Selective collection system of municipal solid waste at the source is one of the key measures for increasing recycling rates and also reducing energy consumption and labor requirements associated with waste purification in waste sorting facilities. However, a significant challenge of this system is the presence of contaminants in bags and containers intended for separately collected waste. This paper presents the current legal requirements governing selective municipal waste collection in Poland and discusses the main problems and causes of incorrect waste segregation by residents. The aim of the study was to design an automated control system for selectively collected waste segregation, enabling the verification of waste deposited in containers located in waste collection enclosures through the analysis of barcodes printed on product packaging. The proposed system integrates mechanical components (a loading hatch and a chain hoist lifting mechanism), automation and electronic components (a barcode scanning module), and a modern waste enclosure design. The barcode scanning module was selected using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which enables the multi-criteria evaluation of available solutions. The system design considered functional, operational, ergonomic, and user safety requirements. ...
The generation of energy from renewable energy sources (RES) involves the utilization of natural resources and processes occurring in nature. Thanks to the photovoltaic effect, which allows for the generation of electricity through the absorption of light by semiconductor materials, solar energy harvesting is gaining popularity among both individual consumers and businesses. This work encompasses the identification of the possibilities for utilizing reclaimed waste landfills as potential locations for photovoltaic (PV) farms, exemplified by the Małopolska region. The aim of the study was to develop a set of location criteria and to apply the AHP method to identify the optimal landfill where a PV farm could be built. Additionally, using the EasySolar software, an appropriate PV installation was selected for the indicated landfill, also determining the potential amount of electricity that could be generated over the course of a year. The conducted analysis allowed for the identification of the optimal landfill among 41 considered locations. For the selected site, the use of monocrystalline PV modules (Jinko JKM550M-72HL4-V) with a power output of 550 W was proposed. The designed installation has a capacity of 903 kWp, and the potential annual energy yield from this installation is estimated at 787.5 MWh. ...
