Effects of mountain urbanization on greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste management practices in Southwest China.

Abstract

Urbanization is occurring globally at an unprecedented rate. The byproduct of this mounting urbanization is an increase in municipal solid waste (MSW), which has a significant effect on population health and the surrounding environment. This trend poses a challenge to the cities responsible for managing waste in a socially and environmentally acceptable manner. Effective waste management strategies depend on local waste characteristics, which vary under different cultural, climatic, and socioeconomic conditions. It is important to note that MSW disposal represents one of the largest sources for anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study found a direct proportional urban and rural gradient between household income and GHG emissions under a typical urban household size. The distribution of GHG is U-shaped. This study found that urbanization exhibited a pattern of continuous growth, and the effect of urbanization was less than the effect of the population in magnitude. The correlation between GHG and income level in recent urban sprawl along a north-south transect was lower than during the period of early urban expansion.