Municipal solid waste management instruments that influence the use of the refuse as fuel in developing countries: A critical review.

Landfills are the destination of most of the refuse generated whereas composting, material recycling, and Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies are not commonly employed in developing countries. However, the destination for energy purposes could be supplied with this refuse, improving the viability of energy use. Thus, this article raises some questions to identify aspects that could encourage its use as refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in these countries. Among them, does environmental education affect the municipal solid waste (MSW) source separation with emphasis on a destination? Can selective collection and extended producer responsibility (EPR) affect the MSW for energy recovery? Is there competition between the recycling market and the energy market for RDF? A systematic review of the literature was conducted to gather data and provide answers to such questions. This enabled to observe that EPR, selective collect expansion and source separation influence the quantity and quality of waste sent for energy use. Both internal and external factors impact on source separation. Additionally, there is evidence to support that despite several studies showing their technical, economic, environmental and social viability, the methods of energy usage of the refuse still need to improve their deployment in developing countries. In addition to identifying the main research gaps to be filled in future studies, the article also identified the instruments of MSW management that are to be applied in developing countries to divert recyclable and organic waste from landfill.

A method of Mapping Process for scientific production using the Smart Bibliometrics.

Big data launches a modern way of producing science and research around the world. Due to an explosion of data available in scientific databases, combined with recent advances in information technology, the researcher has at his disposal new methods and technologies that facilitate scientific development. Considering the challenges of producing science in a dynamic and complex scenario, the main objective of this article is to present a method aligned with tools recently developed to support scientific production, based on steps and technologies that will help researchers to materialize their objectives efficiently and effectively. Applying this method, the researcher can apply science mapping and bibliometric techniques with agility, taking advantage of an easy-to-use solution with cloud computing capabilities. From the application of the "Scientific Mapping Process", the researcher will be able to generate strategic information for a result-oriented scientific production, assertively going through the main steps of research and boosting scientific discovery in the most diverse fields of investigation. •The Scientific Mapping Process provides a method and a system to boost scientific development.•It automates Science Mapping and bibliometric analysis from scientific datasets.•It facilitates the researcher's work, increasing the assertiveness in scientific production.

Education and training: Key solution to self-management and economic sustainability of waste pickers organisations.

Being a waste picker is not considered a profession in the eyes of society. One reason is that it does not require professional qualifications or training. Thus, most waste pickers are individuals who had difficulty entering the labour market, mainly due to low education levels. As members of waste pickers organisations (WPOs), they have difficulties in practicing self-management and, consequently, in maintaining the WPO's economic sustainability. This is a barrier to waste pickers' inclusion in the integrated solid waste management, but it can be overcome with investment in their education and professional training. However, it is not clear how this can be accomplished. This article presents guidelines for the education and training of organised waste pickers. These guidelines were developed based on socioeconomic information with a focus on education and training collected from interviews with waste pickers (n = 215) of 24 Brazilian WPOs. The potentials and vulnerabilities of this socioeconomic profile allowed the elaboration of the main following guidelines: the classroom must be the WPO itself; a mentor is needed to conduct the education and training programme using a non-formal teaching and learning method; the content should be defined collectively, based on the knowledge of the organisation's members and the daily WPO's issues. In addition to isolated actions, these guidelines should be included in public policy programmes.

Synergizing environmental, social, and economic sustainability factors for refuse derived fuel use in cement industry: A case study in Espirito Santo, Brazil.

The cement industry has been under pressure due to the environmental impact of high cement production, which demands a significant amount of energy and results in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In many developed countries, the cement industry has sought to replace conventional fossil fuels with alternatives to minimize GHG emissions; however, Brazil has underexploited this possibility. Considering the potential of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) to reduce the non-recycled waste disposed in landfills, and its suitable performance as an alternative fuel for cleaner cement production, this paper presents a reverse logistics network analysis for RDF production planning with respect to local economic incentives, social euqity and justice, pollution prevention, and global environmental concerns regarding carbon emissions reduction. The reverse logistics network involves important stakeholders related in waste management in Espirito Santo, Brazil, especially harmonizing social sustainability concerns between waste pickers' cooperatives and waste retailers. By considering the waste generated in 78 municipalities in the Espírito Santo state, the possible levels of fuel replacement in cement industries reflects the economic sustainability of the timeframe of the solid waste management policy implementation. The results showed that the RDF to be produced varies from 42,446.5 tonnes in 2024 with a small fuel replacement by cement industries, to 567,092.1 tonnes in 2040 if all non-recyclable waste available can be used to produce RDF. The avoided annual disposal costs via this network analysis vary from $3,855,412.0 in the initial years to $47,822,876.8 in the year 2040 under optimistic conditions, representing around 25% of the total cost in the network. The cost and GHG emitted reduced significantly in all simulated scenarios; however, the financial incentives are essential for achieving the network social sustainability.

Ferramenta de avaliação dos Planos Municipais de Gestão Integrada de Resíduos Sólidos: parte 1 / Assessment tool for Integrated Solid Waste Management Municipal Plans: part 1

RESUMO O gerenciamento adequado dos resíduos sólidos é um desafio para os municípios brasileiros. Considerando-se as exigências da Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS), uma etapa importante nessa adequação é a elaboração do Plano Municipal de Gestão Integrada de Resíduos Sólidos (PMGIRS). Considerando a importância deste instrumento planejador, este artigo propõe uma ferramenta de avaliação desses planos. O caminho metodológico de construção e validação se configurou em três etapas: concepção dos indicadores a partir de revisão bibliográfica e documental; validação com especialistas, em que os indicadores foram validados e os fatores de ponderação foram definidos por meio da técnica Delphi; e validação de aplicação, que consistiu na aplicação da ferramenta para avaliar o PMGIRS de seis municípios brasileiros de diferentes portes. Neste artigo serão apresentados os resultados da primeira e da segunda etapa. Os resultados da terceira etapa serão apresentados na parte 2 deste artigo. A ferramenta permite verificar o atendimento às exigências da PNRS, a qualidade dos planos, a complexidade da sua elaboração e o seu potencial de implantação e continuidade das ações estabelecidas. Com isso, espera-se minimizar a lacuna relacionada ao acompanhamento das várias etapas de implantação da PNRS.

ABSTRACT Proper management of solid waste is a challenge for Brazilian municipalities. Considering the requirements of the National Solid Waste Policy (Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos - PNRS), an important step in this adaptation is the elaboration of the Municipal Plan of Integrated Solid Waste Management (Plano Municipal de Gestão Integrada de Resíduos Sólidos - PMGIRS). Considering the importance of this planning instrument, this article proposes a tool for evaluating these plans. The methodological path of construction and validation was configured in three stages: conception of the indicators from bibliographic and documentary review; validation with experts, in which indicators were validated and weighting factors were defined using the Delphi technique; and application validation, which consisted of applying the tool to evaluate the PMGIRS of six Brazilian municipalities of different sizes. This article will present the results of the first and second stages. The results of the third stage will be presented in part 2 of this article. The tool allows to verify the fulfillment of PNRS requirements, the quality of the plans, the complexity of its elaboration, and its potential of implementation and continuity of the established actions. With this, it is expected to minimize the gap related to the monitoring of the various stages of PNRS implementation. .