Food waste from the perspective of municipalities – approaches and measures for reducing production and preventing its occurrence

The presented article addresses current problems in food waste management and prevention at the municipal level in the Czech Republic. It summarises the authors’ team’s knowledge within the framework of long-term solutions to this issue, presents a diverse range of preventive measures, conducts an elementary economic analysis of municipal expenditures and revenues in waste management, and points out current problems and pitfalls for development in the coming years. The most important ones include the growing obligations of municipalities in preventing the creation and management of municipal waste and the associated increasing pressure on staffing the circular economy and waste management agenda, insufficient capacities for food waste management in the near future (with the planned fulfilment of national goals), an inadequate system of transmission and exchange of relevant information, and the ever-recurring indiscipline of citizens in primary waste sorting.

Current approaches to determining flood hazard in river confluence areas

The study focuses on assessing changes in runoff conditions and approaches to determining flood hazard in confluence areas of river systems. Based on the analysis of several model catchments, the results of numerical simulations of water flow during floods with different return peri-ods are presented. The analyses revealed that separate modelling of the main river and its tributaries produces distorted results, as the hydraulic conditions in confluence areas are characterized by complex interactions between individual streams. Therefore, the authors recommend a comprehensive approach using 2D numerical models, which allow for more accurate evaluation of inundation extent, water depths, and flow velocities. The study results include proposals for updating the methodological guidelines of the Ministry of the Environment, emphasizing a unified approach to the development of flood hazard and risk maps.

Interview with Assoc. Prof. Ing. David Stránský, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Municipal Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, CTU in Prague

Six years ago, Assoc. Prof. David Stránský spoke in the Priorita journal about the fact that by linking rainwater with urban greenery, a city can obtain a form of cheap air conditioning. Since then, the topic of water management in cities has advanced not only in terms of legislation and technologies, but also in the approach of the public and local authorities. How does he view developments in this field today, where is research at the Department of Municipal Water Management at CTU heading, and what does he consider to be the key to a sustainable ur-ban environment? These were the questions we addressed in the following interview.