The beneficiation and valorization of coal fines is an important element that has to be considered in coal waste management. This review aims to assess the potential ecological impacts that arise due to coal fines dumping and the various methods that can be used for value addition and beneficiation of the coal fines for domestic and industrial use. The PRISMA method was used for the identification and inclusion of studies in the review and studies which focused on coal fines production, utilization, and their effects on the environment which were included in the review. The review showed that several technologies such as briquetting, pelletization, coal-water slurry, brickmaking, and fluidized bed technology have been developed in an effort to reduce the quantities of coal fines in the environment as they are an ecological threat through air, water, and soil pollution. These methods have the potential to be scaled up to the industrial level as there are vast quantities of coal fines to support the industry.

Despite global recognition, WHO reports reveal significant gaps, with one in four healthcare facilities lacking basic water services, affecting over 1.8 billion people, and 21% lacking sanitation services, impacting 1.5 billion people, especially prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to critically evaluate the current state of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities across a diverse range of healthcare settings. This review included various databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus and grey literature; eligible studies employing various designs were scrutinized for WASH infrastructure and practices. Methodological quality was rigorously evaluated using the QuADS checklist. Data analysis, performed with R software, involved deriving pooled estimates of WASH intervention effects. Sensitivity analyses were conducted, employing statistical methods such as funnel plots to ensure robustness and mitigate biases. Of the 13,250 articles screened, 18 were included in this review. Meta-analyses revealed significant effect sizes for WASH interventions across domains - water (67.38%), sanitation (53.93%), waste management (40.82%), environment (56.58%), hygiene (66.83%), and management (42.30%). Widespread disparities in WASH persist across healthcare facilities, with rural areas facing notable deficits. Challenges in water quality, sanitation and waste management demand comprehensive, multi-sectoral approaches for improvement.

The extraction of bioactive compounds from wine lees involves a variety of methods, the selection of which is crucial to ensure optimal yields. This systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines and utilizing the Web of Science database, aimed to examine the current state of this field, providing insights for future investigations. The search employed strategies with truncation techniques and Boolean operators, followed by a three-step screening using well-defined eligibility criteria. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to identify authors, affiliations, countries/regions, and research trends. Thirty references were selected for analysis, with Spain standing out as the main source of research on the topic. The majority of studies (66%) focused on the extraction of bioactive compounds from alcoholic fermentation lees, while 33% were directed towards malolactic fermentation lees. Binary mixtures (ethanol-water) were the predominant solvents, with ultrasound being the most used extraction method (31.3%), providing the highest average yields (288.6%) for the various evaluated compounds, especially flavonoids. The potential of wine lees as a source of bioactive compounds is highlighted, along with the need for further research exploring alternative extraction technologies and the combination of methods. Additionally, the importance of \"in vitro\" and \"in vivo\" tests to assess the bioactive potential of lees, as well as the use of computational tools to optimize extraction and identify the molecules responsible for bioactive activity, is emphasized.

The development of sustainable flame retardants is gaining momentum due to their enhanced safety attributes and environmental compatibility. One effective strategy is to use waste materials as a primary source of chemical components, which can help mitigate environmental issues associated with traditional flame retardants. This paper reviews recent research in flame retardancy for waste flame retardants, categorizing them based on waste types like industrial, food, and plant waste. The paper focuses on recent advancements in this area, focusing on their impact on the thermal stability, flame retardancy, smoke suppression, and mechanical properties of polymeric materials. The study also provides a summary of functionalization methodologies used and key factors involved in modifying polymer systems. Finally, their major challenges and prospects for the future are identified.

The utilization of plant oils as a renewable resource for the production of polyurethane adhesives presents a promising way to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact. This review explores the potential of various vegetable oils, including waste oils, in the synthesis of polyurethanes as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based raw materials. The investigation highlights the environmental challenges associated with conventional polyurethane production and highlights the benefits of switching to bio-renewable oils. By examining the feasibility and potential applications of vegetable oil-based polyurethanes, this study emphasizes the importance of further research and development in this area to realize the full potential of sustainable polyurethane adhesives. Further research and development in this area are key to overcoming the challenges and realizing the full potential of plant-oil-based polyurethanes in various industrial applications.

Shell waste from shellfish processing contains valuable natural polysaccharides, including sulfated polysaccharides, acidic polysaccharides, glycosaminoglycans, chitin and their derivatives. These shellfish waste-derived polysaccharides have numerous functional and biological properties that can be applied in various industries, including the cosmeceutical industry. In keeping with global sustainability and green industry trends, the cosmeceuticals industry is transitioning from petrochemical-based ingredients to natural substitutes. In this context, shell waste-derived polysaccharides and their derivatives can play a major role as natural substitutes for petroleum-based components in various cosmeceutical skincare, hair care, oral care and body care products. This review focuses on the presence of polysaccharides and their derivatives in shell waste and discusses their various cosmeceutical applications in skin care, hair care, sun care, oral care and body care products. This indicates that shell waste utilization will help create a circular economy in which extracted polysaccharides are used to produce green cosmeceutical products.

The dynamic price increases of fertilizers and the generation of organic waste are currently global issues. The growth of the population has led to increased production of solid municipal waste and a higher demand for food. Food production is inherently related to agriculture and, to achieve higher yields, it is necessary to replenish the soil with essential minerals. A synergistic approach that addresses both problems is the implementation of the composting process, which aligns with the principles of a circular economy. Food waste, green waste, paper waste, cardboard waste, and animal manure are promising feedstock materials for the extraction of valuable compounds. This review discusses key factors that influence the composting process and compares them with the input materials\' parameters. It also considers methods for optimizing the process, such as the use of biochar and inoculation, which result in the production of the final product in a significantly shorter time and at lower financial costs. The applications of composts produced from various materials are described along with associated risks. In addition, innovative composting technologies are presented.

The ecological sustainability of the operating room (OR) is a matter of recent interest. The present systematic review aimed to review the current literature assessing the carbon footprint of surgical procedures in different surgical fields. Following to the PRISMA statement checklist, three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) were searched by independent reviewers, who screened records on title and abstract first, and then on the full text. Risk of bias was evaluated using the MINORS system. Over the 878 articles initially identified, 36 original studies were included. They considered ophthalmologic surgical procedures (30.5%), general/digestive surgery (19.4%), gynecologic procedures (13.9%), orthopedic procedures (8.3%), neurosurgery (5.5%), otolaryngology/head and neck surgery (5.5%), plastic/dermatological surgery (5.5%), and cardiac surgery (2.8%). Despite a great methodological heterogeneity, data showed that a single surgical procedure emits 4-814 kgCO2e, with anesthetic gases and energy consumption representing the largest sources of greenhouse gas emission. Minimally invasive surgical techniques may require more resources than conventional open surgery, particularly for packaging and plastics, energy use, and waste production. Each OR has the potential to produce from 0.2 to 4kg of waste per case with substantial differences depending on the type of intervention, hospital setting, and geographic area. Overall, the selected studies were found to be of moderate quality. Based on a qualitative synthesis of the available literature, the OR can be targeted by programs and protocols implemented to reduce the carbon footprint and improve the waste stream of the OR.

Management of hygiene during menstruation is severely affected by the continued existence of several societal, cultural, and religious restrictions on menstruation and menstruation practices. Since they are frequently unprepared and unaware of their periods, especially in rural regions of the country, girls face a variety of hurdles and problems at home, in school, and at work. We observed from examining the studies that managing menstrual hygiene is affected by a lack of personal sanitation and inadequate, erroneous, or partial understanding of menstruation. Women either possess zero or minimal knowledge about genital infections, which are caused by poor personal hygiene during menstruation. Women in rural areas frequently lack access to sanitary items and have inadequate understanding of their sorts and applications, or cannot afford the high cost of such products. Females in rural areas must use washable cotton pads because of this, which they must use repeatedly. The requirements and desires of teenage girls and women continue to be disregarded, despite substantial developments in the water and sanitation industries. Menstrual products are disposed of in domestic garbage and public facilities when women are outside, while they are flushed down toilets at home without considering the risk of choking. Because of this, there should be a need to inform and educate individuals about the health risks and environmental problems connected to them. Reduced trash may be achieved by using modern techniques like incineration. Therefore, the importance of using natural or reusable sanitary products should be emphasized.

As the demand for materials continues to increase and building lifespans shorten, the construction industry faces mounting pressure to reduce its material and environmental impacts. Mismanagement of construction and demolition waste (CDW) can have severe environmental consequences. To address this, material recovery and circular economy approaches offer significant potential for reducing construction waste through the sustainable use of resources. Existing circular economy and material recovery models that prioritize recycling and reuse efforts demonstrate a sustained commitment to supporting circular practices in the construction and demolition sector. The goal is to minimize waste production, which poses environmental challenges such as raw material shortages and sustainability concerns. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement for recruiting relevant literature, this mini review aims to identify the obstacles to implementing circular economy practices in the construction industry, while exploring opportunities for material recovery and circularity. The ultimate aim is to facilitate a fair and smooth transition towards sustainable development, while addressing environmental, social and economic barriers. A more sustainable and circular approach to building construction and management can be attained by considering all the aspects of the CDW cycle, resulting in significant benefits for the environment and society as a whole.