Abstract: Major problems facing modern society include the provision of energy with the minimum generation of pollution, and the environmentally friendly disposal of waste. This work was part of a major study that examined the policy and technology implications of alternatives for managing the municipal solid wastes (MSW) of Adama (Nazareth) City (Town). Consequently, to accomplish the objectives both primary and secondary data sources applied for the study. The primary data were collected via questionnaires, interview, and field observations. Whereas the secondary data were extracted from different published and unpublished materials. At this time, of the 71700 metric tons of MSW collected by the town annually are land filled. Despite the heterogeneity of organic materials in MSW, the composite molecular structure can be approximated by the organic compound C6H10O4. A formula was derived that allows the prediction of the heating value of MSW as a function of moisture content and compares well with experimentally derived values. The performance of a leading Waste-to-Energy plant that utilizes suspension firing of shredded MSW, processes one 71700 metric tons of MSW per year, and generates a net of 3.1 MW/yr electricity was examined. The results of this study showed that WTE processing of the MSW reduces fossil fuel consumption and is environmentally superior to land filling.Abstract: Major problems facing modern society include the provision of energy with the minimum generation of pollution, and the environmentally friendly disposal of waste. This work was part of a major study that examined the policy and technology implications of alternatives for managing the municipal solid wastes (MSW) of Adama (Nazareth) City (Town). Con...Show More
Abstract: There is risk in every human activity. Statistics indicate that these risks are earth bound. Arguments as to whether policies meant to check and control these risks based on scientific evidence or on mere suspicion of risks have formed the subject of debate in many international conferences. Some persons agree that decisions to protect/prevent risk must be based on clear evidence of risk, others believe that mere suspicion with or without any clear evidence of risk is enough to warrant such policies. Risk is measured not only by positive knowledge of quantifiable but also by the degree of uncertainty or lack of knowledge about a possible hazard… On the continuum, between, a merely speculative risk and a conclusively demonstrated one lies a vast stretch of undemonstrated, un-quantified but scientifically plausible risk. Within that zone, the risk of harm is real so long as safety is unproven. It is this broad spectrum of potential risk, beyond that which is clearly identifiable and preventable that the precautionary principles, the roots of which lie in the environmental movements of the 1970s, seek to mitigate. This work set out to examine the precautionary principle as an environmental policy, its origin, meaning, importance and adaptation in international, regional, and domestic Laws. This study applied desk approach in generating data for the study. The result indicates that though the principle has become an established principle of environmental law particularly at international level, it is yet to be legitimately invoked and applied by most national laws.Abstract: There is risk in every human activity. Statistics indicate that these risks are earth bound. Arguments as to whether policies meant to check and control these risks based on scientific evidence or on mere suspicion of risks have formed the subject of debate in many international conferences. Some persons agree that decisions to protect/prevent risk...Show More