A critical review of the life cycle assessment studies on solid waste management in Asian countries

Abstract

Abstract Life cycle assessment (LCA) technique has been used extensively to evaluate the environmental performance of various municipal solid waste management (MSWM) technologies. Present study has analysed 91 LCA studies (LCAs) of MSWM belonging to Asian countries from the year “2006 to 2017”. All Asian countries have been categorised into 3 different groups (Group A, B and C) on the basis of the number of available LCAs related to MSWM of each of the Asian countries. The study analysed the growth of number of LCAs in Asian countries and reviewed the methodology applied in each LCA study. The study summarised the use of different functional units, LCA computer models, MSWM options, impact assessment categories and the results of the selected LCAs. The study also identified the MSW composition, MSWM options and the challenges in applications of LCA in Asian countries. The present study found the gap in the number of available LCAs and analysed the reasons behind this gap in different group of countries (A to C). 45 Asian countries came under Group A countries. 1 t MSW was used as functional unit by maximum number of LCAs. 51% of the LCAs did not mention about the computer model used in their studies. Global warming potential was found as the widely used environmental impact category. Landfilling was found as the most used option in scenarios and was found as the least preferred MSWM option by 70% of the reported LCAs. The possible reasons found for less number of LCAs in Group A countries are lack of awareness of LCA in scientific community, lack of reliable and informative inventory data, weak economy, weak political desire, inactive communication and weak LCA network.