7259 Solid waste management - Material recycling

Introduction, basic definitions, The problem of municipal solid waste, institutional framework, technologies and main research directions, Composition, characterization and sampling of waste, Storage, collection and waste transfer, Solid waste sorting, Recovery and reuse of materials, Final processing and disposal of non-useful materials, Processing diagrams, Environmental problems from the uncontrolled disposal of waste, Sanitary landfills, Leachate and Biogas Management, Examples, case studies and exercises, Special cases (hazardous waste)
ECTS : 4
Language : el
Learning Outcomes : A. General Description ""Solid Waste Management – Material Recycling"" is a specialization course in Environmental Engineering & Geoenvironment. The course introduces undergraduate students to the basic concepts and methodological tools required to understand the processes and procedures involved in solid waste management with an emphasis on municipal solid waste. The course content aims to understand the social, environmental, and political dimensions of solid waste management. Both the current European and national institutional framework are presented and analyzed, as well as the available technologies and future research objectives in this field. All actions related to solid waste management are analyzed, such as determining the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of waste, methods of storage, collection, transportation, and transshipment of waste. Special emphasis is given to solid waste separation methods, flow diagrams of separation units, and the processes of final treatment of solid waste. Furthermore, the principles of construction and operation of landfills (LFs) are presented and analyzed, and an in-depth study of the main environmental impacts from LF operation, leachate, and biogas production is conducted. Through examples and exercises, the quantities of leachate and biogas produced from LFs are calculated, and management measures and operational monitoring of the site until final restoration are explained. B. Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: • understand the processes of a municipal solid waste management system • understand the concept of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of municipal solid waste and their sources • know the basic systems for temporary storage, collection, and transportation of municipal solid waste • know the environmental impacts of municipal solid waste management systems and ways to address them • possess basic knowledge of the processes through which mechanical, thermal, and biological treatment of municipal solid waste is achieved • know the legislation and management bodies of municipal solid waste • know the basic principles of design, construction, and operation of a municipal solid waste landfill • understand the basic concepts of environmental protection • participate in the design and study and supervise the construction and operation of LFs.