Abstract
Evaluation of existing operational and managerial provisions and identification of specific actions that fit and impact in a local context is key to find sustainable solutions. The study aims to develop an understanding of existing waste management practices for a medium sized city of Pakistan and to quantify the related environmental impacts using life cycle assessment (LCA). The existing waste management system in “Bahawalpur”, a city with predominant rural-urban infusion, is characterized by straining resources, low generation rates (0.424 kg/capita/day), prominent source separation, high scavenging activities and open dumping practices. The waste composition analysis proposes organic wastes as the largest constituent (64%) followed by recyclables (27%) and inerts (9%). The LCA model “EaseTech” used to quantify the environmental performance of existing waste management arrangements illustrated that existing waste management system in Bahawalpur City has tangible effects on climate change (3.16 × 107 kg CO2-Eq) and ecotoxicity (3.12 × 106 CTU) categories, while depletion of abiotic resources fossil (−9.60 × 107) category points up most environmental savings. Significant environmental compensations for different impact categories are offered due to high source separation and recycling trade off. The overview necessitates suitable modification in existing waste disposal practice that poses severe impacts on the environment.
Highlights
Advancement in the waste management sector during the past decade has transformed the simple process of collection of unsorted waste and its disposal to landfills into a systematic, integrated system [1,2,3]
Many LEDCs have opted for newer policies and conventional waste management practices are being abandoned for modern waste management options [14,15,16,17]
Ineffective legislations, insufficient knowledge, deficiency of funds and following foreign schemes constrain the development of effective solid waste management systems in developing countries
Summary
Advancement in the waste management sector during the past decade has transformed the simple process of collection of unsorted waste and its disposal to landfills into a systematic, integrated system [1,2,3]. Environment, resource scarcity, climate change, public awareness and participation have acted as solid waste management drivers towards the current integrated waste management paradigm in the industrialized world. All these ends involve in-depth knowledge of the existing system to provide reliable information that can lead us to arrive at conclusions on how environmental hazards can be minimized and resources capitalized [7,8,9,10,11]. While in MEDCs (more economically developed countries) the recyclable content is much higher in generated waste and the resulting waste has high calorific value and lower moisture content [24]. Continuous improvement is the only key to achieve waste management sustainability [23]
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