Efficiency and sustainability in municipal waste management: A comparative study of five rural municipalities in Slovakia

Waste at the crossroads: Progress and challenges in Ho Chi Minh City’s transition toward sustainable municipal waste management

As waste formation rates rising and environmental sustainability becoming more and more important, the circular economy (CE) offers a revolutionary method to waste management, especially in developing countries. This study assesses waste management's role in the CE using bibliometrics of 148 articles published in developing countries between 2013 and 15 February 2024. Bibliometric data analysed using Scopus tools and VOSviewer and R Biblioshiny packages. The result show that the number of publications gradually increased during study periods. Findings also indicated that waste management, municipal waste management, recycling and sustainable development represent the current CE 'hotspots'. The conceptual analysis indicates strong linkage between CE, developing countries and sustainable development from key findings. A CE in waste management is a significant opportunity to reduce waste and promote environmental sustainability by implementing circular principles in developing countries. Subsequently, developing countries should benefit from CE practices through new economic opportunities, reducing environmental impact, emerging technology and improving resource efficiency. Likewise, this study provides insights into potential pathways for enhancing CE initiatives in waste management, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts, policy frameworks and community engagement.

Introduction. With the adoption of Federal Law No. 306-FZ of August 8, 2024, “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation,” hospital waste management was integrated into the federal waste management system. However, a closer analysis of certain provisions and their correlation with the practical work of medical institution has raised new questions.Objective. To analyze regulatory changes and identify new uncertainties that could impact on the practical work of medical institution and the environment.Material and methods. The provisions of the new law were analyzed in relation to issues related to the practical work of medical institutions, as well as ensuring the environmental and sanitary-epidemiological safety of waste management.Results. A number of uncertainties have been identified, relating to both specific waste management issues (responsibility for developing environmental documentation and its practical implementation) and broader issues, such as environmental safety (the possibility of further processing of Class A medical waste and the consequences of certain waste from medical institutions being classified as municipal solid waste, even though they are not, by definition, municipal solid waste) and sanitary and epidemiological safety (the lack of priority given to hardware-based treatment methods over physical impact methods). These uncertainties stem from insufficient legislative development of certain issues and provisions (the delineation of responsibilities for ensuring environmental requirements, the clarity of terminology, and the impossibility of legitimately defining hazard classes and issuing certificates by either a medical institution or a regional solid municipal waste management operator).Conclusion. The identified uncertainties lead to a lack of clear understanding of certain aspects of medical waste management. Their elimination requires a consolidated decision by several government agencies regulating both medical waste management and its production and consumption.Contribution: Balakaeva A.V. — the concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing a text; Skopin A.Yu. — collection and processing of material, writing a text. All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final versionConflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Funding. The study had no sponsorship.Received: November 18, 2025 / Accepted: December 2, 2025 / Published: February 10, 2026

Subject. This article focuses on the issues of standardization and tariff regulation in the solid municipal waste management in the Russian Federation. Objectives. The article aims to analyze the legislative framework, methods for waste accumulation standards calculating, and effective principles for setting tariffs, as well as identify key challenges and areas for improving the ongoing Waste Reform. Methods. For the study, we used the systems approach, including a current regulatory legal acts analysis and a comparative analysis of methods for determining waste accumulation standards and regulating tariffs. Results. The article reveals key issues of the current model and justifies the need to improve standardization methods and expand the process digitalization practice. Conclusions. The further solid municipal waste management system development should be aimed at balancing the interests of the State, business, and the public, increasing transparency in tariff setting, reducing the financial burden on consumers, and promoting the transition to a circular economy.

The share of food waste in waste management costs is important because food waste constitutes a significant portion of municipal solid waste. Although the quantity of food waste depends on the food culture and behavior of citizens, but the impact of citizens’ dietary behavior on solid waste management costs is a knowledge gap. In this study effect of improving self-efficacy in food management behavior at home on reducing municipal solid waste management costs in Iran was investigated. For this purpose, the proportion of food waste reduction and related financial implications in waste management costs due to change in five main effective factors was calculated based on a financial model and Monte Carlo simulation. Although the cost of food waste management was more than 127,000 USD/year, improving food management behavior due to women’s self-efficacy in different scenarios will lead to a reduction in waste production by 45% and reduction in food waste management costs by 5.9–35.7%. Efforts to increase knowledge and modify citizens’ attitudes, leading to improved household food management behavior, have an important impact on reducing municipal waste management costs. Therefore, educating citizens is essential, especially in developing regions that are facing increasing solid waste production rates.

Abstract According to the waste hierarchy, waste recovery is prioritized over landfilling. However, in Georgia, over 90 % of waste is landfilled, causing social, economic, and environmental issues. To ensure sustainable waste management, Waste-to-Energy should complement recycling and reuse efforts. The amount of municipal waste disposed of in landfills has significantly increased. The National Statistics Office of Georgia reports that landfill waste rose from 774.4 thousand tons in 2015 to 1184 thousand tons in 2024. The calorific value of municipal waste in Georgia is crucial for energy recovery. For efficient energy use, waste should have a minimum lower calorific value of 7 MJ/kg. Plastic, paper, and textiles have the highest calorific values. Notably, municipal waste in Georgia contains 13–14 % plastic, 10–11 % paper and cardboard, and over 4 % textiles. However, these materials are essential for recycling, which conserves natural resources and should remain a priority. This paper aims to examine the possibilities for implementing Waste-to-Energy approaches at the municipal level in Georgia. It should be noted that the composition of municipal waste has not been sufficiently studied. The existence of such data is essential for assessing the potential for Waste-to-Energy systems, as well as for improving the effectiveness of planning and implementing municipal waste management. At present, Georgia also faces a lack of experience and technical expertise needed for the introduction of Waste-to-Energy approaches.

In waste management, efficient and automated sorting systems are critical in enhancing recycling processes and reducing labor. A real-time waste sorting method has been developed using YOLOv8, a state-of-the-art object detection model, in detecting and classifying plastics, metals, glass, and paper. It works by capturing live video feeds and then processes every frame through YOLOv8 for object detection; it also provides the output through a web interface that has been developed with Django. With YOLOv8’s capability of real-time object detection, it can classify waste materials at high speed and accuracy to ensure sorting can be carried out without substantial delays, thereby being suitable for dynamic and high-throughput environments like recycling plants or municipal waste management facilities. The problem of proper waste management is an acute global concern, especially in aquatic ecosystems, where pollution poses significant threats to ecological integrity and public health. This introduces a new approach: front-end development through HTML, CSS, and back-end development using Python language with Anaconda to develop an environment that can be used to deploy an API. The most outstanding feature is giving the system real-time feedback that improves rapid classification without increasing errors in waste sorting. It is designed to be scalable, thus fitting diverse operation settings such as municipal waste management facilities, industrial recycling centers, and even remote aquatic environments.

Rapid urbanization has increased the generation of mixed household waste, where wet and dry materials are commonly discarded together. Improper segregation reduces recycling efficiency, contaminates recyclable materials, and accelerates landfill saturation. To address these challenges, this paper presents a Smart Dual-Compartment Waste Separator Bin, a low-cost, sensor-based prototype that performs automatic real-time segregation at the source. The system uses a moisture sensor and ultrasonic sensor integrated with an Arduino microcontroller to classify waste as wet or dry and mechanically direct it into the correct compartment through a servo-controlled flap. A secondary ultrasonic sensor provides real-time fill-level monitoring and triggers alerts as compartments approach capacity. Experimental evaluation was conducted on 200 waste samples, and system performance was assessed using standard evaluation metrics. The prototype achieved 92.4% sorting accuracy, validated through a confusion matrix and accuracy formula, while the fill-level module recorded a mean error of 4.8% across repeated trials. Results confirm that the system operates reliably, responds quickly, and maintains stable performance under varying moisture conditions. The modular design also supports future enhancements, including IoT connectivity for cloud-based monitoring and integration with municipal waste management platforms. Compared with earlier sensor-based smart bins, the proposed system offers improved automation, higher accuracy, and better scalability. Overall, the findings demonstrate that a sensor-driven, real-time monitoring approach can significantly enhance waste segregation efficiency and support sustainable smart-city waste management.

Rapid urbanisation in developing countries has intensified pressures on municipal waste management systems while increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions. This study presents the design and simulation-based evaluation of an integrated Autonomous Waste Management System (AWMS) that combines smart waste collection with biogas-based energy recovery. The proposed architecture consists of IoT-enabled Smart Waste Bins, Autonomous Car Bases for waste transport, and an Administrative Centre responsible for real-time monitoring, routing decisions, and system coordination. Teaching–Learning-Based Optimisation (TLBO) is applied to dynamically optimise collection routes based on live sensor data. System performance is evaluated using a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) framework implemented in Python and SimPy over a 30-day period for a hypothetical urban community. Multiple waste-generation scenarios are analysed, and statistical tests are used to compare the AWMS with a conventional fixed-schedule system. Results indicate improvements in collection efficiency, reductions in collection time and transport energy use, increased biogas yield, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The system also supports organic fertiliser recovery from digestion by-products. These findings demonstrate the scalability, operational effectiveness, and environmental benefits of integrating real-time optimisation and energy recovery within autonomous waste management systems, particularly in rapidly growing urban contexts.

Abstract Municipal solid waste management is a critical challenge globally, with increasing urbanization intensifying the need for effective and sustainable solutions. This study conducts an integrated evaluation of a solid waste separation project in Islamshahr Municipality, Iran, employing empirical data and a mixed-methods approach. The economic viability of the project is assessed using a cost–benefit analysis (CBA), which quantifies fixed and operational costs against revenues from waste sales, transportation savings, and land-use benefits. Simultaneously, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) identifies the key social, technological, managerial, and infrastructural success factors influencing project performance. Findings reveal that the economic assessment highlighted the need for operational improvements, while technological factors exert the greatest impact on success, followed by infrastructural and social components. This study bridges a notable gap in the literature by combining economic and socio-technical analyses within the Iranian municipal context. The integrated methodology offers both theoretical advancements in project evaluation and practical guidance for policymakers aiming to enhance municipal waste management programs. The study recommends that municipal managers prioritize investment in modern technology and public awareness campaigns to enhance the project's economic viability and success.

Plastic, a key commodity in daily life, has become a major environmental concern due to its non-biodegradability, toxicity, impact on ecosystems, and contribution to climate change. Addressing plastic waste is essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Circular economy (CE) practices, which provide opportunities for value recovery, also present challenges for industry practitioners. Therefore, this study focuses on identifying and evaluating the challenges to CE practices in managing municipal plastic waste (MPW). Relevant barriers were identified through a systematic literature review and confirmed with experts’ ratings. An integrated Fermatean fuzzy set (FFS)–analytical hierarchy process (AHP)–decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach was employed to assess the significance and causal relationships of the barriers. Major obstacles to implementing CE practices in MPW management include the heterogeneous composition of waste, inefficient waste management facilities, illegal import/export of plastics, the absence of a global standard for plastic waste recycling, and informal collection practices. The findings of this study provide valuable insights that can help policymakers and industry practitioners develop effective strategies to reduce environmental contamination and hazards to human and aquatic life. This research is among the few that use FFS to evaluate barriers to CE practices in MPW management.

Purpose The main objective of the research is to examine how incorporating Green Weighted Average Cost of Capital (Green WACC) can be a useful and reliable method to gauge the authenticity of municipal sustainability initiatives, specifically for waste management and to lessen the occurrence of greenwashing. The study explores whether environmentally conscious activities by municipalities lead to better ecological results and financial benefits like lower borrowing costs. The article aims to enable more efficient, sustainable municipal government by establishing a link between financial and environmental performance. Design/methodology/approach The research follows a three-part methodology: (1) a review of scientific literature on greenwashing in waste management practices, sustainable waste management and the determination of WACC; (2) collection and analysis of financial data from Lithuanian municipalities and (3) the creation of a conceptual model for evaluating waste management practices and calculating Green WACC based on insights from the literature review. The empirical application of the model is carried out through the assessment of multiple Lithuanian municipalities. Findings The study revealed that municipalities improved their ability to raise funds over the observation period. Vilnius municipality benefits from the lowest rate required by lenders, while Utena municipality faces the highest rate. The calculated Green WACC indicates that improved waste management practices correlate with a reduced cost of capital, while poorer waste management performance leads to higher required lending rates. This suggests a direct relationship between sustainability efforts, greenwashing and financial performance in terms of cost of capital. Thus, promoting genuine green practices helps obtain lower lending rates and minimise the harm of greenwashing. Research limitations/implications The study's findings are limited to the case of Lithuanian municipalities, which may limit their generalizability to other regions. The model's applicability to different national contexts should be further investigated. Future research could expand the geographical scope and explore additional factors influencing Green WACC, such as policy changes, local environmental regulations and global economic conditions. Practical implications The research provides a practical framework for evaluating the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) for municipalities, offering a tool to assess municipal waste management efforts in terms of their financial efficiency. Municipalities can use these insights to optimise their environmental performance, minimise the impact of greenwashing and reduce borrowing costs by improving waste management practices. Social implications By improving municipal waste management practices, municipalities can contribute to broader environmental sustainability goals. Effective waste management reduces environmental degradation, which can enhance the quality of life for residents and promote social well-being. Additionally, municipalities with better waste management practices may benefit from improved public perception and increased trust in local governance. Originality/value This research offers a novel contribution by integrating the concept of Green WACC with waste management practices. The model provides an innovative approach to evaluating how financial performance is linked to environmental sustainability in municipalities. The study also introduces the Green Progress (GP) measure, offering a new tool for assessing the effectiveness of municipal environmental efforts within the context of financial metrics.

The task to manage the municipal solid waste (MSW) in the urban localities specifically in the cities which are growing faster is very challenging as the city administration need to cope up with the pace at which today’s cities are growing which is almost impossible without incorporating the latest technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). The static waste collection system which is being used conventionally currently facing issues like inadequate allocation of the resources required which in turn raises the overall costs of the operations and ultimately harm the environment, too. To overcome this, the present study introduces an innovative approach of combining Decision Support System (DSS) with machine learning driven waste generation forecasts. This study attempts to optimize the vehicle routing to improve the MSW collection efficacy in the city of Surat, India. The framework proposed here combines Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks for MSW prediction with Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) algorithms for the optimization of routes. We have developed our LSTM model using the dataset of past 16 years (2009-2024) obtained from Surat Municipal Corporation which achieved considerable forecasting accuracy with RMSE of 0.1095 and R² value of 0.93. The integrated DSS demonstrated considerable benefits in operations, cutting the overall collecting distance by 50.31% and the use of vehicles by 24% compared to traditional static routing methods. The technology uses predictive analytics to dynamically allocate the required resources helping the waste management authorities make decisions in real time. This study enhances sustainable urban development by offering a data-driven methodology that corresponds with the objectives of the Smart Cities Mission and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11, 12, and 13. The suggested architecture provides scalable methods for implementing a circular economy and making municipal waste management systems more environmentally friendly.

Multi-criteria group decision-making method using Spherical Fuzzy Z-Numbers for smart technology revolution in municipal waste management

Abstract To contract out public services or deliver them internally? Transaction costs, as part of the total costs for a public service, should represent an important factor when choosing how a public service should be delivered. Despite this, previous domestic and foreign literature shows that oftentimes, the service provider is unable or unwilling to calculate these costs, even if it might result in finding the most effective service delivery option. The goal of this paper is to analyse the situation in Slovak municipalities regarding transaction costs associated with public procurement and producer monitoring for the service of municipal waste management. The primary data from 254 Slovak municipalities, obtained through an online questionnaire, reveal a certain level of ignorance regarding transaction costs, as most municipalities were unable to provide the necessary data required to calculate the transaction costs associated with the selected service.

The increasing volume and complexity of municipal solid waste (MSW) in rapidly urbanizing regions pose significant environmental and public health challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Despite efforts to improve municipal solid waste management (MSWM), many cities continue to rely on fragmented approaches that fail to ensure safe disposal and resource efficiency. This study addresses a critical research gap by adopting machine learning (ML) across the entire MSWM chain, including collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal, while aligning the outcomes with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11) on safely managed waste. Using data from 460 cities across nine Asian countries, the J48 decision tree algorithm was applied to classify MSWM practices as safe or unsafe. The model achieved 73 % training and 67 % validation accuracy, highlighting key determinants of safe management, including budget support, number of operators, and availability of collection vehicles. Findings reveal that 70 % of MSW in surveyed Thai cities is unsafely managed, with inadequate funding (below US$ 5 per ton) strongly linked to poor outcomes. This study contributes a transparent, interpretable ML model for data-driven decision-making and offers actionable insights for enhancing operational efficiency and advancing SDG11 targets through improved investment and resource allocation.

Informal waste collectors (IWCs) have been visible actors in the municipal waste management sector of many cities in Nigeria. Various studies have made attempts to study the operational characteristics of IWCs, however, less emphasis has been made to examine the variations in their operational characteristics across cities in Nigeria. This paper attempts to fill this gap using Ibadan (Oyo State) and Abuja (FCT) as examples. The choice of the two cities was informed by the variation in their access to waste management resources. While Abuja is a federal government-controlled municipality with more resources, Ibadan is a state-controlled municipality with fewer resources. A structured questionnaire was randomly administered to 418 IWCs in both cities. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis of the data collected. Abuja IWCs evacuated more waste daily (312 kg) than Ibadan (255 kg). All the sampled Abuja IWCs (100%) used push carts to evacuate wastes while 78.5% of Ibadan IWCs used push carts; Abuja IWCs earned more income (N7,500 daily) compared to Ibadan (N3,000 daily). There was preponderant use of public stationary containers for waste disposal by Abuja IWCs than Ibadan. Few Ibadan IWCs used personal protective equipment (PPE) compared to Abuja. Regression analysis showed that the volume of waste collected by IWCs is influenced by the waste collection fees, method of waste transportation and distance between the collection points and disposal sites. It is therefore recommended that adequate provision of public stationary containers will encourage better waste disposal among the IWCs.

Improving the effectiveness of management decisions in the waste management industry is impossible without assessing its effectiveness by taking into account not only economic aspects but also the impact on the environment. The lack of comprehensive approaches to assessing municipal solid waste (MSW) management that would take into account environmental and economic aspects and the importance of having such approaches in the course of the transition to the principles of a closed-loop economy determines the relevance of research aimed at solving the problems of ecological and economic assessment of MSW. The aim of the research is to improve the methodological tools for ecological and economic assessment of MSW and to test them. The research is based on the hypothesis of the applicability of economic turnover approaches to the analysis of solid municipal waste management cycles, which could reveal their interconnection with general economic cycles and improve management efficiency. To test the hypothesis, an analysis of panel data on the activities of enterprises and regional solid municipal waste operators was used, as well as information from government reports on the state of the environment. A methodological approach to the ecological and economic assessment of solid municipal waste management was proposed and tested on the example of large cities in Russia, including the authors' proposed corrective industry indicators of environmental impact: carbon intensity and water intensity of the waste life cycle, as well as an indicator of the effectiveness of solid municipal waste management. A positive correlation has been identified between solid municipal waste management cycles and general economic cycles. Median values of key ecological and economic indicators of regional operators' activities have been calculated for comparative analysis. Recommendations have been substantiated for the application of economic incentives based on the flexible use of corrective indicators to improve the environmental and economic efficiency of the activities of industry players. The results obtained enable an environmental and economic assessment of solid municipal waste management, taking into account indicators of environmental intensity that are significant for the industry indicators of environmental intensity that are significant for the industry, which is especially important in the context of the transition to a closed-loop economy. They also make it possible to identify problematic stages of the management cycle, justify incentive measures, and form the basis for improving the management of solid municipal waste.

Waste management is a global priority that affects public health, environmental quality, and the aesthetics of society. Rapid urbanisation and population growth have intensified the challenges in solid waste generation and its management. In Kochi City, Kerala, issues persist due to legacy waste. This study introduces the household waste control index (HWCI), a qualitative tool structured around three indicators: input, process, and output, to assess household waste management. A study among 384 households in Kochi City reveals that waste management practice remains suboptimal, underscoring the importance of fostering community engagement and social awareness to improve waste control practices. This study aligns local waste management strategies with the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) through a mixed-method approach, combining household surveys with statistical analysis. The findings identify awareness, accessibility of waste facilities, and community participation as key factors influencing sustainable practices. The results directly support SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), while indirectly contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Incorporating public perception into municipal waste management provides actionable insights to advance Kochi’s progress toward sustainability.