Exemplifying the Zero Waste Concept in smart cities

Abstract

Due to the environmental imbalance on our planet, the concept of zero waste is gaining importance day by day. It is particularly important in the aspect of production and consumption cycle management and responsible waste management in urban space. The aim of this article is to exemplify methods of reducing waste in smart cities according to the author's Waste Management for Generation, Environment, and Gains (WM2GEG) scheme. An additional aim was to select the most effective ways of rational waste management in smart cities. A structured interview method was used to collect data, and the research sample was selected using the Smart City Index 2020. The study identified environmentally and socially friendly and economically beneficial methods of rational waste management, such as composting organic waste, creating underground waste containers, and incinerating waste with energy recovery. Specific ways to reduce waste are also presented, such as banning disposable packaging and obtaining energy from renewable sources.

Is it possible to implement the idea of zero waste in waste management in Poznań?

“…This, in turn, will influence the way the city's management is organised and the economic outcomes. Representatives of the different cities analysed in Jelonek and Walentek (2022) confirmed that creating plans to reduce waste in urban spaces and enforcing the positive behaviours and practices outlined in such a plan is a win-win solution for the ecosystem, residents and city budgets. A waste management programme should focus on increasing the role of the community in handling waste, not just adding equipment to collect rubbish (Nizar et al, 2018).…”

“…The use of modern waste management methods significantly increases the aesthetics of the city. This benefits the environment, society, and the budget of the territorial unit (Jelonek & Walentek, 2022).…”

“…Examples of the ZW concept in smart cities were presented by Jelonek and Walentek (2022). The study was designed to answer the question of why to apply the ZW concept in the urban waste management process.…”

“…For this reason, it should be seen as a challenge to ourselves and the surrounding world (Michniewska & Grodkiewicz, 2017). According to numerous authors, the results of the research are the basis for public discussion at global, European and local levels relating to the creation of legislation and educational programmes in the context of waste management (Zaman & Lehmann, 2011a;Nizar et al, 2018;Mesjasz-Lech, 2018;Bogusz et al, 2021;Jelonek & Walentek, 2022).…”

Financial efficiency vs. environmental efficiency on the example of the meat and poultry industry in Poland

“…A greening activity is based on the principle of respect for the natural environment that takes into account the protection of the environment and the rational use of its resources with its simultaneous reproduction in the short term, preserving the potential of the environment (Jelonek & Walentek, 2022;Lavuri et al, 2021;Sukiennik et al, 2017). Any pro-environmental activity of an enterprise includes undertakings of the pre-and post-production and post-consumption phases (Lemkowska & Wiśniewska, 2022;Czyżewski et al, 2021), but due to the nature of the analyses carried out, this paper presents the actions taken during and in connection with the production process.…”