Learning objectives
This course is offered for the free choice of the student with the goal of completing the training on solid waste management. The specific objectives are:
to classify wastes according to the current regulations, product characteristics and toxicological features;
to learn about solid waste handling and management
to identify the best treatment solution among recovery, reuse, recycling, landfill disposal, thermal treatments (incineration and pyrolysis) with associated environmental risks.
All objectives contribute to the formation of skills and operational abilities.
Prerequisites
Background in basic and applied ecology and legislation
Course unit content
This course has mainly a technical and is divided into four parts.
The first presents the classification of solid waste.
In the second part municipal solid waste are considered with reference to composition, collection and treatment.
The third part presents the main techniques of treatment, re-use and recycling.
The fourth part consists of a visit to a facility for the collection and treatment of solid wastes.
Full programme
Classification of solid waste. Composition, sampling and analysis. Production of municipal solid waste. Waste handling (collection, selection, transport, storage). Landfills. Mode of construction; safety, hazards (biochemical processes, leachate composition and biogas emission). Heat treatment: incineration, types of systems, energy recovery, characterization and control of solid and gaseous effluents. Pyrolysis and gasification. Sorting and recovery. Production of compost. Production of refuse derived fuel (RDF). Quantity, quality and potential use of recycled products. Legislation.
Visit to plant/facilities for handling and processing solid wastes
Bibliography
Theacher notes that are made available in electronic format
Teaching methods
Lectures on solid waste classification and management, collection, recovery, reuse, recycling and disposal (60%).
Visit and activities in a facility for solid waste tretmanet (40%)
Assessment methods and criteria
At the end of the course students acquired skills that enable them to identify the best solution for solid waste management. The preparation is assessed with a written report dealing with a topic assigned by the teacher, that is presented (e.g. power point presentation) and defended. The final assessment is based on the scientific content (50%), presentation quality (25%) and discussion capacity (25%).
Other information
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