This paper presents an analysis of the wastewater treatment plants in six Latin American and Caribbean countries. Based on a sample of 2734 municipal treatment facilities, the applied processes are classified by sizes (influent flow) and type of technologies. The distribution of the technologies is also presented for each of the six countries. In addition, a representative municipal wastewater characterization, based on influent data from 174 treatment plants, is proposed. Results show that stabilization ponds, activated sludge, and the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors represent 80% of the treatment facilities of the sample, providing treatment to 81% of the total flow considered. Moreover, 67% of the plants in the sample are small (flow <25 L/s) and the very small facilities (influent flow <5 L/s) are extensively applied in the region (34% of the sample), especially in Mexico and Brazil. The use of very small treatment plants may result in low energy efficiency systems and on possible incompliance of the discharge standards. This common practice in several countries in Latin America should be revised in order to improve the environmental performance of such facilities.Abbreviations: BOD, biochemical oxygen demand; GHG, greenhouse gas; UASB, upflow anaerobic sludge blanket 926Clean -Soil, Air, Water 2012, 40 (9), 926-932

Circular Economy (CE) is a growing topic among scholars, industries, and governments, and is aimed at decoupling economic growth and development from the consumption of finite resources. CE incorporates different meanings, from reduce, reuse, and recycle activities, to environmental degradation or resource scarcity, and is supported by specific indicators to attain sustainable development. However, so far, there has been no agreement to measure how effective an industry/product is in making the transition from linear to circular approaches, particularly those that affect society. This research work aims to perform a systematic literature review (n = 60) to analyze and discuss how social aspects have been considered and integrated in CE research so far. Moreover, this review provides an overview of the literature on social impact within the CE, which results in three main outputs: a knowledge map of the CE, an analysis of social aspects within CE, and the theories/frameworks used to evaluate social impact of CE. Finally, this study brings to light how CE implementation can affect society and highlights the importance of social dimension in the domains of CE and a policy-making community, which could help move CE towards a sustainable development.

No abstract

The increase of greenhouse gases (GHG) generated by the burning of fossil fuels has been recognized as one of the main causes of climate change (CC). Different countries of the world have developed new policies on national energy security directed to the use of renewable energies mainly, ocean energy being one of them. The implementation of ocean energy is increasing worldwide. However, the use of these technologies is not exempt from the generation of potential environmental impacts throughout their life cycle. In this context, life cycle assessment (LCA) is a holistic approach used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product or system throughout its entire life cycle. LCA studies need to be conducted to foster the development of ocean energy technologies (OET) in sustainable management. In this paper, a systematic review was conducted and 18 LCA studies of OET were analyzed. Most of the LCA studies are focused on wave and tidal energy. CC is the most relevant impact category evaluated, which is generated mostly by raw material extraction, manufacturing stage and shipping operations. Finally, the critical stages of the systems evaluated were identified, together with, the opportunity areas to promote an environmental management for ocean energy developers.