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Waste Management

Course developer

Course abstract

The topics explored during this study course include but are not limited to waste management and evaluation of the magnitude of problems. Strategy of waste management. Impact of wastes on the environment. Problems and priorities. Type, characteristics and specifics of the waste. Collection methods, sorting, transport, recycling possibilities. Disposal problems of the different types of the waste including solid and hazardous wastes. Design, operation and management of landfills.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Upon the completion of this course students will have:
1. Knowledge and understanding about the main problems in waste management, and understanding of waste management in relation to environmental quality issues – test.
2. Skills to select appropriate measures to solve specific waste management problems – independent work.
3. Competence to offer specific waste management technological solutions and to substantiate the choice based on the principles of environmental protection - 1.-10. practical assignments, examination at the end of this study course.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Waste management, strategy and assessment. Conditions for the development of waste management, 3h
2. Waste impact on the environment. Solutions for environmental improvements. Problems and priorities in waste management, 3h
3. The legislation of waste management in Latvia, 1h. Test, 2h
4. Composition and characterizing parameters of waste. Household waste. Biodegradable waste, 3h.
5. 1st practical assignment (Calculation of waste generation in the future), 3h.
6. Options for waste reduction, 3h.
7. Waste storage and collection, 1h. 2nd practical assignment (Routes for waste collection), 2h.
8. Waste transportation, 1h. 3rd practical assignment (Waste transportation), 2h.
9. Waste recycling. The collection of the sorted waste and transfer stations, 3h.
10. 4th practical assignment (Transfer un transport operation analysis), 3h.
11. Long-term disposal of waste, 1h. 5th practical assignment (Calculations of required area for a landfill), 2h.
12. Establishment conditions for a landfill, 1h. 6th practical assignment (Calculations of the amount of cover material for a landfill), 2h.
13. Management of a landfill, 1h. 7th practical assignment (Compaction of waste), 2h.
14. Processes in a landfill, 1h. 8th practical assignment (Estimations of biogas emissions from a landfill), 2h.
15. Methods for waste recycling. Composting of biodegradable waste, 1h. 9th practical assignment (Determination of the compost technology), 2h.

16. Burning of waste to produce energy, 1h. 10th practical assignment (Estimation of the energy potential for a landfill waste), 2h.

Requirements for awarding credit points

1. During the study semester students should:
- pass all tests;
- complete all practical assignment and independent work.
2. At the end of the study semester a written examination about a theoretical part of the study course has to be successfully passed.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The student should independently study the Latvian waste management legislation and should complete test of five questions. The tests are recognized as passed if at least three questions are answered correctly. Each correct answer is evaluated with one point.
During the independent work the student should analyze possible solutions in the field of bio-waste reduction and prepare a report. This report should consist of at least 10 pages. This report will be evaluated up to ten points.
At the end of the study semester the students have to complete a written examination about a theoretical part of the study course by providing answers to 10 questions. Each correct answer is evaluated with two points The written examination is recognized as passed if

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final grade upon completion of this study course will depend on the number of points obtained during the semester.
Grading in the 10-point scale:
18 points - 4 (almost satisfactory);
19 ... 21 points - 5 (satisfactory);
22 ... 24 points - 6 (almost good);
25 ... 27 points - 7 (good);
28 ... 30 points - 8 (very good);
31 ... 33 points - 9 (excellent);
34 ... 35 points - 10 (with distintion).

Compulsory reading

Atkritumu saimniecība / [Latvijas Atkritumu saimniecības asociācija]. Rīga : Latvijas Atkritumu saimniecības asociācija, 2007. 132 lpp..
Bioloģiski sadalāmo atkritumu apsaimniekošana. [Rīga : Latvijas Atkritumu saimniecības asociācija, 2007]. 102 lpp.
Gemste I., Vucāns A. Notekūdeņu dūņas, Jelgava, 2010.- 276. lpp..
Biogāze : rokasgrāmata / D. Blumberga ... [u.c.] ; redaktori: Ivars Veidenbergs ... [u.c.] ; no angļu valodas tulkojusi Inga Ivanova. [Rīga] : [Ekodoma], [2009] 1 tiešsaistes resurss (155 lapas).
Vide un ilgtspējīga attīstība / Māra Kļaviņa un Jāņa Zaļokšņa redakcijā. Rīga : LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2010, 334 lpp.

Further reading

Landfilling: / authors: Lars Bengtsson, Bo Carlsson, Paer Elander ... [a.o.]; Department of water resources engineering Lund Institute of Technology / Lund University. Lund, 1996. -202 p.
Klimata izmaiņas, ko rada antropogēnie procesi - atkritumu un notekūdeņu apsaimniekošanā / [Rūta Bendere ... u.c. ; redaktore Ārija Ozola]. Rīga : Latvijas Atkritumu saimniecības asociācija, 2016 145 lpp.
Čakste I. Iesaiņojuma materiālu ķīmija, Jelgava, 2008.-112 lpp.
Atjaunojamie energoresursi un to izmantošana Latvijā : [rakstu krājums] / [Pēteris Šipkovs, Gaidis Klāvs, Jānis Kalnačs, Gunta Šlihta ... u.c.] ; Latvijas Atkritumu saimniecības asociācija. Rīga : SIA "NRJ reklāmai", 2011. 94 lpp.

Notes

This study course is compulsory for students of the master’s degree programme in Environmental, Water and Land Engineering.