VTEI / Waste management

Waste management

Fundamental revision of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive provokes conflicting reactions from European Union member states

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Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21st May 1991, the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD), entered into force 32 years ago, which is a respectable age for a legal regulation. Since then, through the consistent implementation of its requirements, good results in water protection have been achieved in practice. Between 1990 and 2014, there was a reduction in the amount of pollutants in treated and discharged urban waste water for organic pollution expressed as BOD5 by 61 %, for total nitrogen by 32 %, and for total phosphorus by 44 %. The extensive support pro-vided to cities and municipalities from EU financial instruments as well as from national sources and the relatively strict application of sanctions have led, according to data published by the European Commission (EC), to the fact that currently 98 % of waste water in the EU is effectively collected and removed of and 92 % properly treated. Until now, the Directive’s requirements have primarily focused on centralized systems for the collection, removal, and treatment of waste water in agglomerations producing loads at the level of 2,000 population equivalent (PE) and more.

Food waste issues in relation to the mandatory reporting of its production for the needs of the Waste Framework Directive

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From this year, the European Union member states are obliged to introduce preventive measures that will reduce the amount of food waste at all stages of the food chain. The presented paper deals with this current topic, presents possible procedures for obtaining data on food waste production at various stages of the food chain and shows the results of our own research and analysis
about the usability of these data for reporting obligations and demonstrating
future reductions.

Grey water footprint of pollution discharged from wastewater treatment plants in the Czech Republic registered in the water balance in the period 2002–2018 – data set

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Koncept vodní stopy byl představen v roce 2002 [1] a dnes je jedním z rozšířených nástrojů pro hodnocení udržitelnosti užívání vodních zdrojů [2]. Vodní stopa patří do rodiny environmentálních stop [3], které umožňují podívat se na problémy užívání přírodních zdrojů z jiné perspektivy. Šedá vodní stopa je kvalitativní ukazatel převádějící vypouštěné znečištění na objem vody potřebný k jeho naředění na koncentrace neškodné pro životní prostředí [4].

Study of the effectiveness of the small municipal sourcess sewage sludge extensive stabilization for their use as a fertilizer

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The article is devoted to the presentation of partial results of a study aimed at determining the potential use of extensive sludge dewatering technology for small municipal WWTPs (up to 1000 PE) in the conditions of the Czech Republic. The study has shown that the use of technology based on extensive sludge dewatering and their stabilization in sludge dewatering reed beds with suitable wetland vegetation can be an alternative to other technologies. Especially in combination with constructed wetland (CW) based WWTPs, which are characterized by lower sludge production.

Druhy popelů z MTZ

Ash management in the circular economy of municipalities

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Ash from small heat sources is produced by burning solid fuels such as wood and coal. Based on a survey conducted by the article authors, ash from small heat sources can be considered the most significant waste stream in smaller municipalities in the Czech Republic. This material has considerable potential for reducing waste production, landfilling and consumption of primary raw materials.

Municipal waste management in the light of new regulations

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Modern municipal services in solid waste management usually include cleaning and cleaning of public spaces, collection, transport, recycling and disposal of generated waste. Solid waste management services are among the most expensive and complicated municipal work systems for the public. At the same time, it can also be the least awarded communal service. Water, electricity, firefighting and police protection meet the daily needs of residents and businesses fundamentally and immediately. Therefore these services are given a much higher priority by the community and its leadership. Waste management services are usually one of the most minor „fragrant“ public services, but their flawless functionality and efficiency have far-reaching implications.

Littering

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This article is available in Czech only. For translation or more information on this topic, please contact author.   Úvod Při nakládání s odpady a údržbě veřejných ploch zainteresované strany čelí problému výskytu litteringu. Littering je popisován jako ekologický, sociální a estetický problém, ale málokdy je zmiňován i jeho ekonomický dopad. Uvědomění si rozsahu jeho vlivu je prvním důležitým… Read more »

Possibilities of combined ways of treatment for selected waste types using an experimental equipment for physical waste treatment with the intention of their further use

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This article presents possibilities of a unique device for industrial waste treatment using a patented process, and outlines possible future directions. This device, using different physical processes, individually or in synergy, e.g. combined effects of ultrasonic waves, focused microwave field, arc discharges, electrostatic field and the exposure to ultra-violet radiation, is intended to degrade dangerous substances in waste, reducing its hazardous properties for the environment and to prepare the waste for future applications (material or energy), i.e. separately or in combination with other technology processes, such as biotechnology.

Determination of selected illicit drugs in wastewater using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

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The wastewater-based epidemiology approach to the analysis of illicit drugs was conceptualized in 2001 and for the first time was applied in 2005 for cocaine estimation in Italy. Further, other illicit drugs as heroine, cannabis and amphetamine have been estimated.

Monitoring odpadové obslužnosti pro tříděné složky komunálního odpadu na území Hlavního města Prahy

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Management každé obce, kraje, potažmo státu potřebuje ke svému rozhodování a plánování základní vstupní data, která dokladují aktuální skutečnost. Nejjednodušší způsob, kterým lze získat data o produkci odpadu a nakládání s ním, je monitoring v předem nastavených pravidelných intervalech.

Quality of sludges and wastes from household and small wastewater treatment plants and their utilization in agriculture management

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The aim of this article is to introduce partial sections of the research projects TA02020128 and TA02021032 (Technology Agency of the Czech Republic). These parts of the projects pay attention to the issue of quality of sludge and other wastes produced in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) using activated sludge process, anaerobic processes (including septics) and extensive (natural) wastewater treatment plants (with horizontal subsurface flow reed-beds), which also include mechanical pre-treatment.