Municipal solid waste management under Covid-19: Challenges and recommendations

Covid-19 is proving to be an unprecedented disaster for human health, social contacts and the economy worldwide. It is evident that SARS-CoV-2 may spread through municipal solid waste (MSW), if collected, bagged, handled, transported or disposed of inappropriately. Under the stress placed by the current pandemic on the sanitary performance across all MSW management (MSWM) chains, this industry needs to re-examine its infrastructure resilience with respect to all processes, from waste identification, classification, collection, separation, storage, transportation, recycling, treatment and disposal. The current paper provides an overview of the severe challenges placed by Covid-19 onto MSW systems, highlighting the essential role of waste management in public health protection during the ongoing pandemic. It also discusses the measures issued by various international organisations and countries for the protection of MSWM employees (MSWEs), identifying gaps, especially for developing countries, where personal protection equipment and clear guidelines to MSWEs may not have been provided, and the general public may not be well informed. In countries with high recycling rates of MSW, the need to protect MSWEs' health has affected the supply stream of the recycling industry. The article concludes with recommendations for the MSW industry operating under public health crisis conditions

The position of mefloquine as a 21st century malaria chemoprophylaxis

BACKGROUND: Malaria chemoprophylaxis prevents the occurrence of the symptoms of malaria. Travellers to high-risk Plasmodium falciparum endemic areas need an effective chemoprophylaxis. METHODS: A literature search to update the status of mefloquine as a malaria chemoprophylaxis. RESULTS: Except for clearly defined regions with multi-drug resistance, mefloquine is effective against the blood stages of all human malaria species, including the recently recognized fifth species, Plasmodium knowlesi. New data were found in the literature on the tolerarability of mefloquine and the use of this medication by groups at high risk of malaria. DISCUSSION: Use of mefloquine for pregnant women in the second and third trimester is sanctioned by the WHO and some authorities (CDC) allow the use of mefloquine even in the first trimester. Inadvertent pregnancy while using mefloquine is not considered grounds for pregnancy termination. Mefloquine chemoprophylaxis is allowed during breast-feeding. Studies show that mefloquine is a good option for other high-risk groups, such as long-term travellers, VFR travellers and families with small children. Despite a negative media perception, large pharmaco-epidemiological studies have shown that serious adverse events are rare. A recent US evaluation of serious events (hospitalization data) found no association between mefloquine prescriptions and serious adverse events across a wide range of outcomes including mental disorders and diseases of the nervous system. As part of an in-depth analysis of mefloquine tolerability, a potential trend for increased propensity for neuropsychiatric adverse events in women was identified in a number of published clinical studies. This trend is corroborated by several cohort studies that identified female sex and low body weight as risk factors. CONCLUSION: The choice of anti-malarial drug should be an evidence-based decision that considers the profile of the individual traveller and the risk of malaria. Mefloquine is an important, first-line anti-malarial drug but it is crucial for prescribers to screen medical histories and inform mefloquine users of potential adverse events. Careful prescribing and observance of contraindications are essential. For some indications, there is currently no replacement for mefloquine available or in the pipeline

Potential impact of two landfills on the near vicinity with the use of bioindicators

The research deals in complex with the issue of landfilling and with a possible use of biological indicators to assess the impact of landfill on its surroundings. The problem is topical as landfilling remains the most spread technology for the disposal of communal waste in the Czech Republic. Assessing the impact of the landfill on its environs, we based our study on the selected bioindicators present in 1995 and in 2007 – 2010. During the period of vegetation biomonitoring, we did not detect any significant impact of the landfills on the biotic composition of the environment and no symptoms of leaf area chlorosis or necrosis that would have indicated the direct impact of sanitary landfills operation on the locality. The Štěpánovice landfill and Kuchyňky landfill have a functional system of drains combined with the system of ground sealing and the system of seepage water drainage pits. It further has a sophisticated system to check fencing, fly-offs and to collect lightweight waste. Both landfills are constructed and operated in compliance with the most modern and strictest requirements and standards

Testing the biodegradability and biodegradation rates of degradable/biodegradable plastics within simulated environment

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the biodegradability and biodegradation rates of ‘single-use' plastic bags available on the market and labeled as degradable/biodegradable. The test was carried out under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The project length was 20 months. The biodegradation results in the laboratory conditions demonstrate that none of the degradable/ biodegradable bags showed visual changes and/or were broken into pieces and none of them experienced any disintegration or degradation. The cellulose filter paper (CFP) completely degraded after 10 days in the aerobic conditions and after 5 month in the anaerobic conditions, implying that the conditions required for biodegradation to occur in a sampling environment were present

Disposal of unused tires in the Czech Republic

W ostatnich latach, z powodu szybkiego rozwoju społeczeństwa, rośnie popyt na opony. Wiąże się to ze wzrostem produkcji zużytych opon. Jednym z głównych problemów, związanch ze zużytymi oponami, jest znalezienie odpowiedniego sposobu ich unieszkodliwiania. Unieszkodliwianie zużytych opon powinno być w zgodzie z zasadą zrównoważonego rozwoju. Oznacza to, że produkcyjnie i energetycznie wymagające produkty muszą być po ukończeniu swojej żywotności w 100% recyklowane, a uzyskane w ten sposób komponenty ponownie wykorzystane. Niniejsza praca zajmuje się problematyką zużytych opon jako cennego surowca. Celem pracy jest opisanie sytuacji unieszkodliwiania zużytych opon w Republice Czeskiej, w Unii Europejskiej (dalej EU – od roku 2004 w 25 krajach członkowskich, od roku 2007 w 27 krajach członkowskich) oraz na świecie. W dalszej części praca dotyczy problematyki wtórnego odbioru zużytych opon w Republice Czeskiej.The worldwide production of waste tires (so called "end of life tires" - ELT) grows every year. The same situation is in the Czech Republic and in the countries of the European Union, but also in the world. Every year about 3.4 million tonnes of used tyres (part worn + end of life tyres) are generated in Europe, of which 3 million tonnes are either recycled or recovered. This amounts to approximately 300 million units. The composition and energy characteristics of tires are a significant source of material, energy and also raw material. Calorific value tires ranges from approximately 25 to approximately 32 MJ · kg-1. The calorific value is comparable with conventional fossil fuels, which is due to the high proportion of hydrocarbons (over 75%). For these reasons, an alternative tire conventional fuels. The aim of the research is focused on the second part of product life cycle – the tire at the end of lifetime. The main possibilities of utilization of used up tires after end of their life are as follows: retreading, recycling (production of granulate), energy and material utilization in a cement factory, pyrolysis (production of pyrolytic products) and formerly used waste storing. Another objective of the work is to describe the situation of waste tires in the Czech Republic in the European Union and the world and focus on the issue of return

Environmental impact of landfill on soils - the example of the Czech Republic

This study focuses on the impact of a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill on the environment. Phytotoxicity test was determined to assess ecotoxicity of landfill soil (Zdounky-Kuchyňky). White mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants were allowed to grow in earthen pots, treated with soil samples to study the potential effect of landfill to the plant biomass production. Twenty-one days from the establishment of the experiment, sprouts and the number of growing plants occurring in the earthen pots were counted. The conducted research shows that the soil from the area of the landfill is not phytotoxic. According to the results of this research, it is possible to claim that the Zdounky-Kuchyňky MSW landfill is not a considerable source of pollution for the environment in present days

Research of the biodegradability of degradable/biodegradable plastic material in various types of environments

Research of the biodegradability of degradable/biodegradable plastic material in various types of environments. Research was carried out in order to assess biodegradability of degradable/biodegradable materials made of HDPE and mixed with totally degradable plastic additive (TDPA additive) or made of polyethylene (PE) with the addition of pro-oxidant additive (d2w additive), advertised as 100% degradable or certified as compostable within various types of environments. Research conditions were: (i) controlled composting environment – laboratory-scale, (ii) real composting conditions – domestic compost bin, (iii) real composting conditions – industrial composting plant and (iv) landfill conditions. The results demonstrate that the materials made of HDPE and mixed with totally degradable plastic additive (TDPA additive) or made of polyethylene (PE) with the addition of pro- -oxidant additive (d2w additive) or advertised as 100% degradable did not biodegrade in any of the above-described conditions and remained completely intact at the end of the tests. Biodegradation of the certified compostable plastic bags proceeded very well in laboratory-scale conditions and in real composting conditions – industrial composting plant, however, these materials did not biodegrade in real composting conditions – domestic compost bin and landfill conditions

Wpływ zielonych dachów na jakość wody deszczowej oraz wybrane problemy ekoploatacyjne - studium przypadku

Shopping centres usually occupy large areas of land development. However, their roofs are rarely used for purposes related to rainwater management and introduction of active biological surfaces. In Bielsko-Biała, thanks to the initiative of the originator and architect, an intense green roof was created on the rooftop of a shopping centre. In addition to the primary role of the roof as a garden that makes the housing estate more attractive, it also collects some of the rainwater and delays its outflow to the sewage system. Plants, shrubs and trees planted on the roof are watered almost exclusively with water collected in a tank located under the building, intended for retaining rainwater. These waters are pretreated before they reach the tank, i.e. they filter through the root layer of plants growing on the roof, and through the biologically active layer (substrate). This paper highlights some of the operating problems of the selected green roof. The authors focused on assessing the toxicity of rainwater flowing down from hardened surfaces on the roof of the shopping centre and the area occupied by the green roof. Relevant toxicity studies on these waters have been carried out in this regard. The research hypothesis that rainwater percolating through the selected soil material is not toxic and stimulates test plant growth was put forward. Tests of semichronic toxicity with the seeds of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) prove that all the rainwater samples showed a stimulating effect on the test plant. The average root growth stimulation value during the period considered was –125%. It was confirmed that rainwater did not show toxic properties for white mustard seeds (Sinapis alba L.) and can be used for watering the garden constituting the green roof of a selected research facility. In the case of rainwater pH, it was found that the pH is adequate and has no toxic effect on the selected white mustard test plant (Sinapis alba L.). It confirms that the rainwater retained in this way can be used to water the green roof. The selected research facility meets the requirements set for green roofs