Public acceptance towards plastic waste-to-energy gasification projects: The role of social trust and health consciousness.

Public acceptance plays an essential role in successfully constructing and operating innovative and evolving technologies that promote ecological sustainability and pollution reduction. The present study investigates the factors influencing public acceptance of plastic waste-to-energy gasification projects. The research added social trust and health consciousness to the theory of planned behavior. Using the structural equation modeling, 513 valid survey questionnaire responses from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China, were analyzed. The most notable results reveal that attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control have a major impact on the public acceptability of the initiative. There was no correlation between social trust and public support for the project. Social trust affects public acceptance of the project through attitude. Health consciousness was shown to be favorably connected with public approval of the project both directly and indirectly through attitude. This study serves policymakers and stakeholders with robust policy recommendations to promote public acceptance of plastic waste-to-energy gasification schemes and other hazardous facilities.

Assessing the economic and ecological viability of generating electricity from oil derived from pyrolysis of plastic waste in China.

The increased plastic waste generation worldwide poses ponderous issues for public health and the environment. China is the highest generator of plastic waste around the world. The current treatment process (incineration) of the increased plastic waste causes dangerous environmental consequences. Pyrolysis has recently surfaced as an ecologically friendly technique for energy and material recovery from plastic waste. The present study assesses the financial and ecological viability of power production from oil derived from the pyrolysis of mixed plastic wastes in China from 2009 to 2028. The prominent findings show that the amount of plastic waste collected in 2020 (24.16 Mt) increased by 53.19% in 2028.The pyrolysis of mixed plastic wastes during the project period yielded 359.29 Mt oil, which has a power potential of 1,060.86 GWh. The economic analysis indicated the project is viable and profitable with a positive net present value (US$8.80 million) and profitability index (1.26) greater than 1. The project has 10.6 y payback period, US$0.0752/kWh levelized cost of energy, 22.5% return on investment, and 13.0% internal rate of return. The life cycle assessment results show that conversion of mixed plastic waste to pyrolysis oil for electricity generation during the project period has a total global warming potential (GWP) of 1,311.4 kt CO2eq. The GWP is mainly from conversion of pyrolysis oil to electricity (73.42%), pyrolysis oil production (15.01%) and upgrading of pyrolysis oil (11.38%). The consumption of power from the project could avoid the combustion of 2,659.0 t coal, minimizing global warming by 11,278.8 kt CO2eq. Sensitivity analysis, which examines the influence of variation in sensitive factors on the success of the project, is presented. This paper provides scientific strategies for optimal investment and decision-making on the environmental sustainability of plastic waste-to-energy pyrolysis projects.

Curbing vehicular urban pollution in China: Investigating the usage intentionof public electric buses.

Public electric bus (PEB) usage remains critical in reducing carbon emissions, traffic congestion, energy consumption, resource exhaustion, and environmental pollution. PEB usage revolves around consumer acceptance, and assessing the psychological factors accounting for using PEBs is essential in mitigating these challenges for a sustainable environment. The study extends the reasoned action theory (TRA) with environmental awareness, convenience, and personal norms in investigating residents' intention to use electric buses in Nanjing, China. 405 responses were gathered through an online survey and evaluated using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Statistical analysis showed that the structural model (66.4%) explained public electric bus use better than the original TRA model (20.7%). Attitude, subjective norms, personal norms, environmental awareness, and convenience directly influenced the intention to use PEBs. Personal norms related to attitude positively. Environmental awareness related to personal norms in PEB use. Subjective norms partially mediated the impact of personal norms on the intention to use PEBs. Convenience moderated the interaction between personal norms and intention to use PEBs. Respondents differed in income level, educational level, and employment but not gender in their inclinations to use PEBs. The current study recommends potent policy implications to enhance and ensure the maximum use of PEBs.

Renewable energy demand, financial reforms, and environmental quality in West Africa.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-7) stipulates the need for clean energy, reduced carbon dioxide emissions, prevention of environmental degradation, promotion of biodiversity, and ecosystem preservation. Toward achieving these goals, this study provides new evidence on the causal link between renewable energy demand, financial reforms, economic growth, foreign direct investment, and environmental quality among emerging West African economies. The study adopted the fully modified ordinary least squares, dynamic ordinary least squares, pooled mean group estimation, and Granger causality test for its analysis. It was found that renewable energy demand has been favorable to the environmental health of West African economies. Also, financial reforms made within the region contributed to increasing the ecological footprints of the region. Direct investments from foreigners showed encouraging results as they improved the quality of the environment. We also found a unidirectional causality from ecological footprints to renewable energy demand and financial reforms but a bidirectional relationship with economic growth and foreign direct investment. Moreover, it was evident that ecological footprints Granger cause financial reforms and economic growth but not vice versa. Policy recommendations outlined encourage governments and policymakers to embark on intensive clean energy technologies and effective green financial reforms to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

Thermochemical treatment of daily COVID-19 single-use facemask waste: Power generation potential and environmental impact analysis.

The utilization of single-use face masks as the standard PPE to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased facemask waste. Improper management of the increased facemask waste has a consequential environmental impact. This requires swift actions to invest and implement innovative technologies to manage single-use facemask waste. Thermochemical treatment of disposable face masks could minimize COVID-19 plastic waste and produce value-added products. The present study evaluates the power generation potential and environmental impact of treating estimated daily single-use facemask waste in Africa and Asia via incineration. The environmental assessment was expressed as global warming potential and acidification potential. The formulation of the model equations method was used to estimate the power generation potential. The IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventory methodology and EPA "compilation of air pollutant emissions factors" (AP-42) were used to compute greenhouse and acid gases. The key findings show that the daily single-use facemask waste produced in Asia was 19.12 million kg/day, generating 32.65 million kWh/day of electricity. In Africa, 3.53 million kg/day of single-use facemask waste was produced, generating 6.03 million kWh/day of power. The results also show Asia's total global warming potential was 787,097.6 kt CO2eq/day, and 145,687.7 kt CO2eq/day was recorded in Africa. Besides, the total daily acidification potential of the incineration process in Asia was 7,078,904 kg SO2eq/day, while that in Africa was 1,308,362 kg SO2eq/day. This study will provide scientific guidance for environmental sustainability for treating single-use facemask waste via incineration technology for power generation.

The potential energy and environmental benefits of global recyclable resources.

Globally, the production of vast volumes of municipal solid waste impacts public health and the climate. Greening the solid waste sector could contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, this study assessed how the potential electricity and environmental benefits of recycling paper and plastic wastes could contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. The study used model equations methods to estimate the electricity consumption, diesel consumption, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions saved due to recycling. The key findings show that the 132.4 thousand toe/day of electricity saved globally in 2012 soared to 182.3 thousand toe/day in 2025. In 2012 and 2025, an average of 63.6% of electricity was saved. Globally, recycling saved a record of 1.4 million ktons CO2eq/day of GHG emissions in 2012 and 1.9 million ktons CO2eq/day in 2025. It was further realized that the overall volume of diesel fuel saved in 2012 grew from 511,146 to 703,887 million Liters/day in 2025, representing a rise of 37.7%. The sensitivity analysis shows an increase in the waste collection rate, the fraction of paper waste, the fraction of plastic waste, and the recycling rate in 2025 will boost recyclable resources' energy and environmental benefits. The findings of this study could offer scientific guidance for the achievement of the SDGs related to solid waste recycling and management.

Assessment of the potential energy and environmental benefits of solid waste recycling in China.

Countries worldwide consider solid waste collection and recycling necessary due to the recent emphasis on conservation of resources and environmental protection. Due to the constraints from resource depletion and the need for sustainable economic growth, solid waste recycling has become a critical issue in China. Several indigenous researchers in China have studied the potential benefits of solid waste recycling. However, most studies limited the environmental assessment of solid waste recycling to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and considered only one type of solid waste (paper or plastic). Therefore, the present study analyzed the energy (electricity) and environmental (GHG and air pollutant emissions) benefits of recycling steel, nonferrous metal, plastic, and paper wastes from 2005 to 2017 in China. The study used the formulation of model equations method to estimate the electrical energy and environmental benefits. Prominent findings show that the total amount of electricity saved by recycling solid waste from 2005 to 2017 was 3743.3 Mtce. On average, solid waste recycling during the period led to a 43.2% saving on electricity. Solid waste recycling avoided 4765.9 billion kg of carbon dioxide emission and 22.502 billion kg of methane emission. It was also found that the recycling of solid waste saved a total amount of 10,669.8 M kg of NOX emission but had a burden of -6263.2 M kg of VOCs emission on the environment. Solid waste recycling avoided the emission of CO2, CH4, NOX, and SOX, but the recycling of steel, plastics, and paper waste had negative impacts on the environment in terms of VOCs and PM emissions. Proper measures such as installing air pollution control devices should be put in place to minimize the emission of pollutants during the recycling of these solid wastes.

Environmental impact analysis of municipal solid waste incineration in African countries.

Globally, proper management of solid waste has been a massive issue. Incineration is popularly used in waste treatment worldwide due to its ability to minimize waste volume and generate electricity. Despite its advantages, incineration of waste can still generate large amounts of flue gas, which can be harmful if not handled properly. Therefore, the present study seeks to examine the environmental consequences of incineration in Africa. The study used the most accurate secondary data on the municipal solid waste incineration in 56 African countries from literature for the analysis. Due to data availability, the years 2012 and 2025 are considered for the study. The environmental analysis was based on global warming, acidification, and dioxin emission potentials. The emission of greenhouse gases from the incineration plant was estimated based on the method from the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. The acid gases and dioxins emissions were evaluated based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency "Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors" (Acidification Potential-42). Key findings show that the global warming potential of Seychelles is expected to decline from 200.10 kton CO2eq to 196.18 kton CO2eq in 2025, while that of Saint Helena will be constant at 7.85 kton CO2eq. The study found that except for Seychelles and Saint Helena, the global warming potential of incineration projects in all the countries is expected to increase in 2025 compared to 2012. It was realized that the acidification potential of the project in 2012 ranges from 740.56 kg SO2eq to 4,297,839.96 kg SO2eq, and that of 2025 is expected to be from 740.56 kg SO2eq to 9,449,175.32 kg SO2eq. The results further indicate that South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Nigeria have higher dioxin emission potential in 2012 and 2025 compared to other countries in this study. This study will guide decision-making on the environmental sustainability of waste-to-energy incineration projects in Africa.