Implementation and Education of Circular Economy in Community Solid Waste Management: A Systematic Literature Review

Purpose Poor municipal solid waste management is a major characteristic of urban development in Africa. In Ghana, local governments are mandated to ensure the collection, treatment and disposal of solid waste. However, this has been a herculean task for local governments in Ghana, owing to inadequate resources and weak technical capacities. This has prompted calls for, and actual involvement of the private sector through public-private partnerships (PPPs) in municipal solid waste management, particularly in the urban areas. This study aims to assess the roles, effectiveness and challenges of PPPs in urban waste management in the Sunyani municipality of Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a case study design, the study used a qualitative research approach to provide in-depth insights into PPPs in municipal solid waste management in the Sunyani municipality of Ghana. Therefore, key informant interviews and two focus group discussions were conducted. Findings The study revealed that some policies and actions of the local government (Assembly) do not positively facilitate the effective functioning of PPPs in municipal solid waste management. There is also lack of effective stakeholder consultation, collaboration and grassroot inclusion in the PPPs which affect the effective management of the increasing volumes of solid waste being generated within the municipality. Practical implications To achieve the objectives of the PPP arrangements, local authorities should initiate steps to effectively coordinate all the involved private companies. There must also be ways of involving the beneficiaries in the design and implementation of PPPs on waste management to allow for effective grassroots and participatory monitoring and evaluation. Originality/value The uniqueness of the case study being a mid-sized and secondary city in a developing country enhances the value of the findings and the application of recommendations in cities with similar characteristics and initiatives in improving PPPs in municipal waste management.

Purpose – This paper examined the current status of municipal solid waste management across Nigeria. The core aspects covered are generation, characterization, collection, scavenging, open dumping, disposal and environmental implications of poor solid waste management. The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive overview of the current state of municipal solid waste management in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – This study was executed by a combination of an extensive literature search and field study. Solid waste generation rates for 31 Nigerian cities were obtained from literature. In addition, characteristics of municipal solid waste from 26 Nigerian cities were also obtained from literature. Other aspects such as characterization of solid waste obtained from final dumpsite and heavy metals accumulation in solid waste dumpsites were undertaken first hand. Findings – Solid waste generation rate was found to vary from 0.13 kg/capita/day in Ogbomosho to 0.71 kg/capita/day in Ado-Ekiti. Factors affecting solid waste generation rates were identified. Typically, food waste was found to constitute close to 50 percent of overall municipal solid waste in Nigerian cities. This study shows that the rate of generation of plastics, water proof materials and diapers has assumed an upward trend. Due to the dysfunctional state of many municipal waste management authorities, many cities have been overrun by open dumps. For instance, more than 50 percent of residents of Maiduguri in northern Nigeria and Ughelli in southern Nigeria dispose of their waste in open dumps. Indiscriminate disposal of waste has also resulted in the preponderance of toxic heavy metals in agricultural soils and consequent bioaccumulation in plants as well as groundwater contamination. Research limitations/implications – The main limitation of this research is municipal waste management authorities do not have relevant data. Hence, there was heavy reliance on published materials. The status of waste management in Nigeria is very deplorable and therefore poses serious threats to public and environmental health. There is urgent need for both government and individuals to adopt holistic and sustainable waste management strategies in order to safeguard public/environmental health. Practical implications – Findings from this paper can form a veritable resource for the formulation and implementation of sustainable municipal solid waste management framework and strategies in Nigeria. Originality/value – While most studies on municipal solid waste management in Nigeria are focussed on selected cities of interest, this particular study cuts across most cities of Nigeria in order to present a broader and holistic view of municipal solid waste management in Nigeria. The paper has also unraveled core municipal solid waste management challenges facing Nigerian cities.

Greenhouse gases emission from municipal waste management: The role of separate collection

The effects of solid waste on soil and soil sentinels cannot be over emphasized. On the other hand, managing municipal waste has a serious challenge. This study focused on the impact of solid waste on soil bacteria and the municipal waste management in some communities of Lagos Island which are Dolphin and Adeola Odeku Village. This study aimed at examining the present municipal waste management practices in Lagos Island and how they can be improved upon. Random sampling was used to administer 100 questionnaires to households while the different heavy metal concentrations in the soil samples were determined using Buck 200 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The wastes were mainly composed of food wastes, plastics/pet bottles and nylon. Although the majority of the respondents (65%) had waste bins/bags assigned to their houses, about 73.86% did not sort their wastes. The concentrations of the heavy metals (Co, Zn, Ni, and Mn) in the soil samples were higher in Dolphin and Adeola Odeku village compared to the control soil sample. The bacterial isolates identified from the soil samples are Corynebacterium spp., Enterobacter spp., Flavobacterium spp., Acinebacter spp., Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Bacillus subtilis and Micricoccus leteus. SWOT analysis revealed the need to improve environmental awareness to minimize the threat of low sorting of wastes. Also, opportunities exist for recycling plastics/pet bottles and nylon while wastes from food materials could benefit agriculture through composing. This study suggests that more environmental awareness, policies, and better administration are needed to improve the status of waste management in urban communities of Lagos Island.

The circular economy entails the principles of rational waste management to the best advantage. Waste management in the Russian Federation is currently in a reform process, thus it is crucial to choose now the most efficient way for its development. Besides, in addition to general government strategic aims in such a vast country such as Russia, it is very important to take into consideration specific aspects typical of its territories, which will allow determining regional areas of activities. The article analyzes current municipal solid waste management in the Russian Federation. The case study is of one of the regions (Sverdlovskaya Oblast) characterized by some typical and specific problems which illustrate the results of the first stage of reforming. The authors analyzed the existing and planned mechanisms of state regulation in the waste management sector at regional and federal levels, and scrutinized changes in legislation. The development level of the circular economy in the region was determined on the basis of the index method. The life cycle analysis (LCA)-based evaluation approach made it possible to evaluate the economic efficiency of the production and economic activities at different stages of municipal solid waste (waste paper) recycling with due regard to externalities. The research showed that despite the current substantial economic potential of the secondary resources’ (waste paper) reuse, there was a low level of development of the circular economy index. Regional factors hindering and fostering the circular economy development were identified. Recommendations for improving the quality of governance of the municipal solid waste management were formulated.

Municipal solid waste management is an environmental issue that has received considerable attention from researchers and environmental managers for decades. Supporting the management programs entail policies and regulations related to municipal solid waste. In developed countries, the implementation of environmental policies plays an important role and has a substantial impact on the effectiveness of solid waste management. However, in many developing countries such as Vietnam, the situation and effectiveness of the policy implementation have not been studied extensively. This investigation is conducted to ascertain the situation, limitations, and challenges in implementing solid waste management policy in Vietnam. Then, solutions for the problems and improvements for implementation efficiency are presented. This work used online questionnaires to survey environmental managers in different localities and applied qualitative research method to analyze data. The results show that not all national policies on solid waste management are implemented in all localities. Waste separation is also the foremost concern in municipal waste management in most localities of Vietnam. Most of the localities claimed that the unrealistic nature and difficult implementation of the policies and the lack of needed resources are the main limitations and challenges in Vietnam. Survey results also revealed that different localities in Vietnam have different solutions to increase policy implementation efficiency. Besides, the study also found similarities in the implementation of policies in solid waste management between Vietnam and some other countries and also gathered some valuable lessons for the improvement strategy. Finally, the implementation of an effective domestic solid waste management policy is an important platform for improving environmental quality and ensuring the sustainable development of the nation and mankind.

This paper proposes an overarching review of national municipal waste management systems and waste-to-energy as an important part of it in the context of circular economy in the selected countries in Europe. The growth of population and rising standards of living means that the consumption of goods and energy is increasing. On the one hand, consumption leads to an increase in the generation of waste. On the other hand, the correlation between increased wealth and increased energy consumption is very strong as well. Given that the average heating value of municipal solid waste (MSW) is approximately 10 MJ/kg, it seems logical to use waste as a source of energy. Traditionally, waste-to-energy (WtE) has been associated with incineration. Yet, the term is much broader, embracing various waste treatment processes generating energy (for instance, in the form of electricity and/or heat or producing a waste-derived fuel). Turning waste into energy can be one key to a circular economy enabling the value of products, materials, and resources to be maintained on the market for as long as possible, minimising waste and resource use. As the circular economy is at the top of the EU agenda, all Member States of the EU (including the EEA countries) should move away from the old-fashioned disposal of waste to a more intelligent waste treatment encompassing the circular economy approach in their waste policies. Therefore, the article examines how these EU policies are implemented in practice. Given that WtE traditionally is attached to the MSW management and organisation, the focus of this article is twofold. Firstly, it aims to identify the different practices of municipal waste management employed in selected countries and their approaches in embracing the circular economy and, secondly, the extent to which WtE technologies play any role in this context. The following countries, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK were chosen to depict a broad European context.

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is an advantageous subject for implementing circular economy (CE) strategies. In this context, the waste generation and waste collection steps of MSWM in the third largest Greek city (Patras), in western Greece, were evaluated according to the proposed CE indicators. Public opinion and knowledge on CE in MSWM were also evaluated in a small sample of citizens from the Municipality of Patras (207 individuals) through a questionnaire survey. Results showed that (a) the CE performance indicators objectively assessed circularity in MSWM; (b) Patras fared better than Greece and EU in some indicators [waste generation (kg per capita × year), food waste generation (kg per capita × year)] and worse in others [food waste composting (% w/w), WEEE recycling (kg per capita × year)]; (c) citizens have not adopted CE practices in their waste management; and (d) there is a clear reluctance to change practices in older individuals. Based on these results, some recommendations for improvement were made. These results may aid in delineating existing conditions in MSWM in large eastern Mediterranean cities and contribute to the transition toward a reduction in waste disposal and an increase in material reuse.

PurposeThe paper aims to compare the efficiency of alternative municipal solid waste (MSW) management business models: a single provider against multiple providers.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper the drivers of MSW management costs are analysed to test the impact of the scale and scope of MSW management services on the average cost. While the business-as-usual scenario foresees a single provider, the alternative scenario foresees multiple providers.FindingsBased on the empirical data on municipal waste management costs, on average, the size and the average cost of the service are inversely related. This trend is supported using sub-sets defined by the quantity of waste managed. Multiple factors aid in explaining this result, and among others, due to scale and scope, factors such as transition costs increase with the number of players running different services.Practical implicationsThe provision of public services of economic interest should favour the participation of more companies wherever possible to the extent that social surplus is produced. However, pursuing this principle to the detriment of efficient service delivery is not ideal. This paper demonstrated that a single-provider waste management business model is efficient under specific conditions, as in this article.Originality/valueThis paper presents an original research methodology for comparatively analysing waste management service efficiency in urban areas and provides adequate evidence using alternative measures of costs according to the phase of the waste management chain, the scale and ultimately the scope of MSW management services.

This article examines the challenges, scenarios, and future of solid waste management (SWM) in Ukrainian communities. Urgency stems from worsening environmental conditions and Ukraine’s commitments under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Over the past decade, initiatives like the National Waste Management Strategy till 2030 have promoted recycling, reuse, and systematic SWM. The study analyzes current waste management and recycling practices, community-level efficiency, and technical and financial aspects of disposal and recycling methods. Using qualitative methods, it evaluates scenarios and optimal strategies, highlighting the need for infrastructure modernization, investment, and stronger local coordination to achieve an EU-aligned, sustainable SWM system. This study advances knowledge by combining scenario-based modeling with qualitative assessment to evaluate Ukraine’s municipal waste management under post-war reconstruction and EU circular economy principles. It introduces an adaptable framework integrating environmental accounting, investment estimation, and governance analysis for community-level systems. Unlike previous descriptive studies, it provides scenario-driven evidence to guide policy and financial decisions for Ukraine’s gradual EU alignment. The ongoing Russian invasion, which has disrupted infrastructure and generated hazardous waste, adds complexity to data collection and investment assessments, and should be considered when interpreting the results.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone’s lifestyle and this has resulted in a change in the quantity and composition of municipal solid wastes. Moreover, the post-pandemic waste management is very important as a bad management may lead to the more spread of the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of guidelines presented for the era of the COVID-19 pandemic in proper solid waste management. To this end, the data were collected by using interviews and field researches and then the obtained data were compared with the international guidelines presented by international organizations. By investigating the municipal waste management during this pandemic and its changes compared to pre-COVID-19, coordination of the plans with the guidelines was investigated. The activities of storage, collection, transportation, recycling, final landfill, as well as the observation of the health instructions by staff and informal sections were assessed in the current research. Although the results showed that the situation was satisfactory in the sections like health and safety of waste management operators due to the existence of protocols and general educations, the waste management plans have not been changed much from before the epidemic of the Coronavirus. The absence of a national policy and plan for waste management in the era of a pandemic and ignoring the guidelines developed by other countries and organizations were observable. Therefore, the codification of new policies for municipal waste management during an epidemic is necessary.

Investigating the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste management using ant colony algorithm, Monte Carlo simulation and LCA approach in terms of EU Green Deal

It is no news that waste generation is on the increase, making it more problematic for governments to manage. In the global south, the informal recycling sector has become notable for its contributions to municipal waste management through resource recovery, as shown by the current body of research. However, due to the seemingly well-organised waste management system, the existence and roles of this sector in municipal solid waste management in the global north are largely under-documented. Using a community-based research methodology and applying mixed methods, we examined the roles of the informal recycling sector in municipal waste management in Vancouver, British Columbia as well as their level of participation in decision-making. Results demonstrate that the sector enhances waste diversion and recovery efforts and works in collaboration with the city government as well as other stakeholders. The study also shows that informal recyclers (locally called binners) participate in some level of decision-making processes such as the Single-Use Item Reduction Strategy; however, their participation in other key waste management decisions including the City’s Recycling Bylaw remains challenging, which significantly impacts their day-to-day survival. We, therefore, highlight the need for a transformative participatory policy/decision-making process to promote more harmonious and inclusive municipal waste management.

Improving the effectiveness of management decisions in the waste management industry is impossible without assessing its effectiveness by taking into account not only economic aspects but also the impact on the environment. The lack of comprehensive approaches to assessing municipal solid waste (MSW) management that would take into account environmental and economic aspects and the importance of having such approaches in the course of the transition to the principles of a closed-loop economy determines the relevance of research aimed at solving the problems of ecological and economic assessment of MSW. The aim of the research is to improve the methodological tools for ecological and economic assessment of MSW and to test them. The research is based on the hypothesis of the applicability of economic turnover approaches to the analysis of solid municipal waste management cycles, which could reveal their interconnection with general economic cycles and improve management efficiency. To test the hypothesis, an analysis of panel data on the activities of enterprises and regional solid municipal waste operators was used, as well as information from government reports on the state of the environment. A methodological approach to the ecological and economic assessment of solid municipal waste management was proposed and tested on the example of large cities in Russia, including the authors' proposed corrective industry indicators of environmental impact: carbon intensity and water intensity of the waste life cycle, as well as an indicator of the effectiveness of solid municipal waste management. A positive correlation has been identified between solid municipal waste management cycles and general economic cycles. Median values of key ecological and economic indicators of regional operators' activities have been calculated for comparative analysis. Recommendations have been substantiated for the application of economic incentives based on the flexible use of corrective indicators to improve the environmental and economic efficiency of the activities of industry players. The results obtained enable an environmental and economic assessment of solid municipal waste management, taking into account indicators of environmental intensity that are significant for the industry indicators of environmental intensity that are significant for the industry, which is especially important in the context of the transition to a closed-loop economy. They also make it possible to identify problematic stages of the management cycle, justify incentive measures, and form the basis for improving the management of solid municipal waste.

Implementation of circular economy in the management of municipal solid waste in an Italian medium-sized city: A 30-years lasting history