Sustainable Waste Management and Pollution Control Technologies

The increasing pressure on ecosystems from human activity has underscored the critical need for sustainable management of waste and pollution control technologies. Recent global health crises have further exacerbated the challenges of managing healthcare and medical waste (HMW), threatening public health and environmental safety. Despite international directives, many regions still lack unified and flexible systems to address these issues effectively.

In the water-energy nexus, integrated waste management solutions link waste reduction, energy recovery, and water quality improvement. Technological innovations such as rotary kilns, pyrolysis, steam sterilization, and chemical disinfection are proven effective in waste treatment. However, these systems are often hindered by high operational costs, maintenance requirements, and limited access. To that end, hybrid solutions, which combine municipal and medical waste disposal, offer more localized, cost-effective, and energy-efficient methods, contributing to both waste management and energy production. These solutions not only reduce waste volumes but also improve water quality by preventing harmful contaminants from entering water bodies and conserving water resources.

Meanwhile, industries such as tourism and recreation significantly contribute to environmental degradation through waste production and emissions. Poor waste management at accommodation and recreation sites can lead to long-term ecological damage. As awareness of ecological practices grows, enforcement remains inconsistent, particularly in the hospitality industry. Therefore, the incorporation of sustainable waste management practices, coupled with pollution control technologies, is crucial across various sectors to reduce environmental impact and promote ecological stability.

In the healthcare sector, however, issues such as irregular waste segregation, insufficient training, financial constraints, and regional differences hinder efficient practices. Similarly, in the tourism and recreation sectors, seasonal demand fluctuations, lack of stakeholder awareness, and limited infrastructure slow the adoption of sustainable waste practices. The absence of holistic, integrated strategies exacerbates these challenges.

Addressing these issues requires harmonized efforts to develop cost-effective, environmentally sound waste solutions that integrate waste management with energy production and water conservation. Artificial intelligence (AI) for route optimization in municipal waste collection can contribute to energy efficiency in waste collection and water treatment systems. By improving overall system efficiencies, AI can reduce the environmental impact of waste management. Comparative policy analysis and stakeholder behavior modeling are essential to developing holistic and responsive strategies. International collaboration and knowledge exchange are vital to support the global application of sustainable waste management and pollution control technologies.

This Special Issue invites high-quality, original research on clean waste management and pollution control technologies, with a particular emphasis on their impact on water management and energy recovery in the healthcare, tourism, and recreational sectors:

Research papers that consider the following questions and themes are welcomed:

• Optimization of pyrolysis-based waste-to-energy systems for urban waste and energy integration.
• Impact of AI on route optimization in waste collection for energy efficiency.
• Life cycle impacts of e-waste recycling on water quality and energy use.
• Application of bioremediation to treat industrial effluents and optimize energy use.
• Benefits of constructed wetlands for decentralized wastewater treatment and energy savings.
• Contribution of anaerobic digestion in bioenergy and sustainable water use.
• Role of recycling construction waste in circular construction and energy-efficient designs.
• Use of advanced oxidation processes to degrade pollutants and reduce energy in water treatment.
• Application of membrane filtration for arsenic removal in rural water supplies.
• Use of composting and vermicomposting for organic waste in smart cities.
• Circular economy strategies for plastic waste and energy-efficient recycling.
• Socio-economic benefits of waste valorization in informal recycling for water management.
• Incorporation of industrial ecology in waste exchange networks for eco-industrial parks.

We welcome original articles from researchers working in this area to contribute to the special issue. 

 

Important deadlines:

Submissions open: 1st August, 2025

Submissions close: 15th Jan, 2026

Expected time to first decision: 4 weeks after submission

 

Submission instructions:

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All submissions should be made via the online editorial system and will be subject to peer review. If the manuscript is accepted, the article will be published open access with no fee payable by the author.

 

Guest Editor:

Managing Guest Editor:

Dr. Jeremiah Lekwuwa Chukwuneke

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Email Id: jl.chukwuneke@unizik.edu.ng

 

Co Editor: 1

Dr. Kingsley C. Nnakwo

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

Email id: kc.nnakwo@unizik.edu.ng

 

Co Editor: 2

Md. Humaun Kabir

Chairman & Assistant Professor

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science & Technology University 

Bangladesh

Email Id: humaun@bsfmstu.ac.bd

 

Co Editor: 3

Dr. H. O. Orugba

Delta State University, Nigeria

Email Id: hoorugba@delsu.edu.ng