Abstract
Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is one of the major environmental issues in Tunisian cities. Rapid growth in urbanization and population rates and the changes in people’s lifestyle have prompted a dramatic increase quantity and a significant shift in the composition of municipal solid waste. There is insufficient data concerning the quantities and the composition of waste streams along with the absence of a comprehensive complete overview and a wider perspective of MSWM potential that provides detailed information at region and city level. As a result, it is still impossible for the scientific community and the authorities to provide synergetic schemes to tie the problems of MSWM with how to integrate economically feasible and environmentally sustainable practices holistically. In the present study, an attempt has been made to provide a comprehensive overview of MSW, through a qualitative (compositional) and quantitative (parametric) characterization of the generated total waste generated in Tunisian cities. A 1-year research survey was conducted in seven regions in Tunisia (Great Tunis, Northeast, Northwest, Midwest, Mideast, Southwest, and Southeast) that cover the 24 provinces of the country. Collected samples revealed that the distribution of waste by region was defined by the region’s demographic, economic, and industrial status. Approaches of possibly more efficient procedures that can be undertaken to improve MSW collection are discussed. At a final stage and based on the potential of biogas calculated in the seven regions, we suggest that the scientific community and the authorities should introduce applicable schemes to valorize MSW through generating biogas as a renewable energy.
Highlights
Solid waste management is a universal issue with various effects that depend on the amount of generated municipal solid waste (MSW) and the strategies adopted by concerned authorities in its management
Typology of recoverable organic waste in Tunisia Green waste from municipal and wholesale markets This waste stream consists essentially of vegetable waste which can be converted into biogas. 80% of this organic matterrich residue, whose composition requires small sorting operations, is produced in municipal and wholesale markets
Data concerning the total quantity of green waste were gained through subtracting the sold and fresh unsold quantity of fruits and vegetables from the total quantity presented in the market
Summary
Solid waste management is a universal issue with various effects that depend on the amount of generated MSW and the strategies adopted by concerned authorities in its management. Earlier research showed that still developing, low- and middle-income countries are encountering a consistent population and urbanization growth, economic prosperity and a rapid rise in community living standards that have significantly accelerated their municipal solid waste generation rates (Minghua et al 2009). This shift has created a consistent change in people’s lifestyles as evidenced by an emerging need to consume
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