Research on the properties of waste from streets cleaning

Abstrakt

Nowadays, environmental pollution is a common problem influenced by, among other factors, the increased accumulation of waste of different types and with different impacts on the environment. Streets sweeping, especially in urban areas, collects dust of various origins, compositions, and properties. Dust accumulation on streets and sidewalks may cause a significant deterioration of the natural environment, influencing not only water, soil and air, but also human life and health. In the literature, there are many studies describing the impact of street waste on the natural environment, e.g., on greenery and roadside trees, secondary emissions causing high human exposure, rainwater pollution, and consequently, surface water pollution. Street cleaning is one of the elements of urban area management within the broader concept of “smart city” management. The aim of this study was to investigate waste from the city streets (sweeping residues) using SEM-EDS microscopic examination. Waste was collected from the streets and sidewalks of a large city. Based on the results, it is possible to evaluate the quality of the urban space.