IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i12p9756-d1174235.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Fires in Waste Treatment Facilities: Challenges and Solutions from a Fire Investigation Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Wen-Yen Juan

    (Department of Resources Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701401, Taiwan)

  • Chia-Lung Wu

    (School of Safety and Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan 71101, Taiwan)

  • Fan-Wei Liu

    (Academy of Circular Economy, National Chung Hsing University, Nantou 540216, Taiwan)

  • Wei-Sheng Chen

    (Department of Resources Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701401, Taiwan)

Abstract

Fires in waste treatment facilities have significant social, economic, and environmental implications. Factors such as self-heating of lithium-ion batteries, thermal runaway, friction, human activities, technical errors, and unfavorable storage conditions contribute to these fires. High-risk categories include illegal dumping sites, recycle collection stations, and wood-related facilities. The frequency of fires in waste treatment facilities and the emergence of new waste types have led to public discontent. Regulatory challenges and oversight difficulties pose further obstacles. This study analyzes fire incidents in Kaohsiung City’s waste treatment facilities over the past five years, exploring their causes, regulatory frameworks, and practical challenges. Valuable insights and recommendations are provided to enhance fire safety and risk assessment. These measures aim to mitigate fires’ environmental and facility consequences and their impact. Prioritizing fire prevention and reducing potential economic, social, and environmental consequences are crucial for improving fire safety in waste treatment facilities. Addressing these challenges and prioritizing the safety and sustainability of the waste treatment industry is imperative.

Suggested Citation

  • Wen-Yen Juan & Chia-Lung Wu & Fan-Wei Liu & Wei-Sheng Chen, 2023. "Fires in Waste Treatment Facilities: Challenges and Solutions from a Fire Investigation Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:12:p:9756-:d:1174235
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/12/9756/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/12/9756/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mariano Gallo, 2019. "An Optimisation Model to Consider the NIMBY Syndrome within the Landfill Siting Problem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Krzysztof Gogola & Tomasz Rogala & Małgorzata Magdziarczyk & Adam Smoliński, 2020. "The Mechanisms of Endogenous Fires Occurring in Extractive Waste Dumping Facilities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-14, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yulong Chen & Zhizhu Lai & Zheng Wang & Dongyang Yang & Leying Wu, 2021. "Optimizing locations of waste transfer stations in rural areas," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-23, May.
    2. Marcelo Alves de Souza & Juliana Teixeira Gonçalves & William Azalim do Valle, 2023. "In My Backyard? Discussing the NIMBY Effect, Social Acceptability, and Residents’ Involvement in Community-Based Solid Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-24, April.
    3. Karol Tucki & Olga Orynycz & Remigiusz Mruk & Antoni Świć & Katarzyna Botwińska, 2019. "Modeling of Biofuel’s Emissivity for Fuel Choice Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Marian Łupieżowiec & Jarosław Rybak & Zenon Różański & Przemysław Dobrzycki & Witold Jędrzejczyk, 2022. "Design and Construction of Foundations for Industrial Facilities in the Areas of Former Post-Mining Waste Dumps," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-24, August.
    5. Escavy, J.I. & Herrero, M.J. & Lopez-Acevedo, F. & Trigos, L., 2022. "The progressive distancing of aggregate quarries from the demand areas: Magnitude, causes, and impact on CO2 emissions in Madrid Region (1995–2018)," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    6. Torgrim Log & Amalie Gunnarshaug, 2022. "Analysis of a Costly Fiberglass-Polyester Air Filter Fire," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Boleslav Taraba & Petr Gřunděl & Gabriela Zelenková, 2023. "The Limiting Content of Combustibles to Prevent Minestone from the Spreading of Fire," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-12, June.
    8. Nima Karimi, 2023. "Assessing Global Waste Management: Alternatives to Landfilling in Different Waste Streams—A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-15, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:12:p:9756-:d:1174235. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.