BACKGROUND: Kenya’s public tertiary healthcare is facing persistent quality of healthcare challenges characterized by acute shortage of healthcare workers, frequent industrial unrest, broken-down healthcare facilities, and erratic supply of essential commodities. To address these systemic challenges the government introduced the asset lease financing (ALF) mechanism aimed at strengthen tertiary hospitals through modern medical equipment and technologies. However, the effect of ALF on quality remains highly debated and controversial. This study examined the effect and constraints of ALF in improving quality of healthcare within Kenya’s tertiary hospitals. METHODS: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed with quantitative data collected from 145 hospital managers, staff and patients. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participants characteristics and indicators of study variables. Ordinary least square regression was then used to estimate the effect of ALF on quality of tertiary healthcare, controlling for existing traditional funding. Complementary qualitative insights were gathered from 26 policymakers, hospital managers, and health financing experts through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns in strengths and constraints. Integration of findings happened through triangulation to enhance interpretation and understanding. RESULTS: Analysis showed that asset lease financing had a significant positive effect on quality of tertiary healthcare (β = 0.587, p < 0.01), explaining 26% of the variance. When traditional funding was controlled, ALF remained significant (β = 0.495, p < 0.01), with the model explaining 33% of the variance. Respondents attributed this to improved access to advanced diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, as well as expanded service capacity. However, descriptive summaries and qualitative perspectives revealed several constraints limiting ALF optimal effect in improving tertiary healthcare quality in Kenya. Stakeholders noted high recurrent costs, under-utilized assets, weak contract negotiation, and top-down procurement processes that limited hospital autonomy and contribution. Operational gaps, including inadequate training and delayed maintenance, further constrained ALF effect on quality. CONCLUSIONS: ALF has the potential to enhance quality of healthcare and technological capacity in Kenya’s tertiary hospitals, but its effects are contingent on robust governance, effective contract design, and alignment with institutional capacity which seem lacking in the Kenyan context. Without these safeguards, current leasing arrangements risk becoming fiscally unsustainable with little quality enhancement. Policymakers should strengthen transparency, decentralize decision-making, and incorporate performance-based provisions into leasing contracts to maximize ALF effect in enhancing quality of care.
The integration of blockchain and smart contracts in the construction industry has the potential to revolutionize the tender phase and enhance waste management practices. The prototype is designed to enhance transparency, efficiency, and trustworthiness in Italian public procurement. To analyze the national public procurement database with a view to identifying common issues, which are often related to the lack of trust among stakeholders, Large Language Models (LLMs) are exploited. Blockchain technology has the potential to facilitate this process by eliminating discrepancies and disputes, providing a decentralized, immutable ledger to notarize data related to digital models submitted during the tender phase, thereby ensuring transparency and tamper-proof data. The automation of bid evaluations based on predefined criteria such as those pertaining to waste management, is a key feature of smart contracts, which are of particular importance in the context of construction sustainability. Such assessments are enabled, allowing for unbiased and transparent evaluations based on quantifiable data, with the results recorded automatically on the blockchain. This results in a more efficient tender process and the promotion of sustainable practices, as projects with superior waste management are given priority. A tailor-made blockchain protocol is put forth to delineate requirements and facilitate data exchanges. It establishes standards and procedures for data submission, verification, and evaluation, ensuring secure and transparent interactions and enhancing stakeholder confidence in a fair and transparent evaluation process. In summary, the use of blockchain and smart contracts in the construction tender phase improves data integrity, transparency, and efficiency. The focus on waste management indicators allows for objective project evaluations and the promotion of sustainable practices. This innovative approach has the potential to transform public procurement, establishing a new global standard for the construction industry.
Ronald Sakaya, Charles B. Niwagaba, A.Y. Katukiza, Christoph Lüthi
ABSTRACT This study reviews the status of access to water supply, sanitation, and solid waste management (SWM) services in Uganda, examining the influence of national government policies, institutional frameworks, and financing mechanisms. It employs a mixed‐methods approach, combining qualitative analysis of primary data from key informant interviews with secondary data from systematically reviewed literature, including performance reports, project data from ministries, development partner websites, and peer‐reviewed journal articles. The findings reveal persistent challenges related to intersectoral coordination, overlapping roles, policy inconsistencies, stakeholder conflicts, and funding inefficiencies. Water services receive a disproportionately high percentage of funding (over 80%), whereas sanitation and SWM receive significantly less (approximately 5% and 10%, respectively). Regulations advocate for sustainability, but their implementation in small towns remains weak. Policy analysis at the local level suggests a misalignment that prioritizes SWM over individual water and sanitation services. Decentralization empowers local authorities, but successful service delivery depends on robust enforcement of available policies. The analysis of funding and service delivery gaps underscores the need for equitable resource allocation and integrated approaches. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for active engagement by governments, development partners, local communities, and the private sector to achieve equitable access to basic services.
Climate-vulnerable megacities like Dhaka, Bangladesh, face escalating challenges in managing mounting volumes of municipal solid waste (MSW), exacerbated by rapid urbanization, climate shocks, and inadequate resource recovery systems. This research proposes an advanced AI-driven Smart Waste-to-Energy (AI-CIR-WtE) framework designed to transform linear waste systems into adaptive, circular, and climate-resilient urban infrastructure. Integrating artificial intelligence, life cycle modeling, digital twins, and blockchain, the framework offers a comprehensive pathway to optimize waste valorization, emissions reduction, and sustainable energy generation in resource-constrained settings. The proposed system leverages Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks for forecasting waste generation by ward and season, coupled with Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) for multi-objective optimization of waste routing, energy efficiency, and environmental impact. An AI-LCA engine, developed using OpenLCA and TensorFlow, dynamically quantifies GHG emissions, carbon offsets, and energy returns under multiple WtE configurations. Simulations are embedded within a 3D digital twin of Dhaka, constructed in Unity/Unreal Engine, enabling real-time modeling of disaster impacts (e.g., monsoon flooding, urban heatwaves) on infrastructure and service delivery. To ensure transparency and verifiability in carbon credit mechanisms, a blockchain-enabled MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) layer tracks waste origin, conversion outputs, and emission reductions across the value chain. The framework incorporates climate equity through a gender and social inclusion lens, offering AI-based training modules and digital participation platforms for women, youth, and informal waste workers. Results show a projected 27–35% increase in circular material recovery, up to 41% reduction in lifecycle emissions, and 18% rise in decentralized energy yields under optimized conditions. The AI-CIR-WtE model demonstrates strong alignment with UN SDGs, Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard, and investment criteria from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and World Bank climate finance facilities. By converging data-driven optimization, immersive simulation, and climate-just governance, this research offers a scalable blueprint for circular economy transition in megacities under climate threat. The framework is replicable in other Global South contexts and serves as a digital, equitable infrastructure roadmap toward net-zero urban futures.
Medical waste management has grave issues concerning traceability, regulatory, and the environment. The traditional systems which are centered on manual record-keeping and the usage of centralized databases usually lead to data loss and unauthorized disposal along with inefficiencies. In this paper, the researcher comes up with a blockchain-integrated medical waste management system to support Internet of Things (IoT)-driven technologies and smart contracts to streamline a safe, autonomous, and anti-tampering system of waste handling. Smart bins enabled with IoT and fitted with GPS, ultrasonic and weight sensors collect live data regarding waste creation and conveyance and this information is transferred or relayed through Wi-Fi/LoRaWAN to the edge/cloud gateways. This data is stored in a protected manner, verified on a permissioned blockchain and, most importantly, the most important tasks, such as scheduling a pickup and approving disposal are done within smart contracts. Experiment findings show 100 percent traceability accuracy, a 30 percent less time in disposal, and a 90 percent better regulatory compliance. The proposed framework will have three new contributions as compared to the existing systems, augmenting the route validation algorithm with a live tracking device in the form of GPS to detect and prevent deviation, a neural network-based model to pre-validate transactions and prevent fraud, and an optimization layer within the smart contract that will support the energy cost to ensure scalability of the proposed framework. The said features altogether allow smart, anticipatory, and regulation-conformant waste processing, which makes this work stand out of existing methods.
Smart waste management is vital for reducing environmental impact and improving quality of life in smart cities. This study presents an AI-driven waste classification model that integrates IoT and Blockchain technologies. IoT-connected bins transmit data to a central server, which uses blockchain to ensure secure, transparent data storage. AI algorithms, including machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), classify waste in real-time, optimizing waste collection and recycling. Blockchain ensures data integrity, while ML and DL models enhance sorting efficiency. The system aims to improve waste management and sustainability through intelligent decision-making and secure data handling. Performance will be assessed using retrieval metrics and visualization tools to evaluate the impact of hybrid ML and DL models on waste detection and classification.
Diana Hawashin, Khaled Salah, Raja Jayaraman, Raja Wasim Ahmad · 6 authors
• Proposes a blockchain-based solution to reduce waste in the dairy industry • Ensures waste assessment and accountability through the proposed solution • Tests and validates various scenarios to evaluate the practicality of the system • Presents a security analysis to assess the system's resilience against threats In recent years, the global demand for dairy products has reached unprecedented levels in the food and beverage market. Despite being produced in large quantities to meet daily needs, high organic content in milk causes it to expire quickly, leading to food waste. Current dairy supply chain management systems lack traceability, auditability, and trust relationships, contributing to the problem. To address this issue, we propose a private Ethereum blockchain-based solution that holds all participants accountable and assesses their actions in a decentralized, auditable, traceable, secure, private, and trustworthy manner. Our system consists of various phases managed by four smart contracts that ensure all involved parties are accountable. We use an events-based approach to ensure traceability and data provenance, where all actions are stored on an immutable ledger in the form of events. By providing a transparent and traceable system, it encourages responsible resource utilization and supports a more sustainable approach to dairy production. We present the system architecture, sequence diagrams, entity-relationship diagrams, and algorithms to explain the working principles of our solution. We also validate the effectiveness of our developed smart contracts and make our smart contract code publicly available on GitHub.
D. Srinivasa Rao, C. Rajasekhar, P. M. K. Prasad, GBSR Naidu
Cryptocurrency has seen an increased popularity with the introduction of Bitcoins. It has been adapted in several countries and has become an alternate solution to conventional currency. Despite its benefits, some controversies surround the manufacturing of bitcoins. While all the countries are moving to sustainability development and global warming control, Bitcoin production has raised several concerns about environmental pollution and sustainability. The increased carbon emissions and high electrical consumption have accompanied the popularity of cryptocurrency. Hence, there is an immediate need to reduce the carbon footprint and electricity consumption caused by human cryptocurrency for a sustainable future. This study presents the current scenario and trends of worldwide cryptocurrency growth and discusses the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining. It explores crypto mining worldwide and provides a qualitative review. Further, this article highlights the need to take necessary measures to control cryptocurrency circulation.
Blockchain technology has emerged as a transformative tool for enhancing transparency and accountability in waste management systems, contributing significantly to sustainability goals. This paper explores how blockchain can revolutionize waste disposal practices by providing an immutable, decentralized ledger that tracks waste from generation to disposal. The use of blockchain ensures that all transactions and movements of waste materials are recorded in a transparent and tamper-proof manner, addressing challenges related to data integrity and fraud in waste management. Blockchain technology facilitates real-time monitoring and verification of waste disposal processes. Each stage of the waste management chain, from collection and transportation to processing and final disposal, is documented on a distributed ledger accessible to all stakeholders. This transparency not only reduces the risk of illegal dumping and misreporting but also enables more effective regulatory compliance. Stakeholders, including waste management authorities, businesses, and the public, can access reliable data on waste management practices, fostering greater accountability. Moreover, blockchain supports the implementation of circular economy principles by tracking the lifecycle of recyclable materials. It enables efficient sorting and recycling by providing detailed records of material types and quantities, thereby improving recycling rates and reducing landfill dependency. Smart contracts on blockchain platforms can automate transactions and enforce compliance with waste management policies, further enhancing operational efficiency and reducing administrative burdens. The adoption of blockchain in waste management also promotes stakeholder engagement and trust. Public access to real-time data and historical records empowers communities to participate in and monitor local waste management efforts, leading to increased public awareness and responsibility. Despite its potential, the implementation of blockchain in waste management faces challenges such as integration with existing systems, scalability, and data privacy concerns. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration between technology developers, waste management professionals, and policymakers. In conclusion, blockchain technology offers significant benefits for sustainable waste management by improving transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Its potential to transform waste disposal practices highlights the need for continued exploration and development in this field.
Introduction; Bridging the digital divide requires the provision of affordable, fair and quality ICT. With nearly two-thirds of the world’s population still offline, there is a need to provide affordable web access for everyone. For developing countries, increasing the popularity of information and communication technology has become the most important factor in reducing poverty. The danger of electrical and electronic waste disposal contains hazardous substances, but most of the electrical and electronic equipment is still disposed of in an unhealthy environment in the field development area, affecting the level of contamination in Water, Air and Soil ultimately affecting people’s health. Eliminating E-waste responsibility and protecting the environment is a challenge for countries. Smart cities can solve environmental problems through proper waste management for improving human health, protecting water resources, and reducing pollution. Objective; In this paper, we explore how blockchain technology can help smart cities to manage E-waste by providing consistency, immutability, transparency, and accountability control in a distributed, reliable, and secure manner. We discussed the advantages of blockchain technology in various aspects of E-waste management, such as instant tracking and monitoring, E-waste disposal and E-waste management regulation compliance, proper disposal management, E-waste management, and material handling, etc. All examples of disposal services, but in our study we have found that there is no fool proof system to check the disposal of E-waste whether it has been disposed off Fully or Partially. We mainly focused on the tracking of E-waste management system for 100% safe and eco-friendly disposal from the originating point of E-waste to end disposal point of total disposal. Methods; For this, we have used machine-learning model to find the existing percentage of disposal of E-waste at the end-point which reveals that it is never 100%. And partial disposal of E-waste means we have still partial E-waste around us in different forms, which will be a threat for the society to be indulged in hazardous after effects of randomly dumping E-waste.Results; After this we have modelled a Disposal Tracking System(DTS) using blockchain technology to create an E-waste data storage as Decentralized Shareable Ledger (DSL) which records the quantity and state of E-waste data from its originating point to a different level of disposal unit and finally reflect the balance of E-waste data as NIL at the end of last disposal point.Conclusion; This system will helpful for safe and ecofriendly E-waste management and it provides complete transparency and traceability of E-waste during the life cycle of complete disposal. After implementation of this system any district or Block or Village authority can ensure to its citizens for E-waste hazards free environment and safety of natural resources
Sulagna Roy, Pankaj R. Kaushik, Pradeep Sangwan, Sunil Herat
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a critical role in addressing solid waste management (SWM) challenges in remote mountain communities, including the ecologically fragile Himalayan region. This study evaluates the impact of Healing Himalayas, an NGO, in Rakchham village, Himachal Pradesh, India. The objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of Healing Himalayas' decentralized SWM model in promoting stakeholder engagement and resource recovery, assess the role of collaborations between local authorities and the NGO in financing waste management practices, investigate the influence of tourism and seasonal variations on solid waste generation patterns and waste management practices in Rakchham, and material recovery facilities, followed by glass (36.7%), paper/cardboard (18.4%) and metal (4.1%). A fee-based system involving the local village council funded waste operations. Waste generation exhibited significant seasonal fluctuations, with tourism influxes driving increased volumes. Healing Himalayas' initiatives promoted community participation, with over 15 awareness workshops conducted. Key challenges included limited financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, lack of advanced treatment facilities and need for context-specific solutions like efficient wet waste management in cold climates. The study highlights Healing Himalayas' decentralized model's success in fostering stakeholder engagement, behavioural change and resource recovery. The findings inform effective strategies for NGO-led waste management initiatives tailored to remote Himalayan communities.
Katarzyna Bułkowska, Magdalena Zielińska, Maciej Bułkowski
Effective management of recyclable plastic waste is critical for environmental sustainability and economic viability. Blockchain technology has transformative potential in addressing the challenges of plastic waste management. Currently, the inefficiency of plastic recycling systems results in low recycling rates and significant environmental impacts due to poor sorting, contamination, and limited technology application. However, innovations such as chemical recycling, solvent-based techniques, and biotechnology offer promising advances in the management of plastic waste. Blockchain technology provides a transparent, decentralized ledger that enhances traceability and incentives through smart contracts, decentralized applications (DApps), and digital watermarks. These blockchain solutions can improve waste tracking, automate payments, and reward participants who recycle responsibly. Although significant investment in technology and education is required, integrating blockchain with the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics could revolutionize plastic waste management by creating transparent, efficient, and collaborative recycling ecosystems. Blockchain technology has immense potential to redefine the management of plastic waste and promote a sustainable, circular economy.
Waste management is a growing challenge globally, with major impacts on social health, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable development. This paper provides an in-depth analysis on the potential of emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain platforms, big data analytics and artificial intelligence to enable more intelligent, sustainable waste management systems. A robust methodology of literature review, real-world case analysis, deduction and critical reasoning was utilized. The key findings are: (1) logistics optimization through machine learning driven dynamic routing and load optimization, reducing costs by 25-40%, (2) GHG emission reductions above 15% from optimized transportation, (3) 40%+ improvements in recycling rates and landfill diversion through waste stream automation and citizen engagement apps, and (4) over 50% reduction in waste contamination enabled by automated waste characterization using image recognition. However, barriers like infrastructure costs, lack of capabilities, and change management constrain adoption. Targeted pilots, open data sharing, and partnerships can drive implementation. Intelligent waste systems are critical for cities to cost-effectively tackle the growing waste challenge while meeting sustainability goals.
Mehrad Sarvi, Fereshteh Azadi Parand, Ali Tavakoli Golpaygani
In today's supply chains, ensuring the authenticity of goods, particularly in healthcare, is crucial for the community's health. Medical implants face significant challenges, including counterfeit issues deteriorated by inadequate supervision and transparency. These challenges have led to problems with tracking and authenticity verification due to a lack of transparency in Iran's current system. Blockchain technology offers promise with its transparent and distributed ledger system. The objective of this study is to propose and evaluate a blockchain-based prototype for tracking medical implants considering Iran's regulatory rules. This study aims to enhance supply chain efficiency and authenticity verification. Due to the exploratory nature of this study, it is focusing on evaluating the feasibility solution based on blockchain technology instead of numerical results.
The proposed study aims to identify the major challenges for blockchain adoption to manage reverse logistics activities of recyclable hospital waste in the Indian healthcare sector, in the COVID era. Fifteen challenges are identified through literature review and experts' views and are prioritized and analyzed for cause-and-effect relationships using a hybrid approach combining Best-Worst Method (BWM) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL). A sensitivity analysis is performed to evaluate the results' robustness. The results reveal that the Technological and Regulatory challenges category plays the most influential role consisting of Lack of Government Support and Policies, Lack of Strategic Planning, Lack of Knowledge and Qualified Expertise, Lack of Standards and Regulations, High Cost Involved, and Lack of Top Management Support are the most significant challenges affecting blockchain adoption. This study can support healthcare stakeholders, policymakers, government, and researchers in planning the strategic removal of the challenges to blockchain adoption in the Indian healthcare sector. The identification of the mutual interaction among the challenges will help healthcare decision makers address strategic questions of waste management from a holistic point of view. Since the work is achieved in the Indian healthcare context, generalization of the results must be carefully considered. The present study contributes significantly to discussing blockchain's potential in healthcare waste management. The study's findings can aid decision making process of managers, policymakers, and benefit researchers in this field. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12063-023-00413-9.
Muhammad Saad, Maaz Bin Ahmad, Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Khalid Khan · 6 authors
Internet of things (IoT) is being applied in every aspect of daily living to improve the quality of life. Waste management is a critical issue, especially for developing countries. The purpose of this study is to propose an IoT-driven state-of-the-art system for solid waste management for developing countries and urban areas. The lack of planning and availability of resources in urban areas have made a living in densely populated surroundings even more difficult. This research work provides a framework based on blockchain-enabled vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) in the realm of IoT. The step-by-step methods are proposed for the decentralized solution for solid waste management using blockchain-enabled VANET. Advanced ultra-high frequency (UHF) technology is used along with IoT devices for the real-time location of waste vehicles and the detection of waste bins. Geo-fencing techniques are also applied for the monitoring and timely collection of waste from the dump spots. Lastly, blockchain technology is applied in the proposed solution to make machine-to-machine (M2M) communication more secure, reliable and trustworthy across IoT devices. The experimental results are also obtained by deploying a pilot project in Karachi, Pakistan. The real-time dashboard is also obtained to demonstrate the daily statistics of the waste collection and performance of the waste vehicles. The results indicate the successful implementation of SSWMS to achieve real-time tracking, intelligent identification of waste bins, trash weighing, and keeping tabs on waste collection from dump spots using geofencing. In future, the blockchain-enabled VANETs can be applied for route management, intelligent transportation and fleet management systems (FMS) due to the inherent characteristics of blockchain and IoT.
Triet M. N, Khanh H. V, Huong H. L, Khiem H. G · 13 authors
Medical waste is deemed hazardous due to its potential health implications and the predominant practice of discarding it post six months of utilization. Furthermore, the reusable proportion of such waste is minimal. The implications of this scenario were brought to the fore during the COVID- 19 pandemic when sub-optimal medical waste management was identified as a factor exacerbating the spread of the virus worldwide. The predicament is particularly grave in developing nations, such as Vietnam, where the underdeveloped state of medical infrastructure renders efficient waste management a daunting task. The waste management challenge also stems from the significant roles played by different stakeholders (healthcare workers and patients confined to isolation wards), whose actions directly influence waste classification, impact the waste treatment process, and indirectly contribute to environmental pollution. Given that waste management involves a chain of activities requiring the coordinated efforts of medical, transportation, and waste treatment personnel, inaccuracies in the initial stages, such as waste sorting, can negatively impact subsequent processes. In light of these issues, our study puts forth a unique model aimed at enhancing waste classification and management practices in Vietnam. This model innovatively integrates Blockchain technology, smart contracts, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with the intent to foster an increased individual and collective consciousness towards effective waste classification within healthcare settings. Our research is notable for its four-fold contribution: (a) suggesting a unique mechanism based on blockchain technology and smart contracts, designed specifically to improve medical waste classification and treatment in Vietnam; (b) introducing a model for instituting rewards or penalties based on NFT technology to influence behaviors of individuals and organizations; (c) demon-strating the feasibility of the proposed model through a proof-of-concept; (d) executing the proof-of-concept on four prominent platforms that support ERC721 - NFT of Ethereum and EVM for executing smart contracts programmed in the Solidity language, namely BNB Smart Chain, Fantom, Polygon, and Celo.
Abstract From the environmental perspective, efficient plastic utilization and its recyclability become significant issues that need to be resolved for deploying urban and sustainable technologies. It is estimated that approximately 400 million tons of plastic are produced each year for different applications. This number will be doubled by 2050, which is a serious problem. The primary issue that arises in a recycling process is associated with optimum supply chain management. The comprehensive and transparent supply chain methodologies will help stockholders to make conclusive policies and precise strategies. Transparency in supply chain management assists in captivating planning, pricing, purchasing, and inventory management decisions. Environmental sustainability requires recycling, which should have innovative concepts like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Block‐chain Technology. Manual methods of sorting and segregating the waste have outdated and not much efficient. The inclusion of AI and Blockchain Technology brought a revolution by increasing the efficiency and accuracy of the recycling process. This critical review focused on recycling plastics and plastic waste using AI and Blockchain Technology. Various plastic regulation policies and AI utilization for plastic recycling are discussed. An overview of the blockchain and its classification for waste management or plastic recycling has been discussed. The utilization of Blockchain Technology for a plastic circular economy, its types, and critical benefits has also been systematically demonstrated.
Hai Trieu Le, Khoi Le Quoc, The Anh Nguyen, Khoa Tran Dang · 13 authors
To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2019 has seen unprecedented demand for medical equipment and supplies. However, the problem of waste treatment has not yet been given due attention, i.e., the traditional waste treatment process is done independently, and it is not easy to share the necessary information. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the interaction between parties is minimized to limit infections. To evaluate the current system at medical centers, we also refer to the traditional waste treatment processes of four hospitals in Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh cities (Vietnam). Almost all hospitals are handled independently, lacking any interaction between the stakeholders. In this article, we propose a decentralized blockchain-based system for automating waste treatment processes for medical equipment and supplies after usage among the relevant parties, named Medical-Waste Chain. It consists of four components: medical equipment and supplies, waste centers, recycling plants, and sorting factories. Medical-Waste Chain integrates blockchain-based Hyperledger Fabric technology with decentralized storage of medical equipment and supply information, and securely shares related data with stakeholders. We present the system design, along with the interactions among the stakeholders, to ensure the minimization of medical waste generation. We evaluate the performance of the proposed solution using system-wide timing and latency analysis based on the Hyperledger Caliper engine. Our system is developed based on the hybrid-blockchain system, so it is fully scalable for both on-chain and off-chain-based extensions. Moreover, the participants do not need to pay any fees to use and upgrade the system. To encourage future use of Medical-Waste Chain, we also share a proof-of-concept on our Github repository.
Click to launch & play an online audio visual presentation by Dr. Krishnaswamy Sankaran on Plastic pandemic: how distributed ledger technology and the internet of things can create a circular economy of plastics, part of a collection of multimedia lectures.
Kamalakanta Muduli, Rakesh D. Raut, Balkrishna E. Narkhede, Himanshu Shee
The blockchain is expected to radically alter people’s real-time interactions and transactions, culminating in the birth of a new economy in a digital era [...]