2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
CIVE5557M Solid Waste Management
15 creditsClass Size: 70
Module manager: Dr. C. Velis
Email: c.velis@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is mutually exclusive with
| CIVE5040M | Solid Waste Management |
This module is not approved as an Elective
Module summary
The solid waste management (SWM) module offers a comprehensive introduction to the services and infrastructure needed to deliver for this major public good. The curriculum is highly customised to balance needs and realities on the ground of both developed and developing countries. It offers a step-by-step approach, with everything eventually culminating an integrated and systems understanding of SWM. The emphasis is on municipal solid waste (MSW), but all the environmental engineering and wider scientific principles are addressed in the learning outcomes so that any type of solid waste can be tackled. Some unique features of the module involve understanding of all core technologies used in practice, but also incorporating the informal recycling sector (IRS) activities, prevalent in the Global South and a state-of-the-art introduction to plastic pollution and its prevention.Objectives
The module aims to provide a holistic and systematic approach to the design of solid waste management infrastructure and services, focusing on bringing in together all the necessary main engineering, in an integrated and systems approach; while also embedding SWM systems in the wider socioeconomic and sustainability contexts, and aiming at a practical and real-world application.Learning outcomes
On completion of the module students will have:
1. Comprehensive understanding and critical awareness of the science and engineering underpinning environmental engineering solutions to solid waste management problems.
2. Critical awareness of the municipal solid waste management current challenges, (e.g. recycling and plastics pollution) and possible engineering solutions at local and global scale, with emphasis on developing countries and global comparisons (cities performance benchmarking).
3. Awareness of how solid waste management solutions are promoting overall sustainability at systems level and application of quantification methods (e.g. material flow analysis principles).
4. Ability to generate solid waste management strategic plans al local authority level, taking into account wider socioeconomic considerations.
Skills outcomes
Upon successful completion of the module, students would benefit from gaining valuable transferable skills such as: problem solving, critical thinking, independent working, communications skills, team working, applying to case studies, information access, technology solutions, and systems evaluation.
Syllabus
The module includes core knowledge and technical skills development on:
- Characteristics of municipal solid waste arising and key challenges relating to at local and global scale.
- Science and engineering aspects of disposal (landfill) and processing: mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) plants, energy from waste (EfW: combustion); and mechanical recycling plants (MRF).
- Specific challenges for SWM relating to developing and low income countries (Global South)
- Challenges arising from poorly managed waste (plastics pollution, marine litter, impact of drainage and sanitation systems).
- Basic principles and practice on how to obtain (sampling) and analyse (statistics) waste-related information.
- Producing a waste management strategy and action plan for a local authority.
More specific elements of the curriculum include:
- Current waste generation rates for municipal solid waste (MSW) collection and potential recycling options, in developed and low- income countries.
- Waste characterisation: properties of the major waste streams (e.g. calorific waste, biogenic compost, biodegradability, heavy metals, chlorine content) and how this impacts on potential processing options;
- Landfill - policy, legislation and regulation, site selection criteria, design and operation.
- Mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) technologies, including composting and biodrying - design and optimisation.
- Materials recovery facilities (MRF) - design and optimisation.;
- Thermal treatment (EFW): combustion EfW plants design and operation principles
- Waste processing outputs: recyclates, solid-recovered fuels (SRF), compost;
- Sampling plans
- Statistical analysis of waste-related data
- Material flow analysis, and risk assessment.
- Wasteaware Cities Benchmark Indicators (WABI) methodology, Waste flow diagram (WFD), and the wider .integrated sustainable waste management.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Workshop | 2 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Consultation | 8 | 1.00 | 7.50 |
| Interactive Lecture | 28 | 1.00 | 28.00 |
| Practical | 2 | 1.50 | 3.00 |
| Private study hours | 107.50 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 42.50 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150.00 | ||
Private study
107.5 hours extended reading and exam preparationOpportunities for Formative Feedback
The module will be undertaken over 2 weeks and during that time there will be regular opportunities for students to solve exercises and discuss any general issues relating to the module material. The delivery mode is very interactive with the students anticipated to answer questions so that they can underhand and self-assess their performance in reaching the learning outcomes.A mock mini-MCQ (formative) session is made available before the exam.
Methods of assessment
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Online Time-Limited assessment | 5 hr 00 mins | 100.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 100.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 29/04/2024 16:12:18
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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