64842 - Waste Management

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will be aware of the social and regulative problematic of management of waste materials and of their disposal. She/he will know the most important methodologies to reuse products at their end of life and to recycle waste materials. The student will be aware of the principal methodologies to treat and reuse waste waters. The student is expected to be able to: propose recycling and reuse of waste materials from both industrial and generic origin; 2. propose good solution for the tratment of waste waters in the perspective of thier reuse; 3. assess the respect by the processes implemented of of waste materials regulations

Course contents

This CU is composed of three modules which are taught autonomously:

(1) Life Cycle Assessment:

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an internationally standardized methodology to evaluate the eco-sustainability of processes and products over their life-cycle, supporting comparisons between alternatives and providing a rank of environmental priorities in the investigated systems. It is used as a quantitative basis for decision-making in industry, academia and policy contexts.

(2) Sustainability and Circularity of Material Flows

In this module students learn to apply material flow analysis to important raw materials used in the chemical industry. These will be used to develop indicators for circularity and sustainability of chemical processes.

(3) Recycling and Recovery

In this module, students learn the difference between the two terms (recycling and recovery) and the main processes to employ to treat and valorise by-products, waste and residues, according to the hierarchy suggested by the European Union.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes and selected papers will be available for students.

Recommended reading:

ISO 14040 and ISO 14044

O. Jolliet, M. Saadé-Sbeih, S. Shaked, A. Jolliet, P. Crettaz, "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment", CRC Press, 2016

Brunner, P.H.; Rechberger, H. “Practical Handbook of Material Flow Analysis”. Lewis Publisher, 2004.

John Pichtel, “Waste Management Practices. Municipal, Hazardous, and Industrial”, II ed., CRC Press, 2014.

Teaching methods

Expositive lectures presenting the basic concepts and state of the art in the field, and exercise seminars.

Assessment methods

Students will be evaluated by written tests, multiple choice questions.

Teaching tools

The course will be taught with the aid of computer support for the projection of text and images. The slides will be left available to the students, usually uploaded on the course platform (Moodle).

Office hours

See the website of Fabrizio Passarini

See the website of Victor Garrido Mateo

See the website of Maria Clara Semedo Da Silva Costa