The current change in battery technology followed by the almost immediate adoption of lithium as a key resource powering our energy needs in various applications is undeniable. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are at the forefront of the industry and offer excellent performance. The application of LIBs is expected to continue to increase. The adoption of renewable energies has spurred this LIB proliferation and resulted in a dramatic increase in LIB waste. In this review, we address waste LIB collection and segregation approaches, waste LIB treatment approaches, and related economics. We have coined a “green score” concept based on a review of several quantitative analyses from the literature to compare the three mainstream recycling processes: pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and direct recycling. In addition, we analyze the current trends in policymaking and in government incentive development directed toward promoting LIB waste recycling. Future LIB recycling perspectives are analyzed, and opportunities and threats to LIB recycling are presented. Lithium-ion battery (LIB) waste management is an integral part of the LIB circular economy. LIB refurbishing & repurposing and recycling can increase the useful life of LIBs and constituent materials, while serving as effective LIB waste management approaches. A combined effort by governments, industries and end-users will be integral in improving LIB waste collection rates which are largely lacking. A developed pseudo technical green score concept highlights direct recycling as a preferable recycling approach based on various life cycle assessment indicators. Standardized costing for the treatment of end-of-life LIBs shows pyrometallurgy as the least costly recycling approach.
The European Union’s digital rulebook is increasingly criticized for its complexity, prompting calls for simplification. However, recent proposals like the draft Digital Omnibus regulation are strong on limiting rights but weak on providing clarity. To achieve simplification, we must comprehend and address the root causes of complexity by clarifying rights and obligations, reducing regulatory overlaps, and prioritising long-term coherence over short-term fixes.
R.M.H.N. Bandara, R.A.D.T. Ranathunga Arachchi, L.D.C. Gunasekara
et al.
In the modern competitive business environment, sustainability has become the key theme in organisational performance (OP), compelling organisations to adopt environmentally friendly operations in the business world. The hotel industry is a significant contributor to national economies, and it is steadily incorporating green practices to improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Though green supply chain management (GSCM) has been a subject of significant interest in manufacturing and logistic settings, GSCM in the hospitality industry, particularly in developing nations such as Sri Lanka, is still a largely unexplored area. To bridge this gap, the current study investigates the relationship between GSCM practices and OP with a particular focus on the moderating effects of hotel star classification. A cross-sectional, deductive research design was used, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was the method of analysis. A web-based survey of 167 star-class hotels in Sri Lanka gained a high response rate of 88.44%. GSCM practices were represented as a second-order construct with five dimensions: eco design, green purchasing, internal environment management, investment recovery, and reverse logistics. The findings reveal that GSCM practices have a significant positive impact on OP. However, the star ratings of the hotels had no significant effect on this relationship, meaning the positive impact of GSCM practices are consistent across the industry. This finding indicates the need to investigate additional moderating variables such as ownership patterns and environmental certifications. Future comparative studies in various Asian nations with different cultural, legislative, and market settings may advance our understanding of GSCM practices in hospitality industry.
The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) is widely reared on artificial diets for its use as a model organism in immunological and toxicological research. However, the biological consequences of replacing its natural food source, waste honeybee comb, with simplified artificial formulations remain poorly understood. This study aimed to quantify the effects of different diets on the life-history traits and reproductive fitness of G. mellonella. The results showed that larvae reared on the comb-fortified artificial diet (AD-2) exhibited the shortest developmental period (29.1 days) and the highest pupal weight (218.3 mg), closely comparable to those reared on the natural diet (30.5 days and 210.6 mg). Moreover, AD-2 females produced the greatest fecundity (965.2 eggs per female), exceeding both the natural and baseline artificial diets. These findings demonstrate that while basic artificial diets can sustain G. mellonella, they are nutritionally suboptimal. Fortifying artificial diets with natural comb components yields insects of superior biological quality and is recommended for standardizing rearing protocols to improve physiological health and experimental reliability in G. mellonella research.
Background: Small island ecosystems are highly vulnerable to marine plastic pollution due to geographic isolation, limited waste-management capacity, and exposure to converging ocean currents. Yet, integrated syntheses linking contamination patterns with ecological and socio-economic impacts remain scarce. Methods: A structured literature review of peer-reviewed studies published between January 2020 and August 2025 was conducted using the Scopus database and targeted reference screening. Empirical studies measuring microplastics in island or near-island environments and addressing trophic transfer or socio-economic impacts were prioritized, while methodological differences were considered qualitatively in interpreting evidence strength. Findings: Sediments consistently act as long-term sinks in island systems, often exhibiting orders-of-magnitude higher microplastic concentrations than concurrent water samples. Fragments and fibres dominate particle morphologies, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene the most common polymers. Microplastics are ingested across trophic levels, but evidence for systematic trophic biomagnification remains mixed. Sublethal effects and contaminant or pathogen transfer reduce ecosystem productivity and fisheries performance, while socio-economic impacts include declining seafood quality and disproportionate burdens on vulnerable island communities. Conclusion: Microplastic pollution in small islands presents coupled ecological and social risks that remain understudied and are constrained by methodological heterogeneity. Priority actions include standardized sampling/analysis protocols, long-term monitoring, realistic exposure experiments, and targeted mitigation (waste management upgrades, community-based interventions). Novelty/Originality of this article: This is the first structured synthesis (2020–2025) explicitly integrating occurrence, trophic-level bioaccumulation, and socio-ecological impacts of microplastics in small-island ecosystems, highlighting evidence gaps and policy-relevant research priorities.
Meril Joseph, N. A. Sudharson, Nirmal Kurian
et al.
This article introduces a technique for placing indirect dental restorations using a re-used dentine bonding agent applicator tip and epoxy resin. This method simplifies placement, reduces waste and lowers costs, offering a practical alternative. While the technique offers immediate clinical practicality, further studies could help standardize the approach and reinforce its effectiveness across varied clinical settings. This technique provides a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative for indirect restoration placement.
Heavy metal-containing industrial effluents, such as Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+, pose serious threats to the environment and public health since they are not biodegradable and can accumulate over time. Biochar, particularly sewage sludge-derived biochar (SSBC), has arisen as a promising and cost-effective material for heavy metal removal from wastewater due to its high adsorption capacity, large surface area, and rich porous structure. This review explores the use of SSBC for the adsorption of heavy metals, highlighting the impact of pyrolysis temperature on its surface properties, such as specific surface area and functional groups. Characterization techniques, including SEM, FTIR, XRD, XPS, AES, GC–MS, ICP, and ESR, are employed to analyze the chemical and structural properties of SSBC, providing insights into the changes that enhance its adsorption performance. Additionally, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models are utilized to portend the adsorption efficiency of SSBC, offering a quantitative understanding of the relationship between heavy metal removal efficiency and biochar properties. This review emphasizes the importance of pyrolysis in optimizing SSBC for wastewater treatment and demonstrates how advanced characterization techniques and predictive models can guide the progress of more efficient biochar-based adsorbents for environmental remediation. The results highlight the promising role of SSBC in providing a sustainable remedy for heavy metal contamination in industrial wastewater.
Waste separation at source is perceived as an effective Municipal Waste Management strategy, and the success depends on understanding the drivers of proper waste sorting behaviour. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has been extensively applied to determining the importance of different psychological constructs in waste sorting behaviour. Despite evidence of its validity in specific contexts, in urban contexts, one requires an understanding of how the built environment affects waste sorting behaviour. Furthermore, this study introduces the use of Exploratory Factor Analysis as a data-driven approach to define various TPB constructs from a collection of items, including situational factors such as distance to waste bins or the condition of recycling facilities. It shows how this technique outperforms the typical top-down approach of starting from pre-defined items assigned to its constructs. This study surveyed residents of Gothenburg, Sweden, to capture empirical data on factors that affect the planned behaviour of waste separation. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is used to evaluate the extended TPB model and extract the drivers of waste sorting behaviour. Results from the study can extend the application of TPB to inform urban planners about the location and maintenance of waste management infrastructure.
Increased industrialization has resulted in a shortage of natural building materials, thus increasing awareness of sustainable approaches by construction companies. This research explains how waste materials—Ceramic Waste Powder, Waste Glass Powder, Waste Granite Dust, Waste Marble Powder, and Waste Brick Powder—can be employed as environmentally friendly cement alternatives in concrete mixtures. The objective is to study the mechanical characteristics of these supplementary cementitious materials with continuous industrial waste recycling for environmentally sustainable development. In addition to experimental findings, a neural network model was developed to predict the compressive strength of concrete containing these materials, trained on data collected from the literature. The model successfully demonstrated its ability to replicate trends in compressive strength results across varying replacement levels, validating the findings and enhancing the study’s reliability. Tests were carried out for replacement levels of cement by the materials in concrete, from 5 % to 50 %, on compressive and tensile strengths at various curing periods. The test results show that a 10–15 % replacement level is within the optimum range for most of the waste materials. It is also observed that compressive and tensile strength improvement tends to be maximum around 28 days of curing. Increases in dosage lead to a loss in mechanical properties, indicating limited viability for higher replacement percentages. The present review, supported by machine learning predictions, highlights the potential of these materials to improve sustainable practices in the building industries, toward manufacturing Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) with low environmental impact coupled with resource efficiency.
The solid wastes are ubiquitous in terrestrial environment with marked abundance in human dominated systems. However, the solid wastes in rice fields have been less emphasized than the urban setting. Exploring solid wastes of rice fields provide an opportunity to highlight how unmanaged wastes can threaten biodiversity and agricultural productivity. The results of the present study will enable tracing the root cause for the solid wastes in the rice fields. A systematic sampling of the paddy rice cultivation fields revealed the presence of eight types of solid wastes with the dominance of the various forms of plastic material. These solid wastes could be linked with nine different sources of origin, with the dominance of the packaged food industry. A significant (P < 0.05) difference in the solid waste types and the sources could be portrayed through the bipartite network analysis. This approach provides a robust framework for tracing the origin of waste and targeting key sources for intervention. Information obtained through the present study will prove helpful in understanding the infiltration and establishment of the plastics and allied polymers in rice fields interfere with the structure and functions of the community assemblages. The plastic waste types and its multiple links provided evidence for the origin and possible entry into the rice field system. Information obtained through the present study will prove helpful in understanding the entry of the solid wastes in the ricefields and the respective management to sustain the environment and the productivity.
Areke Alexander Tiareti, Megumi Matsumura, Taira Hidaka
et al.
Septic systems are major on-site sanitation facilities used in many developing countries to treat domestic wastewater. Climate change concerns have prompted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; nonetheless, septic systems contribute to emissions of GHGs, such as methane. The present study investigated modifications to improve the operating conditions of septic systems to minimize methane emissions by evaluating the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) as an operating parameter using laboratory-scale biodegradation experiments. To investigate the influence of ORP on methane emissions, dog food and potassium nitrate were used as representatives of blackwater and alternative electron acceptors to oxygen, respectively, under various biodegradation conditions. The experimental results suggest that methane emission is suppressed at a critical ORP level (−350 to −450 mV vs. Ag/AgCl). They also showed that ORP can be used as a monitoring signal to better understand methane-producing conditions in septic systems. The proposed modifications to improve septic system operating conditions are to shorten the desludging period and provide sufficient oxygen to the septic tank, considering the critical ORP to prevent anaerobic conditions.
Roland Redon, Madi Guirema Abaker, Michel Raynaud
et al.
Co-composting of sewage sludge with green waste is the main way of valorisation of organic wastes. The compost maturation process leads to production of humified and stabilized organic matter well-used for soil amendment due to its soil structuring qualities and nutrient richness. That is why the knowledge of product quality in terms of organic matter stability and maturity of compost is imperative. Unfortunately, there is a lack of quick and easy solutions available for composting plant managers who usually need complex and time consuming laboratory measurements for determination of biological or chemical parameters, and more robust on-site methods. Compost evolution monitoring needs actual determination of several biological and physico-chemical parameters as the C/N ratio, the ISMO (Organic Matter Stability Index), related to organic matter stability, and the germination test related to compost maturity. The aim of this work is the estimation of these three parameters using a Partial Least Squares regression (PLS1) based on UV and fluorescence spectroscopic data and pH from compost water extracts at various steps of composting process, ending to a mathematical linear model. Results show average relative prediction errors of 14.76 %, 16.35 % and 15.38 % for C/N ratio, ISMO and germination test results, respectively. These satisfactory results confirm potentiality of this approach for a rapid and simple on-site estimation of the organic matter stabilization and compost maturation, for qualification of the end-product before its use.
Dao Trong Hung, Nguyen Quang Hai, Hoang Ngoc Thuan
Vietnam is a major producer and exporter of rice globally, and approximately 47 million tonnes of rice residue is produced annually. Rice residues are an economically valuable natural resource and a primary source of organic matter and nutrients for rice production, and recycling them enhances soil fertility. The prevailing practice for disposal of rice straw in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta is open burning, which causes the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) and soil degradation. However, the suitable strategy for rice residue management practices on smallholder farms and their impact on GHG emissions and air pollution have not been intensively investigated. A study was conducted to quantify the amount of GHG and air pollutants emissions from paddy rice fields under four (4) community–based crop–residue management approach in southern Vietnam. The four management practices are (1) field burning of rice–residues, (2) field burning of rice stubble, (3) soil incorporation of rice–residues, and (4) use of rice-residues as fodder for shifting rice and fish culture. The findings showed that practices 1 and 2 release the largest quantities of GHGs and air pollutants like particulate matter of 2.5 μm and 10 μm, black carbon, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and non–methane volatile organic carbon to the atmosphere. The practices not only result in environmental pollution through the emission of GHGs that caused global warming but also results in the loss of valuable nutrients such as organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur. Moreover, practices 3 and 4 resulted in improved nutrient management and reduced air pollutants, suggesting that these practices can maintain soil fertility while significantly lowering GHG emissions. The results demonstrate that avoiding open–field burning of rice residues has the potential to promote more sustainable rice production, reduce air pollutants, and mitigate climate change.
Tamires DE Sousa Leite, Errol Fernando Zepka Pereira Junior, Thamyres Verlindo DE Araújo
et al.
The metallurgical history of Brazil, which began between 1580 and 1640, was initially centered on the extraction of precious metals. Despite the industrial evolution over the centuries, challenges in production processes continue to affect the competitiveness of companies in this sector. Lean production, developed in the 1950s by Toyota, was designed to eliminate waste. The relationship between Lean philosophy and organizational culture is of great significance, while Value Stream Mapping (VSM) serves as a tool for identifying and eliminating waste within production processes. However, little has been explored regarding the eight types of waste in the metallurgical industry. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze the causes and potential improvements in a metallurgical production line by identifying and addressing waste.The research adopts an exploratory qualitative approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, providing an in-depth understanding of the professionals involved. The analysis followed an interpretative perspective, examining the information in dialogue with the theoretical and cultural context. The findings demonstrated that Lean practices improved processes by reducing the time spent on non-value-added activities and increasing standardization. The eight Lean wastes are applicable to multiple areas of life, simplifying routines and enhancing productivity. Identifying and addressing these wastes brings positive benefits, such as greater clarity in organizational objectives and cost reduction. Despite initial resistance, a gradual implementation strategy is essential to ensure participants’ engagement, thereby fostering continuous improvement and a more effective organizational culture.
Man-Made Vitreous Fibres (MMVFs) are essential materials for the construction and industrial areas, but their potential health risks and waste management complexities present significant challenges. This review uses the European Union as a case study to analyze the two primary issues: occupational health hazard assessment and waste stream management. We found that despite a mature regulatory framework, a lack of harmonized standards across Europe leads to inconsistencies in worker protection and waste classification. The review highlights the continued dominance of traditional, often slow, analytical methods for fibre identification and risk assessment, which conflicts with the need for rapid, on-site decision-making. We explore the potential of advanced analytical techniques (e.g. HIS, XRF) to overcome these limitations. Furthermore, we conclude that regulatory fragmentation is a major barrier to the circular economy, hindering the effective recycling of MMVF waste. This study underscores the urgent need for updated, standardized European policies to ensure both worker safety and sustainable waste management.
Mathematical models of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), developed so far, often rely on simplified assumptions regarding microbial growth kinetics, substrate utilization, and extracellular electron transfer. Such oversimplifications limit their predictive accuracy and applicability to real waste-derived substrates, which typically contain inhibitory compounds and variable organic compositions. To address these shortcomings, this study presents a comprehensive mathematical model of a mediator-less MFC employing Shewanella putrefaciens MTCC 8104 as suspended culture in anode chamber. The performance of MFCs, run on pure lactic acid and cottage cheese whey, was systematically compared. The model integrates substrate degradation and microbial growth kinetics with electron transfer mechanisms to accurately predict bioelectricity generation. Experimental validation demonstrated strong agreement between model predictions and measured data, with root mean square error (RMSE) and normalized RMSE (NRMSE) values remaining well below 10% for both current and power density, confirming the robustness of the model. Results revealed that the pure lactic acid–fed MFC achieved maximum power and current densities of 1147 mW/m ² and 2.21 A/m ² , respectively. In comparison, the cottage cheese whey–fed MFC exhibited lower values— 287.48 mW/m ² and 0.92 A/m 2 — representing 25.1% and 41.6% reductions, respectively. While performance with whey was lower, its use offers substantial economic and environmental benefits, as it valorizes an abundantly available agro-industrial by-product otherwise treated as waste. This dual advantage highlights the promise of integrating renewable energy recovery with sustainable waste management. The validated mathematical model provides a reliable framework for scaling up MFCs operated with similar substrates.
Pyrolysis emerges as a strategy for handling waste textiles, wherein the conversion of high-carbon-content textile waste into carbonaceous materials facilitates the restoration of its economic value, concurrently mitigating the environmental impact posed by textile waste. The present study fabricated carbon felts for respiratory filter layers through single-step pyrolysis of acrylic filter felts. The advantage of employing conductive carbon felt as a respiratory filter layer is its capability to concurrently serve two functions: filtration and electrical heating for high-temperature disinfection. In order to achieve these two functions, both the respirator body and the embedded electrodes were designed to ensure the reliability of high-temperature disinfection. The breathability and water vapor permeability of the obtained carbon felt were examined to confirm its comfortability as a respiratory filter layer. The results of filtration efficiency and antimicrobial testing indicated that the carbon felt exhibited a filtration efficiency of over 90 % against inhalable particulate matter, while its antimicrobial properties effectively suppressed microbial growth. This method of reutilizing waste textiles maintained consistency in the usage of textiles before and after reuse, simplified the reusing process of waste acrylic fibers, and simultaneously reduced the manufacturing costs of respiratory filters. The designed respiratory filters have the potential for application in settings such as hospitals and virus research institutions.