49123 Waste and Pollution Management
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
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Subject handbook information prior to 2016 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10061 Bachelor of Engineering Diploma Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10066 Bachelor of Engineering Science OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10067 Bachelor of Engineering OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09067 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Diploma Professional Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09066 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
In this subject waste minimisation and pollution control are treated in an integrated and comprehensive manner, permitting evaluation of benefits of waste minimisation to industry and of pollution reduction in the environment. Students are introduced to leading edge technologies of waste minimisation and pollution control such as membrane processes; raw materials extraction and refinement; product development including design, manufacture, use, re-use/recycling and environmental auditing of the product life cycle. An understanding of management techniques for solid/hazardous and liquid wastes is developed. Other topics comprehensively covered include institutional barriers to improving the technologies of waste technology and management practices adopted in domestic waste, the paper industry, metal plating industry, food and dairy industry, household waste and water recycling in buildings.
Subject objectives
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Comprehensively describe how waste minimisation and pollution control are treated |
|---|---|
| 2. | Evaluate the benefits of waste minimisation to industry and of pollution reduction in the environment |
| 3. | Appreciate, evaluate and apply leading edge technologies |
| 4. | Utilise various methods of management techniques for solid/hazardous and liquid wastes |
| 5. | Describe an overview of institutional barriers to improving the technologies of waste technology and management practices adopted in domestic waste, the paper industry, metal plating industry, food and dairy industry, household waste and water recycling in buildings. |
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following faculty course intended learning outcomes and Engineering Australia (EA) Stage 1 competencies:
- A1. Identify, interpret and analyse stakeholder needs. (A.1)
- A4. Apply principles of sustainability to create viable systems (A.4)
- B1. Identify and apply relevant problem solving methodologies (B.1)
- B2. Design components, systems and/ or processes to meet required specification (B.2)
Teaching and learning strategies
Student learning in this subject is facilitated through three block sessions during the teaching session. This subject includes 3 blocks of lectures, tutorials and computer laboratories through the teaching session. Each block will be held at 9.30 to 5pm on a Monday and 9.30 to 1pm on a Tuesday. The course is taught by lectures, assignments and project work. As a student in this subject you are expected to attend and participate in all tutorials, actively contribute to discussions, and complete your assignments by their due dates.
Each block is comprised of lectures and tutorial sessions. Students are expected to be punctual and regular in attending face-to-face sessions in this subject. In this subject there are numerous formative assessments activities (some do not contribute to overall assessment) from Block 1 onward that are designed to allow students to practice using their new knowledge/skills and receive feedback from the lecturer. Feedback and discussion will also be provided during Block 1 based on UTSOnline readings, tutorials and online questions.
Lectures are supported by lecture notes and readings and are placed on UTSOnline. You will gain most from the lectures if you read each block’s material in advance. The lectures are interactive in all aspects of the course of instruction, which will include the use of power-point presentations and selected videos. Students are expected to actively take part in class discussion to, in part, help build their communication skills as well as consolidate concepts of waste management and minimisation. The lectures will have a practical bias and include treatment technologies and their design. Students are expected to read the indicated materials on UTSOnline and answer the associated online tutorials before the lecture so that the lecture can focus on problem solving activities individually or in small groups and any problematic material rather than parts students can understand by themselves.
There will also be class tutorial sessions (one each block) which will be interactive and mainly problem solving, with discussion and feedback including in groups and on a one-to-one basis. All tutorial sessions provide significant opportunities for students to problem solve in a group.
All relevant lecture material including notes, videos, reference material, design guides, tutorials, online questions, assignments, etc will be placed on UTSOnline. Teaching materials have a practical focus that aims to be relevant to professional engineering practice. Some of the workshops and tutorials may be given by guest lecturers with industry expertise to link the subject to professional engineering practice.
Content
Introduction: Pollution control and needs for clean technology; Advances in pollution control: Processes and case studies, technological aspects of waste management; Techniques to achieve cleaner technologies with examples; Waste minimisation with case studies of developed and developing countries; Waste auditing in industries with examples on tanning and metal plating industries; Institutional barriers to waste minimisation: Employee incentives; Strategies for promotion of cleaner production for sustainable development; Treatment and utilisation practices for recycle of sewage and sludge; Solid and hazardous waste minimisation and management.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Waste Management and Recycling
| Intent: | To understand the wastewater and bio-solids management principles, basic design calculations and management practices | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objectives: 1 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes: A.1, A.4, B.1 and B.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Exercises | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 10% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Criteria: Single answers (Quantitative and qualitative) and methodology/approach to problem-solving. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Waste minimisation methodologies and practices
| Intent: | To be able to carry out simple process design and rational description of processes in industrial waste minimisation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objectives: 2 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes: A.1 and B.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Exercises | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 15% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Criteria: Single answers (Quantitative and qualitative) and methodology/approach to problem-solving. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Alternative water sources
| Intent: | To understand the alternative water sources and their importance through search of case studies and design calculations | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objectives: 3 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes: A.4 and B.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Exercises | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 25% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Individual assignment on best management strategies. Short qualitative and quantitative questions to illustrate the above principles (10%) Class group assignment on pollution abatement strategies (10%) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 4: Final Exam
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes: A.1, A.4, B.1 and B.2 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type: | Examination | ||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||
| Length: | The duration of the examination is 2 hours and 10 minutes. | ||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Marks for each exam question are stated in the exam sheets. | ||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, you must
- complete, and submit each of the Assessment tasks
- obtain a minimum of 50% in the final exam and
- earn an overall total of 50 marks or more for the subject
Required texts
- Vigneswaran S, Visvanathan C and Jegatheesan V, 1998, ‘Industrial waste minimisation’, Ensearch, Malaysia
- Course notes are available at the bookshop
The CN Number is: Waste and Pollution Management, CN No. and Price will be advised at http://my.feit.uts.edu.au/pages/course/postgraduate/distance_mode/materials.
Recommended texts
Information on specific text will be provided in class
References
see recommended text
Other resources
see UTSonline
