NYS SOLID WASTE CHARACTERIZATION GRANT
This research project is sponsored by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The goal of this research project is to explore how solid waste and recycling is currently transpiring in New York state and develop recommendations for how it can be improved to achieve a more environmentally sustainable New York.
Background and Objectives:
This research project is sponsored by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and is being led by the Department of Technology and Society at Stony Brook University.
The goal of this research project is to explore how solid waste and recycling is currently transpiring in New York state and develop recommendations for how it can be improved to achieve a more environmentally sustainable New York.
Research Leaders
Project Director (Principal Investigator):
Dr. David Tonjes
Associate Project Director (Principal Investigator):
Dr. Elizabeth L. Hewitt, LEED AP BD+C
Co-Principal Director Principal Investigator:
Professor Gang He
Graduate and PhD Student Researchers
Task 1: Characterizing NYS Solid Waste
Students engage in the field work of sampling solid waste at recycling facilities and disposal locations throughout New York. Additionally, students conduct data entry, sampling event preparation and decommissioning ,and analysis work.
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Andersson Lora Graduate Student |
Sameena Manzur Graduate Student |
Justin Lee Graduate Student |
|
Firmansyah Manda PhD Student |
Yiyi Wang PhD Student |
John O'Halloran Graduate Student |
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Sayidana Brannan-Douglas Graduate Student Project Videographer and Website Designer |
Task 2: Costs of a Recycling Program
Students update and adjust a model on the costs basis for a waste management program to meet all requirements of NYSDEC under a State law regarding economics evaluations of solid waste programs. Research is conducted to acquire costs data from several municipalities around New York State. Students are creating a user friendly interface to allow for solid waste managers to adjust default model parameters with local data.
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Nick Alberto Graduate Student |
Sandra Torres Vega Graduate Student |
Task 3: Causes of Single Stream Market Failure
Students are Survey historical and existing recycling facility designs and equipment to determine what can be input into recycling processes and the expected quality of the outputs. Students travel to see existing facilities and interview Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) designers. Students interview the principals involved in the redesign of the Town of Brookhaven MRF to a single stream facilityl. Students analyze the capabilities of the facility machinery and the quality standards the machinery was expected to achieve, as well as track and analyze recycling markets over the past 30 years.
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Bhawana Zende Graduate Student |
Abulajiang Atila Graduate Student |
Field Work Training
In order for Task 1 Student Researchers to prepare for engaging in the field work of sampling solid waste at recycling facilities and disposal locations throughout New York, they went through a training session with Omkar Aphale from Cascadia Environmental and a former Department of Technology and Society student.