Course Overview

In addition to health and safety concerns, the Planning of waste management systems must also be sustainable i.e. environmentally sound, socially acceptable and economically viable. This class introduces the tools necessary to design integral solid waste management systems. The class provides specific modeling based on life-cycle thinking towards planning of waste management systems through scenario design.

Learning Achievement

In addition to health and safety concerns, the planning of waste management systems must also be sustainable i.e. environmentally sound, socially acceptable and economically viable. This class introduces the tools necessary to design integral solid waste management systems. The class provides specific modeling based on life-cycle thinking towards planning of waste management systems through scenario design.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Clearly understand the concepts associated with integrated waste management from waste generation, collection, treatment and final disposal options
2. Design alternative integrated solid waste management scenarios based on the life cycle approach
3. Evaluate, compare and analyze alternative waste management systems in terms of their environmental, economic and social impacts.

Competence

General competence: understand the concepts associated with integrated waste management from waste generation, collection, treatment and final disposal.
Specific competence: evaluate, compare and analyze alternative waste management systems in terms of their environmental, economic and social impacts.

Course prerequisites

Grading Philosophy

Periodical assignments (30%), presentation in workshops/seminars (30%), and final test (40%)

Course schedule

Integrated solid waste management: Introduction to the hierarchy in waste management (reduce, re-use, recycle) to integrated systems (Hybrid or Others: face to face for the students in Japan and video lectures for students abroad.)
Problems and Constrains in developed and developing countries
Analysis of the technical, financial, social and institutional constrains. Analysis of Waste Collection and Recovery Options:
Collection and Sorting (bring system versus curbside system, sortin
Material Recycling: containers and packages (plastic, paper and metals), home appliances, end of life vehicles, (Hybrid or Others: face to face for the students in Japan and video lectures for students abroad.)
Thermal Treatment: different incineration options, RDF (refuse derived fuel) and RPF (refuse paper and plastic fuel) burning
Biological treatment: composting and bio-gasification
Final Disposal: Landfill; (Hybrid or Others: face to face for the students i
The Japanese Experience in Waste Management Systems (I)
From the reactive policies of the 60’s (waste management) to the current proactive policies (sound-material cycle society)
Technology innovation to address environmental risks, integral policies to d
Life Cycle Thinking in Integrated Waste Management Systems Planning (I)
Goal and Scope definition: purpose, functional unit, boundary setting
Life Cycle Inventory: Inputs (energy, materials) and outputs (energy, materials and emissions) across the life cy
Life Cycle Thinking in Integrated Waste Management Systems Planning (II)
Analysis of Japanese and international case studies: from cradle to grave (characterization and collection, sorting, treatment, material/energy recovery and final disposal); (Hybrid
Life Cycle Thinking in Integrated Waste Management Systems Planning (III) - Scenarios
Design of alternative scenarios to current waste management systems (case studies);(Hybrid or Others: face to face for the students in Japan and video lectures for stude
Life Cycle Thinking in Integrated Waste Management Systems Planning (IV) - Scenarios
Scenarios evaluation: Analysis of environmental impacts (I); (Hybrid or Others: face to face for the students in Japan and video lectures for students abroad.)
Life Cycle Thinking in Integrated Waste Management Systems Planning (IV) - Scenarios
Scenarios evaluation: Analysis of environmental impacts (II); (Hybrid or Others: face to face for the students in Japan and video lectures for students abroad.)

Course type

Lectures

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Yabar Helmut Friedrich

Other information

Site for Inquiry

Link to the syllabus provided by the university