Gestione Sostenibile e circolare dei rifiuti
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: PAOLO ROCCAROExpected Learning Outcomes
The course aims to provide students with the fundamental knowledge required for the integrated management of municipal and special waste in both civil and industrial sectors, with particular emphasis on a circular and sustainable waste recovery approach.
Specifically, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda will be addressed: 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities, particularly with regard to air quality and waste management; 12.3: Halve per capita global food waste; 12.4: Ensure environmentally sound management of waste to minimize adverse impacts on human health and the environment; 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse; 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution from land-based activities, including marine litter and nutrient pollution.
Course Structure
Lectures.
Discussion of lecture content. Classroom exercises using computer-based tools.
If the course is delivered in hybrid or remote mode, necessary adjustments may be made to the above-mentioned methods in order to comply with the planned program as outlined in the syllabus.
Students who have been granted the status of working student, student-athlete, student in difficulty, or student with disabilities—pursuant to Article 30 of the University’s Academic Regulations and related regulation (R.D. No. 1598 of May 2, 2018)—may take exams during special sessions reserved for out-of-course students and will be offered specific academic support activities (such as video lectures, where available).
Required Prerequisites
None.
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Course Introduction and Environmental Issues.
Global Risks and the 2030 Agenda.
Sustainability: key elements and reference standards. ESG (Environmental,
Social, and Governance).
Circular Economy: definitions, reference standards, and metrics. The 5 Rs of
the circular economy in waste management.
Environmental Legislation: Legislative Decree 152/2006 and
subsequent amendments – "Environmental Code".
Overview of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental
Assessment (SEA), toxicology, ecology, and biogeochemical cycles. Ministerial
Decrees on End-of-Waste criteria.
Environmental Pollutants in waste and solid matrices –
examples.
Waste Classification and Characterization – examples.
Exercise: Waste characterization.
Exercise: Intermediate assessment.
Integrated Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management.
Territorial areas. Waste collection and recovery models and systems.
Case Studies of integrated solid waste management systems (ISWMS):
ISWMS of the Sicily Region,
ISWMS of the Emilia-Romagna Region,
Other national and international ISWMS – challenges and future perspectives.
Exercise: Design of a municipal waste collection system to
support ISWMS.
Technical visit to municipal solid waste management facilities (to be
specified).
Exercise: Intermediate assessment.
Liquid Waste.
Distinction between liquid waste and wastewater – examples.
Characteristics of liquid waste.
Environmental Reactors – examples.
Physical Treatments – examples.
Physico-chemical Treatments – examples.
Biological Treatments – examples.
Exercise: Physical treatment of liquid waste.
Exercise: Physico-chemical treatment of liquid waste.
Exercise: Biological treatment of liquid waste.
Emerging Issues: food waste, microplastics, etc. – examples.
Introduction to Treatment Plants for water and waste – examples.
Introduction to Treatment Plants for gaseous emissions – examples.
Introduction to Remediation Interventions for contaminated sites – examples.
Technical visit to a waste treatment plant (Sicula Trasporti).
Exercise: Intermediate assessment.
Textbook Information
Dispense del corso.
De Feo, De Gisi, Galasso. Rifiuti solidi. Progettazione e gestione di impianti per il trattamento e lo smaltimento. Flaccovio.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction and Environmental Issues. Global Risks and the 2030 Agenda. Sustainability: key elements and reference standards. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). Circular Economy: definitions, reference standards, and metrics. The 5 Rs of the circular economy in waste management. Environmental Legislation: Legislative Decree 152/2006 and subsequent amendments – "Environmental Code". Overview of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), toxicology, ecology, and biogeochemical cycles. Ministerial Decrees on End-of-Waste criteria. Environmental Pollutants in waste and solid matrices – examples. Waste Classification and Characterization – examples. Exercise: Waste characterization. Exercise: Intermediate assessment. | Lecture notes. |
| 2 | Integrated Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management. Territorial areas. Waste collection and recovery models and systems. Case Studies of integrated solid waste management systems (ISWMS): ISWMS of the Sicily Region, ISWMS of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Other national and international ISWMS – challenges and future perspectives. Exercise: Design of a municipal waste collection system to support ISWMS. Technical visit to municipal solid waste management facilities (to be specified). Exercise: Intermediate assessment. | Lecture notes. |
| 3 | Liquid Waste. Distinction between liquid waste and wastewater – examples. Characteristics of liquid waste. Environmental Reactors – examples. Physical Treatments – examples.Physico-chemical Treatments – examples. Biological Treatments – examples. Exercise: Physical treatment of liquid waste. Exercise: Physico-chemical treatment of liquid waste.Exercise: Biological treatment of liquid waste. Emerging Issues: food waste, microplastics, etc. – examples. Introduction to Treatment Plants for water and waste – examples. Introduction to Treatment Plants for gaseous emissions – examples. Introduction to Remediation Interventions for contaminated sites – examples. Technical visit to a waste treatment plant (Sicula Trasporti). Exercise: Intermediate assessment. | Lecture notes. |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Two intermediate written tests and one final written exam are also scheduled. Passing one or more of the written tests allows students to take the oral exam excluding the topics for which they have already received a positive evaluation, which will contribute to the final grade. If all written tests are passed, students may request to have the resulting final grade officially recorded. Students still have the option to take the exam covering the entire syllabus or only part of it, even if they have received one or more positive evaluations in the intermediate tests.
Assessment may also be conducted online, should circumstances require it.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Sustainability
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)
Circular Economy
Environmental Legislation
End-of-Waste
Environmental Pollutants
Waste Classification and Characterization
Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSW)
Liquid Waste Treatment