Introduction:This study focused on assessing the perceptions of consumers on plastic bags tax levy in peri-urban areas of Eswatini, using Kwaluseni and Logoba chiefdoms as case studies.Methods:The areas of key focus include knowledge of and attitudes of consumers towards plastic bags pollution, strategies employed by consumers to manage plastic bags, consumers’ willingness to pay for plastic bags and what Eswatini Environment Authority has done so far in controlling plastic bags pollution.Results:A total of 165 households, (99 from Kwaluseni and 66 from Logoba) were conveniently sampled and interviewed with the aid of a questionnaire. Community leaders and an environmental inspector from Eswatini Environment Authority were also interviewed. The findings show that the use of plastic bags is increasing in both chiefdoms (92.93% at Kwaluseni and 92.42% at Logoba). Concerning what respondents do with the plastics bags after ferrying their goods home, 25% at Kwaluseni and 19% at Logoba of the respondents claimed to reuse some bags and throw away the rest.Conclusion:With regard to willingness to pay, the findings indicate that 49.70% of the respondents are willing to buy plastic bags.
Background:Environment-friendly materials attract attention whilst the construction sector causes excessive global energy consumption and emission of greenhouse gas. Renewable plant-based biomaterials, which have a low environmental impact, are very beneficial in order to prevent environmental pollution and to preserve natural resources. Hempcrete provides environment-friendly construction materials as well as thermal and hygroscopic properties.Objective:This paper presents a review of hempcrete research about understanding the environmental effects and construction methods of hempcrete; moreover, the benefits and innovations it has provided throughout its life cycle, have been investigated.Methods:For this purpose, experimental studies of hempcrete were compared to each other in all aspects in order to determine density, thermal conductivity, vapor permeability, hygrometric behavior, durability, acoustic absorption, mechanical properties and life cycle analysis. Moreover, binder characteristics, hemp shiv proportions, water content, curing conditions and results have been focused on to explain the benefits of hempcrete.Results:The results obtained show that hempcrete has high porosity and vapor permeability, medium-low density, low thermal conductivity, Young’s modulus and compressive strength.Conclusion:Based upon the findings of the studies reviewed, hempcrete is an advantageous material in buildings with its extraordinary thermal and hygrometric behaviour. Hemp is also an eco-friendly and economical plant-based raw material for the construction industry.
Aims:This paper introduces a sustainable way of using Recycled Glass Powder (RGP) as a cement replacement in concrete.Background:In Australia, almost one million tons of glass waste is collected annually for recycling purpose. However, the inconsistency in chemical composition and the presence of impurities make glass recycling process difficult. Besides, the lack of local recycling plants coupled with high transportation costs makes the recycling process expensive.Objective:For the successful use of recycled glass in concrete for industrial applications, it is therefore, important to characterize the physical and chemical properties of recycled glass collected by the local councils. Furthermore, the effects of replacement levels of cement with recycled glass on the strength and durability properties of concrete need to be assessed as well.Methods:Mechanical strength and durability properties of concrete with 10%, 20% and 30% of RGP as a partial cement replacement were tested and compared with typical concrete and fly ash blend concrete. The relative strength test of mortar was conducted to assess the reactivity of glass powder with the cement.Results:RGP concrete showed an improvement in strength over time like fly ash. Using RGP significantly improved the resistance against chloride penetration with increasing glass powder content. Furthermore, RGP also met the relative strength requirement as per Australian Standard requirement to be considered as a supplementary cementitious material.Conclusion:This research showed that the use of RGP as cement replacement is feasible for replacement level up to 10%. The outcome of this research aims to contribute towards sustainable development by reducing the consumption of cement, as well as reduction of glass waste going into landfill.
Introduction: Infectious medical waste management in hospitals is very important. The potential impacts of infectious medical waste discharged from hospitals on populations and society are considered greater than those of general industrial waste. Therefore, the estimation of infectious medical waste discharged from healthcare facilities should be accurate. The present study reports the quantity of infectious medical waste discharged per ward per day per inpatient by weight. Methods: In medical wards, the digestive surgery ward discharged the most infectious medical waste. In addition, the digestive surgery ward had the highest quantity of infectious medical waste per day per inpatient. Infectious medical waste quantity estimates based on beds were lower than those based on inpatients, with minimum and maximum underestimates of 6% and 21%, respectively. Results & Discussion: Infectious medical waste discharged per patient per day was low in the outpatient department. The operating room and the emergency department discharged 10-fold more infectious medical waste than the wards. The operating room, the emergency department, and the clinical inspection department accounted for 60% of infectious medical waste discharged from hospitals. Conclusion: Notably, there are considerable differences among departments when evaluating hospital waste, particularly in hospitals with surgery and critical care departments, which is different in the case of evaluations based on bed counts.
Introduction:Canola is an important agricultural crop generally grown for oil and biofuel generation.Materials and Methods:The agroindustrial solid wastes of oregano and cumin wastes were used in a vegetation experiment to determine their effect on the nutrition, yield and quality of the canola plant (Brassica napusL.) The experiment was performed on 12 plots of 6 m2and was conducted with four treatments of composted oregano and cumin wastes, mineral fertilization and control in three replications. Physical and chemical properties and macro-micro nutrients were determined in the soils at the beginning and the end of the experiment.Results and Discussion:The leaves showed sufficient levels of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and low sufficient levels of Na, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn. The boron content of the leaves was insufficient. Manganese and B were affected significantly by the applications. The applications did not affect plant height, shoot and carob number per plant, and seed numbers per carob significantly. Statistically, the highest number of plants per m2was observed in the plots to which cumin wastes were applied, and these plots also showed the maximum yield.Conclusion:Seed yield, protein and oil percentages were not affected significantly by the applications.
