CE 577 Engineering Principles of Solid Waste Management

Solid waste management must be addressed by virtually every municipality. Issues include landfill capacity, landfill diversion programs, regulatory compliance, energy recovery, public opinion and the cost of waste management. This course will cover all aspects of municipal solid waste management including refuse generation, source reduction, collection, transportation, recycling and resource recovery, burial in landfills, composting and combustion. Regulations and policy relevant to municipal solid waste will also be discussed and students are expected to integrate regulatory, policy and technical considerations in the development of engineering designs. The course will emphasize both engineering design and policy alternatives. For example, there are technical, economic, and political considerations surrounding the decision to construct a landfill or a waste-to-energy facility. The advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives will be discussed. Once a decision is made to build a landfill, proper site investigation and design are critical for waste containment. Characteristics and quantities of leachate and gas must also be considered. 3 credit hours

 
   
   
Prerequisite
 

Graduate standing and an introductory course in environmental engineering or relevant professional experience.

 

Course Objectives  

To provide the student with a working knowledge of all unit operations involved in solid waste management. At the completion of the course, the student is expected to be familiar with design and policy considerations regarding alternatives for solid waste management.

 

Course Requirements  

Homework -- Assigned regularly and comprise ~30% of grade
Examinations -- Midterm and final exams

 

Software Requirements  

Access to word processing, spreadsheet and plot preparation.

 

Computer and Internet Requirements  

NCSU has recommended minimum specifications for computers used for classes. Depending on your computer needs, we recommend your computer meet or exceed the following minimum specifications below.

PCs must have an Intel-compatible 1 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive with 1 GB free space available, 256 Color Display, CD-ROM drive, 1024x768 (min.) video adapter, sound card, and speakers. The operating system should be Windows XP Pro. Real One Player Basic (available free online) and high speed Internet connection such as cable, DSL, T1 or LAN will be required for EOL courses.

MAC users must have a G4 processor with firewire and USB factory built-in, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB with 1GB free space available, 256 Color Display, CD-ROM drive, 1024x768 (min) video adapter, sound card, and speakers. The operating system must be MacOS 10.4 (minimum) along with the above RealOne and Internet specifications above.

For more detailed information on computer specifications and recommendations, please refer to our website at: http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/currentstudents/computeraccess.htm

 

Project  

There will be a term project.

 

Optional Textbook  

Tchobanoglous, Integrated Solid Waste Management: Engineering Principles and Management Issues, McGraw Hill. ISBN 0070632375.

 

Course Topics  

Waste Characterization
Materials Recycling
Life-cycle Analysis
Collection
Transfer Stations
Recycling Facilities
Landfills including Leachate and Gas Production
Composting
Combustion
Global Solid Waste Management Policy

 

Instructor  

Dr. Morton A. Barlaz, Professor
Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
North Carolina State University
416 Mann Hall
Campus Box 7908
Raleigh, NC 27695-7908

Phone: (919) 515-7676
Fax: (919) 515-7908
E-Mail: barlaz@eos.ncsu.edu