The aim of this study is to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts caused by refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production from mixed municipal waste, in a mechanical–biological waste treatment plant in Krakow, Poland. The study is based on life cycle assessment methodology, employing EASETECH model. The system boundaries include only those operations which lead to the production of RDF. The adopted functional unit is 1 Mg of mixed municipal waste generated in Krakow, which enters the mechanical–biological waste treatment plant.

The aim of this study is to quantify the environmental exchanges associated with the mechanical–biological treatment (MBT) of mixed municipal waste, for a specific MBT plant, based on the annual operation data for the year 2015. Modeling of environmental performance of the MBT technology is done on actual, real data of the operating plant, taking into account particular, explicit outputs and efficiencies of the plant. Results contribute to quantitative understanding of the MBT technology and its environmental impact, including the impacts from individual unit processes within MBT. The study is based on Life Cycle Assessment methodology, employing the EASETECH model. One megagram of mixed municipal waste entering the MBT plant is adopted as the functional unit. The system boundaries cover the whole value chain from collection and transport of mixed municipal waste through mechanical and biological operations until final treatment of end-waste generated in the MBT plant. Results of modeling show the MBT of mixed municipal waste, with accompanying final treatment processes of end-waste has negative impact on the environment. The significant impact categories include photochemical ozone formation, eutrophication, acidification, human toxicity. Aerobic biological treatment of the undersize fraction rich in organic material has the biggest share in total environmental impact, mainly due to ammonia and dinitrogen monoxide emissions. It may suggest that aerobic treatment is not the best option for MBT plants and biogasification with energy recovery can be more beneficial. Landfilling of ballast and stabilized waste, and use of compost for remediation of a closed landfill entail slightly lower environmental impact than the biological treatment. Recycling of secondary materials sorted from residual waste has positive effects on the environment.

The article discusses an innovative system used for aerobic biostabilisation and biological drying of solid municipal waste. A mechanical–biological process (MBT) of municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment were carried out and monitored in 5 bioreactors. A two-stage biological treatment process has been used in the investigation. In the first step an undersize fraction was subjected to the biological stabilisation for a period of 14 days as a result of which there was a decrease of loss on ignition, but not sufficient to fulfill the requirements of MBT technology. In the second stage of a biological treatment has been applied 7-days intensive bio-drying of MSW using sustained high temperatures in bioreactor. The article presents the results of the chemical composition analysis of the undersize fraction and waste after biological drying, and also the results of temperature changes, pH ratio, loss on ignition, moisture content, combustible and volatile matter content, heat of combustion and calorific value of wastes. The mass balance of the MBT of MSW with using the innovative aeration system showed that only 14.5% of waste need to be landfilled, 61.5% could be used for thermal treatment, and nearly 19% being lost in the process as CO₂ and H₂O.

Energy education of the younger generation, who are the future decision makers, investors, consumers, scientists, or skilled labor force in new energy technologies, is crucial for the future of Europe and the world. However, beyond the long-term goals of energy education policies, the short-term effects on energy conservation and the promotion of renewable energy sources are equally as important. The main purpose of the paper is to identify and analyze the behavior of students (who study the issues related to energy saving and RES), in terms of energy conservation. The conducted analysis focused on examining and comparing the scope of responses of the surveyed students in individual countries, especially in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Ukraine. The survey was carried out using the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI). Descriptive and graphical methods were used to present the results. Statistical analysis of the collected data included basic measures of descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. The main results of the study are as follows: Almost 60% of the surveyed students follow the principles of energy conservation; however increased educational activities on eco-energy behaviors is recommended. The share of RES in the heating systems of the studied residential buildings is 9%, on average, with the highest percentage of houses in Poland (14%) and the lowest in Ukraine (only 2.6%). When compared with literature reports, the collect data show that educational activities can be as effective as a tool in implementing RES and pro-environmental behaviors as the government’s environmental policy and household subsidies.

Comprehensive environmental impact assessments of buildings and construction as a whole consider the preparation of construction and finishing materials, their transportation, the process of erecting buildings, long-term operations—including the consumption of electricity, water, and fuels—and the management of the waste generated during the demolition of facilities. In terms of the above-mentioned elements, the most negative environmental impact on a building’s life cycle is in its exploitation stage. In order to reduce this impact, modern sustainable construction uses renewable energy sources. In the area of the Polish building market, analyses of CO₂ emissions, the application of LCAs for building materials, and assessments of the social impacts of modern buildings are still very limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental life cycles and social costs of the CO₂ emissions of single-family residential buildings, in which four different systems providing energy (heat and electricity) from renewable and nonrenewable sources are used. In this research, it was found that the annual CO₂ emissions per square meter of building surface area in the analyzed objects were in the range of 30 to 176 kg CO₂. The greatest contributor to the environmental effects was energy consumption (58% to 90%). The CO₂ analysis conducted showed that facilities that use a heat pump are characterized by an environmental effect that is six times lower than that of facilities that are powered by coal combustion and electricity from the network. Similarly, the social costs associated with CO₂ emissions were significantly lower in the case of the use of renewable energy sources.