Product Service System-based Municipal Solid Waste circular management platform in Campania Region (Italy): a preliminary analysis

Abstract

The huge amount of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in the world, as well as the adverse impacts on resources depletion, environmental contamination and human health are problems that need to be promptly, effectively and equitably addressed. Among the areas affected by management misconduct and illicit interests, the Campania region represents a paradigmatic case. A lack of detailed information about MSW flows, from collection and through treatment phases, prevents policy-makers and planners from finding appropriate and environmentally and economically sound solutions. As a partial approach to the solution, the authors of this paper outline the structure and functions of a Product Services System (PSS) based MSW management platform. In particular, data collection and elaboration, documentation of MSW flows and detection of environmental and human health impacts and waste prevention/reduction are essential elements of MSW of the system, within which the PSSs can be applied. Real-time sensors, big data analysis tools and online platforms are integrated, as basic tools, to implement the transition to equitable, sustainable circular economies. The solutions will be based upon multi-stakeholder inputs in decision-making to effectively address local needs to implement a re-designed, adaptive, dynamic, MSW management system. The new system must ensure safe and ecologically sound management of the resources in MSWs. As the new management system provides improvements in the environmental and human health and results in an expansion of jobs, it is anticipated that the system could also be useful in other parts of the world.