49123 Waste and Pollution Management
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 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. See access conditions.
Description
It is important to treat waste and pollution control in an integrated and comprehensive manner, permitting evaluation of benefits of waste minimisation to industry and of pollution reduction in the environment. This subject introduces students to leading-edge technologies of waste minimisation and pollution control such as membrane processes; raw materials extraction and refinement; and 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 learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Describe how waste minimisation and pollution control are treated. (B.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Evaluate the benefits of waste minimisation to industry and of pollution reduction in wastewater and waste. (D.1) |
| 3. | Evaluate and apply advanced technologies to waste minimisation in industry. (C.1) |
| 4. | Apply methods of management techniques for reducing and recycling solid/hazardous and liquid wastes. (B.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies
This subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies:
- 1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
- 1.4. Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.
- 1.6. Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline.
- 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
- 3.3. Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour.
- 3.4. Professional use and management of information.
Teaching and learning strategies
Strategy 1: Preparation for Class
In this subject student learning is coordinated and facilitated through pre-work, and face-to-face sessions . There will be preparatory reading material and web links posted online (under UTS Canvas). Students are expected to read the indicated materials, research essential topics and watch associated videos before attending the class.
Strategy 2: Practical Learning through lectures and tutorials
Workshops are supported by workshop notes, reference material, design guides, tutorials, and assessments which are placed on Canvas.
The workshop materials and weekly classes will have a practical focus and include various aspects of waste and pollution minimisation and practices. The weekly classes will focus on discussion, problem solving and case studies which will help students to meet the learning outcomes. 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.
Strategy 3: Collaborative Learning
Students work collaboratively in groups during tutorial sessions. These sessions will be interactive with a focus on problem-solving, discussion and feedback including in groups and on a one to one basis. All tutorial sessions provide significant opportunities for students to problem solve collaboratively. During the tutorial sessions, in groups will discuss problems in a collective manner. Answering the problem question enables students to reflect on the issues raised during the workshops. The discussion allows teaching staff the opportunity to provide feedback and direct further learning.
Strategy 4: Ongoing Feedback
Opportunities are provided for formal and informal feedback throughout this subject. Students will receive informal feedback on their problem-solving and collaborative skills during tutorial sessions. In addition, there are numerous formative assessments activities (some do not contribute to overall assessment) from module 1 onward, that are designed to allow students to practise using their new knowledge/skills and receive feedback from the teaching staff. There will be an assessment during module 1 and feedback will be given to students in the class and also in their marked assessments within the first four weeks of the teaching session, before census date. Assessment marks and answers will be posted on Canvas. Students may also request individual consultations with teaching staff.
Content (topics)
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: | In this assessment task, students will apply bio-solids management principles, undertake basic design calculations and develop pollution abatement management practices in the design process of wastewater treatment plants. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Each exercise set no more than 5 pages in length. |
Assessment task 2: Waste Minimisation Methodologies and Practices
| Intent: | In this assessment task, students carry out processes in industrial waste minimisation that are representative of current practices of waste reduction and cleaner technology used by industry. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | No more than 13 pages in length. |
Assessment task 3: Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
| Intent: | In this assessment task, students will select and recommend liquids and solids waste management practices for industry tender through the implementation of case studies and design calculations. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1 and C.1 |
| Type: | Case study |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | No more than 10 pages in length. |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
Required texts
- Course notes
- Wang, Lawrence K, Hazardous industrial waste treatment, CRC Press, 2007, available from UTS Library (hardcopy and softcopy)
-
Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain, Mosae Selvakumar Paulraj and Samiha Nuzhat. Source Reduction and Waste Minimization. Elsevier B.V, 2021, available from UTS Library (softcopy)
Recommended texts
Information on specific texts will be provided in class.