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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 – written test at the end of this study course.
2. Skills to select appropriate measures to solve specific waste management problems – written test at the end of this study course.

3. Competence to offer specific waste management technological solutions and to substantiate the choice based on the principles of environmental protection - 1.-9. practical assignments, written test at the end of this study course.

Course Content(Calendar)

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

Part time extramural studies:
All topics specified for full time studies are accomplished, but the number of contact hours is one half of the number
specified in the calendar

Requirements for awarding credit points

1. During the study semester students should complete all practical assignment.

2. At the end of the study semester a written test about a theoretical part of the study course has to be successfully passed.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

In the test, you must answer 20 questions in writing. For each correctly answered question, you can receive 0.5 points. The test is considered passed if at least 7 points are received.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The study course includes 9 practical assignments and one test. In order for a student to receive a pass (credit), the following conditions must be met:
1. The average score of all practical assignments must not be lower than 70%;
2. At least 70% of the maximum score must be obtained in the test;
3. All tasks and assignments included in the study course must be completed.

Students who do not meet these criteria will not receive the credit.

Compulsory reading

1. Atkritumu saimniecība / [Latvijas Atkritumu saimniecības asociācija]. Rīga : Latvijas Atkritumu saimniecības asociācija, 2007. 132 lpp..
2. Bioloģiski sadalāmo atkritumu apsaimniekošana. [Rīga : Latvijas Atkritumu saimniecības asociācija, 2007]. 102 lpp.

3.Vide un ilgtspējīga attīstība / Māra Kļaviņa un Jāņa Zaļokšņa redakcijā. Rīga : LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2010, 334 lpp.

Further reading

1. 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.

2. 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.

Notes

This study course is compulsory for professional bachelor study program “Environment and Water Management”. There is no prerequisite knowledge required for this course.