Browsing by Subject "Recycling"
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Item Open Access COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF ASEPTIC CARTON RECYCLING IN BANDUNG, INDONESIA(2009-04-24T01:45:46Z) Dunais, Marc-AntoineGrowing populations, rising incomes, and changing lifestyles contribute to severe waste management problems in many urban centers around the world. In low-income Asian countries, a majority of municipal solid waste is inadequately processed, leading to environmental problems that affect the health of humans and animals, and cause economic and welfare losses. However, in many countries there is neither infrastructure nor market incentives for managing household waste such as aseptic cartons usefully. This research explores the costs and benefits of recycling aseptic cartons at BBPK, a recycling facility in the Indonesian town of Bandung, and provides recommendations for improving the facility’s profitability. The results of the cost benefit analysis from a business perspective demonstrate that the costs of operating the recycling facility generally exceed revenue. The negative operational cash flow occurs despite funding provided by aseptic carton-maker Tetra Pak to support BBPK’s purchase of raw materials. However, the cost benefit analysis demonstrates that under certain market conditions, recycling activities could become profitable. The prospects for such a scenario will ultimately depend on the sustained availability of external funding in the short to medium term, and capital investments in the facility’s recycling operations in the long term. Hence, it is opportune for Tetra Pak to extend financial support to BBPK for the purchase of raw materials until market conditions for recycled pulp have stabilized. Working with BBPK, Tetra Pak could develop a roadmap that would envisage a gradual phasing-out of its funding subsidy. By demonstrating that BBPK can become financially viable by operating independently, Tetra Pak can demonstrate to other recycling facilities that aseptic carton recycling, despite its challenges, is worth considering in Indonesia.Item Open Access COST EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR HARNETT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA(2007-05) Kusmanov, DastanWidespread use of electronics in business and residential settings has created a problem of electronic waste disposal, when the electronics are discarded at the end of their useful life. Recognized as hazardous waste for the heavy metals contained in them, electronic discards are managed as such only if generated by businesses. In the absence of federal regulations for household electronic waste in the United States and state regulations in North Carolina, the electronic waste problem could be addressed at the county level. One of the options a policy-maker faces is to establish an e-waste collection and recycling program at the local landfill, thus offering residents the means to recycle their e-waste. In this master’s project I estimate the costs of establishing an e-waste recycling program in Harnett County, North Carolina. The results allow a policy maker to compare the costs of a local electronic waste recycling program to the costs of current recycling programs offered by major electronics producers, or the benefits from diverting electronic waste from local landfills. The information on costs of the program also provides estimates of the amount of funds that the county would need to run the program, or the amount of tax or purchase fee that could be imposed to provide funds for the programItem Open Access Could a Sustainable Bio-Based Plastics Supply Chain Become a Commercial Reality?(2023-04-28) Barnett, Patrice; Hyyppa, Reino; Reynolds, Grace; Roberton, KelsieThe objective of this research is to examine the feasibility of scaling the bio-based plastics industry in a sustainable manner and to evaluate the commercial viability of its supply chain. Bio-based plastics present a viable alternative to the use of fossil fuels in conventional plastics by creating innovative plastics from renewable resources that have the potential to be compostable and emit less carbon dioxide than petroleum-based plastics. Nevertheless, the use of bio-based plastics presents certain obstacles, such as competition with food production, limited consumer awareness, and obstacles to achieving cost competitiveness with conventional plastics. The report analyzes the current state of the bio-based plastics sector, identifies key challenges and opportunities, and presents recommendations for sustainably scaling the industry. As of 2021, the bio-based plastic market is valued at $11.2B USD and is expected to grow at a rate of 17.02% per year, reaching $46.1B USD by 2030 (Precedence Research). To identify opportunities for meeting this level of growth sustainably, the Master’s Project team conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in the bio-based plastics industry and conducted desk research. The original scope of research was to determine how waste-based feedstocks for bio-based plastics are defined, however, based on feedback from interviewees, the Master’s Project team pivoted due to limited demand for waste-based solutions. The team adopted a more holistic approach to understand the market by analyzing different feedstock sources and end-of-life (EOL) options for bio-based plastics, as well as the role of the government and certification services to develop a sustainable, competitive alternative to the plastics industry. Based on the report’s findings, a commercially viable and sustainable supply chain for bio-based plastic can be feasible. The report drew on desk-based research and interviews with ten stakeholders in the bio-based plastics sector including producers, buyers, certification services, and non-governmental organizations. As a result, five key areas were identified that stakeholders in the bio-based plastic value chain should consider to enhance the industry’s sustainability. These areas include: 1) Design with EOL in mind, 2) Create partnerships with stakeholders across the bio-based materials value chain, 3) Urge for a global standardized labeling process, 4) Consider bio-based plastic terminology and use of EOL terms carefully for better consumer education, and 5) Confirm how feedstock is sourced with suppliers.Item Open Access County Costs and Funding in North Carolina’s Electronic Recycling Program(2013-04-19) Leven, RachelSenate Bill 887, better known as the “Amend Electronics Recycling Law,” banished electronic waste from landfill disposal in 2010. It also set up a system of funding to ensure that manufacturers of electronics sold in the state dedicate resources to electronics recycling. Thanks in a large part to this system, county recycling programs expected to manage electronic material with little cost. However, in FY11/12 and 12/13 local counties reportedly spent large amounts of money to run their electronic recycling programs. Using survey data from 21 counties in the state, this paper seeks to describe the costs experienced by county electronic recycling programs. It also aims to determine if there is a fault in the funding system with large monetary consequences for counties, or if programs are reacting dramatically to smaller costs based on their original perception that counties should have zero costs to managing this material. Finally, it analyzes the factors in county demographics and program management that predict high costs. This paper finds that counties are experiencing high costs in the form of fees from their recycling vendors. Vendor fees were made necessary due to an unexpected drop in the value of CRTs and underfunding from the state’s producer responsibility system. Prior to FY12/13 many programs had a zero-cost–zero-revenue relationship with their vendors. Many were also saving the annual electronic management funds distributed by The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). While this indicates a low investment in program infrastructure, the savings may have helped to soften the blow when vendor fees were put in place. It is unlikely that counties will be able to return to a cost free scenario such as existed prior to 2012. However, there are steps that programs can take to secure themselves against future spikes in cost. The level of capital investment counties made in their electronic programs appears to have positively affected their program’s vendor relationships. Programs can also make sure they are getting the best deal possible by shopping for more vendors and noting where else vendors may be collecting material as well as how much manufacturer funding they have received. The type of material counties collect will be a critical component to county costs in FY12/13 and will likely remain so going forward. Programs may be able to improve on the quality of material by increasing the number of customers served while staying aware of the potential for CRTs to increase with the adoption of schools. Programs can also invest in infrastructure and outreach to minimize the receipt of scavenged material. For its part, DENR should work to make sure that a market place for purchased TV tonnage is available. DENR can also consider the role that per capita income plays in the type of material county programs receive.Item Open Access Duke Athletics Zero Waste to Landfill Initiative(2013-04-26) Victor, Britta; Waters, EsiLandfills are a growing threat to public health, releasing emissions to air, soil, and water. With space and resource constraints, recycling and composting are becoming increasingly economically attractive. Duke, as a leading academic institution, has the opportunity to become a leader in waste reduction. Piloting a zero waste to landfill initiative at Cameron Indoor Stadium will bring the Duke community together to reduce waste while garnering public attention. A zero waste program, in which 90% of waste is diverted from the landfill, can be achieved through upstream, downstream, and courtside changes. Through consumer behavior observations, technology evaluation, and empirical data for waste segregation, we have recommended educational, operational, and product packaging changes to achieve Zero Waste at Cameron Indoor Stadium. These recommendations focus on the addition of composting capacity at Duke, educational initiatives for game attendees and staff, the sourcing of products with easily recyclable or compostable packaging, and negotiations with local recycling facilities to increase acceptance of a variety of materials. This long-term project has the opportunity to expand throughout Duke University and to peer institutions to make the greatest impact.Item Open Access Forecasting the value of recyclable waste streams for a circular economy transition in Orlando, Florida(2018-04) Kanaoka, KoichiThe circular economy is a paradigm that views waste as a valuable resource, creating value for local economies through waste recycling and reuse. Despite the benefits of waste recovery, the national recycling rate has remained stagnant around 34% for the past decade in the U.S. This Master’s Project for Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment aimed to quantify the economic potential of improving recycling rates in the Orlando Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) through: (1) forecasting the value of recyclable municipal solid waste generated in Orlando MSA, and; (2) conducting a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) of building a material recovery facility (MRF) in Orlando. Forecasts and BCA were conducted by incorporating uncertainties from commodity price volatility. Results from the study suggested that values of single-stream recycling waste in Orlando MSA may reach $100 million in 2027, from $72 million in 2015. Cardboard and aluminum cans accounted for 70-90% of the waste stream’s value, while only accounting for 32% of the weight. The BCA revealed that building a MRF in Orlando MSA is expected to be profitable for the municipality. The cost for building the MRF was expected to be recovered as early as in the fourth year. Sensitivity analysis showed that an initial processing cost of $85 per ton, a $10 increase from the base model’s $75 per ton, made building a MRF expected to be unprofitable. The results from this study may not apply to other municipalities, since Orlando MSA already had a functioning collection infrastructure for recyclables. The study also raised questions regarding the optimal design of recycling programs.Item Open Access Integrating Circular Economy for PET Plastic at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business(2019-04-24) Bales, Caroline; Hull, EmiliaPlastic has become an integral part of our economy as a core material. However, current waste systems are proving insufficient to address the increasing rise of plastic waste, which paired with consumer challenges, has led to a worldwide crisis regarding plastic waste. Premirr Plastics, a North Carolina-based start-up company, has invented a new process to recycle waste PET plastic back to virgin quality monomers, which allows for the continuous reuse of the material – a drastic change from current technology. Premirr is various exploring business models and is interested in creating a small-scale, closed-loop system for individual institutions, such as universities. This paper evaluates part of their proposed plan by testing its feasibility at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business to explore (1) consumer interest, and (2) institutional interest. This study concludes that, while there is strong consumer interest and institutional support at Fuqua, certain barriers make this a challenging business plan. However, due to the plan’s marketing appeal, we recommend launching a pilot as a marketing plan while relying on another business plan as the primary revenue generator.Item Open Access Local Government Recycling Program Attributes Associated with Recyclable Material Recovery(2009-04-23T20:42:47Z) Bullman, HollyThis study was designed to describe the relationship between specific local government solid waste and recycling program attributes and recyclable material recovery. The characteristics of solid waste and recycling programs vary greatly across North Carolina, achieving variable levels of recyclable material recovery rates. Given that solid waste disposal is increasing at a significant rate in North Carolina and approximately 20 years of landfill space remain in the state’s landfills, solid waste directors and recycling coordinators face an enormous amount of pressure to divert as much materials as possible to recycling programs. Through a survey of North Carolina solid waste and recycling program managers, this study collected vital data regarding characteristics of waste and recycling collection programs including pickup frequencies, weekly waste and recycling collection capacities, recycling separation requirements, and other variables presumed to be related to recyclable material recovery rates. Using correlation analyses and significance tests, the study revealed which solid waste and recycling program characteristics are most closely related to recyclable materials recovery. The study showed the three variables most closely related to recyclable materials recovery are recycling pickup frequency, separation methods and provision of recycling equipment. Solid waste and recycling program managers interested in maximizing recyclable material recovery rates should evaluate these three program attributes first to determine if improvements could be made. Recycling pickup frequency should be maximized, separation methods should be minimized and local governments should increase convenience for residents to obtain recycling bins or carts.Item Open Access Possibilities for the Re-collection and Recycling of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs) in Sub-Saharan Africa(2009-04-24T17:56:28Z) Koehrn, KaraThe United States Agency of International Development (USAID) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have relied heavily on the distribution of bednets to curb malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, WHO has recently recommended a massive scale-up of its distribution of long long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs). Many nets in circulation are already reaching their end-of-life stage, and with more nets on the way USAID and WHO are concerned that discarded nets will have negative impacts on both the environment and human health. This master’s project addresses two issues of concern for USAID’s LLIN technical team: 1) whether a disposal/recycling program is a possibility for manufacturers and donors, and 2) whether there are realistic possibilities for retrieving nets from the field after they have lost their efficacy. Research on these issues was conducted through a literature review and a series of interviews with manufacturers, donors and other stake-holders. Results indicate that take-back and recycling programs could be a possibility. Manufacturers are receptive to the idea of more environmentally friendly practices including recycling old nets and using biodegradable packaging. They are also continuing to develop technology to make recycling nets a possibility. Additionally, the World Bank’s estimate for cost of recycling programs is feasible for donors at this time. Existing recycling programs in developing countries have also provided models of successful examples for take-back programs in sub-Saharan Africa. They highlight the importance of education and the value of using existing infrastructure for sustainable programs with high success rates.