Waste management: A comprehensive state of the art about the rise of blockchain technology

Abstract

In the last century, the increased urbanization and population growth produced a dramatic increase in waste production, causing serious problems for the environment and human health like never before. Currently, correct waste management represents a serious challenge that can be faced through the use of new technologies. Blockchain technology is a disruptive and emerging ICT solution. Because of its ability to ensure transparency, data immutability, and consensus among stakeholders involved, this shared distributed data structure has grown in popularity in a variety of industrial sectors, including finance, health, and supply chain. The purpose of this study is to analyze the current state of the art in the use of blockchain technology in the waste management sector with a focus on the literature state of the art and on ongoing or soon to be launched industrial project cases. This paper investigates blockchain-based waste management systems; their benefits for the circular economy and in terms of social, environmental, economic, and health dimensions; as well as limitations and drawbacks that could prevent the use of blockchain in the waste sector.