought to uncover underlying psychological mechanisms behind this discrepancy between attitude and behavior by exploring the decision-making processes that consumers engage in as they acquire, prepare, consume and discard food. By exploring the patterns of thinking that shape household provisioning practices through an initial in-depth interview, a two-week long household food diary and a follow-up interview with 17 diverse consumers, a grounded theory emerged to explain this counter-intuitive behavior pattern. Extending research from behavioral economics and decision making literature, data from this study suggests the following: 1) people evaluate cost of goods based on incomplete value estimations that fail to account for the costs associated with discarding potentially edible foods; 2) costs associated with the act of shopping are salient and encourage less frequent provisioning trips; 3) people do not adequately account for costs associated with overbuying and storing food; and 4) consumer strategies aimed at maximize efficiency in food acquisition through less frequent shopping trips may actually result in increased inefficiency in the form of greater waste and higher overall cost of goods. Based on emergent findings, a strategy for waste avoidance is presented along with managerial implications.
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Marx-Pienaar, Nadene J. M. M. "Urban South African consumers' ability to discursively reflect on the sustainability of their households' fresh produce consumption and waste practices amidst global concerns about climate change." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/46277.
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Karlsson, Jessica. "‘God! Let me not waste a moment of This year’ : An Intersectional Perspective on the Practices of Time-use in Gentry Women’s Households in Sweden 1793 to 1839." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Historiska institutionen, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-201057.
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Mabadahanye, Vhonani. "The study of Waste Management practices within households in Khakhanwa Village, Thulamela Municipality." Diss., 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11602/722.
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MPHDepartment of Public Health
The sanitary state of an area is largely influenced by waste handling practices of the residents and measures in place for safe waste evacuation and disposal. Despite strategies that the municipality and local communities have put in place; namely, collection of wastes in one central spot in some villages, littering of all types of wastes is still on the increase in many rural areas. The focus of this study was on common refuse generated at Khakhanwa Village, different waste management practices and the knowledge of villagers on the impact of poor refuse management. The study was carried out using the quantitative, descriptive methodology. A total population of 312 households participated. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and ethical aspects were taken into consideration. Data was analysed descriptively using SPSS version 22.0. It is presented using graphs, tables and pie chart. The findings show that the respondents satisfactorily showed understanding of waste management and the impact of poor waste management. Due to lack of waste services, the majority of the residents resort to storing wastes within their homes, burning it and disposing of it in open dumping sites as major waste management practices. The most familiar wastes in Khakhanwa village are decomposable wastes, napkins and plastics. These findings call for strengthened waste services in rural areas and more waste education amongst all villagers. Policies on waste management need to be put in motion. Communities need to be equipped with the knowledge of reducing, reusing and recycling for the purpose of limiting wastes. Finally school curricula should be adjusted such that they inform learners about waste management from early ages.
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Mandiwana, Charity Mashudu. "Factors influencing household solid waste management practices at Ha-Mandiwana Village, Makhado Municipality, South Africa." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11602/845.
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Tshivhase, Shonisani Elizabeth. "Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding solids household waste management in Tshisahulu Community of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province." Diss., 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11602/315.
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Maluleke, Prudence Hlamarisa. "A review of solid waste management practices in Polokwane City." Diss., 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13385.
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Bibliographical refernces appear at the end of each chapterThis study reviews solid waste management practices in Polokwane City. The study area covered some of the residential areas in Polokwane City; namely; Ivy Park, Fauna Park, Welgelegen, Westernburg and the City Centre. This article describes two main methods that were used to collect data; that is Qualitative and Quantitative method. Field survey was also made to validate data obtained from the participants that were interviewed during qualitative data process. After framing the problem, the objectives of Solid Waste Management Practices in Polokwane City were briefly outlined as follows: • Assess solid waste management practices in Polokwane City. • Make comparison on how households and the municipality take responsibility in storing, collecting, transporting, treating and disposing solid waste. • Investigate what problems the City encounters in managing solid waste. • Make relevant recommendations aimed at improving solid waste management practices within the City. The service management was administered by the municipality and private sector. From the five study residential areas, the Municipality manages waste in the City Centre while the private sector manages waste in the other residential areas. However, the City continues to play an administrative role over the contracted service provider. Statistical results were presented in figures and tables. The results showed the storage habits, frequency of collection, mode of transport and methods of disposal for solid waste in Polokwane City. The only method of disposal in the city was found to be landfilling. Activities that took place at the landfill site, such as reclaiming were outlined together with the economic values that these activities add to the City. The study also revealed that as population increases, the amount of solid waste generated also increased.
Environmental Sciences
M. Sc. (Environmental Management)
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Khumalo, Sabelo A. "Environmental impact of household solid waste disposal practices on plant growth in rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal : a case study of uThukela District Municipality." Diss., 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/22175.
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The absence or unavailability of solid waste disposal facilities and service in rural areas of the UThukela District Municipality (UTDM) compelled residents to adopt many disposal practices. This included open burning of waste, which leaves residues in the form of waste ashes. Some heavy metal and hazardous substances remain active in these waste ashes. In this study, the impact of Solid Waste Disposal Practices (SWDP) on the environment was investigated by evaluating the effect of waste ashes on plant growth. The research was directed towards the evaluation of the environmental impact of solid waste disposal practices by households in these rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), on the growth of Zea Mays (Maize) plants. Rural maize farmers dominate the district of UTDM because it is a good agricultural area with great potential for high rainfall in summer, moderate temperatures, good soil and moderate slopes. The method selected to achieve research objectives was the evaluation of the influence of waste ashes, as by-products of SWDP, on plant growth. This was achieved by, determining soil fertility; collecting household solid waste from different rural families to determine the composition (including already burnt ash, plastic ash and wood ash; analysing the chemical composition of traditional ashes collected from sites where it was burnt (waste ashes); applying the evaporation pan test; mixing waste ashes and other additives with soil in planting pots in equal parts; planting Zea Mays in winter and summer; and lastly, monitoring and measuring agronomic parameters of plant growth on a regular basis. The selected additives to the in situ soil were fertilizer, compost, waste ash, plastic ash and wood ash. Pots with soil only (no additive added) served as control. The findings revealed that plants exposed to wood, waste and plastic ash struggled to grow when compared to plants grown with fertilizer, compost and soil only. The impact of all waste ashes on plant growth was negative in both seasons and some of the agronomic parameters were unable to sprout during the course of plant growth. The chemicals found after analysing the waste ashes included some of the heavy metals that remained active after burning. These were left behind in the environment. Consequently, it was concluded that household solid waste disposal practices in rural areas should be reviewed urgently, as they affect plant growth negatively. Recommendations were provided.Environmental Sciences
M. Sc. (Environmental Science)
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Zheng, Meris. "A critical analysis of current practices in the treatment of household food waste in Australia: strategic and technical improvements within a Micro Circular Economics (MCE) context." Thesis, 2020. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/42169/.
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Food waste (FW), generated from the point of production to the dinner table, represents approximately one third of all the food produced worldwide. It is estimated that more than 95% of household food waste (HFW) goes to landfill and is the major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from such sites, with other environmental impacts such as pollution of groundwater. There are also significant costs involved with the management of FW worldwide. These issues are compounded by increasing urban populations and there is an urgent need to better address the management and disposal/treatment of FW generally - and HFW in particular. In order to achieve this, more research is urgently needed to obtain specific information on the details of HFW management and on the development of appropriate technologies that are consistent with a micro circular economic (MCE) approach. To this end, an extensive review of HFW management and technology worldwide has been conducted.
Together with the above information, in collaboration with three local Councils, research has been undertaken with respect to the Melbourne metropolitan area specifically that involves the design and implementation of a strategy to survey residents across three different well-defined dwelling types, in order to obtain detailed information on their household management and disposal of domestic food waste. Thus, an extensive survey has been designed and conducted that separately targets residents of detached houses, semi-detached/low-rise and high-rise dwellings. This survey has revealed differences in HFW management, attitudes and practices, that that depend on dwelling type - and that also provide important general information and data that has informed the subsequent design, construction and testing of a miniaturized anaerobic-digestion (AD) pilot-plant. This information is of both a qualitative and quantitative nature. For example, it is important to know both the nature and the quantity of the food waste generated as well as residents’ attitudes towards disposal and treatment. The designed and constructed pilot plant is meant to serve as a prototype for the on-site treatment of HFW that will produce biogas for domestic consumption. An ultimate goal here is to utilize HFW to supplement a household’s gas supply and at the same time remove the necessity of sending HFW to landfill.
Thus the pilot-plant experimental program has collected and analysed replicate temporal data on the effect on biogas (CH4) production of parameters such as household food waste composition and quantity (as informed by the survey) and texture, the nature of the inoculate, operating conditions such as pH and temperature, oxygen infiltration and fatty acid production - as well as design aspects such as the footprint, the number of tanks and the required control equipment. In terms of biogas yield, a multiple tank set-up has been found to be superior to a single tank set-up and an important aspect has been found to be an appropriate mixing of food waste substrate between AD tanks that results in an increased biogas yield.
In summary, the combination of an extensive targeted survey of HFW management in the Melbourne metropolitan area, coupled with the design and trialling of a potential household pilot plant for the on-site generation of biogas, has yielded valuable information that will eventually result in a commercially viable product.
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Kadyamadare, Grace Alice Rudo. "Assessment of waste separation at source by residential households as a tool for sustainable waste practices: a case study of the City of Johannesburg." Thesis, 2017. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/24987.
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A research report presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Science at the
University of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg, August 2017.In Johannesburg, as in many cities of developing countries, municipal solid waste management poses a key challenge to local city governments. The amount of municipal solid waste generated has been noted to be growing in tandem with increasing city populations. This Masters Research Report focuses on the factors shaping participation in the separation at source (S@S) programme run by Johannesburg’s Pikitup waste management utility, with a particular focus on the role of residents’ conceptualization of waste. The research employed a qualitative comparative case study of two suburbs that were part of Pikitup’ first pilot S@S programme, which was conducted by the Waterval depot: the low income area of Newlands, and the high income area of Franklin Roosevelt Park. Twenty semi-structured interviews and one focus group interview were conducted in each of the suburbs, as well as three semistructured interviews with key informants. Findings were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The results indicate several differences between the two suburbs – including participation rates, conceptualization of waste and other factors shaping wasting practices. The research showed that conceptualization of waste is an important factor, but not the only one and affirmed other studies showing the importance of time, convenience and positive attitude towards recycling. The research found that in addition to their conceptualization of waste, the ways in which residents conceptualized recyclables affected their participation rates, and that their separation practices were aligned to their conceptualizations. In addition, the research found that residents’ conceptualization of recyclables and the recycling system played an important role in their decision to participate in Pikitup’ S@S programme. In Newlands, whilst some separated but due to their low incomes they sold it for themselves versus giving it to Pikitup, and others would not separate as they felt Pikitup should pay them or it was time consuming for them. In both suburbs those that understood the role of waste pickers chose to separate their waste for the waste pickers versus Pikitup. In conclusion, when we understand that residents participating in separating materials for different pathways, and waste pickers play an important role in separating at source when residents fail to do so then a better understanding of how much waste is being separated and diverted from landfills is obtained in addition to what motivates participation in separation. Keywords: municipal solid waste (MSW), resident households, conceptualization of waste, separation at source, wasting practices, waste picker
LG2018