A Master’s Course Can Emphasize Circular Economy in Municipal Solid Waste Management: Evidence from the University of Pisa
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Published:2024-02-27
Issue:5
Volume:16
Page:1966
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ISSN:2071-1050
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Container-title:Sustainability
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Sustainability
Author:
Pisuttu Claudia1ORCID, Adducci Francesca1, Arena Sofia1, Bigongiali Daniela1, Callea Liliangela1, Carmignani Paolo1, Cavicchi Alessio1ORCID, Chianura Mariagrazia1, Ciulli Luisa1, Contaldo Marianna1, Cotrozzi Lorenzo1ORCID, D’Alessandro Claudia1, Ferrara Annapia1, Fiaccadori Ivan1, Gajda Besmira1, Guarnieri Chiara1, Landi Marco1ORCID, Lanini Luca1, Lomuto Rocco Roberto1, Lucente Daniela1, Lugli Cristina1, Maffei Francesca1, Marconi Francesca1, Micale Silvia1, Mignani Chiara1, Nali Cristina1ORCID, Pellegrini Elisa1ORCID, Scarongella Vito1, Tomasi Sabrina1, Vatteroni Carolina1, Lorenzini Giacomo1
Affiliation:
1. Master Course on Sustainable Development and Climate Change, c/o Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Abstract
Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents a significant global threat, which has to be managed by a model of production and consumption involving the sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling of existing materials and products for as long as possible, otherwise known as a circular economy (CE). However, there is not a universal rule for waste recycling strategies, and it has been demonstrated that active public participation is crucial in the satisfactory management of waste. In this context, citizen participation and education are two interrelated approaches, which can help to engage and inform people regarding waste and its wider impact. The present study describes the development of an interdisciplinary hackathon (hackathons are events whereby individuals from different backgrounds are brought together to work on the solutions to different problems), targeted to students of a postgraduate Master’s course on Sustainable Development and Climate Change in order to develop and understand the MSW problems and priorities currently being targeted, with the aim to propose new potential solutions for MSW reduction, reuse, and recycling. Following an empirical approach, four working groups were established and assigned the following specific tasks: (i) communication/citizen education on MSW; (ii) the reduction of MSW production; (iii) innovative solutions to recover and enhance secondary raw materials deriving from MSW processing; and (iv) the eco-design of the cities of the future concerning CE principles applied to MSW recycling. Overall, the following main findings were derived from the hackathon event: (i) an essential objective of the CE strategy is to drive Europe’s internal market towards the production and consumption of more sustainable products, thus reducing environmental and social pressures, while still retaining value; (ii) the most effective ways of tackling environmental problems are to ‘change the way we consume’, as well as to ‘change the way we produce and trade’, with the responsibility shared between businesses, governments, and the EU, as well as the citizens themselves. In this scenario, research and innovation play a key role in driving the necessary systemic changes to reach climate neutrality and ensure an inclusive ecological and economic transition. Overall, the present study confirms how the hackathon represents an effective tool to engage citizens in participation and education.
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