Gestão Ambiental e Valorização de Resíduos

Attending this course does not require specific background knowledge. However, being transversal to several themes addressed in the 1st and 2nd year courses, it is recommended that students have attended all the curricular units of the study plan of mandatory nature.

In classes, the expository and inquisitive method is used to introduce the programmed theoretical subjects. Student participation is encouraged by presenting case studies through which it is intended to develop critical thinking and argumentative skills. With the group work proposal, up to 6 elements, it is intended that students acquire teamwork skills and what roles that, in a work group, each element can assume.

At the end of the semester, students should be able to:

• compare and classify the main types of waste generated in urban areas;
• implement environmental management systems;
• reflect on the problem of environmental assessment, whether in terms of impacts or regional strategy;
• differentiate between atmospheric pollution and climate change;
• explain the scientific evidence and the main measures for adapting to and mitigating climate change;
• discuss existing waste treatment and recovery solutions;
• present existing industrial waste recovery solutions.

In terms of transversal skills, students are expected to be able to:

• communicate orally and in writing;
• research and summarize information from reliable sources:
• work as part of a team;
• devise SMART solutions for continuous improvement.

1. Environmental management.
Action programs on the environment. Strategic plans and national programs. Law – Waste framework. European waste list.

2. Environmental management systems.
Standard NP EN ISO 14001: 2012. Planning and documentation of the EMS. Assessment of environmental impacts. Environmental Management Program. Implementation of planned environmental actions. Emergency preparedness and response. Monitoring and measurement.

3. Life Cycle Thinking.
The life cycle concept. Types of approaches for analyzing the life cycle of products and services. Phases of a life cycle analysis. Footprint accounting.

4. Environmental assessment.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Purposes, objectives and limitations of an EIA. Definition and methodologies for assessing environmental impacts. Basic values ​​and principles of an EIA. EIA procedure: Screening and Scoping. Public participation. Environmental Impact Statement (DIA). Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Decision levels. EIA Vs SEA. Areas of application of SEA. SEA barriers and characteristics. SEA requirements

5. Air pollution and climate change.
The Earth’s atmosphere. Main characteristics of the various layers, namely the boundary layer. Characterization of the main air pollutants. Effects on human health and the environment of the main pollutants. Dispersion and transport of pollutants. Air quality management instruments. Evolution of air quality in the central area. Definition of climate change. Relationship and differences between air pollution and climate change. The carbon cycle. Climatic system. Greenhouse Gases (GHG). Climate models and respective scenarios and forecasts. Policies adopted. Mitigation and adaptation.

6. Characterization of solid waste.
Linear economy Vs circular economy. Principles of waste production. Precursors in waste management. EU strategies for waste management. Waste hierarchy. Principles of waste management. Waste management goals. Urban solid waste (MSW) and its management operations. Collection technologies and systems. Integrated waste management. Composition and properties of MSW. Treatment processes and technologies: i) mechanical, ii) biological, iii) thermochemical, iv) final deposition. Impacts on human health and the MSW environment.

7. Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW).
CDW management. Definition, classification and characterization. Quantification methods. Hierarchy and typologies. Deconstruction and selective demolition. Separation, packaging, sorting and transport. Hazardous waste. CDW in transport infrastructure and their recovery. CDW solution in transport infrastructures. Energy emissions and consumption.

NAO

• Directive 2008/50 / EC (2008). Ambient air quality and cleaner air in Europe. European Parliament and the Council (Available on the academic management platform).
• EUR 24 708 EN (2010). International reference life cycle data system (ILCD) handbook – General guide for life cycle assessment – detailed guidance. Luxembourg: Publication Office of the European Union (Available on the academic management platform).
• European Commission (2016). EU Construction & Demolition Waste Management Protocol. European Union (Available on the academic management platform).
• ISO 14001: 2015. Environmental management systems. Requirements and guidelines for its use (Available on the academic management platform).
• Partisan, M. R. (2012). Best practices guide for strategic environmental assessment – methodological guidelines for strategic thinking in SEA. Lisbon, Portugal: Portuguese Environment Agency (Available on the academic management platform).
• Pires, A., Martinho, G., Rodrigues, S., Gomes, M. I. (2019). Sustainable solid waste collection and management. Switzerland: Springer Nature (Available on the academic management platform).
• Royal Government of Bhutan (2011). Environmental management tools and techniques – learning material. National Environment Commission (Available on the academic management platform).
• Russo, M. A. T. (2003). Solid waste treatment. PhD thesis, University of Coimbra, Portugal (in Portuguese) (Available on the academic management platform).