RESEARCH AGENDA

2011-2012 Research Agenda

NOTE:  This agenda is organized by EREF’s Strategic Plan Areas of Specialization. Research topics are not listed in any order of priority. Questions below are intended only as examples.

Strategic Plan Area of Specialization: Landfills

Research Topic: Global Warming - Greenhouse Gases (GHG)/Carbon Sequestration     

  • What is the solid waste industry’s contribution to GHG emissions from landfills, incineration, recycling, composting, land application, and collection/transportation (potentially using lifecycle analysis)?
  • What effect does increased organics diversion (e.g. composting) have on total GHG emissions (including collection efficiency, markets for compost, etc.) and how does it impact other waste management options (e.g., landfills, waste-to-energy, etc..)?
  • What effect does treatment and reuse of waste materials have on the solid waste industry’s carbon footprint?
  • What has the industry done to date to reduce its GHG emissions?
  • What is the industry undertaking to further reduce its GHG emissions?

Research Topic: H2S Problems/Toxicity

  • What is the detection limits of instruments used to measure H2S?
  • What are the pros/cons of detection instruments (e.g., cost, ease of use, durability, etc.)?
  • Are the limits for H2S imposed by states valid and realistic (e.g., Ohio-5 ppb.)?
  • Should air dispersion modeling be used to set emission standards?
  • What effect does H2S have on human health and the environment for setting exposure limits for on-site workers and nearby residents?

Research Topic: Fate of New Materials in Landfills

  • What issues/concerns exist related to specified risk materials (e.g. animal renderings) entering landfills?
  • What is the fate of various chemicals and biological agents with respect to landfill liners as a means of containment (e.g., volatile organic compounds)?
  • What are the affects on these materials on the landfill leachate and collection systems?
  • Can these materials be treated and removed by the leachate treatment system?
  • Can the fate of specific compounds be modeled in landfills?

Research Topic: Leachate Treatment

  • Are on-site leachate treatment designs available for managing leachate instead of sending it to a POTW?
  • What are the appropriate treatment systems of managing leachate on-site?
  • How do these systems perform compared to POTWs?
  • What are the costs associated with on-site treatment?
  • What is the maintenance for an on-site treatment system?


Strategic Plan Area of Specialization: Conversion Technologies

Research Topic: Conversion Technologies

  • What is the future of conversion technologies for managing municipal solid waste?
  • What are the pro/cons of different conversion technologies?
  • What are the emissions from various conversion technologies?
  • How do conversion technologies compare with traditional municipal solid waste management methods (potentially using lifecycle analysis)?

Strategic Plan Area of Specialization: Equipment/Safety

Research Topic: Equipment/Safety/Ergonomics

  • What are the costs/benefits of using a true bio-friendly hydraulic oil?
  • What are the costs/benefits (e.g. reduced CO2/NOx emissions, better fuel consumption, etc.) of hybrid vs. non-hybrid trucks used in refuse applications?
  • How can alternative fuels be used or more broadly implemented?
  • What are the health and safety benefits of various equipment designs (e.g. side load vs. rear load)?
  • What improvements can be made in design, operating strategy or safety considerations to reduce injuries?

Strategic Plan Area of Specialization: Recycling/Waste Minimization   

Research Topic: Organics Treatment

  • What technologies or management options exist for organics diversion from landfills (e.g. aerobic treatment, anaerobic digestion)?
  • What is the nutrient availability in organic residuals?
  • What is the fate of compost products?
  • What has been the fate of organic compost over the last 10 years?
  • Have there been any limits on the use of compost?