Life-cycle economic and environmental impacts of municipal solid waste reverse logistics in residential areas

Abstract

The economic and environmental impacts of the reverse logistics (RL) process (including drop-off, collection and transportation [C&T]) of the waste disposal chain are becoming increasingly prominent with the increasing generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and promotion of MSW classification. Quantitative evaluation of this process from economic and environmental perspectives is of great significance for MSW management. This study focused on the financial capital, materials, and energy consumption in the RL process in Xi an City, China. Based on field investigation, the magnitude of pollutant emissions from MSW C&T vehicles over their life cycle was predicted using the GREET software and total RL life-cycle cost and life-cycle assessment were analyzed. The results showed that the finical costs of RL were $46.35–$49.03 per ton of food waste and $62.52–$88.84 per ton of residual waste; the environmental impacts caused by the RL process accounted for 79.24%–96.00% and 20.87%–68.55% of the entire food waste and residual waste management chains, respectively. Labor costs were the biggest financial expenditure and the fuel cycle of C&T vehicles caused the majority of the environmental impacts. Source-separated waste management scenarios represented more environmental benefits but poorer economic positions. In the future, improving MSW source-separation accuracy, replacing diesel C&T vehicles with electric ones, and optimizing the RL system could reduce the environmental and economic impacts of the entire waste management system.