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Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Waste and Recycling".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (11 October 2024) | Viewed by 19999

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ioannis Vardopoulos

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Guest Editor

1. School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics, Harokopio University (HUA), 17676 Kallithea, Attica, Greece
2. Department of Economic and Regional Development, Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), 33100 Amfissa, Greece
Interests: sustainable urban development; applied sustainability; circular economy; environmental management; waste management
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent studies have provided strong evidence that the public's fundamental misunderstanding of waste reduction and prevention is a significant obstacle to promoting a critically needed circular economy in terms of waste reduction and reuse practices. Researchers, policymakers, and practitioners should educate metropolises’ consumers together to inspire them to go beyond recycling and make decisions that minimize the environmental effect of their initial purchases.

Amid the steady improvements at the EU—and beyond—governmental level on waste prevention and management, steps to bring down resource use and exploitation are vital. In this regard, the European Union (EU) has taken significant steps towards promoting a circular economy and reducing waste through its policies and strategies. The EU's Circular Economy Action Plan is a key component of the EU Green Deal, which sets out a comprehensive plan aimed at making the EU's economy sustainable and reducing its carbon footprint, with the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Despite these efforts, there is still much work to be carried out to realize this “vision”. This Special Issue aims to reveal key insights about the public's waste prevention knowledge gaps and attitudes toward waste by putting together quantitative surveys, focus groups, ethnographic studies, waste compositional or life cycle analyses, multi-criteria decision-making approaches, and bibliographical reviews and analyses. By highlighting the EU's efforts in this area, we hope to spark a productive discussion and prompt urgent policy-wise action for circular economy and sustainable urban development through waste management and sustainable consumption among researchers, policy-makers, and behavior-change practitioners.

We invite all interested parties to debate and share evidence to take this evolving agenda forward. Together, we can work towards a more sustainable future for all.

References:

Vardopoulos, I.; Konstantopoulos, I.; Zorpas, A.A.; Limousi, L.; Bennici, S.; Inglezakis, V.; Voukkali, I. Sustainable metropolitan areas perspectives through assessment of the existing waste management strategies. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2021, 28, 24305–24320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07930-1.
Voukkali, I.; Loizia, P.; Navarro Pedreño, J.; Zorpas, A.A. Urban strategies evaluation for waste management in coastal areas in the framework of area metabolism. Waste Manag. Res. J. A Sustain. Circ. Econ. 2021, 39, 448–465. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X20972773.
Moustairas, I.; Vardopoulos, I.; Kavouras, S.; Salvati, L.; Zorpas, A.A. Exploring factors that affect public acceptance of establishing an urban environmental education and recycling center. Sustain. Chem. Pharm. 2022, 25, 100605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2022.100605.
Rodríguez-Espinosa, T.; Navarro-Pedreño, J.; Gómez-Lucas, I.; Jordán-Vidal, M.M.; Bech-Borras, J.; Zorpas, A.A. Urban areas, human health and technosols for the green deal. Environ. Geochem. Health 2021, 43, 5065–5086. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-00953-8.
Abeliotis, K.; Chroni, C.; Lasaridi, K.; Terzis, E.; Galliou, F.; Manios, T. Environmental impact assessment of a solar drying unit for the transformation of food waste into animal feed. Resources 2022, 11, 117. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources11120117.

Dr. Ioannis Vardopoulos
Guest Editor

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Keywords

circular and bio-based economy
cross-disciplinary sustainable development
social assessment
solid waste
food waste
urban resilience

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Barriers to the Effective Implementation of Integrated Waste Management Plans in Developing Economies: Lessons Learned from South African Municipalities

by Phathutshedzo Mukwevho, Prince Radzuma and Claudine Roos

Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9643; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229643 - 5 Nov 2024

Viewed by 794

Abstract

Solid waste management poses a significant challenge globally, especially in developing economies, where increasing waste generation and ineffective management measures are common. Municipalities, responsible for managing waste, often struggle to provide efficient services. To address this, local governments implement policy tools like the Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMPs), which aim to improve waste management. Despite the existence of such policies, waste pollution continues to rise in countries like South Africa. The purpose of this study is to explore the barriers to the effective implementation of IWMPs, focusing on the Makhado Local Municipality (MLM) in South Africa. Using a qualitative approach, interviews, document reviews, and observations were conducted with stakeholders, targeting 23 participants, of which 15 contributed. Our findings highlight several key barriers, including lack of monitoring, political interference, corruption, insufficient budgeting, poor infrastructure maintenance, lack of skilled personnel, and inadequate community education. These challenges hinder the successful implementation of IWMPs in the MLM. Our study further identified several opportunities at the MLM and general strengths and threats using a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy)

21 pages, 2977 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

by Katerina Synani, Konstadinos Abeliotis, Kelly Velonia, Angeliki Maragkaki, Thrassyvoulos Manios and Katia Lasaridi

Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5529; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135529 - 28 Jun 2024

Viewed by 4247

Abstract

Plastic generation exacerbates the challenge of solid waste management. Moreover, plastics emit substantial amounts of microplastics, which infiltrate the environment and food chain, posing significant environmental risks. Compounded by their production from fossil fuels, such as crude oil and natural gas, plastics present a formidable environmental concern. As a result, bioplastics are an attractive alternative to fossil-based plastics since they use renewable energy sources, aim to alleviate worries about reliance on fossil fuels, and are biodegradable, further enhancing their environmental appeal. Along similar lines, the utilization of food waste to produce bioplastics is attracting international interest. The current study presents the results of a life cycle assessment conducted on bioplastic production from food waste, carried out in a pilot-scale reactor located in Greece. The objective was to ascertain the comparative sustainability of recovering food waste for bioplastic production versus utilizing cultivable raw materials. To this end, an equivalent amount of polylactic acid was produced from corn. The findings revealed a reduction in climate change, eutrophication, and ecotoxicity as a result of the study process. Despite these environmental benefits, the study highlighted that energy consumption throughout the process poses a significant environmental burden. This aspect calls for attention and modification to enhance the entire sustainability of the process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy)

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14 pages, 3556 KiB

Open AccessArticle

One Year of Mandatory Reusable Packaging in Germany: Opportunities and Obstacles from the Perspective of Consumers and Companies

by Klara Theobald, Anne Mich, Stefanie Hillesheim, Susanne Hartard and Holger Rohn

Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5439; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135439 - 26 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1609

Abstract

Since the beginning of 2023, the so-called reusable packaging obligation has been in place in Germany in order to reduce the amount of waste from takeaway packaging. Catering companies will then be obliged to offer reusable packaging as an alternative to disposable plastic takeaway packaging. As part of the pilot project ‘Mehrweg Modell Stadt’ (‘Reusable city model’), an open infrastructure for reusable cups is in trial in Mainz and Wiesbaden. The project was subjected to a scientific monitoring process, which included the implementation of quantitative surveys among various stakeholders within the value chain, namely consumers, catering companies, and other companies engaged in the project. This was conducted over two time periods: August 2023 to September 2023, and February to March 2024. The results show a discrepancy between consumers’ attitudes and their actual behavior: Despite a high level of sustainability awareness and perceived positive benefits of reusable packaging, perceived barriers stand in the way of actual use. The biggest challenges for companies are the lack of consumer demand, practical handling and hygiene requirements. The results of this quantitative social research provide important insights for the development of targeted measures to promote the use of reusable packaging in takeaway catering and contribute to the discussion on closing the attitude–behavior gap along the entire value chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy)

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25 pages, 7006 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Green University Practices through Effective Waste Management Strategies

by Julalak Phrophayak, Rapeepat Techarungruengsakul, Mathinee Khotdee, Sattawat Thuangchon, Ratsuda Ngamsert, Haris Prasanchum, Ounla Sivanpheng and Anongrit Kangrang

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3346; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083346 - 16 Apr 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2061

Abstract

The continuity of activities and projects is important for sustainably developing organizations, especially universities. The purpose of this study is to establish university development guidelines regarding waste management according to the green university ranking criteria for sustainable development by studying and collecting the data for Mahasarakham University covering the last five years (2019–2023). We also analyzed and synthesized lessons learned from the details of the operations and the factors involved in the university’s successes while comparing and providing suggestions for its operations in the coming year. This study found that effective waste management led to continuous improvements that achieved the goals of Mahasarakham University. These consisted of five guidelines, as follows: (1) making green university policies and using them as a KPI (key performance index) of the administrative divisions and also announcing the university’s waste management policies by applying the principles of 3R (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle); (2) allocating budgets supporting the projects’ activities according to the evaluation criteria; (3) driving operations through student and personnel participation as well as the mechanisms used by the committees from various administrative divisions, such as the Student Council, the Student Association and clubs; (4) identifying the main responsible individuals and committees for the green university who communicate and drive the operations while collecting, analyzing and preparing the data; and (5) performing follow-ups and evaluations of the project’s activities with the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) processes, facilitating continuous and sustainable developments and improvements leading to a green university. With the above operations, Mahasarakham University’s waste management scores for the six indices during the period 2019–2023 increased annually as follows: 900, 900, 1050, 1275 and 1350. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy)

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17 pages, 859 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Internet Use Narrow the Gap between Farmers’ Willingness and Behavior in Waste Classification? Empirical Evidence from Rural Areas in Jiangsu Province, China

by Wenchao Cui, Yanjun Chen and Hengyuan Zeng

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2726; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072726 - 26 Mar 2024

Viewed by 867

Abstract

Household waste classification and treatment are important for environmental protection and sustainable development. The Logit model is used to analyze differences in farmers’ willingness and behavior regarding waste classification based on data from the China Land Economic Survey. Key findings include the following: (1) There is an evident discrepancy between waste classification willingness and action among rural residents. Despite nearly 90% of the sampled farmers expressing a willingness, nearly 40% do not practice waste classification. (2) Internet usage significantly reduces the discrepancy between farmers’ willingness and actual waste classification practices. This observation is valid even after robustness checks and endogeneity discussions. (3) There is a partial mediating effect between ecological awareness and knowledge perception on farmers’ willingness and behavior differences, which accounts for 12.9% and 52.6%, respectively, of the total impact. Notably, institutional limitations amplify the negative influence of Internet use on this discrepancy. (4) According to heterogeneity analysis, Internet use has a greater negative impact on farmers’ willingness and behavior in waste classification in suburban villages and villages with environmental governance projects. This study proposes policy suggestions such as strengthening the construction of digital infrastructure in rural areas, enhancing the promotion and training of waste classification among farmers, and improving incentives and restraint mechanisms for rural household waste classification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy)

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26 pages, 1285 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Medical Waste Management Using an Intuitionistic Fuzzy-Based Decision Support System

by Konstantinos Kokkinos, Evangelia Lakioti, Konstantinos Moustakas, Constantinos Tsanaktsidis and Vayos Karayannis

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010298 - 28 Dec 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2480

Abstract

The growing urban population and increased use of healthcare services have brought significant attention to the safe and sustainable management of medical waste. Selecting the proper technology in medical waste management (MWM) represents one of the most critical challenges for decision-makers to ensure public health. In order to evaluate and choose the best MWM methodology, the current research provides a novel multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) strategy for a variety of social stakeholders, to compute criteria weights, decision-making weights, and alternative ranking algorithms. The suggested structure addresses uncertain assessments of alternatives by extending weighting and ranking methods to acquire the decision-making weight and rank the MWM alternatives based on uncertain conditions. It also uses ‘intuitionistic fuzzy’ linguistic variables to indicate criteria weights. To assess all the factors pertaining to the sustainability of MWM actions, this study suggests the creation of a decision support system (DSS). Our DSS is built upon a novel strategy that utilizes a collection of MCDM models that are grounded on contemporary intuitionistic fuzzy logic methodologies. Alternative scenarios have been assessed for the instance of Greece, after specialists in the healthcare management field imposed 17 criteria and sub-criteria. The IF-MCDM methodologies used were the Intuitionistic Fuzzy DEMATEL, TOPSIS, and CORPAS. The alternative scenarios ranged from the prioritizing of safety laws and regulations to public acceptance and awareness, with the handling of hazardous risks and transportation playing a crucial part in the process. All ensemble methods produced the same ranking of the alternatives, demonstrating that safety and risk avoidance is the most significant scenario for sustainable urban development and public health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy)

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18 pages, 3267 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Biodegradability of Polylactic Acid and Compostable Bags from Food Waste under Industrial Composting

by Angeliki Maragkaki, Nikitas G. Malliaros, Ioannis Sampathianakis, Theofanis Lolos, Christos Tsompanidis and Thrassyvoulos Manios

Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15963; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215963 - 15 Nov 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2225

Abstract

To reduce plastic pollution, biodegradable plastics have been introduced to the market to replace petroleum-based plastics. This work investigates the biodegradation/disintegration of pure poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA_B2B), composed of food waste (FW), and PLLA_B2B bags, under industrial composting conditions, in order to determine whether they are compostable and to examine compost quality. In order to study the biodegradation, pure PLLA_B2B was degraded in laboratory conditions and bag samples were put into simulation systems using windrow technology. Phytotoxicity tests were carried out for every compost sample and high germination values were found (97–103.8%). The pure PLLA reached an average biodegradation value of 100.2 ± 3.7% and a disintegration value of 100.0 ± 0.0%, resulting in biodegradable mature compost. After a seven week composting trial, the bag samples had fully decomposed. The samples had no influence on compost characteristics and there were no visually perceptible changes to the compost. Therefore, we suggest that food waste bioplastic can be used as a potential eco-material for compostable bags, one which could be used in industrial composting units and which offers degradable active materials with low environmental impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy)

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Review

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23 pages, 1279 KiB

Open AccessReview

Legal Barriers in Sustainable Agriculture: Valorization of Agri-Food Waste and Pesticide Use Reduction

by Rosalinda Nicastro, Mattia Papale, Giovanna Marta Fusco, Annalinda Capone, Biagio Morrone and Petronia Carillo

Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8677; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198677 - 8 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1328

Abstract

The transition to sustainability in agriculture faces significant challenges, especially to balance environmental goals with the practical demands of food production. This paper examines two different case studies that reveal the complexities of agricultural regulation. The first case focuses on the valorization of agri-food residual biomasses, highlighting the potential to transform food waste into valuable bioproducts such as bioenergy and biofertilizers. Despite the clear environmental and economic benefits, the absence of specific European regulations hinders the widespread adoption of these practices. Without clear rules for achieving “end-of-waste” status, the development and marketing of bio-based products remain restricted. The second case study examines the European Union’s unsuccessful effort to implement the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR), which aimed to reduce pesticide use by 50% by 2030. Although the regulation sought to align agricultural practices with the EU’s Green Deal, it triggered widespread protests from farmers concerned about the potential economic losses and decreased productivity. These two cases, one showing under-regulation and the other over-regulation, highlight the need for balanced and practical regulatory frameworks that promote sustainability without imposing unrealistic demands on stakeholders. This paper ends with recommendations to harmonize regulations across Europe, ensuring that both innovation in agricultural waste management and practical pesticide reduction strategies are implemented in a way that supports farmers and producers, minimizing economic disruptions and encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy)

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17 pages, 2798 KiB

Open AccessReview

Examining the Drivers to Support Improved Construction and Demolition Waste Management for a Circular Economy: A Comprehensive Review Using a Systematic Approach

by Mahmoud Alhawamdeh, Juan A. Ferriz-Papi and Angela Lee

Sustainability 2024, 16(14), 6014; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16146014 - 14 Jul 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1485

Abstract

With the rapid pace of global urbanisation, construction demolition waste (CDW) constitutes roughly 36% of the total solid waste deposited in landfill sites worldwide, thereby posing a significant challenge to the sustainability of the construction industry. To address this issue, circular economy strategies are proposed as a solution. This paper systematically analyses 55 research articles published in leading peer-reviewed English-language scholarly journals over the past decade. It aims to identify and categorise drivers for enhanced CDW management by synthesising findings from previous research to support the principles of a circular economy. Utilising a PESTLE model for classification and analysis provides valuable insights into disparities and distinctions among categories, regions, and countries. The resulting analysis yields valuable insights into enablers and trends, with the aim of making a substantial contribution to mitigating the impact of construction activities and thus fostering the establishment of an efficient circular economy within the sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy)

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Other

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8 pages, 419 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Investigation and Suggestions regarding Residents’ Understanding of Waste Classification in Chinese Prefecture-Level Cities—A Case Study of Maanshan City, Anhui Province, China

by Shangjie Ge-Zhang, Taoyang Cai, Zhitao Hu, Haotong Zhu, Pingxuan Mu and Jingang Cui

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11124; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411124 - 17 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1452

Abstract

The implementation of waste-sorting policy is conducive to improving residents’ working and living environments, and has positive implications for promoting green development and building in China. As one of the main factors in the implementation of waste-sorting policy, residents’ awareness of and behavior regarding waste sorting and disposal affects its promotion, while policies, incentives and infrastructure will affect residents’ enthusiasm for implementing waste sorting. Taking Maanshan City in Anhui Province as a case study, this paper discusses the current state of progress towards ecological civilization in China; the influence of policy promotion on residents’ perception of it; the correlation between residents’ age and their understanding of waste classification; and the correlation between residents’ enthusiasm, policies and green infrastructure; and puts forward some suggestions for how to enhance green infrastructure and improve residents’ perceptions of waste classification in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management Policy for Sustainable (Peri-)Urban Development and the Circular Economy)

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