Municipal Solid Waste Generation In China Research Articles

Tracking the carbon flows in municipal waste management in China

Municipal solid waste (MSW), a carbon-intensive waste stream, may create both instant and indirect impacts onto environmental and climate management. Despite multiple studies made for greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions of municipal waste, this research aims to achieve a comprehensive assessment for the carbon cycle by exploring evolution of waste composition and temporal-spatial disparities in waste management. Carbon flows embodied in MSW have been estimated across 31 provinces in Mainland China in the period 2000–2018. This improved estimation could be 15–40% smaller than the conventional estimation employing a constant waste composition. Aggregately some 578 ± 117 megatonnes carbon (MtC) were contained in MSW, including 239 ± 60 Mt of fossil carbon and 339 ± 58 Mt of degradable organic carbon. After treatment, 299 ± 66 MtC were possibly deposited in landfills and dumps. 279 ± 51 MtC were released to the atmosphere, creating net GHGs emissions equivalent to1870 ± 334 megatonnes of CO2 (MtCO2e). MSW generation in China nearly doubled during the period, net GHGs emissions increased by 1.8×, whereas fossil carbon grew by a factor of 3.5, mainly propelled by an increasing content of waste plastic in MSW. More rapid growth was witnessed in provinces in southern China than in northern. Distinct spatial–temporal evolution of waste and carbon metabolism was driven by increment, composition, and management effects. In the long run, the increment and composition effects may drop off. Enhanced practices of waste management integrating the circular economy are needed to fully recycle carbon flows, minimize emissions, and manage carbon deposits in aging landfills and dumps.

The Impact of Consumption Patterns on the Generation of Municipal Solid Waste in China: Evidences from Provincial Data.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is the derivative of urban development and it is harmful to the environment and residents’ health. But with sustainable MSW management, MSW can be applied as an important renewable energy. In order to achieve sustainable MSW management, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of MSW generation. Consumption patterns differ in various regions of China, which make the influencing factors of MSW have unique characteristics. To explore the factors influencing MSW generation in China, this study builds a global model based on the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces. Considering regional heterogeneity, provinces are clustered into three groups according to economic and consumption indicators. Each group has its own local model of MSW generation. The results show that household expenditure on housing and the tertiary industry proportion show opposite impacting directions in high-level and low-level provinces. Finally, with the combination of the grey model (1,1) (GM(1,1)) and multiple linear regression (MLR), we find that developing provinces will generate more MSW than developed regions. According to this, different provinces should control MSW by optimizing consumption pattern and efficient fiscal expenditure, and developing provinces should pay attention to MSW management and learn from the experience of developed provinces.

Municipal solid waste generation in China: influencing factor analysis and multi-model forecasting

In the developing countries, the inadequacy of basic waste data is a significant obstacle for municipal solid waste management. To evaluate an effective waste management plan, identification of influencing socio-economic factors and projection of municipal solid waste generation (MSWG) plays a crucial role. Yet, several forecasting methods have been utilized to quantify future MSWG. In this study, we investigated the influencing socio-economic factors for MSWG in China using the fuzzy logic method, and a short-term forecasting of MSWG was conducted using multi-model approach. The Grey (1, 1), linear regression, and artificial neural network (ANN) models were evaluated for short-term forecasting. The factor analysis results show that urban population growth is the most influencing socio-economic factor for MSWG, and the influence of GDP on waste generation is not so obvious. Afterward, the multi-model forecasting results indicate an increasing trend of MSWG. Based on the absolute percentage error, root mean-squared error, mean absolute error, and coefficient of determination (R2), ANN found as the most acceptable model to forecast MSWG in China. Hence, the forecasting by ANN model illustrates that MSWG in China will be 24666.65 (104 tons) by 2030.

Prediction of Municipal Solid Waste Generation in China by Multiple Linear Regression Method

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management in China has become a serious issue as it poses challenges to environmental quality and sustainable development. To provide reliable references for planning the future MSW management mode and analysing the potential of waste to energy utilization in China, the prediction of future MSW generation quantity in the whole country is necessary and urgent to be well predicted. In this study, the multiple linear regression, a factor-model-based method, is adopted to predict the future MSW generation in China. Urban population, GDP and consumption level of residents are selected as related factors and their correlations with MSW generation quantity are analysed. With the historical data of 1981–2011 from China Statistical Yearbook, the model is established and model accuracy is assessed through two simulation performance criteria. Based on the future prediction of related factors and multiple linear regression method, the annual MSW generation quantity in China till 2030 can be predicted. It shows that the annual MSW generation in China will increase about 2 times in the next 20 years, which indicates considerable environmental pressure as well as waste to energy potential.

Municipal Solid Waste Characteristics and Management in China

ABSTRACT The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the current status and identify the problems of municipal solid waste (MSW) management in China in order to determine appropriate remedial strategies. This is the first of two papers, discussing primarily the general characteristics of MSW and its management in China. The second paper focuses on specific remedial strategies. MSW generation in China has increased rapidly in the past 20 years from 31.3 million tons in 1980 to 113.0 million tons in 1998. The annual rate of increase is 3–10%. The average generation per capita is 1.0 kg/day (0.38 t/year). Nearly one-half of the waste generated is dumped in the suburbs, where the accumulated quantity has reached 6 billion tons, which has caused heavy environmental pollution. This paper provides information on MSW management in China, such as MSW generation and its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Low calorific value and high moisture content characterize China's municipal waste. Other issues related to MSW management in China are also discussed, including the factors that influence MSW generation quantity and quality, MSW collection, transfer and transport, treatment and disposal, material recovery, legislation, enforcement, and administration.