Amani Maalouf

This study contributes to estimate the total waste generated at global level. A few studies have provided an efficient and comprehensive global estimate. However, data reporting is globally inconsistent due to varying interpretation of terminology, lacking standardised categories and varying methodologies used to observe and measure waste amounts. This study employs regression analysis and material flow analysis approaches to ensure a cross-comparability of waste generation data. The result… Show more

This study contributes to estimate the total waste generated at global level. A few studies have provided an efficient and comprehensive global estimate. However, data reporting is globally inconsistent due to varying interpretation of terminology, lacking standardised categories and varying methodologies used to observe and measure waste amounts. This study employs regression analysis and material flow analysis approaches to ensure a cross-comparability of waste generation data. The result implies that total global waste arisings are around 20 billion tonnes in 2017. This corresponds to 2.63 tonnes of total waste per capita (cap) per year. The total global waste generated is expected to grow to 46 billion tonnes by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario. Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a much smaller amount, ranging from 2.3 to 3.1 billion tonnes (average of 2.7 billion tonnes) in 2019. This figure reflects an increase of between 30% and 50% in MSW generated during the last 15 years (2004–2019). MSW generated is expected to grow to 2.89–4.54 billion tonnes by 2050, depending on which assumptions are used. This represents a 26%–45% increase compared to 2019. The overall assessment in this study reveals that almost one-third of the total MSW generated is not collected, and most of what is collected is not treated accordingly to current ideas of sound management. Moreover, almost 42% of MSW goes to open dumping or uncontrolled burning. The finding provides valuable insight for policymakers to design and assess circular economy policy instruments towards achieving sustainable development goals. Show less

The environmental and energy performances of the Italian municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) system was investigated by a life cycle assessment approach. On average the 39 MSWIs operating in Italy in 2018 treated about 6,000,000 Mg of residual municipal solid waste (RMSW) recovering on average from 448 kWh Mg−1 RMSW to 762 kWh Mg−1 RMSW of electricity and from 732 kWh Mg−1 RMSW to 1102 kWh Mg−1 RMSW of heat. The average quantity of CO2eq Mg−1 RMSW emitted ranged from about 800 up to about… Show more

The environmental and energy performances of the Italian municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) system was investigated by a life cycle assessment approach. On average the 39 MSWIs operating in Italy in 2018 treated about 6,000,000 Mg of residual municipal solid waste (RMSW) recovering on average from 448 kWh Mg−1 RMSW to 762 kWh Mg−1 RMSW of electricity and from 732 kWh Mg−1 RMSW to 1102 kWh Mg−1 RMSW of heat. The average quantity of CO2eq Mg−1 RMSW emitted ranged from about 800 up to about 1000 depending on the size and on the energy recovery scheme of the facility. Avoided impacts (i.e., negative values) were detected for the kg PM2,5eq Mg−1 RMSW and for human health (disability-adjusted life year Mg−1 RMSW). The determination of the hybrid primary energy index (MJ Mg−1 RMSW) indicated that mainly large size facilities and those operating according to a power and heat energy recovery scheme are effectively able to replace other primary energies by the exploitation of the lower heating values of the RMSW. Show less

Worldwide, there is a growing concern about the negative effects of infectious medical waste produced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the contamination risks associated with waste management. Therefore, measures to ensure that medical waste is managed safely and in an environmentally sound manner will avoid negative health and environmental effects from such waste, thus protecting the health of patients, health workers and the public in general. Despite that infectious medical waste generation… Show more

Worldwide, there is a growing concern about the negative effects of infectious medical waste produced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the contamination risks associated with waste management. Therefore, measures to ensure that medical waste is managed safely and in an environmentally sound manner will avoid negative health and environmental effects from such waste, thus protecting the health of patients, health workers and the public in general. Despite that infectious medical waste generation rate is important for management planning and policy development, there is a limitation on national data availability and its accuracy, particularly in developing economies. This study analyses the infectious healthcare waste generation rates and management patterns in Lebanon before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated average of COVID-19-related infectious healthcare waste generation in this study is 39,035 kg per month or 1.3 tonnes per day, which constitute between 5% and 20% of total infectious healthcare waste in Lebanon. This study illuminates on the impact of COVID-19 on the existing challenges of waste management in Lebanon. It highlights the need for proper management and disposal of the amounts of medical waste generated to reduce contamination risks or related environmental threats, particularly during the pandemic. It also shows that Lebanon has a defective system for monitoring of waste from healthcare institutions and gaps in waste statistics. Finally, the study summarizes recommendations related to medical waste management, which can provide valuable insight for policymakers. Show less

Proper management and treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW) plays a central role towards the reduction or elimination of uncontrolled disposal and the achievement of United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the reduction of its vast adverse environmental and health impacts. Despite that, till now, there has never been a quantitative analysis of the progress in waste management infrastructure delivery worldwide. In this paper, we provide valuable insights regarding the… Show more

Proper management and treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW) plays a central role towards the reduction or elimination of uncontrolled disposal and the achievement of United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the reduction of its vast adverse environmental and health impacts. Despite that, till now, there has never been a quantitative analysis of the progress in waste management infrastructure delivery worldwide. In this paper, we provide valuable insights regarding the progress in new MSW infrastructure delivery based on a dataset of 1764 projects from 156 countries, for the period 2014–2019. We also estimate the magnitude of uncontrolled waste disposal practices worldwide by estimating the gap between the current MSW infrastructure delivery and actual changes in MSW generation. Our results show that the new capacity delivered during the six years period amounted to 243 million metric tonnes (Mt) (40 million Mt per year), out of which 45% was delivered in high-income countries, 37.5% in the People’s Republic of China and 17.5% in the rest of the world, mainly through thermal treatment (~57%) and landfilling (8%). The average allocated per capita budget of these projects during this period is about US$14, equivalent to US$ 2.33 (cap*year)−1. Our main conclusion is that the share of uncontrolled disposal will continue to rise at least until 2028, reaching almost 730 million Mt per year. Evidently, the global community continues to face a serious challenge towards the implementation of the UN SDG 12, target 12.4 by 2020. The analysis demonstrates that infrastructure delivery must increase by four folds to eliminate uncontrolled disposal practices. Show less

This study assesses the economic viability of implementing a successful developed economy-based separate collection scheme in a developing economy test area while taking into consideration different influential factors. Two scenarios with different intensities of source segregated (SS) materials were simulated to compare the overall collection cost in developing versus developed economies while considering the variation in waste composition. The SS efficiencies were calculated based on a… Show more

This study assesses the economic viability of implementing a successful developed economy-based separate collection scheme in a developing economy test area while taking into consideration different influential factors. Two scenarios with different intensities of source segregated (SS) materials were simulated to compare the overall collection cost in developing versus developed economies while considering the variation in waste composition. The SS efficiencies were calculated based on a successful source separation scheme implemented in a developed economy. Scenario S1 reflects a policy towards separation of paper and packaging waste with an overall SS intensity of 13% in the test area in comparison with 25% in the developed economy. Scenario S2 considered an increase in the overall SS intensity that reached 68% in the test area in comparison with 48% in developed economy, when considering the separation of organic waste. The results showed that in the test area, an increase in SS intensity from 13% up to 68% caused a significant reduction in residual municipal solid waste but a consequent increase in the overall collection cost reaching up to ~44%. The developing economy exhibited significantly lower (63–84%) collection costs in comparison with developed economy, mainly due to significantly lower personnel cost. Variation in waste composition caused a major difference in the overall collection cost between developing and developed economies, depending on waste density, collection vehicles load, and compaction ratio. For instance, the collection of low-density waste (e.g. light packaging) resulted in lower fuel consumption and collection cost (up to 83%) in developing economies in comparison with higher fractions in developed economies. Show less

A novel model/software that assesses emissions from integrated solid waste and wastewater, SWW, management systems is presented. The main objective of SWW is to optimize emissions and carbon credit of complex systems. Besides its general applicability, the software covers the lack of available tools applicable in the context of developing economies. It uses carbon credit as a measure of environmental valuation and provides a user-friendly platform supported with several tools for technical… Show more

A novel model/software that assesses emissions from integrated solid waste and wastewater, SWW, management systems is presented. The main objective of SWW is to optimize emissions and carbon credit of complex systems. Besides its general applicability, the software covers the lack of available tools applicable in the context of developing economies. It uses carbon credit as a measure of environmental valuation and provides a user-friendly platform supported with several tools for technical, economic, and policy analysis as well as optimization towards minimal total emissions or costs. Finally, it encompasses a sensitivity analysis with a built-in Monte Carlo simulation to check on the variability in emissions by varying key parameters. The model/software interface was tested in the context of developed and developing economies. The results showed that best practices through material recycling, biological treatment, food waste diverted and/or energy recovery can lead to substantial savings in emissions reaching 96% (under a developing economy) and 93% (under a developed economy), with cost savings (including carbon credit) reaching 26% (under a developing economy) and 4% (under a developed economy), depending on the system. In closure, the results demonstrated the model applicability as a credible decision-making tool to define economically viable management alternatives with minimal environmental externalities and optimal carbon credit. Show less

In this study, we examine the economic and environmental significance associated with the implementation of an EU waste-separated collection scheme in a developing context – Lebanon. Two scenarios, S1 and S2, representing different intensities of source segregation were analysed. In S1, the average source segregation intensity reached 25% and 13% for the Italian test area and Lebanese test area, respectively. In S2, source segregation intensity increased to 48% and 68% for the Italian and… Show more

In this study, we examine the economic and environmental significance associated with the implementation of an EU waste-separated collection scheme in a developing context – Lebanon. Two scenarios, S1 and S2, representing different intensities of source segregation were analysed. In S1, the average source segregation intensity reached 25% and 13% for the Italian test area and Lebanese test area, respectively. In S2, source segregation intensity increased to 48% and 68% for the Italian and Lebanese test areas, respectively. Passing from S1 to S2 increased collection costs significantly, up to 44% with greater increases in the Italian test area where labour cost is higher. In both areas, environmental impacts decreased with greater source segregation intensity. Savings in the climate change impact and stratospheric ozone depletion potential were lower under the Lebanese test area in comparison with the Italian test area. In contrast, savings in freshwater eutrophication and acidification impact were lower for the Italian test area. The increase in the source segregation intensity resulted in maximum savings for the depletion of abiotic resources, 74% to 77% and 79% to 80% in a developing and developed context, respectively. Show less

As global waste generation increases at a rapid rate, there is a dire need for waste management practices such as collection, disposal, and recycling to protect from environmental pollution. However, developing countries generate two to three times more waste, resort to open dumps more often than developed countries, and are slower to integrate waste management standards. There is a need for studies that examine the waste generation and practices of countries that share similar economic… Show more

As global waste generation increases at a rapid rate, there is a dire need for waste management practices such as collection, disposal, and recycling to protect from environmental pollution. However, developing countries generate two to three times more waste, resort to open dumps more often than developed countries, and are slower to integrate waste management standards. There is a need for studies that examine the waste generation and practices of countries that share similar economic backgrounds as they strive to implement successful waste management techniques.

Sustainable Waste Management Challenges in Developing Countries is an essential reference source that discusses the challenges and strategies of waste management practices and the unique waste issues faced by developing countries that prevent them from achieving the goal of integrated waste management. While highlighting topics including e-waste, transboundary movement, and consumption patterns, this book is ideally designed for policymakers, legislators, waste company managers, environmentalists, students, academicians, and municipal planners seeking current research on the global waste management problem. Show less

One-third of crops harvested globally is lost due to inadequate or lack of postharvest storage facilities. This paper explores farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for a common refrigeration unit to reduce postharvest losses in the Bekaa valley, a Lebanese breadbasket. Using the contingent valuation (CV) method—a survey-based economic technique used mainly for the valuation of nonmarket environ­men­tal and public goods—this study was con­ducted with a sample of farmers in selected village… Show more

One-third of crops harvested globally is lost due to inadequate or lack of postharvest storage facilities. This paper explores farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for a common refrigeration unit to reduce postharvest losses in the Bekaa valley, a Lebanese breadbasket. Using the contingent valuation (CV) method—a survey-based economic technique used mainly for the valuation of nonmarket environ­men­tal and public goods—this study was con­ducted with a sample of farmers in selected village municipalities in the area under study. The results indicate that most farmers (72%) are highly concerned about postharvest losse, and that 80% were willing to pay varying amounts for the proposed initiative, with most WTP values fall­ing within the range of US$21–US$30 per month (31%). By contrast, a consid­erable proportion of the farmers (20%) were not willing to pay any fee for establishing the common refrigeration unit. Results further establish the different small-scale farmers’ characteristics and factors affecting WTP. Some factors including longer farming experience, higher variable costs associated with farming oper­ations, working year-round in farming, and access to wholesale markets, significantly increased WTP for access to a com­mon refrigeration unit, depend­ing on the type of cultivated crops. These results are of particular interest for developing relevant policies and informing decision-making intent to solve post­harvest management issues in developing econo­mies. This study establishes the importance of offering refrigeration services at discounted or subsidized prices to smaller farmers as a public good aimed at promoting agrarian and rural development. Show less

https://doi.org/10.31025/2611-4135/2019.13788

Depuis l’adoption de l’accord de Paris sur le changement climatique en 2015, les pays signataires doivent effectuer des rapports sur leurs émissions nationales. Quelles méthodes privilégier dans les pays en développement ? Une étude de l’AUB fait le point.*

Solid waste management has witnessed much progress in recent years with considerable efforts targeting the reduction of associated impacts and carbon emissions. Such efforts remain relatively limited in developing economies due to inefficient management practices. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach is adopted to identify integrated systems with minimal impacts and reduced emissions in a developing context coupled with an economic valuation and sensitivity analysis to assess… Show more

Solid waste management has witnessed much progress in recent years with considerable efforts targeting the reduction of associated impacts and carbon emissions. Such efforts remain relatively limited in developing economies due to inefficient management practices. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach is adopted to identify integrated systems with minimal impacts and reduced emissions in a developing context coupled with an economic valuation and sensitivity analysis to assess the effect of varying influencing parameters individually. The results showed that the highest impact arises from landfilling with minimal material recovery for recycling and composting, while incineration coupled with energy recovery contributed to the least equivalent emissions (–111% with respect to baseline scenario) at a varying cost of −70% to 93% depending on the selected technology and the value of carbon credit. Optimizing material recycling, composting and landfilling with energy recovery contributed to 98% savings in emissions (with respect to baseline scenario) and remained economically attractive irrespective of the carbon credit exchange rate of 0.5–50 US$/MTCO2E. The sensitivity analysis showed that an improvement in landfill gas collection efficiency (up to 60%) can contribute to major savings in emissions (58%). The application of the LCA-based approach supports the development of integrated viable plans while quantifying advantages and disadvantages towards decision-making and policy-planning. Show less

The dataset presented in this article is related to the research article entitled “Towards improving emissions accounting methods in waste management: A proposed framework” (Maalouf and El-Fadel, 2018) [1] that examines the variability in aggregated and disaggregated emissions from waste management when using commonly adopted international methods (the UN IPCC 2006 Guidelines, the US EPA WARM, the EU EpE protocols, the Canadian IWM, and the UK IWM-2). The dataset presents the aggregated and… Show more

The dataset presented in this article is related to the research article entitled “Towards improving emissions accounting methods in waste management: A proposed framework” (Maalouf and El-Fadel, 2018) [1] that examines the variability in aggregated and disaggregated emissions from waste management when using commonly adopted international methods (the UN IPCC 2006 Guidelines, the US EPA WARM, the EU EpE protocols, the Canadian IWM, and the UK IWM-2). The dataset presents the aggregated and disaggregated emission factors (EFs) used in existing accounting methods to estimate emissions from the waste sector. The EFs were retrieved from accounting methods to clarify their contribution to variability in estimating emissions across methods. The data contains three parts: aggregated EFs per ton of waste category for individual waste management processes; disaggregated EFs per management process for a ton of waste type; and emission flow diagrams of waste management systems for tested methods. Show less

This study examines the variability in estimating aggregated and disaggregated emissions from the solid waste sector using worldwide adopted methods for country accounting, life cycle assessment modelling, and corporate reporting. Disaggregation of emissions was conducted by source (waste management process from collection to disposal), gas (CO2, CH4, N2O) or type (direct and indirect) to identify processes contributing most to potential variability in estimated emissions. While similar… Show more

This study examines the variability in estimating aggregated and disaggregated emissions from the solid waste sector using worldwide adopted methods for country accounting, life cycle assessment modelling, and corporate reporting. Disaggregation of emissions was conducted by source (waste management process from collection to disposal), gas (CO2, CH4, N2O) or type (direct and indirect) to identify processes contributing most to potential variability in estimated emissions. While similar operational data were introduced in all methods, significant variability in estimated emissions were evident across methods. The variability in aggregated emissions ranged from 3 to 65% that dropped to 2 and 17% when default parameters were standardized across methods. At the disaggregated level, a wider variability was discerned reaching several folds depending on the source, gas or type of emissions. The observed variability can be attributed to differences between methods in approaches and default parameters. These differences can affect emissions mitigation measures/reduction targets or influence investments in carbon credit to meet countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. The study concludes with a framework to address limitations in existing methods with emphasis on increased flexibility in allowing the user to modify default approaches and parameters. Show less

This paper introduces a comprehensive model developed to assess the carbon footprint of integrated solid waste management systems including the diversion at source of the food waste component into the wastewater/sludge management systems using household food waste disposers. In addition to the current state of practice in developed economies, the model includes emissions from waste management processes still practiced in developing economies (such as open dumping, open burning, poorly operated… Show more

This paper introduces a comprehensive model developed to assess the carbon footprint of integrated solid waste management systems including the diversion at source of the food waste component into the wastewater/sludge management systems using household food waste disposers. In addition to the current state of practice in developed economies, the model includes emissions from waste management processes still practiced in developing economies (such as open dumping, open burning, poorly operated landfills with flaring systems and auxiliary fuel needed to satisfy the low heating value (LHV) during incineration) commonly not considered in most life cycle assessment (LCA)-based models. It can disaggregate emissions by source (from collection to final disposal), or type (direct-operating, indirect-upstream, indirect-downstream), or gas (CH4, CO2, N2O) and offers users the flexibility to select processes or modify input parameters while examining their impact on uncertainty in model simulations. Equally important is a clarity in deriving and applying emission factors used to quantify emissions from waste management systems. The model was tested in the context of developed and developing economies to assess the impact of waste composition, management processes, energy consumption and other parameters on variations in emissions. The results demonstrated that best practices through material recycling, biological treatment, food waste diversion, and/or energy recovery can contribute to significant savings in emissions that ranged between 24 and 95%, depending on the tested systems. In closure, we argue the benefits of the model application in providing guidelines for policy planning and decision making about process viability for investing in carbon credit. Show less

Une récente étude de l’AUB examine l’intérêt d’introduire cette technique dans les domiciles des pays en développement, en vue de réduire le volume global des ordures.

In this study, the carbon footprint of introducing a food waste disposer (FWD) policy was examined in the context of its implications on solid waste and wastewater management with economic assessment of environmental externalities emphasizing potential carbon credit and increased sludge generation. For this purpose, a model adopting a life cycle inventory approach was developed to integrate solid waste and wastewater management processes under a single framework and test scenarios for a waste… Show more

In this study, the carbon footprint of introducing a food waste disposer (FWD) policy was examined in the context of its implications on solid waste and wastewater management with economic assessment of environmental externalities emphasizing potential carbon credit and increased sludge generation. For this purpose, a model adopting a life cycle inventory approach was developed to integrate solid waste and wastewater management processes under a single framework and test scenarios for a waste with high organic food content typical of developing economies. For such a waste composition, the results show that a FWD policy can reduce emissions by nearly ∼42% depending on market penetration, fraction of food waste ground, as well as solid waste and wastewater management schemes, including potential energy recovery. In comparison to baseline, equivalent economic gains can reach ∼28% when environmental externalities including sludge management and emissions variations are considered. The sensitivity analyses on processes with a wide range in costs showed an equivalent economic impact thus emphasizing the viability of a FWD policy although the variation in the cost of sludge management exhibited a significant impact on savings. Show less

لأن النفايات العضوية تشكل أكثر من نصف حجم النفايات المنزلية، دراسة جديدة في الجامعة الأميركية في بيروت تدرس إمكانية اعتماد سياسة جديدة في فرم المواد العضوية في المصدر وتحويلها من إدارة النفايات الصلبة إلى إدارة مياه الصرف. فما هو تأثيرها وجدواها البيئي والاقتصادي، بالإضافة إلى بصمتها الكربونية؟ موضوع دراسة جديدة لأماني معلوف في الجامعة الأميركية في بيروت، قسم الهندسة المدنية والبيئية، بإشراف البروفسور معتصم الفاضل وبدعم من المجلس الوطني للبحوث العلمية

BIM design infrastructure analysis: costs, project management
and design for a Green Infrastructure

• Can BIM really make a significant difference?
• Where does BIM have its biggest impact?
• Designing and project management for a Green Infrastructure –
how it actually works
• Key case studies and proven results

À un moment où le pays peine à adopter une politique viable de gestion des déchets, après des mois de crise, la jeune Amani Maalouf, fraîchement diplômée de l'AUB, présente les résultats de son étude*, qui passe en revue les différentes techniques et leur potentiel de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre.

In the last decade, waste management problems show a continuously growing trend in the Russian Federation. The country generated a total of 7.8 billion tonnes of waste in 2019, which is expected to reach up to 54.9 tonnes per capita in 2024. The extraction of fuel and energy minerals (mainly mining and coal enterprises) constitutes the largest contributor (93.6%) to the total amount of waste generated. To date, disposal on land remains the main method of waste management in the Russian… Show more

In the last decade, waste management problems show a continuously growing trend in the Russian Federation. The country generated a total of 7.8 billion tonnes of waste in 2019, which is expected to reach up to 54.9 tonnes per capita in 2024. The extraction of fuel and energy minerals (mainly mining and coal enterprises) constitutes the largest contributor (93.6%) to the total amount of waste generated. To date, disposal on land remains the main method of waste management in the Russian Federation, which is affecting the quality of the environment, public health, and sustainable development. Evidently, the Russian Federation continues to face a serious challenge toward the implementation of its national 2030 targets. Noteworthy, that municipal solid waste (61 million tonnes) only accounted for 0.8% of the total amount of waste generated. Therefore, the development of an efficient national waste management focusing on the industrial sector (including mining enterprises) becomes a prerequisite toward circular economy (CE). Show less

A new Solid Waste and Wastewater (SWW) management software is presented for optimizing the life-cycle of emissions with carbon credit cost considerations. The software is the first to combine integrated solid waste and wastewater management systems under a single framework when introducing a food waste disposer (FWD) policy. The model/software offers a platform encompassing several tools for life cycle emissions accounting, optimization, as well as economic, policy, and sensitivity analysis. It… Show more

A new Solid Waste and Wastewater (SWW) management software is presented for optimizing the life-cycle of emissions with carbon credit cost considerations. The software is the first to combine integrated solid waste and wastewater management systems under a single framework when introducing a food waste disposer (FWD) policy. The model/software offers a platform encompassing several tools for life cycle emissions accounting, optimization, as well as economic, policy, and sensitivity analysis. It provides the flexibility of selecting processes or modifying input parameters, as well as disaggregating emissions depending on the scope of accounting. The graphical user interface is applicable in the context of developed and developing economies with the ultimate objective to assist decision makers to allocate expenditures for emissions mitigation measures. Show less