The rationale and purpose of this module is firstly to provide an understanding of current waste management options, their benefits and associated problems, and their place in the hierarchy of waste management. Thereafter, students will be provided with an understanding of the science and technology underlying solid waste management including the problems encountered. The module will also raise students' understanding and appreciation of the locational issues for different types of waste processing plants, including the NIMBY Syndrome, and of the technology of waste to energy systems.

[Waste and Solid Waste Management]: Relationship between a developed/developing society and the environment; Definition of liquid, solid and atmospheric pollution; Environmental pollution and hazards of solid waste mismanagement; Brief history of waste management; Categories of solid waste. [Solid Waste Properties]: Physical properties; chemical properties. [Hierarchy of Waste Management]. [Prevention, Reuse and Minimisation]. [Recycling]: Terminology; Materials recovery facility (hand-sorting, screening, size reduction etc.); Technical aspects to recycling of paper, glass and plastics. [Energy Recovery]: Energy and Mass Balances, Reactions and reactors, Incineration, Operation of a Mass-Burn Facility, Dust collection devices (cyclones, ESP, baghouses, scrubbers). Quantification of recoverable energy, Environmental considerations [Waste Minimisation]. [Hazardous Waste Management]. [Waste to energy systemsDisposal]: Incineration, Landfill operation, NIMBY, energy recovery in landfills, gas production and capture, leachate control landfill, bioreactor landfill; composting. [Hazardous Waste Management]. Dust collection devices (cyclones, ESP, baghouses, scrubbers). Leachate control and gas capture. [Waste recycling ]techniques and economics. [Re-use] of waste materials. The module content and learning outcomes link to several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) as follows: SDG3 Good Health and Wellbeing (module covers waste management strategies that minimise hazards to human health); SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production (the circular economy is described along with sustainable waste management practices); SDG14 Life Below Water (the effects of plastic pollution on sea life is covered in the module); SDG15 Life on Land (the effect of poorly designed landfills on the environmental health of surrounding areas are taught).

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to 1. Explain the need for taking a systems or holistic approach to environmental management i.e. looking at inputs, metabolism and outputs of industry and how resources are used and are conserved/reused/recycled/disposed of at each of these stages. 2. Demonstrate and understanding of how decisions made at each of these stages impacts on the other stages. 3. Describe the operation of a variety of particle removal devices (e.g. cyclones, electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters, scrubbers) and compare these in terms of efficiency and performance for a variety of waste streams. 4. Evaluate the current success of various environmental management initiatives at local, regional and national levels using case studies from up to date reading. 5. Describe how environmental policy is generated at national level and how this interfaces with EU policy. 6. Describe the hierarchy of waste management and various strategies used for solid waste management at each step. 7. Describe the operation of a mass burn facility. 8. Describe the operation of a sanitary landfill and a bioreactor landfill. 9. Demonstrate an understanding of the technical aspects related to how paper, plastic and glass are recycled.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to recognise and appreciate the issues involved in waste management and the often competing position of all relevant stakeholders.

On successful completion of this module, students will have developed technical report writing skills; will be able to identify and evaluate relevant and reliable sources of information; and will have developed skills in team work.

This module will be taught during the semester via a formal interactive lecturing mode and will be assessed via in-term assignment(s) and an end-of-semester exam. The in-term assignment(s) are designed to develop students' adaptive, innovative, problem-solving and communication skills.