ECTS credits ECTS credits: 4.5
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 74.25 Hours of tutorials: 2.25 Expository Class: 18 Interactive Classroom: 18 Total: 112.5
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Chemistry Engineering
Areas: Chemical Engineering
Center Higher Technical Engineering School
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
The aim of this course is to provide knowledge of the main characteristics and types of solid waste, as well as their treatment and management systems, paying special attention to the legislation in force, and, additionally, to the processes used for the recovery of contaminated soils.
The programme of the course is divided into a total of 3 blocks, which are indicated below:
Block I - Characterisation and regulation of solid waste management.
Chapter 1. Definition and characterisation of solid waste
This topic presents the problem of waste generation and the actions proposed for its reduction by applying sustainable development concepts.
Chapter 2. Regulations on solid waste management
This topic briefly introduces the main regulations on waste management, including European and national legislation. Waste classification criteria are described.
Chapter 3. Municipal solid waste management plans
This topic introduces the concept of integrated solid waste management and the different plans existing for this purpose at national and regional levels. Selective collection and recycling of urban solid waste will be discussed. Recovery and transfer facilities, as well as the most common treatment operations, will be studied. Finally, the concept of extended producer responsibility leading to integrated management systems (IMS) will be analyzed.
Block II - Solid waste management and treatment technologies
Chapter 4. Disposal of solid waste by landfilling
This topic focuses on the study of landfills, from their construction to operation and closure. The different types of landfills and their characteristics will be studied, as well as the processes occurring in them, which in some cases lead to methane production.
Chapter 5. Biological treatment of solid waste.
It deals with the different options for the biological treatment of solid waste, in particular composting and anaerobic treatment operations. The existing processes will be described, taking into account the environmental conditions in which they are carried out and indicating the necessary characteristics of the waste for their application.
Chapter 6. Thermal treatments of solid waste.
This topic will address the various thermal treatments applicable to solid waste treatment, such as gasification, pyrolysis, and combustion, with an emphasis on flue gas and ash treatment.
Chapter 7. Treatment of hazardous wastes
This topic will cover the hazardous characteristics that classify waste as hazardous. Specific aspects of their management, as well as possible treatments, will be discussed. Finally, a description of the facilities that make up the Industrial Waste Treatment Center of Galicia will be provided.
Block III - Remediation of contaminated soils
Chapter 8. Remediation of contaminated soils.
The final topic of the course will address soil treatment. The characteristics of contaminants and soils relevant to this topic will be identified. Different remediation techniques will be studied: "in situ," "on site," and "off site." Physical-chemical treatments and post-treatments, along with alternatives for bioremediation of soils, will also be discussed.
Basic bibliography
• CHRISTENSEN, Thomas H. (ed.). Solid Waste Technology & Management. Vols. 1 and 2. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. ISBN 978-0-470-66683-1. Available online via USC network: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9780470666883
• TCHOBANOGLOUS, George. Gestión integral de residuos sólidos. Madrid: McGraw-Hill, 1998. ISBN 84-481-1830-8.
Complementary bibliography
• KIELY, Gerard. Environmental engineering. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1998. ISBN 0-07-709127-2.
• LECKNER, B. Process aspects in combustion and gasification Waste-to-Energy (WtE) units. Waste Management, 2015, vol. 37, pp. 13–25. ISSN 0956-053X. Available online via USC network: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2014.04.019
• RODRÍGUEZ JIMÉNEZ, J. J. Los residuos peligrosos: caracterización, tratamiento y gestión. Madrid: Síntesis, 1999. ISBN 84-7738-703-6.
• ORTIZ, I.; SANZ, J.; DORADO, M.; VILLAR, S. Técnicas de recuperación de suelos contaminados. Madrid: Fundación para el Conocimiento madri+d, Universidad de Alcalá, 2007. Available online: https://www.madrimasd.org/uploads/informacionidi/biblioteca/publicacion…
The skills to be developed during the course are:
Specific skills
CI.10. Basic knowledge and application of environmental technologies and sustainability.
CQ. 1.6. Knowledge about valorisation and transformation of raw materials and energetic resources.
General skills
CG.4. Ability to solve problems with initiative, decision-making, creativity, critical thinking, and to communicate and convey knowledge, skills, and abilities in the field of industrial chemical engineering.
CG.7. Ability to analyze and assess the environmental impact of the technical solutions.
Other general skills
CT.1.Analysis and synthesis skills.
CT.9 Work in an interdisciplinary team
CT.11. Capacity to communicate with experts from other areas
CT.16. Sensitivity towards environmental issues.
Lectures: Theoretical course content will be taught through lectures, supported by PowerPoint presentations, encouraging student participation. (CI.10, CQ.1.6.)
Interactive classes: Lectures will alternate with seminars where real case problems will be addressed. Students will submit five assignments developed during the seminars for evaluation. (CI.10, CQ.1.6, CG.4, CG.7, CT.1, CT.16)
Teamwork (mandatory): During the first week of the course, the mandatory group project will be announced, to be presented during a group tutorial. Individual tutorials will be used to monitor project progress. (CI.10, CQ.1.6, CG.4, CG.7, CT9, CT.16, CT.11)
Group tutorial (mandatory): Attendance at group tutorials is mandatory, during which the team project will be presented.
The USC Learning Management System will be used with the following objectives:
- To provide information about the subject (teaching guide, timetables, exams, announcements, etc.).
- To provide didactic material for the classes (slides of the subjects, practical cases, complementary material, etc.).
- To serve as a means of communication between students and teaching staff.
- To deliver the assignments.
The MS Teams tool will also be used as a means of non-presential student/teacher communication.
The final grade will include the following items:
* Final exam (mandatory): 50%.
* Team work (mandatory): 20%.
* Activities: 25%.
* Group tutorial (mandatory): 5%.
The final exam will include a theoretical part (short questions) worth 50% and a practical part worth 50%. A minimum score of 3.5 out of 10 must be obtained separately in both parts to pass, and at least 4 out of 10 in the overall exam to be considered for compensation.
Group tutorial will take place in one session in the last 2 weeks of the course and will be scheduled during the first week.
Class attendance, while highly recommended, will not be graded.
Students who do not complete any mandatory course activity will be considered as Not Presented in both opportunities. If the course is not passed in the First Opportunity, students will be re-evaluated in the Second Opportunity for the part of the course not passed. Repeating students who passed continuous assessment (teamwork + group tutorial + activities) may choose to keep the grades obtained if they notify the teachers.
The competences to be assessed are as follows:
- Exam: CI.10, CQ.1.6, CG.4, CG.7, CT.1
- Teamwork: CI.10, CQ.1.6, CG.4, CG.7, CT.1, CT.9, CT.11, CT16
- Activities: CI.10, CQ.1.6, CG.4, CG.7, CT.1, CT.9, CT.11, CT16.
- Group tutorials: CI.10, CQ.1.6, CG.4, CG.7, CT.11, CT.16.
In the event of fraudulent performance of any assessable activity, the provisions of the "Regulations for the assessment of the academic performance of students and the review of qualifications" will apply.
The course has a workload equivalent to 4.5 ECTS (112.5 hours, considering that each ECTS corresponds to 25 student work hours), distributed as shown in the table. Classroom hours indicate the number of hours of course activities, student hours correspond to the estimated necessary self-study hours to pass the course, and total hours indicate the workload per activity.
Activity________________Classroom hours_______Student work hours____________Total hours
Lectures_____________________28.0__________________34.0_____________________62.0
Seminars_____________________9.0__________________11.0_____________________20.0
Group tutoring sessions_________1.0___________________4.0_______________________5.0
Individual tutoring sessions______1.0___________________2.0_______________________3.0
Exam and revision_____________5.0__________________17.5______________________22.5
TOTAL______________________44.0__________________68.5_____________________112.5
It is highly recommended to have taken or be taking the Environmental Engineering course.
For optimal performance, students are advised to have additional knowledge of English (reading level) and basic computer skills (Word, Excel, email, web browsing).
Class attendance and active participation are recommended, as well as continuous study of the course and use of the available USC online platform according to the aforementioned guidelines.
The course will be taught in Spanish/Galician, but bibliography in English may be used for assignments.
Marta Carballa Arcos
- Department
- Chemistry Engineering
- Area
- Chemical Engineering
- Phone
- 881816020
- marta.carballa [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Alba Pedrouso Fuentes
Coordinador/a- Department
- Chemistry Engineering
- Area
- Chemical Engineering
- alba.pedrouso [at] usc.es
- Category
- Researcher: Ramón y Cajal
Alba Pedrouso Fuentes
- Department
- Chemistry Engineering
- Area
- Chemical Engineering
- alba.pedrouso [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Post-doctoral Contract
| Tuesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom A3 |
| Thursday | |||
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | Spanish | Classroom A3 |
| 01.23.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Aula A10 |
| 01.23.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | Aula A10 |
| 06.01.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | Classroom A2 |
| 06.01.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom A2 |
| 06.29.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | Classroom A1 |
| 06.29.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom A1 |