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Florin-Constantin Mihai

Bio: Florin-Constantin Mihai is an academic researcher from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Waste collection & Municipal solid waste. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 117 publications receiving 641 citations.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A rapid assessment method of potentially infectious waste flow related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Romania focusing on the emergency state (from 16 March to 14 May 2020) where a national lockdown was in force with restrictive and social distancing measures concerning population mobility and economic activities.
Abstract: This paper provides a rapid assessment method of potentially infectious waste flow related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Romania focusing on the emergency state (from 16 March to 14 May 2020) where a national lockdown was in force with restrictive and social distancing measures concerning population mobility and economic activities. Medical and municipal waste management systems are critical services in combating the virus spread in the community. This assessment is useful due to poor available data of medical waste flow in environmental reports and it covers COVID-19 patients, quarantined, and self-isolated persons as the main potential infectious waste sources. The proposed model estimates that COVID-19 related waste flow is 4312 t at the national level from 25 February to 15 June of which 2633 t in the emergency state period. This assessment is correlated with deficiencies of medical and municipal waste management systems in Romania before the COVID-19 pandemic as stress factors of public health and environment. This study points out the main challenges of waste operators and reveals some best practices during this pandemic crisis. Based on the results and discussion section, several recommendations are proposed to COVID-19 waste-related issues and points out the crucial role of the reliable medical and municipal waste database in managing such biologic hazards at national and EU levels. Monitoring of COVID-19 waste flow through such models are important for decision-makers, particularly in low and middle-income countries which are facing waste management deficiencies and gaps in waste statistics, to reduce other contamination risks or related environmental threats.

75 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the biowaste management issues across rural areas of Romania in the context of poor waste management infrastructure in the last decade (2003-2012) and pointed out the role of home composting in diverting the waste from wild dumps and landfills for the regions covered or not by waste collection services.

68 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2019
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reveal the geographies of E-waste flows at global and national levels based on waste statistics data and thematic cartography, examining waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management practices for each major geographical area respectively: Europe, North America, Latin America, Caribbean, South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
Abstract: This chapter aims to reveal the geographies of E-waste flows at global and national levels based on waste statistics data and thematic cartography. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management practices are examined for each major geographical area respectively: Europe, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Pollution and public health threats associated with improper E-waste management practices is a crucial environmental issue, particularly in emerging economies. Generation, collection, treatment, recycling, and recovery activities of WEEE are analyzed within each geographical area. The formal and informal sectors are further investigated, discussing the gaps and different prospects in development of sustainable E-waste management systems across developing and developed countries.

43 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a critical overview concerning the construction and demolition waste (CD), CD (iii) CD (iv) regional integrated waste management systems; (v) recycling of building materials (e.g., cement industry and recycled aggregates).
Abstract: The paper performs a critical overview concerning the construction and demolition waste (CD (ii) CD (iii) CD (iv) regional integrated waste management systems; (v) recycling of building materials (e.g., cement industry and recycled aggregates). The paper reveals the poor monitoring of C&DW flows across Romanian counties and the geographical dimension of this waste stream collected by waste operators. The paper examines the current challenges in Romania and it reveals the future prospects to provide a reliable transition towards sustainable C&DW management activities. The targeted route: waste fractions can be recycled and/or reused as building materials via integrated waste management systems, which enable a circular economy in urban and rural municipalities.

36 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that rural communities are significant contributors of plastics into water bodies and a new regional integrated waste management system should improve the waste collection services across rural municipalities at the county level when it is fully operational.
Abstract: The lack of proper waste collection systems leads to plastic pollution in rivers in proximity to rural communities. This environmental threat is more widespread among mountain communities which are prone to frequent flash floods during the warm season. This paper estimates the amounts of plastic bottles dumped into the Izvoru Muntelui lake by upstream rural communities. The plastic pollution dimension between seasonal floods which affected the Bistrita catchment area during 2005–2012 is examined. The floods dumped over 290 tonnes of plastic bottles into the lake. Various scenarios are tested in order to explain each amount of plastic waste collected by local authorities during sanitation activities. The results show that rural municipalities are responsible for 85.51% of total plastic bottles collected during 2005–2010. The source of plastic pollution is mainly local. The major floods of July 2008 and June 2010 collected most of the plastic bottles scattered across the Bistrita river catchment (56 villages) and dumped them into the lake. These comparisons validate the proposed method as a reliable tool in the assessment process of river plastic pollution, which may also be applied in other geographical areas. Tourism and leisure activities are also found to be responsible for plastic pollution in the study area. A new regional integrated waste management system should improve the waste collection services across rural municipalities at the county level when it is fully operational. This paper demonstrates that rural communities are significant contributors of plastics into water bodies.

34 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2020
TL;DR: The article estimates the face mask and medical waste generation in Asia during the pandemic to convince the waste management and scientific communities to find ways to address the negative impact that the waste disposal has on the environment.
Abstract: The origin of the novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and its potential for harm increased face mask and medical waste in the environment, thereby necessitating the urgent prevention and control of the pandemic. The article estimates the face mask and medical waste generation in Asia during the pandemic to convince the waste management and scientific communities to find ways to address the negative impact that the waste disposal has on the environment. Standardisation, procedures, guidelines and strict implementation of medical waste management related to COVID-19, community habitats and public areas should be carefully considered to reduce pandemic risks in hospitals, as proper medical waste disposal effectively controls infection sources.

304 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the current scientific state on plastic debris in rivers and evaluate existing knowledge gaps, and present an overview of monitoring and modeling efforts to characterize riverine plastic transport, and give examples of typical values from around the world.
Abstract: Plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems is an emerging environmental risk, as it may negatively impacts ecology, endangers aquatic species, and causes economic damage. Rivers are known to play a crucial role in transporting land-based plastic waste to the world's oceans, but riverine ecosystems are also directly affected by plastic pollution. To better quantify global plastic pollution transport and to effectively reduce sources and risks, a thorough understanding of origin, transport, fate, and effects of riverine plastic debris is crucial. In this overview paper, we discuss the current scientific state on plastic debris in rivers and evaluate existing knowledge gaps. We present a brief background of plastics, polymer types typically found in rivers, and the risk posed to aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, we elaborate on the origin and fate of riverine plas-tics, including processes and factors influencing plastic debris transport and its spatio-temporal variation. We present an overview of monitoring and modeling efforts to characterize riverine plastic transport, and give examples of typical values from around the world. Finally, we present an outlook to riverine plastic research. With this paper, we aim to present an inclusive and comprehensive overview of riverine plastic debris research to date and suggest multiple ways forward for future research. This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water Quality Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems.

206 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It was found that the quantity of waste increased across countries observing the social distancing measure of staying at home, and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on waste management by observing lockdown and social Distancing measures was assessed.
Abstract: The containment of the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and limitations on commercial activities, mobility and manufacturing sector have significantly affected waste management. Waste management is critical to human development and health outcomes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The invaluable service provided by the waste management sector ensures that the unusual heaps of waste that poses health risks and escalate the spread of COVID-19 is avoided. In this study, we assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on waste management by observing lockdown and social distancing measures. We found that the quantity of waste increased across countries observing the social distancing measure of staying at home. The intensification of single-use products and panic buying have increased production and consumption, hence thwarting efforts towards reducing plastic pollution. However, several countries have thus far instituted policies to ensure sustainable management of waste while protecting the safety of waste handlers.

202 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A theoretical Circular Economy model for developing big cities in low-middle income countries is described within the study for effectively comparing which chances can spread for these countries as regard municipal solid waste exploitation.

198 citations

14 Dec 2010
TL;DR: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) as discussed by the authors is a multilateral development bank founded in 1965 by 31 member governments to promote social and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region.
Abstract: Established in 1965 by 31 member governments to promote social and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) began operations in December 1966. Up until Sep. 2005, the ADB had 64 member countries, with 46 from the Asia-

153 citations