Author
Alise Berzina
Bio: Alise Berzina is an academic researcher from Riga Technical University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Material efficiency & Ecodesign. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 3 publications receiving 59 citations.
Papers
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TL;DR: In this article, a system dynamics model was developed to analyze the policy mechanisms that promote packaging material efficiency in products through increased recycling rates, including economic incentives such as packaging and landfill taxes combined with market mechanisms, behavioral aspects and ecological considerations in terms of material efficiency.
Abstract: EU's long-term objective is to become a recycling and resource effective society, where waste is utilized as a resource and waste generation is prevented. A system dynamics model was developed to analyze the policy mechanisms that promote packaging material efficiency in products through increased recycling rates. The model includes economic incentives such as packaging and landfill taxes combined with market mechanisms, behavioral aspects and ecological considerations in terms of material efficiency (the packaging material per product unit, recycled fraction in products). The paper presents the results of application of various policy instruments for increasing packaging material efficiency and recovery rate and reducing landfilled fraction. The results show that a packaging tax is an effective policy instrument for increasing the material efficiency. It ensures the decrease of the total consumption of materials and subsequent waste generation. The tax helps to counteract a rebound effect, which, as identified by the analysis, can be caused by reduced material costs due to eco-design. The model is applied to the case of Latvia. Yet, the elements and structure of the model developed are similar to waste management systems in many countries. By changing numeric values of certain parameters, the model can be applied to analyze policy mechanisms in other countries.
71 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discussed the findings of a research project which explored the packaging waste management system in Latvia and identified how the policy mechanisms can promote ecodesign implementation and material efficiency improvement and therefore reduce the rate of packaging waste accumulation in landfill.
Abstract: This paper discusses the findings of a research project which explored the packaging waste management system in Latvia. The paper focuses on identifying how the policy mechanisms can promote ecodesign implementation and material efficiency improvement and therefore reduce the rate of packaging waste accumulation in landfill. The method used for analyzing the packaging waste management policies is system dynamics modeling. The main conclusion is that the existing legislative instruments can be used to create an effective policy for ecodesign implementation but substantially higher tax rates on packaging materials and waste disposal than the existing have
4 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an open discussion "Riga - European Green Capital" was organized by a nongovernmental organization "Association of Environmental Science Students" to develop suggestions for the Riga city council on how to win the title "European Green Capital".
Abstract: Participation of Environmental Science Students in an Open Discussion \"Riga - European Green Capital\" Starting from the year 2010, each year one European city is selected as the European Green Capital of the year. The award is granted to a city that has a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards, and is committed to ongoing and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development, as well as can act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices to other European cities. Riga participated in the competition once, but did not fulfill the conditions, therefore an open discussion \"Riga - European Green Capital\" was organized by a nongovernmental organization \"Association of Environmental Science Students\". The aim of the discussion was to develop suggestions for the Riga city council on how to win the title \"European Green Capital\". Students of technical and engineering sciences were involved in the discussion to give their vision on what is needed for the city to comply with all the criteria of the competition. Thus, another aim of the discussion was to promote collaboration between students and the Riga city council in terms of environmental thinking. As a result of the discussion, a nine-page letter was prepared with recommendations to the Riga city mayor on how to develop the city in a sustainable manner and outlining benefits which could arise if the city of Riga got the title. However, the most important outcome of the discussion are the skills which students gained from the experience of presenting their ideas and discussing them with specialists of the specific field. This should help in further studies and work, as well as in individual professional development. The discussions were also a starting point for further collaboration between the Riga city council and students from the Association of Latvian Environmental Science Students. Vides zinātnes studentu piedalī šanās atklātajā diskusijā \"Rīga - Eiropas Załā galvaspilsēta\" Katru gadu, kopš 2010. gada, viena Eiropas pilsēta tiek izvēlēta nominācijai \"Eiropas Załā galvaspilsēta\". Sī nominācija tiek piešķirta pilsētai, kas iepriekšējos gados pastāvīgi centusies sasniegt augstus vides standartus un ir izvirzījusi tālredzīgus un ambiciozus mērķus turpmākai vides uzlabošanai un ilgtspējīgas attīstības veicināšanai, kā arī ar savu rīcību iedvesmo citas Eiropas pilsētas un motivē tās pārņemt labas prakses piemērus. Reiz Rīga šajā konkursā jau ir piedalījusies, tacu nespēja izpildīt nepieciešamos nosacījumus, tādēł jauniešu nevalstiskā organizācija \"Latvijas Vides zinātnes studentu apvienība\" nolēma organizēt atklāto diskusiju \"Rīga - Eiropas Załā galvaspilsēta\". Sīs diskusijas mērķis bija izstrādāt un piedāvāt Rīgas pilsētas domei ieteikumus par to, kā iegūt titulu Eiropas Załā galvaspilsēta. Diskusijā savu vīziju par nepieciešamajiem uzlabojumiem, lai Rīga atbilstu konkursa nosacījumiem un kritērijiem, izteica gan tehnisko specialitāšu, gan inzenierzinātņu studenti. Kā papildus mērķis diskusijas rīkošanai bija Rīgas domes un studentu sadarbības veicināšana vides un ilgtspējīgas attīstības jautājumu risināšanai. Diskusijas rezultātā tika izveidota deviņu lapaspušu gara priekšlikumu vēstule Rīgas mēram par to, kā nodrošināt pilsētas ilgtspējīgu attīstību un kādi būtu pilsētas ieguvumi no šī titula saņemšanas. Tacu visnozīmīgākais ieguvums pēc šīs diskusijas ir studentu gūtā pieredze un prasmes, prezentējot savas idejas un diskutējot par tām ar konkrēto nozaru speciālistiem. Sāda pieredze studentiem būs noderīga gan turpmākajās studijās, gan darbā, gan arī privātajā dzīvē. Diskusija bija arī kā atskaites punkts turpmākajai sadarbībai starp Rīgas pilsētas domi un \"Latvijas Vides zinātnes studentu apvienības\" pārstāvjiem. Элина Даце, Алисе Берзиня, Лига Озолиня, Иева Лоренце. Участие студентов науки об окружающей среде в открытой дискуссии «Рига -Европейская зелёная столица» Начиная с 2010 года каждый год выбирается Европейский город в номинации «Европейская зелёная столица». Эта номинация присваевается городу, который в прошлом году самостоятельно старался достичь стандарты окружающей среды и выдвинул дальновидные и амбициозные цели для дальнейшего улучшения окружающей среды, долгосрочного развития, а также своими действиями вдохновляет и мотивирует другие Европейские города воспользоваться примером хорошей практики. Один раз Рига уже учавствовала в этом конкурсе, однако не смогла выполнить необходимые условия, поэтому молодёжь из негосударственной организации «Объединение Латвийских студентов науки об окружающей среде» решила организовать открытую дискуссию «Рига - Европейская зелёная столица». Цель данной дискуссии была разработать и предложить Рижской думе, как получить титул Европейской зелёной столицы. В дискуссии своё мнение о необходимых улучшениях для достижения цели (чтобы Рига соответствовала условиям и критериям конкурса), высказывали студенты разных специальностей: технические специалисты и инженеры. Дополнительной целью для организации дискуссии было улучшение взаимного сотрудничества между Рижской думой и студентами в вопросах окружающей среды и долгосрочного развития. В результате дискуссии было подготовлено письмо на 9 листах Рижскому мэру с предложениями, как обеспечить долгосрочное развитие города, а также были представлены приемущества, если Рига получит титул Европейской зелёной столицы. Однако самое главное достижение после данной дискуссии был полученный студентами опыт и знания во время презентации своих идей и дискутируя о них с отраслевыми специалистами. Данный опыт студентов был важен в учебном процессе, на работе и в личной жизне. Дискуссия также послужила точкой отсчёта для дальнейшего сотрудничества между Рижской думой и представителями «Объединения Латвийских студентов науки об окружающей среде».
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TL;DR: A review of SSCM-related SD models is provided, a framework for a systems thinking perspective in a conceptual framework is conceptualized that may serve as a basis for future research, and guidelines for SD modeling in S SCM research are proposed.
149 citations
TL;DR: A systematic literature review was carried out to characterize and critically evaluate the published literature on the social dimensions of MSW management from 1980 to 2014 in terms of vulnerability, public participation, public attitude and behavior, and policy.
135 citations
TL;DR: Empirical findings underline a bidirectional causal relationship between municipal solid waste generation and GDP, indicating that the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis holds for Switzerland.
104 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors map the fundamental ideas behind the rebound effect and find that the lack of articulation has resulted in inconsistent usage and lack of clarity, and argue that the ERE offers many valuable insights for rebound assessment, such as the study of broader efficiency changes and innovations aimed at tackling multiple environmental issues.
82 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the main environmental and health concerns for plastic bag consumption are the release of heavy metal (HM) and chlorine (Cl) during its service life and disposal, which is a concern for plastic bags.
Abstract: The main environmental and health concerns for plastic bag (PB) consumption are the release of heavy metal (HM) and chlorine (Cl) during its service life and disposal. The objective of the investigation was to characterize different PBs made of commonly used polymers and colors. The elemental compositions, heating values and total metal contents of the samples were measured by an elemental analyzer, a sulphur/halogen analyzer, a bomb calorimeter, and an ICP–OES, respectively; leaching behaviours of metals by stimulants (distilled water, HCl, acetic acid) and temperature (cooling, sunlight, heating); and thermal decomposition rate by treating in tube furnace at different temperatures with air flow. Results demonstrated that PVC bags contain 40%–56% of Cl while others 70%–90% of C followed by H and insignificant quantity of N and S. All samples showed the lowest moisture content (˂1%) and higher LCV (18–47 MJ/kg). 5 out of 33 PB samples exhibited Cr and Cd contents exceeded standards (ASTM F963); i.e., Cr in black HDPE (63 mg/kg), multi–color LDPE (78 mg/kg) and black LDPE (67 mg/kg), while Cd in purple PVC (334 mg/kg) and black PVC (135 mg/kg). A noteworthy quantity of Pb, Cr and Cd leaching was noticed in all samples where HCl and heating treatment demonstrated the highest amount of metals leaching, and most of the samples crossed EPA standards. Furthermore, different polymers exhibited different mass reduction ratios (85%–99%) during thermal treatment at 850 °C and 950 °C.
79 citations