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Module

CEG8105 : Solid Waste and Resource Management

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Oliver Heidrich
  • Lecturer: Prof. David Graham, Dr Lucia Rodriguez Freire, Dr Mohammad Rajaeifar
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of technical issues and the management of resources and solid waste. The course covers climate change, resource and solid waste policies, both domestic and international, and then examines appropriate methods of storage, collection, transfer, treatment and disposal appropriate for industrialised and developing countries. It investigates cities strategies, the urban metabolisms and the assessment options using Life Cycle Assessments. The module also provides the opportunity to visit recycling facilities and disposal sites to better understand links between theory and practice.

Outline Of Syllabus

General background (waste, MFA, economics) Sources, quantities and composition
Legislation, regulation and control
Anaerobic Digestion Anaerobic Digestion of MSW Composting
Incineration and waste to Energy
Reuse and recycling Recycling technologies
Waste management behaviour (people) Industrial solid waste (audits, minimisation) Waste composition and stabilisation behaviour
Landfill site design and management
Leachate fate, attenuation and treatment Industrial waste strategies
Cities, Climate Change and the Urban Metabolism
Municipal and industrial Resource and Solid Waste strategies
Decision Support Systems (DSS) and life cycle assessments

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture120:0020:00Lectures PiP (online synchronous teaching if needed) - in particular as one of the guest lecturers is based in Saudi Arabia and travel restrictions may apply)
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion240:3012:00Revision for exam
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion12:002:00Exam
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical13:003:00Computer and software use- numbers permitting 1 hour of computer based activity and 2 hours of LCA testing (both of which is PiP)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching12:002:00Small group teaching PiP (Online synchronous Plan B)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork22:004:00Field trips to recycling and disposal sites PiP
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study157:0057:00Includes background reading and reading lecture notes for a full understanding of material
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Knowledge and understanding are acquired primarily through the lecture classes and interactions, however students are expected to add to this by directed reading of technical journal papers, text books and the selective use of web sites. Several computer-based teaching activities and two field trips are included to provide practical context for lecture materials.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1201A1002 hour closed book exam
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Prob solv exercises1MIn class tutorial and reoccurring Q&A to instil, revise and restate the desired learning, knowledge and skills outcomes
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

In line with the with NU 2019 University Framework for Assessment Design in Taught Programmes and NU 2021 Policy on Assessment and Feedback written examination is considered to be the most appropriate method of assessment for the Knowledge and Skills Outcomes that are required for a successful completion of this module. The students will revise to define, duplicate and memorize knowledge. They will be tested to show and understanding, applying, and analyzing different treatment options or managerial solutions. The ones that are doing very well will show how to appraise, argue, and judge or indeed create new solutions for a sustainable Solid Waste and Resource Management option.

Reading Lists

Timetable