Daily Engineering Journal: Environmental Engineering Practices in Sustainable Waste Management
Keywords:
Sustainable Waste Management, Municipal Solid Waste, Waste Segregation, Recycling, Composting, Environmental Engineering, Community Participation, Institutional Waste Management, Landfill ReductionAbstract
Sustainable waste management is one of the critical challenges facing modern urban and institutional environments, driven by rapid population growth, industrialization, and changing consumption patterns. Improper waste handling contributes to environmental pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and ecosystem degradation, posing significant risks to human health and sustainability. This study documents the daily implementation of environmental engineering practices in municipal solid waste management, focusing on waste segregation, recycling, composting, and safe disposal methods. Daily observations were conducted over four weeks in an institutional setting, capturing operational workflows, behavioral participation, challenges, and outcomes. Quantitative analysis measured segregation efficiency, recycling rates, compost output, and landfill reduction, while qualitative observations focused on social engagement and operational effectiveness. Results indicate that consistent waste segregation, active community participation, and proper technical implementation significantly improve sustainable waste management outcomes, though contamination and behavioral inconsistencies remain challenges. The study demonstrates that integrating technical solutions with social engagement strategies is essential for achieving environmental sustainability and provides practical lessons for institutional and urban waste management programs.
Downloads
References
J. Kim, M. Latif, J. Song, G. Park, and J. Lee, “Chapter 17 - Automated sorting of recyclable domestic waste,” in Harnessing Automation and Machine Learning for Resource Recovery and Value Creation, K. K. Sadasivuni, N. Bacanin, J. Kim, and N. B. Vashisht, Eds., Elsevier, 2025, pp. 417–426. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-27374-2.00017-0.
G. Satta et al., “Identifying indicators and targets for the new World Health Organization Global Framework on Infection Prevention and Control: an e-Delphi study,” J. Hosp. Infect., vol. 165, pp. 181–188, 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.039.
U. Sharma, S. Sharma, N. Sankhyan, S. Sharma, and S. Sharma, “A global review of agroforestry research and policy directions: Addressing ecological and socioeconomic challenges through systematic review and bibliometric analysis,” For. Policy Econ., vol. 181, p. 103639, 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2025.103639.
S. N. Omer et al., “Artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques in solid waste management: A sustainable way toward future,” Comput. Sci. Rev., vol. 60, p. 100889, 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosrev.2025.100889.
M. Edelson, D. Håbesland, and R. Traldi, “Uncertainties in global estimates of plastic waste highlight the need for monitoring frameworks,” Mar. Pollut. Bull., vol. 171, p. 112720, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112720.
J. van der Kolk, “UNEP and UNEP Chemicals,” in Encyclopedia of Toxicology (Fourth Edition), Fourth Edition., P. Wexler, Ed., Oxford: Academic Press, 2024, pp. 673–676. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824315-2.00019-1.
D. Moya, C. Aldás, G. López, and P. Kaparaju, “Municipal solid waste as a valuable renewable energy resource: a worldwide opportunity of energy recovery by using Waste-To-Energy Technologies,” Energy Procedia, vol. 134, pp. 286–295, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.09.618.
Z. D. Tekler, R. Low, S. Y. Chung, J. S. Choong Low, and L. Blessing, “A Waste Management Behavioural Framework of Singapore’s Food Manufacturing Industry using Factor Analysis,” Procedia CIRP, vol. 80, pp. 578–583, 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2019.01.066.
M. Al Amin, M. A. Ahad Mia, T. Bala, M. M. Iqbal, and M. S. Alam, “Green finance continuance behavior: the role of satisfaction, social supports, environmental consciousness, green bank marketing initiatives and psychological reactance,” Manag. Environ. Qual. An Int. J., vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 1269–1294, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-09-2022-0257.
