Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 56-70 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Waste Management |
| Volume | 88 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Mar 2019 |
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Keywords
- Absorbent hygiene product
- Offensive
- Recycling
- Valorisation
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Offensive waste valorisation in the UK : Assessment of the potentials for absorbent hygiene product (AHP) recycling. / Takaya, Chibi; Cooper, Ian; Berg, Maureen; Brittle, Stuart; Muir, Ryan; Sarker, Dipak.
In: Waste Management, Vol. 88, 20.03.2019, p. 56-70.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Offensive waste valorisation in the UK
T2 - Waste Management
AU - Takaya, Chibi
AU - Cooper, Ian
AU - Berg, Maureen
AU - Brittle, Stuart
AU - Muir, Ryan
AU - Sarker, Dipak
PY - 2019/3/20
Y1 - 2019/3/20
N2 - Offensive human waste refers to non-hazardous waste that contains body fluids from non-infectious humans, comprised of post-consumer Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs), swabs, dressings, bedding, gloves, and other materials. While this waste category requires more stringent handling, storage and disposal measures than general waste, its non-hazardous nature suggests that there are opportunities for waste valorisation. An inventory of 200 offensive human waste bags collected from various healthcare institutions in South-Eastern England show that about 76% of the waste is comprised of AHPs, most of which are adult incontinence pads and child nappies. Mixed plastics comprised of predominantly HDPE represent 9% of the waste. To evaluate the potentials for offensive human waste valorisation, small-scale separation tests involving artificially-soiled nappies and associated mixed plastic packaging wastes have been performed. Findings suggest that about 50% of the total superabsorbent polymer is recoverable from fluff pulp fractions, recoveries of which are unaffected by the presence of ionic species typically present in human waste. On the other hand, recovery of mixed plastic packaging is more challenging. Overall, however, findings suggest that viable AHP recycling is possible if recyclate materials are targeted towards non-food related markets outlets such as the construction and land remediation sectors.
AB - Offensive human waste refers to non-hazardous waste that contains body fluids from non-infectious humans, comprised of post-consumer Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs), swabs, dressings, bedding, gloves, and other materials. While this waste category requires more stringent handling, storage and disposal measures than general waste, its non-hazardous nature suggests that there are opportunities for waste valorisation. An inventory of 200 offensive human waste bags collected from various healthcare institutions in South-Eastern England show that about 76% of the waste is comprised of AHPs, most of which are adult incontinence pads and child nappies. Mixed plastics comprised of predominantly HDPE represent 9% of the waste. To evaluate the potentials for offensive human waste valorisation, small-scale separation tests involving artificially-soiled nappies and associated mixed plastic packaging wastes have been performed. Findings suggest that about 50% of the total superabsorbent polymer is recoverable from fluff pulp fractions, recoveries of which are unaffected by the presence of ionic species typically present in human waste. On the other hand, recovery of mixed plastic packaging is more challenging. Overall, however, findings suggest that viable AHP recycling is possible if recyclate materials are targeted towards non-food related markets outlets such as the construction and land remediation sectors.
KW - Absorbent hygiene product
KW - Offensive
KW - Recycling
KW - Valorisation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063056514&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.wasman.2019.03.022
DO - 10.1016/j.wasman.2019.03.022
M3 - Article
VL - 88
SP - 56
EP - 70
JO - Waste Management
JF - Waste Management
SN - 0956-053X
ER -