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The Baltic Sea region with population exceeding 100 million which in the future will constitute about one quarter of the population in the European Union if Estonia, Latvia Lithuania and Poland are accepted as members. These countries in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea region are foreseen a rapid economic and technical development. Technologies and industries from different parts of the world are invading and the generation of waste will probably increase drastically if measures for avoidance are not taken.Applying the EU Directive 75/442 EEC on waste, witch current amendments, on the presumptive new members will imply drastic changes for the countries concerned, environmentally as well as economically. In addition an EU Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfilling of waste is decided April 26 1999. The new Directive indicates a substantial reduction of the amount of waste ending up at landfill sites. Member countries of the union have started to prepare them selves for the new situation. Countries interested in becoming members might however not be aware of the cost of the new requirements. Investigations of the situation in these countries indicates that upgrading of their waste management to EU standard will require huge economic resources. Implementation of a new landfill system and development of close down programme for existing old dumps including post closure environmental control will demand economic resources and import of technology and technical education. According to the landfill Directive as little landfilling as possible should be carried out which means that the waste must be handled with other methods that are not commonly used in all countries. Those new technologies will probably to high extent be imported from the EU - countries rather then developed and manufactured locally. The new technologies introduced must be adopted to the local situation. ; The Baltic Sea region with population exceeding 100 million which in the future will constitute about one quarter of the population in the European Union if Estonia, Latvia Lithuania and Poland are accepted as members. These countries in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea region are foreseen a rapid economic and technical development. Technologies and industries from different parts of the world are invading and the generation of waste will probably increase drastically if measures for avoidance are not taken.Applying the EU Directive 75/442 EEC on waste, witch current amendments, on the presumptive new members will imply drastic changes for the countries concerned, environmentally as well as economically. In addition an EU Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfilling of waste is decided April 26 1999. The new Directive indicates a substantial reduction of the amount of waste ending up at landfill sites. Member countries of the union have started to prepare them selves for the new situation. Countries interested in becoming members might however not be aware of the cost of the new requirements. Investigations of the situation in these countries indicates that upgrading of their waste management to EU standard will require huge economic resources. Implementation of a new landfill system and development of close down programme for existing old dumps including post closure environmental control will demand economic resources and import of technology and technical education. According to the landfill Directive as little landfilling as possible should be carried out which means that the waste must be handled with other methods that are not commonly used in all countries. Those new technologies will probably to high extent be imported from the EU - countries rather then developed and manufactured locally. The new technologies introduced must be adopted to the local situation.

In 1994 the landfill mining concept was introduced in Sweden influenced from the USA where it had been practiced for decades and many conferences held. USA was visited and the first landfill mining manual was imported. During 90s several test excavations for research were carried out with the focus on separation of valuable materials for recovery as well as efforts were made to develop new machinery for landfill mining and material sorting. Sorting in three fractions was made and a test was also performed to backfill fractions and irrigates the material for biogas production creating a landfill bioreactor. The first ideas about the fine fraction reuse also appeared; this fraction might valuable metals and the first XRF testing was carried out to determine potential. The first international landfill mining seminar was held in Sweden and it was believed that there should be landfill mining boom. The reason of this opinion was that Sweden has 4 000-6 000 old landfills/dumps existing, in the Baltic Sea Region it makes 75 000 -100 000 and in whole EU up to 500 000. However, it didn´t happened nevertheless at the end of the first decade of 21st century several international conferences and seminars were initiated in UK. Landfill mining was also introduced in Asia and the first landfill mining manual for use in Asia was written. The interest of landfill mining has increased significantly in the Baltic Sea Region and Belgium where in Flanders there exist about 2 000 old dumps that are a hinder for future land use exploitation. Many landfill mining PhD courses were held in cooperation of Baltic Sea Region countries, with students representing up to 17 nations. The Zero Waste approach started to be introduced in a daily manner and its importance for the circular economy was outlined. The concept Beyond the Zero Waste was introduced on ideas about construction of Bank Account landfill cells technique for potential saving of valuable soil fractions/sediments/sludge for future economy utilization. Opportunities for recovery of metals and nutrients from sea sediments and glass waste were conceptualized as glass mining, harbor/bay/lagoon mining. Still there are excavation and remediation projects carried out just for moving polluted masses from one place to another and no sorting is scheduled; ideas for future utilization and recovery are existing in present without applied use. Remediation in old manner creates risks for environment and economic resources are wasted. The Governmental tools for economic steering of real landfill mining projects need to be adjusted as stakeholders are interested in the concept. The paper gives a historical journey for introducing landfill mining in Sweden, the Baltic Sea Region and EU. ; In 1994 the landfill mining concept was introduced in Sweden influenced from the USA where it had been practiced for decades and many conferences held. USA was visited and the first landfill mining manual was imported. During 90s several test excavations for research were carried out with the focus on separation of valuable materials for recovery as well as efforts were made to develop new machinery for landfill mining and material sorting. Sorting in three fractions was made and a test was also performed to backfill fractions and irrigates the material for biogas production creating a landfill bioreactor. The first ideas about the fine fraction reuse also appeared; this fraction might valuable metals and the first XRF testing was carried out to determine potential. The first international landfill mining seminar was held in Sweden and it was believed that there should be landfill mining boom. The reason of this opinion was that Sweden has 4 000-6 000 old landfills/dumps existing, in the Baltic Sea Region it makes 75 000 -100 000 and in whole EU up to 500 000. However, it didn´t happened nevertheless at the end of the first decade of 21st century several international conferences and seminars were initiated in UK. Landfill mining was also introduced in Asia and the first landfill mining manual for use in Asia was written. The interest of landfill mining has increased significantly in the Baltic Sea Region and Belgium where in Flanders there exist about 2 000 old dumps that are a hinder for future land use exploitation. Many landfill mining PhD courses were held in cooperation of Baltic Sea Region countries, with students representing up to 17 nations. The Zero Waste approach started to be introduced in a daily manner and its importance for the circular economy was outlined. The concept Beyond the Zero Waste was introduced on ideas about construction of Bank Account landfill cells technique for potential saving of valuable soil fractions/sediments/sludge for future economy utilization. Opportunities for recovery of metals and nutrients from sea sediments and glass waste were conceptualized as glass mining, harbor/bay/lagoon mining. Still there are excavation and remediation projects carried out just for moving polluted masses from one place to another and no sorting is scheduled; ideas for future utilization and recovery are existing in present without applied use. Remediation in old manner creates risks for environment and economic resources are wasted. The Governmental tools for economic steering of real landfill mining projects need to be adjusted as stakeholders are interested in the concept. The paper gives a historical journey for introducing landfill mining in Sweden, the Baltic Sea Region and EU.

In this study, NASA's VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) fire hotspots and data of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), collected between 2012 and 2018, was integrated to characterize waste fire incidents that were detected by VIIRS and reported to MSB (DaR), detected by VIIRS but not reported to MSB (DbNR) and that are reported to MSB but not detected by VIIRS (RbND). Results show that the average number of open waste fire incidents per million capita per year (AFIPMC) in Sweden, for the period 2012–2018, ranges from 2.4 to 4.7. Although a weak correlation exists (r = 0.44, P = 0.1563, one tailed) between years and number of fire incidents (MSB + VIIRS fires), a continuous increase in number of fire incidents was recorded between 2014 and 2018. It is concluded that the use of satellite data of fire anomalies, in-combination with the use of incident reports, will help in formalizing more reliable and comprehensive waste fire statistics. Another focus area of the article is to consolidate the recommendations and routines for safe storage of waste and biofuels and to present the lessons that can be learnt from past fire incidents. The article also discusses the technical, political, economic, social, and practical aspects of waste fires and provide a baseline for future research and experimentation. ; This work was supported by KK-stiftelsen [grant number 817-2.1.9, 2017] and Åforsk-stiftelsen [21-106].

In this study, NASA's VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) fire hotspots and data of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), collected between 2012 and 2018, was integrated to characterize waste fire incidents that were detected by VIIRS and reported to MSB (DaR), detected by VIIRS but not reported to MSB (DbNR) and that are reported to MSB but not detected by VIIRS (RbND). Results show that the average number of open waste fire incidents per million capita per year (AFIPMC) in Sweden, for the period 2012–2018, ranges from 2.4 to 4.7. Although a weak correlation exists (r = 0.44, P = 0.1563, one tailed) between years and number of fire incidents (MSB + VIIRS fires), a continuous increase in number of fire incidents was recorded between 2014 and 2018. It is concluded that the use of satellite data of fire anomalies, in-combination with the use of incident reports, will help in formalizing more reliable and comprehensive waste fire statistics. Another focus area of the article is to consolidate the recommendations and routines for safe storage of waste and biofuels and to present the lessons that can be learnt from past fire incidents. The article also discusses the technical, political, economic, social, and practical aspects of waste fires and provide a baseline for future research and experimentation.

One of key activity in the Baltic Sea Region strategy is in transition from linear economy to circular economy. The one of the first step to circular economy is to reduce flow of potentially recyclable material and substance flow to waste pool. The one of possible solution is phytoremediation. The aim of this study is to highlight phytoremediation advantages and limitations in circular economy context at Baltic Sea Region. The first task is to identify phytoremediation technologies for soil and groundwater remediation, second task is to evaluate phytoremediation technologies in Baltic Sea Region context, third task is to give recommendation for land owners, municipalities and governments for phytoremediation technologies application. The results show high potential of phytoremediation technologies in non-point source pollution reduction in agricultural sector. The high potential of phytoremediation technologies application is in decentralized sewage water management systems. The circular economy approach can be applied to digester, wood ash and sewage sludge phytoremediation integration in renewable energy sector by wood chips production. The phytoremediation show high potential as circular economy driving force in Baltic Sea Region. ; One of key activity in the Baltic Sea Region strategy is in transition from linear economy to circular economy. The one of the first step to circular economy is to reduce flow of potentially recyclable material and substance flow to waste pool. The one of possible solution is phytoremediation. The aim of this study is to highlight phytoremediation advantages and limitations in circular economy context at Baltic Sea Region. The first task is to identify phytoremediation technologies for soil and groundwater remediation, second task is to evaluate phytoremediation technologies in Baltic Sea Region context, third task is to give recommendation for land owners, municipalities and governments for phytoremediation technologies application. The results show high potential of phytoremediation technologies in non-point source pollution reduction in agricultural sector. The high potential of phytoremediation technologies application is in decentralized sewage water management systems. The circular economy approach can be applied to digester, wood ash and sewage sludge phytoremediation integration in renewable energy sector by wood chips production. The phytoremediation show high potential as circular economy driving force in Baltic Sea Region.

AbstractBatch tests were carried out with sawdust obtained from oak (Quercus robur), maple (Acer platanoides), pine (Pinus sylvestris), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and wood chips from oak and pine. Leaching of organic compounds expressed as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in mg/kg of dry mass took place during the first 24 h. The following additional variables were analysed: pH, conductivity, colour, phenols, tannins and lignin, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD7). When leachates obtained with oak wood chips and pine wood chips were compared, no significant difference was observed. However, in batch tests with sawdust, DOC released by oak (90 000 mg/kg) was significantly higher (P = 0.0001) than DOC released by pine (30 000 mg/kg). The results suggest that particle size is not the only variable affecting the leaching of organic compounds from wood. Regarding BOD, colour [platinum‐cobalt (Pt‐Co)], phenols, tannins and lignin, the leaching patterns differed among species, and oak was the species with the highest released values.

Rural and urban landscapes are primary targets for implementation of EU Baltic Sea Regional and Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) Baltic Sea action plan strategies concerning remedial and recycling operations. Sweden is one of the leaders in the world elaborating environmental engineering and sustainability progress. The international project entitled "Phytoremediation park for treatment and recreation at glassworks contaminated sites" (acronym PHYTECO) which gathered under the Tripple Helix concept researchers, municipality experts and businessmen from Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Ukraine. The aim is to investigate the benefits of prospective environmentally friendly mining in contaminated with glass waste areas thus as the result having elaborated landscape quality, promoted beyond the zero waste ideas on recycling and driven phytoremediation technologies as future state-of-the-art landfill remedial technique. The ongoing project foresees cross-border collaboration on landscape policy and remediation strategy among Baltic Sea countries through share of knowledge and best practice among the involved partners. It intends the clean-up of rural landscapes damaged by old glassworks landfills located at Kingdom of Crystal, Sweden. The final goal is establishing a recreation park at the old Boda glassworks in Emmaboda town that may attract tourists for visiting this place. Hence large efforts are devoted to educational values which were targeted during field course in 2016 where international students of different levels from 25 countries participated. The course took place in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Sweden with active participation of Ukrainian pedagogic forces. ; Rural and urban landscapes are primary targets for implementation of EU Baltic Sea Regional and Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) Baltic Sea action plan strategies concerning remedial and recycling operations. Sweden is one of the leaders in the world elaborating environmental engineering and sustainability progress. The international project entitled "Phytoremediation park for treatment and recreation at glassworks contaminated sites" (acronym PHYTECO) which gathered under the Tripple Helix concept researchers, municipality experts and businessmen from Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Ukraine. The aim is to investigate the benefits of prospective environmentally friendly mining in contaminated with glass waste areas thus as the result having elaborated landscape quality, promoted beyond the zero waste ideas on recycling and driven phytoremediation technologies as future state-of-the-art landfill remedial technique. The ongoing project foresees cross-border collaboration on landscape policy and remediation strategy among Baltic Sea countries through share of knowledge and best practice among the involved partners. It intends the clean-up of rural landscapes damaged by old glassworks landfills located at Kingdom of Crystal, Sweden. The final goal is establishing a recreation park at the old Boda glassworks in Emmaboda town that may attract tourists for visiting this place. Hence large efforts are devoted to educational values which were targeted during field course in 2016 where international students of different levels from 25 countries participated. The course took place in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Sweden with active participation of Ukrainian pedagogic forces.

Stormwater from urban, industrial and rural areas is very often discharged into recipient water bodies without any treatment. This is now changing in many parts of the word, especially in Europe due to The EU Water Framework Directive (European Union, 2000). According to the new policy, will probably stormwater that has often small concentrations but complex mix of different organic and inorganic pollutants has to be treated. Many different systems have been used, such as wetlands and soil infiltration trenches, among others. Sawdust has many times been reported as a good sorbent used for removing mostly toxic metals from wastewaters. However, in most cases, studies have been carried out with distilled water spiked with, for instance, 1-2 different toxic metals. Very few studies have used real wastewater and even less have studied removal of metals from stormwater using sorbent such as sawdust. Sawdust has also drawbacks, since it may release potentially hazardous substances as tannins: lignin, phenolic compounds, resin acids and overall high COD concentrations which results in oxygen depletion in the recipient water bodies. In this paper, the results of using sawdust as sorbent for removal of heavy metal from stormwater with different pollutants are presented. ; Stormwater from urban, industrial and rural areas is very often discharged into recipient water bodies without any treatment. This is now changing in many parts of the word, especially in Europe due to The EU Water Framework Directive (European Union, 2000). According to the new policy, will probably stormwater that has often small concentrations but complex mix of different organic and inorganic pollutants has to be treated. Many different systems have been used, such as wetlands and soil infiltration trenches, among others. Sawdust has many times been reported as a good sorbent used for removing mostly toxic metals from wastewaters. However, in most cases, studies have been carried out with distilled water spiked with, for instance, 1-2 different toxic metals. Very few studies have used real wastewater and even less have studied removal of metals from stormwater using sorbent such as sawdust. Sawdust has also drawbacks, since it may release potentially hazardous substances as tannins: lignin, phenolic compounds, resin acids and overall high COD concentrations which results in oxygen depletion in the recipient water bodies. In this paper, the results of using sawdust as sorbent for removal of heavy metal from stormwater with different pollutants are presented.