Municipal Solid Waste Management System Research Articles

Proposal and Test of an Assessment Method for Municipal Solid Waste Management Systems

This paper proposed a methodology for the quality assessment of a municipal solid waste management system to help the decision-making process and improve the services and the system itself. This method considers four dimensions (strategy, collection and transportation, sorting and treatment, final disposal), with 202 analysis items based on information to be obtained mainly in loco and to be transformed in one single quality index, from 0 to 1. First, this method was applied in 20 cities of Brazil and the municipality that showed the lowest index, 0.07, also presented the lowest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, second-lowest population, and the third lower Human Development Index (HDI). The city with the highest indicator (0.53) presented the larger population, the highest GDP per capita, and the highest HDI. Later, one municipality used the methodology for five years, which helped the administrators make decisions that made the index improve from an initial value of 0.24 to 0.55 after five years. The proposed evaluation model proved to be efficient in diagnosing and to help the decision-makers, aiming for the improvement of a solid waste management index after the improvement of the related services for the population.

Household preferences for improved municipal solid waste management services in Penang and Terengganu

It is important to acknowledge the interdependent relationships between the economic and the environment system in achieving sustainable development. The environmental system provides typically four classes of services to the economic system: the natural capital for production, amenity services, basic life support services, and waste sink services. High investment in technology, programmes, projects, or any measures related to the recycling concept in the circular flow of production and consumption relationships should be given more concentration in the future waste management plan and policies. This is because the mass of waste generated from the production and consumption relationships is continually increasing as the population grows, leading to a more polluted environmental system. This study examined the households’ perspectives on the potential improved municipal solid waste management system in their residential area. Two study sites were compared to their households’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the waste management system. By using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) approach, the study concluded that the economic value of the improved municipal solid waste management services in the study sites ranged from MYR 15.42 to MYR 29.67 per month, which on aggregate, ranged from MYR 13.3 million to MYR 117.7 million per year. These economic values indirectly indicated the amount the population preferred to pay as the cost to reduce the impacts of improper management of municipal solid waste.

Optimization Model for Integrated Municipal Solid Waste System Using Stochastic Chance-Constraint Programming under Uncertainty: A Case Study in Qazvin, Iran

Municipal solid waste management (MSW) is a factor that affects environmental pollution and the spread of diseases in cities. Therefore, an efficient MSW management system results in reducing the cost of environmental impact by tackling the processes of waste collection, recycling, and disposal. In this study, a biobjective optimization model is developed which aims to minimize the costs of facility location and transportation planning and the emission of environmental pollutants. Furthermore, to consider the uncertain nature of the problem, demand or the volume of the generated waste is considered as a random parameter. As a result, a stochastic mathematical programming model with probable constraints is developed. To solve and validate the model, the ε-constraint approach has been employed. Moreover, for a real-world application of the proposed model, a case study is implemented in Qazvin, Iran. Finally, various problems are solved for different levels of reliability and an efficient MSW system is designed for each of them. Results show that the proposed method was able to achieve Pareto solutions where managers can decide to choose one of them based on their priorities in comparison with the current status. Moreover, results revealed cost and emission would be reduced by increasing confidence level. Finally, a comparison is made between our proposed ε-constraint method and one of the recently used solution approaches.

Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Efficiency of Waste Management Systems in St. Petersburg and Finland

The state of the waste management system in St. Petersburg and Finland over the past 25 years is considered. It is shown that over the years, the system of municipal solid waste (MSW) management in St. Petersburg has not fundamentally changed. The bulk of waste - 88% is taken to landfills, and 12% is processed into compost. In Finland, over the years, the MSW management system has changed significantly: the amount of waste disposed of at the landfill has decreased by 46 times, the amount of waste incinerated at incinerators has increased by 7 times; the amount of waste selected for secondary raw materials increased by 1.5 times. An assessment of environmental damage to municipal solid waste management systems showed that over the past 25 years, specific environmental damage for St. Petersburg increased 2.22 times, and for Finland decreased 18.07 times.

A multi-objective model to optimize country-scale municipal solid waste management with economic and environmental objectives: A case study in Malaysia

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Evaluating the urban metabolism sustainability of municipal solid waste management system: An extended exergy accounting and indexing perspective

In this study, Extended Exergy Accounting was adopted to develop an accounting model to evaluate the performance of a Municipal Solid Waste Management System. Furthermore, urban metabolism sustainability index for waste was also proposed to represent the unified society-economy-environment impacts of the MSWMS under the framework of a comprehensive sustainability evaluation. A detailed analysis of wood and horticultural waste treatment scenarios in Singapore was done as a case study. It was found that the gasification scenario theoretically performs significantly better than the incineration scenario, in terms of energy carrier consumption, emissions, thermodynamic efficiency and sustainability. Analysis results show that, if extrapolated to Singapore’s total wood and horticultural waste, gasification technology has potential to reduce energy consumption and increase electricity output. An uncertainty analysis was carried out and it was found that the main extended exergetic parameters of the two scenarios considered were in the range of 3–8%, thus confirming the reliability of the accounting results. A sensitivity analysis of the urban metabolism sustainability index for waste was conducted for the gasification scenario to identify key influencing factors and seek potential improvements; this was done by considering changes in four variables: transportation distance, electrical efficiency, working hour increment and gross capital cost per ton waste treated. It was found that, to ensure the feasibility and sustainability of gasification scenario, the following are required: keeping the electricity production efficiency greater than 21.33%; the transportation distance between the gasification power plant and source of wood and horticultural waste should be kept within 17.08 km; employment of per kton annual treatment capacity should be less than 0.14 workers; wood and horticultural waste source should control the waste collection frequency of no more than 3 times per day and the number of workers participating in the collection each time is less than 4 persons, totaling to 12 workers per day.

Micro- Level Audit of Segregation, Collection, Transportation, Treatment and Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste at Source of Dhantoli, Nagpur

: A micro-level audit of the Municipal Solid Waste Management system was carried out for centrally situated Dhantoli locality of Nagpur, Maharashtra. Dhantoli being a very elite locality of Nagpur was facing problems due to increasing municipal solid waste. Waste quantification was carried out to find the total amount of waste generated per day from the locality and the percentage of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste was also determined. The waste sample was analyzed for its characteristics and its results indicated that organic waste was highest among other components of the waste. The outcomes of the audit also highlighted the lacunae in the collection and transportation system of the locality. Considering all the parameters, a decentralized composting plant was suggested for the treatment and disposal of biodegradable waste; while for the non-biodegradable waste establishment of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) center was proposed.

The economic assessment of the environmental and social impacts generated by a light packaging and bulky waste sorting and treatment facility in Spain: a circular economy example

BackgroundThe waste sorting and treatment facilities play an important role in the management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), as they permit the materials to be prepared for their later reuse and recycling. The aim of this work is to carry out a technical–economic analysis of a sorting and treatment facility (STF) of light packaging and bulky waste in Gavà-Viladecans, Barcelona, Spain, by means of a methodology based on a social Cost–Benefit Analysis (sCBA), as it studies the private impacts and externalities (impacts related with environmental and social aspects) to determine the Total Benefit (the difference between revenues and costs) generated by the facility to decide whether it is operationally and economically profitable.ResultsThe key point of the case study is the identification, frequency, quantification and monetary valuation of the impacts generated by the facility, as well as the sale of materials, the CO2 emissions and the increase in the availability of materials, among others. By applying the methodology, it has been possible to show that this facility is operationally (BP = 7.06 €/ton) as well as economically (BT = 55.72 €/ton) profitable.ConclusionsThe plant is highly profitable from a social and environmental perspective, as can be seen from the monetary valuation of the externalities. The STF fulfils a primordial function for the city of Barcelona and its environs, as it treats waste for later reuse and recycling, preventing waste from being sent to landfills and reducing the CO2 emissions from the extraction of virgin raw materials, thereby helping to reach the objectives set by the European Commission. Finally, this paper provides a guide for future researchers and decision makers interested in the economic analysis of MSW management systems.

Prerequisites for formation and implementation of a municipal solid waste management plan in Odesa Region

The problem of efficient management of municipal solid waste (MSW) flows remains one of the most urgent environmental and socio-economic problems of the Ukrainian regions. Ineffective MSW management leads to a significant negative impact on the abiogenic and biogenic components of the environment, as well as on the Ukrainian regions' citizens' state of health. Each individual region has its specific situation that should be taken into consideration for the development and implementation of regional plans for MSW management. Usually most of these regional plans are limited by such factors as determination of the volume of generated MSW, inventory of landfills, calculation of the required number of containers and technical means, justified expediency of MSW sorting stations placement, new MSW landfills construction etc. However, little attention is paid to introduction of innovative approaches for development of an effective MSW management system. There is no systematic approach to solving the MSW-related problem and all efforts aim at eliminating the consequences, rather than changing the ultimate cause. The aim of the research is to assess the prerequisites for the formation and implementation of a MSW management plan in Odesa Region from a systematic approach perspective. The methodological basis of the research includes analysis of the existing regulatory and legislative framework in the area of regional MSW management. The work is based on the relevant published data, materials of the Draft Regional Waste Management Plan in Odesa Region by 2030, as well as the results of our own research activities. The regional MSW management plan can be implemented at the following main areas: introduction of a MSW management system in big cities (separation of easily-decomposed organic fraction and hazardous waste, creation of recycling centre and stations etc.); landfill activities (construction of waste sorting plant, construction of biochemical processing/composting facilities, biogas production); development of logistics services (transition to small garbage trucks: separate vehicles for individual MSW components or vehicles with separate sections without waste precompaction); training of qualified personnel, educational work with great masses of population. Consideration of these prerequisites during the formation and implementation of a MSW management plan in Odesa Region will help to increase the environmental safety of the population, reduce the negative impact on the environment through improvement and modernization of the existing MSW management system and achievement of the final "zero waste" condition after conversion of the maximum waste amount into liquid secondary raw materials, alternative energy source and environmentally friendly organic mineral fertilizer. The implementation of the conceptual and theoretical foundations for formation of an optimized MSW management system will contribute to the achievement of the goals of sustainable development set by Odesa Region.

Assessment of Citizen Perception: A Case Study of Municipal Solid Waste Management System in Guimaraes, Portugal

This study explores a new method of service delivery in the public sector in Guimaraes, which is the UNESCO Heritage Centre. The primary reason for this effort is the paradigm shift in the public service sector, which has resulted in improved services in terms of quality and performance. The study was to evaluate the level of satisfaction citizens derive from the services provided to them. Innovative project for Solid waste management system was investigated in Guimaraes, Portugal. Data collection was done using a convenience sampling technique. Questionnaires were distributed to collect primary data from citizens of Guimaraes. Quantitative techniques were used to analyze data. The findings of the study indicated that citizens of Guimaraes are more satisfied with the new and innovative method of service delivery as compared to the old conventional method. The study also revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between Public Service Delivery and Citizen Satisfaction. Findings may help improve public service delivery projects success rates.

Temporal and Spatial Distributions of Waste Facilities and Solid Waste Management Strategies in Rural and Urban Saskatchewan, Canada

Saskatchewan has the highest number of landfills per capita in Canada. Given the lower population density and the skewed spatial population distribution, comprehensive analysis of municipal solid waste management systems in Saskatchewan is inherently difficult. Most of the published waste studies however focus on city-level waste management, and there is a lack of literature with respect to the rural areas. In this study, landfills and transfer stations are examined temporally and spatially using Geographic Information System. Landfills and transfer stations from 2017 and 2020 were plotted against census division land area, annual budget, and population density to study temporal changes. Saskatchewan witnessed a 54% reduction in the number of landfills and a 55% increase in number of transfer stations between 2017 and 2020. The replacement of landfills with transfer stations are more noticeable in divisions 8, 9, and 16. Regression analysis is conducted, and landfill closure operation show no obvious correlation to division land area, annual budget, or population density. Rural division 18, representing Northern Saskatchewan, has approximately 45% of the land area in the province and has the lowest population density. The findings suggest different waste management strategies are required for urban and rural areas. The results of this study will help policy makers to better implement solid waste management strategies in urban and rural areas.

Towards flexible evaluation schemes in areas with lacking information: a case of waste governance in Mexico

Local governments face the need to achieve sustainability in the provision of public services, and to do so, proper governance is essential. This work proposes a method to assess governance in local waste management systems based on a set of indicators that are flexible and robust enough to allow objective and reliable evaluation even where the information that is available is deficient. The proposal is based on a set of indicators divided into six categories that represent an increasing order of governance maturity: institutional framework; government effectiveness; transparency and accountability; network creation; participation; and corruption control. The article presents the proposal and a first test in two Mexican municipalities, which are an example of municipal solid waste management systems in an incipient stage of development, where there may be serious limitations in terms of access to information. The results show that the methodology can be replicated in different contexts and can be useful for making decisions about improvements in municipal solid waste management systems or for comparing them with others. In addition, sufficient information was obtained for a first diagnosis of the cases studied, which indicates the coherence of the proposed framework. Points for practitioners Proper governance is essential to achieve sustainability in the provision of public services. The assessment of local governance must be robust enough to motivate changes and, at the same time, flexible enough to allow reliable evaluation where the quality of service and the availability of information may be scant. We propose a new framework for the assessment of governance in municipal solid waste management systems that meets these requirements, based on a set of indicators clustered according to governance maturity.

Investigation of integrated municipal solid waste management strategies for Oman: an assessment of waste diversion, electricity generation and greenhouse-gas emissions

The need of an integrated municipal solid waste (MSW) management system to maximize resource recovery and simultaneously reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions is rising in Oman. Therefore, three waste management scenarios are proposed and assessed in this study based on their potential to reduce waste and GHG emissions, and recover energy and recyclables in Oman from 2020 to 2040. The first scenario included recycling, anaerobic digestion (AD), and landfill disposal; while second scenario entailed recycling, incineration, and ash disposal. The third scenario involved incineration and AD plants, and landfilling of residues. The analysis indicated that the disposal of waste in scenario 2 will be the lowest during the entire study period (30–24%), followed by scenario 3 (32–41%) and scenario 1 (94–58%). Moreover, during the assessment period, scenario 3 will generate a total of 47 TWh electricity, higher than scenario 2 (29 TWh) and scenario 1 (4.7 TWh). Disposal of MSW is estimated to produce 309,803 GgCO2e from 2020 to 2040; however, these emissions can be reduced by 53, 94 and 90% by the implementation of scenarios 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Furthermore, the average global warming factors after energy and material recovery further indicate that scenario 2 and scenario 3 result in net GHG emission savings of − 0.4 and – 0.28 GgCO2e/Gg of MSW, except for scenario 1 which will produce 2.37 GgCO2e/Gg of MSW. The analysis showed that in terms of reducing waste disposal and GHG emissions, scenario 2 is the best performing option; however, scenario 3 has the highest energy output.

A Framework for the Selection of Suitable Waste to Energy Technologies for a Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management System

Municipal solid waste (MSW) generation has been escalated at a global scale and poses drastic impacts on the environment along with many socio-economic problems. Waste to energy (WtE) technologies have been recognized to convert MSW into useful energy and minimize the problems related to it. This study reviewed different WtE technologies according to the conversion pathways, end-products, and their applications, and assessed statistical values of these technologies based on six different factors, viz., environmental performance, suitable waste fractions, capital and operational cost, efficiency, and complexity of the technology, the skillset of the labor, and favorable geographical location for the plant. The results of this review showed that biochemical and physicochemical WtE technologies are more favorable to convert organic waste, while thermochemical WtE technologies are suitable to process combustible fractions of organic and inorganic MSW. Based on the statistical review of considered factors from the literature, the statistical profiles of concerned WtE technologies were observed. Finally, a general framework in the form of a systematic scheme was proposed for the selection of the most suitable WtE technologies for a sustainable MSW management system. The recommended indicators, methods, and models in the proposed framework were selected after a detailed review of the literature published in well-known scientific journals, and reports of leading international organizations such as the World Bank, International Energy Agency (IEA), and International Labour Organization (ILO). Moreover, the databases to extract the data for the estimation of various recommended indicators have also been presented.

Sensitivity analysis and improvements of the recycling rate in municipal solid waste life cycle assessment: Focus on a Latin American developing context.

The life cycle assessment (LCA) of municipal solid waste (MSW) systems in developing countries is a matter of research. Obtain reliable results is challenging since field data and local databases are not always available. The research presented in this paper explores this issue in La Paz (Bolivia), where six environmental impact categories were assessed. The LCA, related to the formal MSW management system of the city, involves a sensitivity analysis of ten parameters and the scenario assessment in relation to the increase of the recycling rate. Results report that the environmental impacts are mostly sensitive in relation to landfill gas collection efficiency, use of plastic bags, the transportation distances of collected waste, and the replacement rate of virgin materials. Global warming potential is the impact category most variable (341.38-551.95kg CO2-eq tMSW-1), although it is not considerably reduced by recycling, which contributed mostly to the human toxicity and freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity. Doubling the amount of MSW recycled, from 235t to about 473t per year, human toxicity potential reduces of about 18% while freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity of about 12%. This research contributes for evaluating the most sensitive parameters in an MSW-LCA and to support policymakers towards waste recycling and sustainable development in Latin America developing cities.

Assessment of municipal solid waste management system in Lae City, Papua New Guinea in the context of sustainable development.

Lae City (LC) of Morobe Province is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. Due to the abundant natural resources it inherits, the resultant urbanization has led to an influx of the human population. This increase in population as a result of industrialization has led to increased municipal solid waste (MSW) accumulation. To address this exigent issue, which affects the nation’s carbon footprint, it is imperative to review socio-economic and geographic factors to establish a feasible approach for managing MSW efficiently and sustainably. In the quest to achieve the same, the present assessment focuses on the 3 core waste management hierarchy systems to support sustainable development for LC by reviewing existing opportunities and challenges associated with the current MSW management system and the associated policies. The result shows that as a sustainable approach to MSW management of LC, a zero-waste campaign for resource recovery engaging all stakeholders can be implemented since the organic content of MSW generated in LC is as high as 70%. Moreover, the dumping of MSW at the dedicated dumpsite site can be minimized if policies are strengthened and the proposed waste avoidance pathway is implemented strictly. In addition to this, to avoid the contamination of groundwater and recovery of methane, the use of the Fukuoka approach in the existing landfills has been suggested to capture leachate without any huge expenditure.Graphic abstract

Assessment of urban solid waste management systems for Industry 4.0 technology interventions and the circular economy.

The ongoing fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0 (I4.0), is transforming various industries across the globe. At the same time, resource scarcity with high consumption rates has led to the development of the circular economy. Both concepts advocate for sustainable growth and waste minimization. In developing countries, the integrated solid waste management framework is undergoing modification under I4.0 and the circular economy. Urban local bodies are often unable to measure the readiness of their waste management systems to transform under I4.0 and the circular economy. Here the novel concept of Waste 4.0 is developed. 'Waste 4.0' is a readiness assessment tool to promote the comprehensive transformation of municipal solid waste management under I4.0 and circular economy. This tool has eight determinants for assessing the municipal solid waste management of urban local bodies. To validate Waste 4.0 the urban local bodies of Indore and Sagar, India were used as case studies. The readiness index for I4.0 in the municipal solid waste management system in Indore and Sagar was 0.72 and 0.14, respectively. The readiness index for circular economy focus in Indore and Sagar was 0.65 and 0.13, respectively. The Indore urban local body was classified as an 'Experienced' player for I4.0 Intervention and a 'circular economy fast adopter' for circular economy focus under I4.0 readiness. The Sagar urban local body was classified as a 'Hesitator' player for I4.0 Intervention and achieved the 'Business as usual' tag for circular economy focus under I4.0 readiness. With the Waste 4.0 assessment results urban local bodies can better plan and thus transform their municipal solid waste management systems under I4.0 and the circular economy.

Implementation of circular economy in the management of municipal solid waste in an Italian medium-sized city: A 30-years lasting history

The Circular Economy model is gaining attention as a key factor for boosting sustainable development. Reducing the consumption of raw materials, as well as increasing the amount of recycled waste, are the current challenges the municipal solid waste management system is called for. In this study, the evolution of the municipal waste management strategies in the city of Brescia was analysed, covering a period of 30 years. The results obtained by a) progressively extending the separate collection with street containers, b) building a Waste to Energy plant, and c) moving to a door to door collection system, were assessed via numerical indicators and mass balances. In order to highlight the complexity of the system, the waste flow, from collection to the achievement of the “end of waste” attribute, was followed. Separate collection with street containers came to a saturation percentage around 40%. The realization of the incineration plant eliminated the direct disposal of waste to landfills. With the introduction of the new collection system, the separately collected waste increased up to over 73%, the per capita amount of collected waste decreased from 685.3 kg/(in y) to 579.6 kg/(in y), and a significant reduction of recyclable materials in the unsorted waste was gained. In the paper, these achievements and their affecting factors are analysed. Moreover, criticalities in the calculation of material recovery indices due to the complexity of the system (72 transformation sites were identified) are discussed.

Municipal Solid Waste Management Practices and Challenges in the Southeastern Coastal Cities of Sri Lanka

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) has become a major challenge in Sri Lanka for post-conflict development activities. Many urban areas are facing severe problems in managing 10 to 50 metric tons of waste per day. However, limited research has been carried out to identify the key issues and policy gaps in MSWM. This research studies the existing complexities of MSWM processes, practices, and emerging challenges in three highly congested urban areas in the south-eastern coast of Sri Lanka. A mixed method strategy using field observations, semi-structured interviews and secondary data sources was employed for the data collection. The study revealed that, although the MSWM systems in the urban areas include all necessary elements, their effectiveness and efficiency are not satisfactory due to poor or non-segregation of waste at the source of generation; lack of resources; absence of regulation to reduce waste generation and control polluters; absence of regular collection schedule; and lack of technical know-how and initiatives. The recommendations drawn from the study include feasible solutions and immediate measures required to improve the MSWM before the related environmental and public health problems become a social catastrophe. The recommendations will also greatly contribute in the achievement of developing sustainable cities.

The Municipal Solid Waste Management System with Anaerobic Digestion

This study investigated the applied methods for the collection and treatment of an organic fraction of municipal solid waste with anaerobic digestion (AD), including the effects of selective waste collection system introduction. As the research area, data from a waste treatment plant, which collects waste from about 260,000 inhabitants, was used as the selected waste management plan. Biowaste stream management was emphasized. Thus, research on energy recovery and the characteristics of digestate (nutrient and heavy metals content) obtained from biowaste AD was performed. The results of the studies and their quantitative data were interpreted. A significant discrepancy between the assumptions and the actual situation was revealed (up to 20% year-on-year regarding biowaste). An underestimation of the amount of waste when planning was noted. AD ensures energy recovery from biowaste, which can cover facility electricity needs and material recovery. The digestate might find agricultural usage and become an ecological product. The content of nitrogen (1.5%dry matter), phosphorus (0.55%dry matter), potassium (1.0%dry matter), and organic carbon (16.0%dry matter) indicate a positive impact on crops. Furthermore, it can improve the economic balance, by replacing costs with sales revenues.