How to track the dumped waste? From data collection to advanced source identification

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Waste Management Technology
• Pollution Control

Background:

• Global waste generation is increasing, overwhelming current management systems.
• Deficiencies in technology, infrastructure, and regulation hinder effective waste management.
• Traceability is crucial for addressing illegal dumping and historical waste stockpiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze progress in water and air pollution traceability technologies.
• Offer insights for developing robust waste traceability frameworks.
• Establish novel classification and traceability schemes for historical waste.

Main Methods:

• Review of monitoring, prediction, and tracing techniques for pollution sources.
• Development of a comprehensive traceability framework for illegally dumped waste.
• Examination of traditional methods (physicochemical analysis, isotope tracing) for historical waste.
• Establishment of a novel scheme using laser-induced detection and AI.

Main Results:

• Water and air pollution traceability have integrated multi-technology systems.
• A comprehensive framework for illegally dumped waste is proposed, integrating AI, blockchain, and data systems.
• A new AI-based classification and traceability scheme for historical waste using laser-induced detection was established.

Conclusions:

• Advanced traceability technologies are essential for improving global waste management.
• Integrating AI, blockchain, and data systems can enhance the tracking of illegally dumped waste.
• Novel rapid detection methods coupled with AI offer a promising solution for managing historical waste.