an official journal of: published by:
 
Editor in Chief: RAFFAELLO COSSU
 

EDITORIALS - Edited by Raffaello Cossu

NEW PRIORITIES IN WASTE MANAGEMENT: ENERGY PRODUCTION, CLIMATE PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
by Rainer Stegmann, Hamburg University of Technology, Germany

In Detritus - Volume 22/2023 


"We live in difficult times characterised by epidemics, extreme weather conditions, continuously rising CO2 emissions, extensive deforestation, desertification, global pollution and loss of biodiversity. Moreover, an enormous burden of human tragedies is produced by a series of wars,
resulting." Download full text

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND NON-SCIENTISTS TO REMOVE BARRIERS AND PREJUDICE
by Giovanni de Feo, University of Salerno, Italy

In Detritus - Volume 21/2022 


"Scientists tend to favor peer discussions over non-scientific
debate due to the ease of all interlocutors speaking the same language, thus not obliging them to simplify their customary communicative approach based on the use of formulas, equations, graphs, integrals, and differential equations. Scientists frequently possess high cognition of advanced technologies and processes at the forefront of innovation which non-scientists may be unaware of and may struggle to fully comprehend." Download full text


DID END OF WASTE BRING THE END OF WASTE?
by O. Johannson, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden

In Detritus - Volume 20/2022 


"Imagine that you are driving on a highway, and you are looking for the nearest exit to your destination. It is often quite easy to find, marked with a sign and only requires a single turn. In the same vein it is easy for an object, according to EU law, to end up as waste as the only requirement is that (a) the holder discards it, (b) the holder has the intention to discard it, or (c) the holder must discard it ."
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ANTARCTICA AS A GLOBAL POLLUTION SENSOR: THE ANTAGPS PROJECT
by Alessandro Marrone, University of Calabria, Italy

In Detritus - Volume 19/2022 


"Pollution knows no borders, it travels the globe and crosses national frontiers in many forms, reaching the most remote areas of the planet. Whilst Antarctica, the only continent that is not permanently anthropized, represents the southernmost part of the planet, this geographic segregation provides no protection against the harmful impact of human activities." Download full text

CIRCULAR ECONOMY, METHANE EMISSIONS, WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND THE COURTS’ ROLE
by Luciano Butti, University of Padova, Italy

In Detritus - Volume 17/2021 


"Normally defined as a new and sustainable model of production and consumption, circular economy involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. The obvious aim is to extend the life cycle of products" Download full text

A NEW DISCIPLINE: WASTE PREVENTION MANAGEMENT
by Rainer Stegmann, Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany

In Detritus - Volume 16/2021 


"We live in challenging times: climate change, with vast fires, flooding, droughts, hurricanes, coronavirus pandemics, difficult political situations and now also limited resources resulting in reduced production in the construction sector and car industry. Economies need more raw materials for their steadily increasing production." Download full text

ENERGY, A MAJOR OVERSIGHT IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT?
by Christophe Cord'Homme, CNIM Environment & Energy, France

In Detritus - Volume 14/2021 


"With the threat of resource depletion, the idea of "Circular
Economy" has virally spread in recent years as a "buzzword" with a positive symbolic charge. It has become essential in order to define modern waste management, not only in Europe but also abroad, such as in China." Download full text

THE FAILURE OF GEOMETRY: TIME FOR GEARS!?
by Raffaello Cossu, University of Padova

In Detritus - Volume 13/2020 


"A schematic representation of the manufacture of goods and management of associated wastes frequently results in an extensive use of geometrical figures: lines, triangles and circles.
The task of these geometrical figures is to portray a graphic synthesis of concepts and strategies. Therefore, the actual concept underlying the basis of the representation is of fundamental importance." Download full text

PUBLISHING: ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK?
by Rainer Stegmann, Technical University of Hamburg

In Detritus - Volume 12/2020 


"Publication is an essential part of scientific work. The dissemination of results represents a fundamental step in expanding basic knowledge to foster the development of innovative, more effective, less costly and/or more environmentally friendly technologies or processes." Download full text

WHY ARE WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES SO UNATTRACTIVE?
by Anna Artuso and Elena Cossu, Studio Arcoplan, Padova

In Detritus - Volume 11/2020 


"Waste Architecture is a branch of the design field relating to the Architecture and Land Planning of waste management and disposal facilities based on projects ranging from a vast to a municipal and peri-municipal scale." Download full text

WHAT ABOUT RESIDUES FROM CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND ROLE OF LANDFILLING?
by Raffaello Cossu, Valentina Grossule and Maria Cristina Lavagnolo - University of Padova

In Detritus - Volume 09/2020 


"The current European policy for waste management is based on the concept of Circular Economy, intended as a global strategy consisting in a set of actions aimed at maintaining the value of the products over a longer period, saving non-renewable resources and minimising waste generation." Download full text

ENHANCED LANDFILL MINING, THE MISSING LINK TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY 2.0?
by Lieven Machiels, Enrico Bernardo and Peter Tom Jones - KU Leuven, University of Padova

In Detritus - Volume 08/2019 


"The transition towards a resource-efficient, climate neutral and circular economy is one of the Grand Societal Challenges of today, as recently endorsed by the European Commission in its European Green Deal (EC 2019). As part of this Green Deal the Commission will also launch a new Circular Economy Action Plan (foreseen in March 2020)... "
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LETTING REMAINDERS GET STUCK IN OUR THROATS
by Lisa Doeland - Radboud University, Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies

In Detritus - Volume 07/2019 


"What is waste? To my eyes the carton in the middle of a roll of toilet-paper is something to put in the paper recycling bin, whereas my handicraft-minded daughter takes it for the upper-part of the pillar of a castle and my rats use it as construction material for their nest."
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SUSTAINABLE LOW-COST WASTE MANAGEMENT: LEARNING FROM AIRLINES
by Raffaello Cossu, Valentina Grossule and Maria Cristina Lavagnolo - University of Padova

In Detritus - Volume 06/2019 


"Waste management around the world is characterised by a very wide range of levels of technology and service efficiencies. Clearly, socio-economic conditions (such as financial resources, technical education, infrastructures, etc.) are the main issues at the basis of these differences..."
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WASTE BIOREFINERIES: OPPORTUNITIES AND PERSPECTIVES
by Aldo Muntoni - University of Cagliari

In Detritus - Volume 05/2019 


"Biorefinery concepts and technologies have developed rapidly and intensively for a series of reasons: Progressive implementation of the circular economy concepts / Population growth and associated concerns over availability of non-renewable resources, differentiation of strategic..."
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FROM 3R TO 3S: AN APPROPRIATE STRATEGY FOR DC'S
by Maria Cristina Lavagnolo, Valentina Grossule - University of Padova

In Detritus - Volume 04/2018 


"It is an acknowledged fact that the quality and generation rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) is largely linked to the lifestyle, welfare and cultural level of a society, with a production per capita ranging indicatively from 0.1 kg MSW/d in low income rural areas to 4.5 kg MSW/d in urbanized industrialised areas of the world (The World Bank, 2018). "
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THE POWER OF WRECK
by Stefanos Antoniadis, Luigi Stendardo - University of Padova

In Detritus - Volume 03/2018 


"The second French edition of Marc-Antoine Laugier’s (1713-1769) successful Essai sur l’architecture (Laugier, 1755) displays a rather well-known allegorical engraving by Charles-Dominique-Joseph Eisen (1720-1778). Besides giving a more visible explanation of his known theoretical approach (nature is the origin of everything, in a nut shell), the illustration, featuring Architecture as goddess seated on the ruins of a destroyed building showing a primitive hut to the genius of reason (a cupid), talks about landscape, nature and waste: three extraordinarily up-to-date items production-related debates still focus on."
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LANDFILLING OR BIKING?
by Raffaello Cossu, Editor in Chief - University of Padova

In Detritus - Volume 02/2018 


“The first day of the Solid Waste Management course I teach at the University of Padua, Italy, I usually ask the students a simple question:
“In your opinion, which is the best system of waste management?”
Their immediate reply, in chorus and with very few exceptions, is: “Recycling!”
I then go on to the second question.
“In your opinion, which is the best means of transport?”
After a moment of bewilderment due to this abrupt jump from one topic to another, no response is forthcoming until the first brave person breaks the ice: “It depends!” >>> Download full text

WHY THIS JOURNAL? WHY THIS NAME?
by Raffaello Cossu, Editor in Chief - University of Padova

In Detritus - Volume 01/2018 


"Science is the main factor involved in promoting and guiding human progress. It implies hard work, and is based on innovation, validation and diffusion. Journals play a fundamental role in the validation, dissemination and recording of scientific results. Particularly in recent years, the publication of papers in referenced journals represents the main tool in legitimating and certifying scientific and academic careers."
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