CE 577 Engineering Principles of Solid Waste Management
3 Credit Hours
Solid waste management is an integral component of civil infrastructure that must be addressed by virtually every municipality. Solid waste management is a highly visible and high-impact target for enhancing environmental sustainability. Appropriate selection of waste processing technologies and efficient waste management strategies can cost-effectively minimize environmental impacts, particularly through energy generation and materials recovery. Specific issues include cost, waste diversion programs, regulatory compliance, energy recovery, landfill capacity, and public opinion of waste management. This course will cover all aspects of municipal solid waste management including refuse generation, source reduction, collection, transportation, recycling and resource recovery, burial in landfills, biological treatment, and combustion. The environmental and economic advantages and disadvantages of each process will be discussed. Regulations and policy relevant to municipal solid waste will also be presented and analyzed. Students are expected to integrate economic, environmental, regulatory, policy, and technical considerations into the development of engineering designs of solid waste processes and systems. The course will emphasize both engineering design and policy alternatives.
Prerequisites
Graduate standing and an introductory course in environmental engineering or relevant professional experience.
Course Objectives
To provide the student with a working knowledge of all unit processes involved in solid waste management. At the completion of the course, the student is expected to be familiar with design, policy, and environmental considerations regarding alternatives for solid waste management.
Course Topics
- Waste Characterization
- Materials Recycling
- Solid Waste Management Policy
- Life-cycle Assessment
- Collection
- Transfer Stations
- Material Recovery Facilities
- Landfills
- Waste-to-energy combustion
- Composting
- Anaerobic Digestion
Course Requirements
Homework — Assigned regularly ~35% of grade
Examinations – Midterm (~20%) and final (~30%) exams
Term project – (~15%)
Textbook
None.
Software Requirements
Access to word processing, spreadsheet and plot preparation applications required.