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ENVR07030 2019 Waste Management

General Details

Full Title
Waste Management
Transcript Title
Waste Management
Code
ENVR07030
Attendance
N/A %
Subject Area
ENVR - Environmental Science
Department
ESCI - Environmental Science
Level
07 - NFQ Level 7
Credit
05 - 05 Credits
Duration
Semester
Fee
€
Start Term
2019 - Full Academic Year 2019-20
End Term
9999 - The End of Time
Author(s)
Ann-Marie Duddy, Frances Lucy, Cait Coyle, Ana Vale
Programme Membership
SG_SECOL_B07 202000 Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with Ecology SG_SECOL_H08 202000 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Science with Ecology SG_SENVI_J07 201900 Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management (Add-on) SG_SECOL_B07 202100 Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with Ecology SG_SECOL_H08 202100 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Science with Ecology SG_SENVI_J07 202300 Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management (Add-on)
Description

This module introduces waste management at national, regional and organisational level.  It covers waste classification and the concept of the waste management hierarchy and its application in various sectoral areas.  Waste prevention/minimisation, re-use, recovery and disposal options and technologies are addressed and their socio-economic and environmental impacts assessed.  The regulatory framework is also presented. 

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;

1.

Describe the various waste classification systems in common use and evaluate their usefulness in various contexts

2.

Describe and evaluate the various mechanisms that are used to reduce the quantity and environmental impact of specified waste streams

3.

Identify the operational and compliance monitoring requirements necessary to safeguard the environment from selected large scale waste facilities.

4.

Identify the various legislative requirements for producers and holders of waste and for waste hauliers

5.

Produce a scientific report suitable for a scientific/non-scientific audience based on a site visit to a waste management facility

6.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the application of various waste management frameworks in manufacturing facilities.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

The students will be exposed to a blend of learning activities e.g. online lectures (via adobe connect or similar), independent learning and directed learning. This approach is expected to address various student learning needs. Moodle will be used to upload educational material (e.g. powerpoint presentations, recordings of online lectures and supplementary reading material) and a means of assessment (e.g. quizzes, uploading assignments and journals). The online delivery will be blended with workshops to bring the learners together to facilitate group learning.

Module Assessment Strategies

1. Online MCQs (4 in total) are given every 3 weeks to encourage continual familiarisation with the learning material provided on Moodle.

2. The students will prepare a site report based on a site visit to a waste facility site or an industrial manufacturing facility. The report must include a schematic of the facility together with information under various specified headings.

3. The students will evaluate an application for a waste licence/IPCL or IEL  and prepare a written report on proposed resource efficiency and waste management strategies contained within the application. EPA Guidelines and BAT Conclusions will be used as reference material for the evaluation of the application.

Repeat Assessments

1. A common date is selected at the end of the Module for students who have missed an MCQ throughout the semester.

2. If a student misses the site visit then they will have to arrange a visit to a local waste management facility or manufacturing facility and write a report on the visit.

 

Indicative Syllabus

1. Describe the various waste classification systems in common use and evaluate their usefulness in various contexts

-Waste Definitions, EWC/LOW codes, hazardous/non-hazardous wastes

2. Describe and evaluate the various mechanisms that are used to reduce the quantity and environmental impact of specified waste streams

-Overview of the main waste generating sectors in Ireland

-Characteristics and environmental impacts associated with waste streams generated from specified sectors

-Elements of an effective waste management strategy

-Waste Management Hierarchy

-Introduction to MSW waste management techniques including at source segregation, transfer stations, MBT, composting, anaerobic digestion, incineration and landfill

3. Identify the operational and compliance monitoring requirements necessary to safeguard the environment from selected large scale waste facilities.

-IPC/IEL and the application of BAT

-Waste Permits and Certificates of Registration

-Compliance and operational monitoring

 

4. Identify the various legislative requirements for producers and holders of waste and for waste hauliers

-Waste legislation

-Producer responsibility initiatives and their role in reducing waste volumes and the environmental impacts associated with specified waste streams

-Roles and statutory responsibilities of various stakeholders in waste management facilities including local authorities, EPA, public sector, private sector, producers and holders of waste and waste hauliers

5. Produce a scientific report suitable for a scientific/non-scientific audience based on a site visit to a waste management facility

-Site visit to a waste facility

6. Evaluate the effectiveness of the application of various waste management frameworks in manufacturing facilities

-Resource value of waste

-Circular economy

-Application of the waste management hierarchy/BAT

-Cleaner Production

 

 

 

 

Coursework & Assessment Breakdown

Coursework & Continuous Assessment
50 %
End of Semester / Year Formal Exam
50 %

Coursework Assessment

Title Type Form Percent Week Learning Outcomes Assessed
1 Multiple Choice (x 4 MCQ sessions @5% each) Coursework Assessment Assessment 20 % OnGoing 1,3,4
2 Written Report of site visit Coursework Assessment Assignment 15 % Week 7 2,3,5
3 Evaluation of IPC Licence Coursework Assessment Assessment 15 % Week 11 2,3,4,6

End of Semester / Year Assessment

Title Type Form Percent Week Learning Outcomes Assessed
1 Final Exam Final Exam Closed Book Exam 50 % End of Semester 1,2,3,4,6
             
             

Distance Learning Mode Workload


Type Location Description Hours Frequency Avg Workload
Directed Learning Online On-line lectures, assignments and directed reading 1.5 Weekly 1.50
Workshop / Seminar Offsite Facility Site visit and lecture 7.5 Once Per Semester 0.50
Independent Learning Not Specified Researching, reading. reflecting and writing reports 4 Weekly 4.00
Total Distance Learning Average Weekly Learner Contact Time 2.00 Hours

Required & Recommended Book List

Required Reading
2015-09-10 Moving towards a circular economy Nordic Council of Ministers
ISBN 9789289343312 ISBN-13 9289343311

The Nordic Waste Prevention Group under the Nordic Council of Ministers initiated this project "Moving towards a circular economy successful Nordic business models". The overall objective is to make the circular economy thinking more mainstream in the Nordic countries and hereby accelerate the development of circular economy in the Nordic region. The project consisted of two activities: - The organisation of a large multi-stakeholder workshop with participation of more than 60 actors relevant for the circular economy, which was held in in Copenhagen in April 2015. - The release of a report including a case-catalogue with 18 examples of Nordic businesses, which are part of the Nordic circular economy as well as short policy recommendations, which were suggested at the workshop. In this report, these 18 cases as well as the workshop and its recommendations are presented.

Recommended Reading
2009-09-22 Handbook of Pollution Prevention and Cleaner Production Vol. 1: Best Practices in the Petroleum Industry William Andrew
ISBN 9780815520368 ISBN-13 0815520360

This new Handbook provides a series of reference guides to cleaner production methods, technologies, and practices for key industry sectors. Each volume covers, for each industry sector: * the manufacturing technologies * waste management * pollution * methods for estimating and reporting emissions * treatment and control technologies * worker and community health risk exposures * cost data for pollution management * cleaner production and prevention alternatives Best Practices in The Petroleum Industry provides an overview of refineries and gas plant operations and identifies the key Environmental Aspects, supported by case studies of major incidents that resulted in catastrophic releases of oil and refined products, and a critical assessment of the methodology and calculation procedures that the industry relies on in preparing emissions inventories. The authors offer alternative approaches to providing more accurate emissions estimates, and guidelines on cleaner production and pollution prevention practices for improving overall environmental performance. Overview of the key Environmental Aspects of gas plant operations and refineries Case studies of major incidents that resulted in catastrophic releases of oil and refined products, including the Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969 and the EXXON Valdez incident Provides guidelines on cleaner production and pollution prevention practices for improving overall environmental performance

Required Reading
2011-08-30 Industrial Waste Treatment Handbook Elsevier
ISBN 9780080459868 ISBN-13 0080459862

Industrial Waste Treatment Handbook provides the most reliable methodology for identifying which waste types are produced from particular industrial processes and how they can be treated. There is a thorough explanation of the fundamental mechanisms by which pollutants become dissolved or become suspended in water or air. Building on this knowledge, the reader will learn how different treatment processes work, how they can be optimized, and the most efficient method for selecting candidate treatment processes. Utilizing the most up-to-date examples from recent work at one of the leading environmental and science consulting firms, this book also illustrates approaches to solve various environmental quality problems and the step-by-step design of facilities. Practical applications to assist with the selection of appropriate treatment technology for target pollutants Includes case studies based on current work by experts in waste treatment, disposal, management, environmental law and data management Provides glossary and table of acronyms for easy reference

Module Resources

Non ISBN Literary Resources

Best Practice Guidelines in the areas of resource efficiency and waste management are under continual review.   The student will be directed towards guidance notes from the following Agencies; Environmental Protection Agency, UK Environment Agency, EU IPPC Bureau , Cre and also towards case studies from the National Waste Prevention Programme, Clean Technology Centre and the CGPP and EPPS  (see links and urls below

 

 

Journal Resources

Students will be directed to Journal article titles, where relevant

URL Resources
Other Resources

PC, Broadband.

Bus for site visits

Access to waste management site and industrial manufacturing facility. 

Additional Information

Participants are encouraged to attend all workshops; normally there is one workshop in this subject.