Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2017, Environmental Sciences

This report provides historical context on how solid waste management has evolved in the United States, particularly in Ohio, and identifies the key federal and state legislation adopted to address solid waste management challenges experienced in the mid and late 1900s. Furthermore, it describes the regulatory framework for the solid waste management planning process both at the state and local levels in Ohio. Finally, it summarizes my role as an intern, describes the challenges I experienced while preparing the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste Management Plan, identifies opportunities to those challenges through legislative and policy recommendations, and describes several non-legislative solutions I subsequently implemented as a solid waste planner at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Committee: Suzanne Zazycki (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Law; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Urban Planning

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2012, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

The anaerobic digestion (AD) process is generally classified into two categories based on the total solids (TS) content of the mixture in the digester. TS contents of 15% or greater are classified as solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) while TS contents of 15% or lower are classified as liquid AD. SS-AD has many advantages such as smaller reactor volume, less moving parts due to no need of agitation, acceptance of a wide range of feedstocks, and less energy demand for heating the material in the digester. Lignocellulosic biomass is a suitable feedstock for SS-AD as it is the most abundant biomass source in the world and is generally a drier material. However, there are no reports on the comparison of SS-AD and L-AD systems in terms of methane yield and volumetric productivity. Yard waste is prevalent year round and is widely available at low cost; thus, yard waste presents itself as an ideal candidate for SS-AD. However, the methane yield of yard waste is generally lower compared to other feedstocks such as crop residues, energy crops, municipal solid waste, fats, oils, and greases (FOG). Therefore, increasing the overall methane yield of the SS-AD via co-digestion of food wastes presents itself as a viable option. Food waste is also prevalent year round, may garner tipping fees, and achieves much higher methane yields than most other substrates. Mesophilic batch anaerobic digestion (AD) of eight lignocellulosic feedstocks including switchgrass, corn stover, wheat straw, yard waste, leaves, waste paper, maple, and pine were carried out under liquid and solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) for 30 days and evaluated for methane yield and volumetric productivity. Results showed no significant difference in methane yield between the systems except for waste paper and pine. Volumetric productivity of the feedstocks except for waste paper was 70% to 88% greater in the SS-AD system compared with the liquid system. Solid-state mesophilic batch co-digestion was c (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Yebo Li PhD (Advisor); Jay Martin PhD (Committee Member); Yu Zhongtang PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Agricultural Engineering

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2005, Environmental Sciences

From February 2002 to the first of November 2002, I worked at Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District as a student intern in order to fulfill the requirements of my Master's degree. I assisted the manager of the district, Jeffrey Aluotto, on numerous projects related to solid waste and the various areas of recycling. The larger projects I either managed or worked on were two Household Hazardous Materials projects (cost/benefit analysis and funding), a solid waste facilities map, and a regional planning report. Along with those, I assisted on several smaller projects: presentation, environmentally preferable purchasing, attainment goals, legislation summaries, and greenhouse gas reductions from recycling. I was also fortunate to be able to participate in several extracurricular activities. I attended seminars, expos, and conferences, and worked a computer collection event sponsored by the District.

Committee: Gene Willeke (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Sciences

Master of Science (M.S.), University of Dayton, 2024, Aerospace Engineering

Modern aircraft are overburdened by electrical systems, which are continually increasing their power demands. To generate power on aircraft flying in high speed regimes where high temperatures are imposed by viscous heating, solid state devices can be employed. The high temperature gradient across the thermal protection system of the aircraft creates an ideal environment for thermoelectric generator (TEG) application. The North American X-15 was chosen for its high speed fight profiles and wealth of information available. The fight profiles and geometry will be used to gather data in a more applied sense. One-dimensional codes have been written to model the system's performance over the course of a specified fight profile. Utilizing generic relations, the flow temperature was determined through radiative equilibrium methods, which was then fed to the remaining system. The performance of the system was evaluated over the X-15 high speed mission fight profile. The thicknesses of each component of the system were varied until an optimal range was found. The optimal values found were used as the basis for the remaining computational modeling and physical testing. A high-fidelity modeling effort has been completed to model both the high temperature flow and the transient thermoelectric generator operation. The high temperature flow model is solved in parallel with a conduction heat transfer model of the vehicle skin. This allows the flow and solid bodies to react to one another throughout the transient operation. The models are loosely coupled to a high-fidelity model of a thermoelectric generator. The specific TEG model has been constructed to represent a physical module that was obtained for the physical test articles. Accompanying the computational modeling, two physical test articles have been developed and studied. The first consists of a single TEG stack consisting of a skin material, the TEG, and a heat sink. The second test article includes multiple TEGs within s (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Rydge Mulford (Committee Chair); Jose Camberos (Committee Member); Taber Wanstall (Committee Member); Andrew Schrader (Committee Member) Subjects: Aerospace Engineering; Engineering; Mechanical Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2017, Environmental Science

Yard trimmings (leaves, grass, wood chips, etc.) are abundant lignocellulosic biomass wastes, which need to be treated and/or utilized properly. Composting is a conventional approach to divert yard trimmings from the landfill. Alternatively, solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) can convert yard trimmings to biogas and digestate. It is promising to develop thermophilic SS-AD that can both produce energy and reduce waste to treat yard trimmings. This research included five inter-related projects: 1) examination of performance of thermophilic SS-AD and composting of yard trimmings with liquid anaerobic effluent as inoculum; 2) evaluation of the effect of yard trimmings on thermophilic SS-AD and prediction of methane yield based on feedstock component ratios; 3) development of a sequential batch thermophilic SS-AD with recirculated digestate as inoculum; 4) investigation of microbial community dynamics in the sequential batch thermophilic SS-AD; and 5) techno-economic comparison of thermophilic SS-AD and composting of yard trimmings. The first project showed that composting had higher degradation than SS-AD, while over half of the degraded carbon was converted to methane in SS-AD. Both SS-AD and composting generated nutrient-rich (N, P, K) end products with different dominant nitrogen forms, which may require different land application methods. The second project showed that digesting yard trimmings mixture alleviated inhibitors and increased methane yield compared to digesting single components. The favorable performance was obtained with equal fractions of the three components. Concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia varied with component ratios and correlated with system performance. A mixture design model was established to predict methane yield with good agreement. A sequential batch thermophilic SS-AD of yard trimmings was successfully developed with recirculated digestate as the inoculum in the third project. At substrate-to-inoculum rati (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Zhongtang Yu (Advisor); Harold Keener (Advisor); Frederick Michel (Committee Member); Ajay Shah (Committee Member) Subjects: Agricultural Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Science

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2016, Geography

In the last decade, several leftist countries in Latin America, including Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, among others, have retooled national and regional political, economic, and social governance to push against the constraints of deeply ingrained neoliberalism. This so-called post/neoliberal era is an attempt to move beyond neoliberalism, which was forced upon and adopted by Latin American governments beginning in the 1970s, and its failures, including privatization of State enterprises, persistent poverty and increasing social inequality, and widespread environmental destruction. This dissertation uses the term “post/neoliberal” to acknowledge that post/neoliberal governance models exist alongside neoliberal models. To date, much focus has been paid to post/neoliberal macroeconomic policies and State-civil society relations. The aim of this dissertation, therefore, is to examine the influence of post/neoliberalism on the governance—that is, the discourses, policies, institutions, programs, and practices that manage, direct, and conduct everyday life—of public health, environmental health, and well-being. My conceptual framing draws from Foucauldian governmentalities, urban political ecology, and neoliberalism as governmentality and as policy. Together, these literatures provoke new questions concerning the dialectic relationship among health, environment, and development amid changing political economic governance in Latin America. The empirical basis of this dissertation draws from qualitative (discourse analysis, interviews, and participant observation) and quantitative (household survey questionnaires) fieldwork conducted in Managua, Nicaragua. This dissertation is comprised of three body chapters to be submitted to academic journals for peer review. In the first body chapter I argue that contemporary public health governance in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador, three countries where post/neoliberalism is mos (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Becky Mansfield (Advisor); Nancy Ettlinger (Committee Member); Kendra McSweeney (Committee Member); Elisabeth Root (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Health; Environmental Studies; Geography; Latin American Studies; Public Health

Master of Science in Environmental Science, Youngstown State University, 2009, Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences

Recycling diverts municipal solid waste (MSW) from landfills and preserves valuable resources by converting waste material into useful commodities. The concept of recycling materials of value is not new; however, it has become important in MSW management because of economic and environmental issues. Increasing the amount of recycled waste preserves natural resources by reducing the need for more and more landfills. The recycling activities from two study areas, Pordenone Province, Italy and Mahoning County, Ohio, United States of America (US) were considered to evaluate the inducements each area uses to maximize efforts for recycling. Italy is a member of the European Union (EU) and when comparing the percentages of the amount of waste that is recycled versus waste that is incinerated or landfilled among the EU countries, Italy ranks in the middle (Figure 1.0). The EU regulates the recycling management policies for Italy. Mahoning County, Ohio also has an established recycling program, defined by the federal and state Environmental Protection Agency. There are three specific recycling influences: regulations, regularity of MSW pick-up, and economics. Data were collected over three (3) years (2004-2006). Regulations exerted the greatest influence over recycling behavior in Italy followed by economics and regularity of pick-up services. Economics had the greatest influence on recycling in the US, followed by regularity of pick-up and finally regulations. Although waste generation (per capita) in the US is much greater than in Italy, the percentage of waste that US recycles is less than in Italy. This study examined the effectiveness of recycling practices in each study area and determined that practices from one country could be effective in the other and vice versa.

Committee: Alan Jacobs PhD (Advisor); Cynthia Hirtzel PhD (Committee Member); Isam Amin PhD (Committee Member); Ganesaratnam Balendiran PhD (Committee Member); James Petuch BS in Ed (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science; Social Research

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2010, Engineering and Applied Science: Environmental Engineering

Bioreactor landfills allow a more active landfill management that recognizes the biological, chemical and physical processes involved in a landfill environment. The bioreactor landfill provides control and process optimization, primarily through the addition of leachate or other liquid amendments. This research presents an analysis of leachate, gas and solid parameters data collected during the Acid Formation Phase of anaerobic solid waste decomposition in simulated bioreactor landfills. The main focus of the study is the analysis of the effect of temperature on solid waste decomposition in bioreactor landfills. In accordance with this objective, three simulated landfill bioreactors were designed and constructed at the EPA Center Hill Facility. Two of the lysimeters were operating at a normal temperature of 37°C and the third was operating at high temperature (60°C). The lysimeters were filled with synthetic municipal solid waste (MSW) material prepared at the site, typical to the landfill composition waste generated in the USA, and reported by U.S. EPA 2008. In the first part of this study, the results of the indicator parameters are analyzed to quantify the effect of temperature on the waste degradation in bioreactor landfills. Tables and graphical representation of the data are provided for each of the three lysimeters, and compared in order to study the variation of biodegradation of MSW according to the temperature. In the second part of the study, landfill settlement has been studied in order to predict the settlement in bioreactor landfills. Prediction of landfill settlement is one of the important parameters that affect the design and maintenance of bioreactor landfills. Settlement is known to be a function of many factors (i.e. moisture, density, type of waste etc.); therefore, large number of variables is involved in the settlement mechanism. In this work, a biodegradation settlement model incorporating two parameters (A and B) was developed. In additio (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Makram Suidan PhD (Committee Chair); Thabet Tolaymat PhD (Committee Member); George Sorial PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Engineering

MCP, University of Cincinnati, 2004, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Community Planning

The United Nations Conference on environment and Sustainable Development in Rio in 1992 reaffirmed that environmentally sound practices for the management of waste is one of the major issues that needs to be addressed for maintaining the quality of Earth's environment and for achieving sustainable development. One of the most vulnerable and insular eco-systems that needs attention in this respect is the small tourist island. Very small settlements have historically required little or no waste management. In areas of low population densities, the volume of waste generated is low and of a different composition than in large cities. This type of waste is relatively easier to dispose of. Small islands are one such case in hand. However,when these islands become hubs of tourist activities the entire scenario changes. The human activities start producing more waste as the economy generators try to constantly meet the demands of the tourists so as to attract them in larger numbers. This change often comes about so gradually that it is hardly noticed until the problem is already serious. The rapid increase in the density of human population in previously virgin lands for the purpose of leisure and tourism is making the collection, treatment and disposal of waste an insurmountable problem. This is turn is having serious sociological, ecological and economic implications in these select areas as there are usually no norms and guidelines in place to cushion the effect of this unprecedented pressure on the often minimal infrastructure. The limited size of the territory, combined with population trends and seasonal fluctuations, are factors which imply a frequently difficult cohabitation between man and nature and can generate conflicts of interest and management difficulties. Faced with the increased production of waste, islands suffer a dual constraint,both economic and ecological which needs to be dealt with. This study attempts to address the problem of solid waste managemen (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Carla Chifos (Advisor) Subjects: Urban and Regional Planning

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2010, Geography

Solid waste is integral to the daily material flows and processes related to urban production and consumption. Solid waste is also a valuable resource for 1% of the population of the developing world who informally recover recyclables from the waste stream to make their livelihood. Until now, conflict and inequality surrounding access to solid waste and recyclables remained unexplored. In Managua, Nicaragua, the management of the capital city's solid waste has become the focal point of socio-environmental concern. Indeed, solid waste (mis)management threatens public and environmental health. Based on personal research carried out in 2009 and 2010, this case study analyzes the macro- and micro-level processes that create inequality in and around “La Chureca,” the city's only waste site. To untangle the myriad historical and present-day social, economic, political and environmental problems that marginalize waste site workers, I employ an urban political ecology framework. Additionally, I introduce the concept of metabolism to analyze the relationship that exists between human beings and solid waste. From this intimate socio-natural link, the identity of both materials and actors are metabolized, or transformed. However, there are multiple identities assigned to informal workers in La Chureca by outsider actors. I propose that these new identities create conflict and inequality between "insider" and "outsider" informal workers.

Committee: Kendra McSweeney PhD (Advisor); Becky Mansfield PhD (Committee Member); Cathy Rakowski PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science; Geography; Urban Planning

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2004, Environmental Science

Instead of merely disposing of municipal solid waste (i.e., MSW, garbage, refuse) in a traditional landfill, new technology is being developed to treat landfilled waste in situ by designing and operating the landfill as a biological treatment system or bioreactor. Increasing the moisture content of solid waste to 40% or more (by leachate recirculation or water addition) enhances the biodegradation process. However the probable existence of preferential flow paths prevents wetting the entire waste mass to biologically optimal conditions. Significant areas of concern include the operational aspects of applying leachate to waste in the landfill. In leachate recirculation projects found in the literature, a variety of infiltration methods were used to introduce leachate back to the landfill mass. However, a direct comparison of the effectiveness of the methods was not found. Therefore, this research evaluated four methods of wetting MSW and assessed the effectiveness of each method. This project included the design and dissemination of a questionnaire to determine the current state of practice in bioreactor technology in the U. S. and a laboratory study of four liquid infiltration methods. The infiltration methods were: trickle irrigation cascade system; horizontal trench; single wells; and cluster wells. The project used four 2.0 m3 laboratory-scale landfills containing “engineered” MSW. Evaluation of moisture distribution was performed using two different types of in-situ moisture sensors and a dye tracer study to determine distribution of moisture and flow rates. Results of the project indicated that; three liquid infiltration methods were utilized by respondents to the bioreactor questionnaire, a larger number of respondents to the bioreactor questionnaire are needed to determine if design parameters are emerging from industry and academia. The GMX insitu moisture monitoring instruments did not sense moisture content below 40%, to reliably sense moisture content bot (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Ann Christy (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2004, City and Regional Planning

This dissertation develops an integrated solid waste management (ISWM) model that extends existing models, allowing economies of scale in waste collection, facility development and operation; multiple landfill operation, landfill closure and replacement, and export of waste; and recycling promotion, modifying consumer's propensity to recycle, and permitting these policies to be applied in a spatially differentiated way. Initially, it develops an analytical model using optimal control theory for waste management policies. The system operates in a single waste collection area, with one recycling and landfill facility. Waste is either recycled or deposited. The model is solved for different assumptions about cost, including economies of scale. Based on these initial findings, ISWM is formulated as a mixed integer-programming model. The model is calibrated to the Central Ohio Solid Waste Management District and solved under a variety of scenarios. Each model extension is tested and sensitivity analysis is used to determine the impact of changes in disposal capacity, interest rate, and waste generation growth on recycling policy and life. The model is then applied to investigate two issues: First, ISWM model is used to derive an aggregate cost of waste management, as a function of key variables, such as the size of the system, population density, number of facility options, and recycling tastes. Then, the model is run, generating 2,916 observations. The resulting set of pseudo-data is used to regress aggregate cost on the variables. The results confirm empirical findings on economies of scale and density, and suggest the importance of other variables, including facility options and recycling taste. Second, the model is used to derive policy advice for the State of Ohio and the Central Ohio Waste Authority. Model findings suggest that the State-mandated 10-15 year planning horizon for waste authorities should be modified to be longer and/or require a minimum terminal disp (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Burkhard von Rabenau (Advisor) Subjects: Urban and Regional Planning

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2012, Environmental Studies (Arts and Sciences)

With the rate of urbanization continuing to increase, there is growing interest among cities to adopt sustainable waste management strategies. It is estimated that 97 percent of food waste in the U.S. is buried in landfills and accounts for the majority of solid waste generated. Composting is a relatively new practice that is effective at diverting food waste from landfills, but it receives little attention. This study examines the public, private, and government institutions that play a role in the creation of composting programs. In-depth interviews and field observations were used in the cities of Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and Edinburgh, Scotland to examine the challenges and barriers to composting program implementation. Government mandates and collaboration among organizations is imperative for implementing composting programs and shaping positive environmental behaviors. Public education, funding, infrastructure, and government regulations are all essential for the successful adoption of urban composting programs.

Committee: Geoffrey Buckley PhD (Advisor); Michele Morrone PhD (Committee Member); Bernhard Debatin PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Environmental Education; Environmental Management; Environmental Studies; Sustainability; Urban Planning

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2005, International Studies - African Studies

In Africa, many countries face various environmental problems such as air pollution, water pollution, low levels of sanitation, and solid waste issues. Populations of these cities have grown very fast because of migration toward cities. Ghana, especially Accra, is one of the cases in Africa. In Ghana, the government started privatizing solid waste collection during the mid-1990s. Since then, Accra has been served by both the public and private sectors even though these services are neither effective nor efficient. The purpose of this study is to investigate the individual attributes of the demand for solid waste collection in Accra. The data were collected using questionnaires to understand residents' characteristics of those affected by solid waste. This study shows that the more income respondents have, the more willing they are to pay for solid waste collection.

Committee: Ariaster Chimeli (Advisor) Subjects: Economics, General

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2008, Environmental Sciences

This practicum is about the environmental situation in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. In particular, it describes the deteriorating environmental conditions caused by air pollution, solid waste, and inadequate water supply. It also describes the impact of these deteriorating environmental conditions on the health of the local residents of the valley. In addition to an assessment of the environmental problems and its affects, this report attempts to analyze the issue of environmental sustainability in the Kathmandu valley regarding the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals of 2015. As such, this report is slated to be a reference for the people interested to know the environmental situation of the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal.

Committee: Dr. Adolph Greenberg (Advisor); Dr. Sandra Hazleton (Committee Member); Dr. Mark Walsh (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2008, Environmental Sciences

Emerald Environmental Inc (Emerald) is a privately held environmental consulting firm specializing in industrial hygiene, environmental, and waste management. Sustainability for Educators and the Environment (SEE) is a non-profit organization that provides environmental education to northeast Ohio schools and practical application of sustainability principles. This report details an internship with Emerald and SEE, between May 2006 and November 2007. During this internship I had many duties ranging from day-to-day office tasks and major program development. Some major tasks included grant writing, hiring and supervising interns, and developing Emerald's environmental management department. My goal for this internship was to experience different sectors of the environmental career field to determine what best suited my experience and attitude.

Committee: W. Michele Simmons PhD (Committee Chair); Adolph Greenberg PhD (Committee Member); Thomas Klak PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science