Advances in sustainable integrated solid waste management systems: lessons learned over the decade 2007–2018

Background The rapid urbanisation and change in consumption patterns have made Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management a pressing global issue especially in developing countries including Ghana. The daily generation of waste is becoming a growing problem for the waste management system, especially Accra, the capital city of Ghana. This operational problem poses significant risks to public health and the environment. To address these issues, the study employs a linear optimisation model to develop and evaluate an Integrated Solid Waste Management system for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly area, utilising existing infrastructure. The model integrates informal waste pickers, acknowledging their socioeconomic role, and analyses the impact of seasonal waste variations (festive/non-festive periods for both dry and wet seasons). Results The analysis shows that integrating informal waste pickers greatly enhances the efficiency and resilience of the system by diverting waste from landfills (reduced from 250 to 40 tonnes/day during non-festive periods), which substantially reduces greenhouse gas emissions from transportation of MSW during festive periods and emissions from disposal sites. Though the inclusion of IWPs may result in increased operational costs, it also helps generate revenue from the sale of recovered materials and serves as a livelihood for the informal waste pickers. Conclusion This study concludes that formalising and integrating the informal waste sector is important for creating a sustainable and cost-effective ISWM system in Accra. The study also recommends that stakeholders and policymakers in Accra invest more in recycling and treatment facilities, strategically integrate IWPs, plan for seasonal waste surges, and optimise transportation to reduce the system’s environmental footprint.

Waste management has been acknowledged as one of Bahrain’s biggest challenges due to its impending effects regarded as detrimental to the country. Data gathered within the past thirty years have all revealed significant increases on waste quantity generated in the country along the categories of residential, commercial, institutional, construction and demolition, municipal services, public areas, treatment plant sites, industrial, and agricultural wastes. The limited land area, characterised by Bahrain’s small geographical space, is the biggest factor that contributes to the problem of managing the increasing waste accumulation of the country and finding sustainable systems of waste management. As such, the growing need to refurbish the current system of municipal solid waste management utilised in the country is the focus of this study. Sustainable waste management systems through the adoption of Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) is analysed as a probable solution towards solving the hazards and complexities posed by current waste management problems. Existing literature inclusive of all available sources of information used to analyse current waste management systems in the country, as well as a series of interviews and household surveys, have been utilized to develop an ISWM system that fits the current trends and needs of Bahrain. Key words: Kingdom of Bahrain, integrated solid waste management, municipal solid waste, solid wastes, sustainable development.

The paper discusses the incomplete and debatable integrated municipal solid waste management (MSW) system adopted in Campania Region, Southern Italy, with regard to characterization and disposal of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and Stabilized Organic Fraction (SOF). The integrated management system planned in Campania was characterized by a source-separated collection of 35% of the total MSW production and the treatment of the restwaste in MBT (Mechanical Biological Treatment) plants in order to obtain RDF, metals and SOF. Currently seven RDF/Biostabilization plants have been working, while the three expected thermal treatment plants are under construction yet. The MBT plants have the same productive cycle. Owing to scant source-separated collection as well as MBT plants inefficiency, RDF quality was inadequate, according to Italian regulation limits. Moreover, the produced RDF bales are stored in several regional sites: this temporary solution is very dangerous due to the risk of contamination and accidental burning. SOF is disposed of in worked-out quarries equipped like sanitary landfills, due to its poor quality.

Towards integrated, and sustainable municipal solid waste management system in Shashemane city administration, Ethiopia

Social-economic assessment of integrated waste pickers in municipal solid waste management system: A case of Tianjin in China

Evaluation of the municipal solid waste (MSW) management system seems necessary to promote urban services. The present study is aimed to identify and prioritize the problems and deficiencies of MSW management in Iran. This study has used a mixed-methods (Scoping review and Delphi technique) approach to achieve its goals. The results obtained by the scoping review showed that the average rate of Iran’s MSW generation in the last decade (2009–2019) was 0.745 kg/capita/day. The average of MSW composition was estimated to include: organic material (68.42%), paper and cardboard (7.31%), plastic (9.80%), pet (0.99%), metal (1.59%), rubber (1.09%), textile (3.02%), glass (2.33%), wood (0.97%), and others (4.48%). Also a scoping review of the current status of Iran’s MSW management showed that at present, Iran’s MSW management has both some strengths (such as collecting more than 90% of the total generated MSW) and lot of weaknesses such as lack of a systematic program for MSW reduction, weakness in source separation, low processing and recycling, unsanitary disposal of MSW, etc. According to the results of the Delphi technique, Iran’s main MSW management problems are: disregarding the investment for culturalization in the field of SWM and low effectiveness of the existing educational methods, disregarding the principles of integrated solid waste management hierarchy, imbalance in cost-efficiency in MSW systems, the existence of major deficits and weaknesses in recruitment and selection of staffs and the existence of additional non-expert human resources, lack of incongruity between the non-standard solid waste disposal crimes and their penalties, lack of executive guarantees for the proper implementation of the existing regulations, poor performance of the responsible organizations in the field of public education, as well as lack of effective cooperation among the responsible bodies in this field. Overall, consideration and elimination of priority problems and reinforcement the strengths of Iran’s MSW management system can be effective in improving the performance of this system.

Purpose This study aims to explore how digital platforms (DPs) contribute to value co-creation in municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems. Design/methodology/approach The present paper conducts an explorative analysis using single case study methodology. The case in question involves a DPs operating in Italy. Findings Empirical analysis shows that DPs help engage citizens in MSW and reduce the fragmentation in waste management systems by fulfilling a brokerage role that connects citizens, municipalities and waste management companies. The development of bidirectional knowledge and resource flow among actors contributes to better waste recycling processes, as well as fosters economic, environmental and social value co-creation in a complex public service. Research limitations/implications This research is limited to a single case study within the Italian context, which may influence the generalizability of the findings. Future research could expand the scope to include multiple case studies across different geographical regions. Practical implications For practitioners and policymakers, this paper underscores the strategic benefits of adopting DPs in MSW management systems and thereby improving public service delivery. Social implications The case analysis highlights that DPs can assist public actors in achieving numerous sustainable development goals by enhancing recycling rates and activating learning mechanisms among citizens. Originality/value This study contributes to literature by connecting different fields of research (i.e. waste management and public management) and using network theory to show how DPs can contribute to the economic, environmental and social sustainability of MSW while generating relevant benefits for the actors involved.

Solid waste management (SWM) has become one of the priority issues to decision makers in modern municipalities. This paper proposes a life cycle assessment-based (LCA-based) two-stage mixed-integer stochastic programming model for an integrated solid waste management (ISWM) system design. Different from previous models that commonly focus on improving the overall performance of an ISWM system, the proposed model considers the sustainability of each involved individual agent within the complex system. In addition, the proposed model simultaneously considers both internal and external uncertainties during the ISWM system design. The simulation results show that the proposed model can help decision makers identify what the optimal ISWM system design under uncertainties is and how uncertainties influence the optimal ISWM system design. The model comparison shows that considering individual agent sustainability during the ISWM system design process can help enhance the system stability under uncertain circumstances.

Major cities in transitional and developing countries are facing the ever-growing challenge of managing solid waste in a sustainable manner. While a variety of treatments exist for solid waste, cities are in need of a sustainable integrated municipal solid waste management (MSWM) system. Such a system is meant to assist them in selecting and investing in an appropriate combination of treatments for the waste they generate, depending on the composition and quantity of this waste. This study presents a systems analysis of the MSWM in Cairo. A constrained non-linear mathematical model is developed to represent an underlying model of a MSWM system, with six waste material flows (cardboard and paper, plastics, metals, glass, organic material, and others). The developed model depicts combinations of five treatment alternatives (composting, anaerobic digestion, mechanical biological treatment, incineration, and landfilling). The treatment methods and their capacity are determined by the model, indicating possible optimal design solutions and recommendations. Starting with an evaluation of the status quo of the MSWM system in Cairo, the paper proposes a staged strategy, involving investigating improvements to the current mixed-waste management system, then exploring the possibility of introducing at-source waste sorting. The environmental and economic implications of different scenarios are analyzed and compared. A material flow analysis, including input data uncertainties, is also conducted by applying substance flow analysis. This analysis shows the difference between the status quo and the proposed improved solutions for diverting waste from landfills and, thus, decreasing carbon dioxide emissions.

A strategic review on Municipal Solid Waste (living solid waste) management system focusing on policies, selection criteria and techniques for waste-to-value

The appalling state of Liberia’s municipal solid waste management system (MSWM) is the motivation for this review and analysis. Solid waste management protocols and system dynamic modeling support policy development as it uses waste prevention to explain the complex waste management systems and suggests methods for effective management. However, creating an effective waste system goes beyond the formulation of policies and legislation; it involves financial and technological proficiency, skilled human capacity, technical, social, resource recycling, educational awareness programs, and active public participation. Because of urbanization, Liberia’s municipal solid waste (MSW) problems have become heightened, thereby impacting the economic, social, and political fabric of society by overburdening infrastructure and social facilities. The impact of urbanization must be addressed because urbanization, amongst several factors, including unsustainable management of MSW, degrades the environment and presents risks to public health. The purpose of this review was to highlight the current waste management activities in Liberia and provide information to the readers about the challenges facing the waste management sector and the challenges impeding the development of a sustainable waste management system. In Liberia, waste management activities are getting worse daily due to shortage of a comprehensive waste management framework, the absence of guidelines regarding the responsibilities of waste generators, and the decision-makers' lack of intent to design and implement a sustainable and integrated management system. Recommendations for collaborative efforts are made by focusing on delivering a waste strategy which concentrates on waste minimization, recycling, resource recovery, and promoting sustainable waste management practices for communities, small businesses, corporations, and government institutions in Liberia and other developing countries.

Life cycle assessment of the existing and proposed municipal solid waste management system in Moscow, Russia

Waste management in low-income countries faces challenges with an average cost of $35/ton approximately 51% collection efficiency. Despite investments in treatment, processing, and recycling, the system remains unsustainable owing to poor planning and policies. The current analysis of Lahore's solid waste management (SWM) system, selected as a major city of a low-income country as a case study, focuses on collection efficiency and waste generation. However, it neglects the complex and dynamic nature of SWM systems. To capture the complexities and dynamic nature of the SWM system, system dynamic (SD) modeling is proposed for its effectiveness in modeling complex and dynamic systems. Unlike previous attempts at SD modeling that mostly consider only some components of the SWM system with varying success, this study attempts to use a holistic approach by considering all aspects of an integrated SWM system. In addition, this study explores different financial and management policies, highlighting the weaknesses of the system through a quantitative comparison of three scenarios: (1) business-as-usual (BAU) which considers the current trends in waste generation and practices of collection and disposal to landfill, (2) waste treatment system (WTS) in which various waste treatment systems are included to reduce burden on landfill, and (3) introduction of user fee with awareness campaigns (UFAC) which encourages community participation towards reduction in waste generation and financially supports the SWM. All three scenarios use four indices: waste generation, waste ending up in landfill, uncollected waste, and annual budget deficit as performance indices. These scenarios were simulated over a 25-year period using an SD model, covering all six components of the SWM system. The BAU scenario shows a 16% increase in waste generation, a 173% increase in landfill waste, an 11% reduction in uncollected waste, and a 64% increase in the budget deficit over the simulation period, indicating an unsustainable SWM system. The WTS scenario exhibits a 16% increase in waste generation, a 155% increase in landfill waste, an 11% reduction in uncollected waste, and a 61% increase in the budget deficit, showing a significant reduction in landfill waste and a slight reduction in deficit but it remains unsustainable. The UFAC scenario, however, results in a 40% reduction in waste generation, a 67% decrease in uncollected waste, an 8% decrease in landfill waste, and a 59% decrease in the budget deficit. These results demonstrate that instituting user fees for SWM services and incentivizing community participation towards waste reduction and segregation can make the SWM system of Lahore sustainable. This SD model provides insights for policymakers, aiding what-if analyses and long/short-term waste management plans for metropolitan cities in low-income countries. To validate the sustainability judgments based on performance indices, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) tool commonly used for ranking policy decisions based on competing criteria, was employed. It considered the same four criteria as in the SD model. The results of the AHP analysis aligned with those of the SD model, ranking the UFAC scenario as the most sustainable option.

Examining the effectiveness of municipal solid waste management systems: An integrated cost–benefit analysis perspective with a financial cost modeling in Taiwan

Rapid urbanization and industrialization, population growth and economic growth in developing countries make management of municipal solid waste more complex comparing with developed countries. Furthermore, the conventional municipal solid waste management approach often is reductionists, not tailored to handle complexity. Therefore, the need to a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach regarding the municipal solid waste management problems is increasing. The concept of integrated solid waste management is accepted for this aim all over the world. This paper analyzes the current situation as well as opportunities and challenges regarding municipal solid waste management in Isfahan according to the integrated solid waste management framework in six aspects: environmental, political/legal, institutional, socio-cultural, financial/economic, technical and performance aspects. Based on the results obtained in this analysis, the main suggestions for future integrated solid waste management of Isfahan are as i) promoting financial sustainability by taking the solid waste fee and reducing the expenses through the promoting source collection of recyclable materials, ii) improving compost quality and also marketing the compost products simultaneously, iii) promoting the private sector involvements throughout the municipal solid waste management system.