Solid Waste Production Research Articles

Experimental and performance analysis of organic fraction of municipal solid waste in downdraft gasifier

It is anticipated that the production of municipal solid waste will increase from 2.10 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.80 billion tonnes by 2050. About 170 billion metric tonnes of biomass is produced worldwide each year. On a wet basis, the composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) includes approximately 20% of wood, 70% of food waste, 60% of yard trimmings, and 50% of other organic materials. Gasification of waste biomass is one of the most efficient processes for creating gaseous fuel and subsequently power with reduced environmental impact. The current work presents a novel strategy to reduce MSW by converting waste into briquettes and feeding it in gasifiers to produce syngas. The downdraft gasifier is employed in the syngas generation process. With a calorific value of 22.6 MJ/kg and a higher lignin concentration of approximately 31%, MSW proves to be suitable for thermochemical conversion processes. This article presents the results during gasification of briquette made from organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) with significant heating value of 22.6 MJ/kg. The fuel produced by the gasifier has a heating value ranging from 920 to 1150 kcal/m3, making it clean-burning. Its primary components consist of 19% to 23% carbon monoxide and 17% to 21% hydrogen. This study offers a unique investigation into the gasification behavior of the organic fraction of OFMSW in a downdraft gasifier, with an emphasis on optimizing operational parameters and evaluating the yield and quality of syngas. Although gasification has been widely studied as a thermochemical conversion method for biomass, the specific performance of OFMSW in this process has received limited attention. By focusing on this underexplored area, the study enhances the understanding of OFMSW's potential in gasification and its contribution to sustainable energy production, thereby addressing key issues in both waste management and renewable energy generation.

In-Vessel Aerobic Composting of Organic Waste Using Synthetic and Natural Bulking Agents

The escalating growth in municipal solid waste production underscores the imperative need for efficient waste management, especially given that a substantial portion of MSW comprises biodegradable materials suitable for composting. This study investigates the impacts of using a synthetic bulking agent (perforated plastic balls) in conjunction with biochar, a natural bulking agent, on the aerobic composting of kitchen waste. The study aim to evaluate the effectiveness of this combined approach in optimizing the composting process. Four trials, each spanning 30 days, were conducted to assess the effects of different combinations of synthetic and natural bulking agents. The study uses a uniform-size perforated synthetic bulking agent in combination with biochar to enhance the composting process. Results indicate that incorporating the perforated plastic balls (8% by weight) alongside biochar significantly influenced key composting parameters. This approach accelerated the initial rise in temperature to 55°C, enhanced the reduction of total organic carbon, improved total Kjeldahl nitrogen retention, and facilitated the achievement of optimal carbon-nitrogen (C/N) ratios ranging from 19 to 20. Furthermore, the analysis of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) loss during composting revealed that potassium is more susceptible to leaching than phosphorus due to its higher mobility. The study concludes that the addition of a uniform-size perforated synthetic bulking agent, constituting 8% (by weight), in conjunction with a natural bulking agent, effectively enhances the composting process.

Optimizing municipal solid waste management in industrial ports: A case study of source separation implementation

ABSTRACT With the acceleration of industrialization and population growth, there has been a notable surge in municipal solid waste (MSW) production globally. This necessitates the development of efficient waste management strategies that align with sustainable economic, environmental, and social goals. Implementing sorting and source separation policies serves as foundational steps toward optimizing material flow and resource utilization. In industrial areas, waste generation around a primary source may improve policy implementation and participation. Given the unique strategic context of port environments, Bahregan Port in Iran was selected as a case study to evaluate the proposed methodology. Three integrated scenarios were formulated and prioritized using the ELECTRE-I model: currently practiced collection method, and segregated collection followed by source separation of MSW into two or three groups. The analysis identified the third scenario as the most effective approach. Remarkably, when evaluating the results under optimistic and pessimistic conditions, the ranking of preferences remained consistent across scenarios in the optimal state. Under pessimistic conditions, all scenarios received identical scores, indicating significant uncertainty in criteria weights. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis revealed that criteria such as the raw material sources protection, emissions in the waste separation sector, and greenhouse gas emissions were highly influential. Interestingly, criteria with the highest weighting did not always dictate the final scenario selection. External factors, such as expert opinions on specific criteria, played a pivotal role in scenario prioritization. This research serves as a foundational study for source separation initiatives, offering practical and technically viable strategies to enhance environmental sustainability within industrial settings. Implications Statement Rising industrialization and population growth have led to increased municipal solid waste (MSW) production worldwide. To address this, efficient waste management strategies are essential, focusing on sustainability and resource optimization through sorting and source separation policies. By prioritizing the scenario of segregated collection followed by source separation – industrial areas can optimize material flow and resource utilization. The study highlights the influence of criteria like raw material protection, emissions, and greenhouse gases, making this research foundational for enhancing environmental sustainability in industrial settings. This study provides practical strategies for enhancing environmental sustainability in industrial settings through source separation initiatives.

Fabrication and characterization of low-cost ceramic membranes from coal fly ash and natural sand

Coal fly ash, an industrial solid waste product, and natural sand, a commonly available and inexpensive natural material, were used to fabricate ceramic membranes that are both affordable and sustainable. These ceramic membranes were fabricated by the uniaxial compaction technique using a manual hydraulic pressing machine. The effects of various fabrication parameters such as the sintering temperature and the amount of natural sand utilized, on the properties of the resulting ceramic membranes were extensively evaluated. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of the starting materials confirmed the presence of SiO2 and Al2O3, two key inorganic materials required for the fabrication of ceramic membranes. Heavy metals present in the raw coal fly ash were leached out prior to the fabrication process. The coal fly ash and natural sand were mixed in different proportions and the fabricated ceramic membranes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The properties of the optimized membranes were further studied to ascertain their mechanical strength, chemical stability, porosity, water absorption, water permeability, and shrinkage behaviour. The membrane fabricated with 20 wt% sand content and at 1000 °C sintering temperature had pore size of 0.64 µm and 34.7 % porosity, exhibited good mechanical strength (7.71 MPa), and exceptional chemical stability. The membrane also showed a remarkable water permeability of 32.23 L/m2/h. This study showed that natural sand and coal fly ash can be efficiently employed to develop a multifunctional filtration membrane with adjustable properties that can be utilized in water purification.

Concurrent removal of Fe(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) cations from acid mine drainage by an industrial solid waste - steel slag: Behaviors and mechanisms

Acid mine drainage (AMD) contamination poses a severe environmental threat and is a significant risk to human health. There is an urgent need to develop environmentally sustainable and technically viable solutions for water contamination caused by heavy metals. In this study, steel slag (SS) was used as a secondary resource to concurrently remove Fe(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) from AMD. Because of the loose and porous structure, abundant functional groups, fast sedimentation velocity, and excellent solid-liquid separation, SS showed exceptional removal performance for heavy metal ions. The adsorption kinetic data of Fe(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) showed good regression with the pseudo-second-order model. Besides, the adsorption of Fe(II) by SS conformed to the Freundlich model, whereas the adsorption of Cu(II) and Zn(II) followed the Langmuir model, with the maximum adsorption amounts of Cu(II) and Zn(II) being 170.69 and 155.98 mg/g. Furthermore, competitive adsorption was observed among Fe (II), Cu (II), and Zn (II) in a multi-component system, with the adsorption priority being Fe (II) > Cu (II) > Zn (II). The removal mechanism of Fe(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) in AMD by SS mainly includes electrostatic attraction, chemical precipitation, and surface complexation. Interestingly, the leached concentrations of Fe(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) from the spent slag after calcination were all within the detection limit of the Chinese emission standard, demonstrating excellent environmental stability. Theoretically, this renders it a viable candidate for use as an additive in construction materials. Meaningfully, the work offers a practical approach for energy-efficient and eco-friendly heavy metal ions adsorption, and the secondary utilization of SS also contributes to the sustainable development of the steel industry. It is beneficial to implement the development concepts of clean production and efficient utilization of industrial solid waste.

The proximate composition of vegetables enriched by incorporation of municipal solid waste into fertilizers and its impacts on environment and human health

The recent over production of municipal solid waste (MSW) poses a significant threat to both the ecosystem and human health. Utilizing MSW for agricultural purposes has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce solid waste disposal while simultaneously increasing soil fertility. To explore this potential solution further, an experiment was designed to assess the impact of varying concentrations of MSW (25%, 50%, and 75%) on the proximate composition of 15 different vegetable species. The experiment, conducted between 2018 and 2019, involved treating soil with different levels of solid waste and analyzing the proximate components, such as crude protein, dry matter, crude fiber, crude fat, and moisture content, in the 15 selected crops. The results indicate that the application of 25% MSW significantly increased the levels of crude protein, crude fiber, dry matter, and fat in Spinacia oleracea, Solanum tuberosum, Solanum melongena, and Abelmoschus esculentus. Conversely, the addition of 75% MSW notably elevated the moisture and ash content in Cucumis sativus. Correlation and scatter matrix analyses were conducted to elucidate the relationships between the protein, fiber, dry matter, ash, and fat contents. Principal component analysis and clustering confirmed the substantial impact of Treatment_1 (25% MSW) and Treatment_3 (75% MSW) on the proximate composition of the aforementioned vegetables, leading to their categorization into distinct groups. Our study highlights the efficacy of using 25% MSW to enhance the proximate composition and nutritional value of vegetables. Nonetheless, further research is warranted to investigate the mineral, antioxidant, vitamin, and heavy metal contents in the soil over an extended period of MSW application.

Assessing the potential of olive mill solid waste as feedstock for methane and volatile fatty acids production via anaerobic bioprocesses

The extensive production of olive mill solid waste (OMSW) from olive oil industry in the Mediterranean basin claims effective treatments and valorization strategies. This study aims to elucidate the potential of anaerobic digestion (AD) and anaerobic fermentation (AF) to convert pre-treated OMSW into biogas (CH4) and volatile fatty acids (VFA), respectively. The two thermal treatment conditions (65 °C and 180 °C) that are being implemented in the industry that manages the OMSW were tested. Comparing the two treatments aims to demonstrate the influence on the AD process of the degree of solubilization and degradation of the metabolites produced from the same substrate. AD of OMSW treated at low-temperature (65 °C) exhibited similar methane yields (195 ± 8 mL CH4/g volatile solid (VS)) to raw OMSW. AD of the solid phase (SP) after high-temperature treatment with acid addition at 180 °C resulted in methane yields comparable to raw OMSW while the liquid phase (LP) exhibited low methane yields (85 ± 10 mL CH4/g VS). Nevertheless, LP/180 °C exhibited the highest VFA bioconversion at 27.6 %, compared to less than 10 % for SP/180 ºC, SP/65 °C, and raw OMSW. The VFA profile showed notable variations with thermal treatment temperatures. Propionic acid dominated at SP/65 °C, while acetic acid became the primary VFA at 180 °C. Furthermore, significant degradation rates of phenolic compounds and furans were observed during the final day of both anaerobic processes. Overall, these findings suggest that AD is more suitable for raw OMSW, treated at low temperature and SP at high temperature, while AF offers a promising alternative for high-temperature-treated LP.

Urban digital twin-based solution using geospatial information for solid waste management

With over 2 billion metric tons generated annually, global solid waste production has severe environmental consequences. Although it is not a primary Sustainable Development Goal, effective solid waste management (SWM) is vital for meeting targets 11.6, 12.4, and 12.5. South Africa, in particular, deals with significant SW generation and inadequate collection services. Therefore, this paper presents an Urban Digital Twin (UDT) prototype to tackle these issues, involving stakeholder prioritization, integrating real-time monitoring, citizen participation, waste generation simulations, optimized collection routes, and a control Dashboard where stakeholders’ system requirements were included. The UDT proposes optimized collection routes to reduce fuel use, operational costs, and emissions. The stakeholders’ opinions on the usefulness of the UDT varied due to their backgrounds and skills. Most of them appreciated the Dashboard visualization and the UDT possibilities for resource optimization. The performance of the UDT depends on computer capacity and local or online processing. This UDT prototype sets the foundation for digital twinning in SWM, scalable to different areas, vehicles, and production levels. The proposed approach, citizen involvement, and multi-stakeholder engagement enhance the SWM, benefiting resource-limited countries.

Optimization of a proposed biomass generator: Harnessing citizen waste with electric vehicle charging infrastructure

Global municipal solid waste production is rising, causing significant environmental, health, and economic issues. Developed countries have advanced recycling technologies, but cities like Dhaka, Bangladesh—among the most densely populated-struggle with inadequate waste management. This feasibility study aims to improve environmental protection and create new energy sources by proposing a waste management system across Dhaka, focusing on waste valorization for bioenergy with optimized efficiency and minimal impact. The study includes design and optimization of a biomass-based power plant to meet the energy needs of EV charging stations and the national grid, evaluating its economic performance through discounted cash flow and payback period analyses. The paper explores the integration of an EV charging station powered by biogas, addressing the growing need for EV infrastructure in Dhaka. By evaluating biomass generators as a greener alternative to fossil fuels, the study analyzes the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility, including CO2 emissions, using HOMER Pro.

Assessing Health and Environmental Risks: Educational Awareness on Plastic Usage and Solid Waste Disposal in Bahawalpur

The review paper explores the increasing challenges posed by plastic pollution and improper solid waste management in Bahawalpur. The population has continued to increase, and there is ever-increasing urbanization; this has contributed to the increase in plastic and solid waste production, such as the single use of plastic bags and bottles. These waste materials contribute to environmental degradation, affecting soil quality and contaminating water systems. Improper disposal contributes to public health challenges like respiratory and waterborne diseases and vector-borne ailments like malaria and dengue fever. A fully equipped waste management framework is needed to solve more problems in Bahawalpur; this leads to a filled drainage system, urban flooding, and the discharge of hazardous wastes. The review also explains the level of community health education used to ensure sustainable waste management practices are practiced. Hence, the paper encourages the involvement and expansion of community-based programs and public or private-founded collaboration to support and practice recycling and the appropriate management and minimization of single-use plastics. Smart solutions are also briefly touched upon as potential solutions, including implementing waste-to-energy plants and smart bins. Consequently, this review calls for enhanced stewardship, more specific to public sensitization against further pollution of Bahawalpur and other similar urban settings by plastic and solid waste.

Porous hollow microspheres based on industrial solid waste enhance biomethane recovery from corn straw

The increasing production of industrial solid waste requires better disposal solutions. Porous hollow microspheres (PHM) are small inorganic materials with high surface area and adsorption capacity, but their potential for use in anaerobic digestion (AD) has not been explored. With PHM as additive, the effects of different industrial solid wastes (waste glass, steel slag, and fly ash) with different loadings (2 %–8 %), respectively, on the AD of corn straw were investigated in this study. The results showed that PHM could supplement trace elements and promote biofilm formation, which effectively shortened the lag period (25.00–60.87 %) and increased the methane yield (4.75 %–16.28 %). The 2 % PHM loading based on steel slag gave the highest methane yield (300.16 NmL/g VSadd). Microbial and PICRUSt2 analyses indicated that PHM enriched hydrolytic and acidogenic bacteria, increased the abundance of methanogenesis-related enzyme genes. This study provides a theoretical basis for the comprehensive utilization of coupled industrial and agricultural wastes.

Energy-saving and benign hydrogen production by coal gasification fine slag-assisted Water electrolysis

ABSTRACT Integrating anodic coal gasification fine slag oxidation with cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction presents an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solution for solid waste recycling and hydrogen production. This innovative approach exhibits higher activity and stability than conventional water electrolysis, while also preventing anode degradation due to its benign reaction conditions. The kinetic investigations have revealed that slag oxidation occurs more rapidly than water oxidation. Specifically, slag undergoes direct and indirect oxidation within the potential regions below and above those of water oxidation, respectively. This study has the potential to shed light on the mechanisms underlying slag electrolysis and offer valuable insights for the simultaneous recycling of solid waste and hydrogen production.

Models for estimating solid waste production in hospitality establishments in João Pessoa, Brazil

Municipalities are responsible for solid waste management in urban areas, from collection to final treatment, in case the waste produced by economic agents is not dangerous. In the scope of economic activities, tourism has been growing strongly, especially in Brazilian coastal urban areas. In this sense, a larger production of urban solid waste is one of the main effects of the development of the hospitality sector. This study aims to design models to estimate the production of solid waste in hospitality establishments. This research object refers to a sample of 7 hotels in the city of João Pessoa, Brazil. Solid waste generated by the hotel sector in the city of João Pessoa was estimated by developing linear regression models. The models showed that 71% of the waste refers to the number of guests, number of employees, and services offered in the hotel. Results indicate an estimated solid waste generated by hotel establishments in the city of João Pessoa of 4,148 kg.day-¹, out of which 59.2% are organic waste, 21.8% are recyclable, and 18.9% are non-recyclable.

Reuse potential of municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash as secondary aggregate: Material characteristics, persistent organic pollutant content and effects of pH and selected environmental lixiviants on leaching behaviour

Increasing municipal solid waste (MSW) production poses challenges for sustainable urban development. Modern energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities incinerate MSW, reducing mass and recovering energy. In the UK, MSW incineration bottom ash (MSW IBA) is primarily reused in civil engineering applications. This study characterizes UK-produced MSW IBA, examining its pH-dependent leaching behaviour and response to environmental lixiviants. Results show predominant components include a melt phase, primary glass and fine ash aggregations, and a chemical composition dominated by SiO2 (30–50 %), CaO (∼15 %), Fe2O3 (∼10 %), and Al2O3 (∼8%). X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analysis shows that Zn and Cu are most likely oxygen-bound (adsorbed to oxy-hydroxides and as oxides) with some sulphur bound. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) are well below regulatory limits, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were undetectable. Leaching tests indicate trace elements mobilize at pHs ≤ 6. With a natural pH of 11.3 and high buffering capacity, significant acid inputs to the MSW IBA are required to reach this pH, which are improbable in the environment. Wood chip additions increase leachate’s dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and reduce pH, but had minimal impact on metal-leaching behaviour. Synthetic plant exudate solutions minimally affect metal leaching at realistic concentrations, only enhancing leaching at ≥ 1500 mg l−1 DOC. This work supports MSW IBA’s low-risk in specified civil engineering applications.

Influence of mandatory waste classification on environmental and economic impacts of residual waste treatment in Xiamen, China.

Mandatory waste classification has been widely considered as an effective solution for reducing the production and treatment amount of municipal solid waste. However, there is limited evidence regarding whether and how waste classification can affect the composition of residual waste (RW) and its environmental economic impacts. Here, an accounting method recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, field surveys and cost-benefit analysis was utilized to investigate the changes in RW composition, environmental impacts and economic benefits under the waste classification policies implementation in Xiamen, China. This study found that: (1) The implementation of waste classification policies led to a significant increase in recyclable content from 17% to 51% and a decrease in organic content from 56% to 32%. (2) Waste classification effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions from landfilling and incineration by an additional 0.34 tCO2-eq t-1 RW. (3) The introduction of mechanical recycling achieves a saving of 0.47 tCO2-eq t-1 RW at 40% recycling efficiency, a 4.5-fold increase compared to business as usual (BAU). (4) The operational benefits (900 yuan t-1 RW) from the recyclables sorting system offset the total expenses of investment, operation and waste disposal. The study successfully demonstrated that RW source-classified management can optimize the structure of waste composition, reduce environmental emissions and offer detailed guidance for the development of solid waste management systems in other cities in China.

Composting as a Sustainable Solution for Organic Solid Waste Management: Current Practices and Potential Improvements

With increases in global population and urbanization, the production of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is growing rapidly, thus contributing to social and environmental concerns for sustainable waste management. This study addresses the research gap in optimizing composting, hypothesizing that integrating best practices and recent innovations can enhance the efficiency of the process. Data were collected through a systematic review of existing literature using Google Scholar and Scopus databases. The review provides an overview of municipal organic waste composting, outlining its processes, benefits, and challenges with the aim of identifying key area of further improvement and possibilities of adopting recent technological innovations. The analysis emphasized that technological advances in composting, as microbial inoculants or in-vessel composting have greatly improved the efficiency and quality of the resulting compost. However, several challenges remain, including managing contaminants such as heavy metals and microplastics, ensuring the compost quality and safety and addressing socioeconomic barriers that prevent widespread adoption. Moreover, process optimization, environmental and economic evaluation, as well as political and public involvement are essential to unlock the whole potential of composting systems.

A zero-liquid discharge process to recover all critical metals from spent NCM111 cathode material of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries: statistically optimized leaching with formic acid and in-situ crystallization

A green chemistry process has been developed to recycle cathode material from end-of-life lithium ion batteries. NCM111 (LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2) was completely leached with 13 M formic acid to produce two groups of salts with different solubilities: sparingly soluble cobalt, manganese, and nickel (CMN) formates and highly soluble lithium formate. During leaching, CMN formate salts exceeded their solubility limit in the pregnant leach solution (PLS) and crystallized. Mixed CMN formate salts were recovered by filtering the PLS. Lithium was completely recovered by evaporating the filtered PLS then thermally decomposing the lithium formate obtained in air to lithium carbonate. The purity of the lithium carbonate was 98.1 wt%.The leaching process was optimized through response surface methodology experiments. The minimum time required to completely leach NCM111 with 13 M formic acid was 30.8 h. Optimum leaching conditions were L/S = 2.81 mL/g (equivalent to S/L = 356 g/L) and T = 95 °C. During leaching, 98% of CMN formate salts exceeded their solubility limit and crystallized from the PLS.The recycling process is simple and generates no liquid or solid waste products. The only reagent is 13 M formic acid. The only by-products are water vapour, which can be condensed and reused, and carbon dioxide gas.

STUDY ON ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF SOIL USING STONE DUST AND BAGASSE ASH

In the discipline of civil engineering, soil stabilization is the process of enhancing and improving the engineering qualities of soil so that it can support large loads without failing. The safe and efficient disposal of waste material without causing harm to society is a significant concern in a well-managed ecosystem. Utilizing solid waste products to stabilize soil has become more popular recently as a successful way to manage trash from many sectors. This paper reviews the usage of various solid waste items that have been applied to stabilize soft soils. However, there are numerous approaches and strategies for stabilizing this soil. This research offers a method for stabilizing soft soil using waste products. An investigation into the stabilizing potential of bagasse ash and sisal fiber for highly compressible clayey soil has been prompted by the rising expense of building traditional stabilizers and the necessity of inexpensively consuming industrial and agricultural wastes for value trade. There is a growing demand for sustainable construction, which is why recent research has concentrated on sustainable resource consumption trends. We can employ natural and biodegradable resources, as well as waste products, to obtain. This study was a large-scale laboratory experiment to explore the use of natural fibers, industrial waste, and agricultural waste to improve the engineering qualities of moderately compressible clay. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Stone Dust and Bagasse Ash were suitable for stabilizing clayey soil. The results of testing for consistency limits, maximum dry density, optimal moisture content, UCS, and (soaked) CBR were obtained using percentages of 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight of dry soil for Bagasse Ash and 6%, 8%, and 10% for Stone Dust. In this work, expansive soil was stabilized using Stone Dust and Bagasse Ash. Bagasse Ash was fixed at 15%, after that Stone Dust was changed to 3%, 6%, and 9%. Key Words: Compaction test, CBR, UCS, Stone Dust, Bagasse Ash

Assessment of Solid Waste Management and Decarbonization Strategies

Global population growth, industrialization, and urbanization have led to a dramatic increase in solid waste (SW) generation, which is considered a main environmental pollutant via greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and soil and groundwater contamination. This creates serious problems for the region and the world at large. Currently, about 2 billion tons of SW are generated globally every year, of which 67% is processed by various treatment technologies, while 33% is freely released into the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to significantly reduce GHG emissions from global SW production for the maximization of climate benefits and to halt the continued rise in temperature. Fortunately, this can be attained with the use of existing SW processing methods and improved performance. Through a comprehensive literature review, this research evaluates the effectiveness of various SW approaches, including source reduction, recycling, and energy recovery. Additionally, this study examines the potential of emerging technologies and their integration and innovative solutions to enhance solid waste management (SWM) systems and promote decarbonization. The findings highlight the significant environmental and economic benefits of implementing integrated SWM strategies that prioritize waste prevention, material recovery, and energy generation from waste. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement, policy interventions, and public awareness campaigns in fostering sustainable waste management practices. By adopting a holistic approach that considers the entire waste management lifecycle, this review provides valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers, waste management authorities, and communities to achieve sustainable waste management and contribute to global decarbonization efforts.

Forecasting the waste production hierarchical time series with correlation structure

AbstractContinuous increase in society’s prosperity causes overwhelming growth of the produced municipal solid waste. Circular economy initiatives help to solve this problem by creating closed production cycles, where the produced waste is recycled, or its energy is recovered. An embedment of such principles requires implementation of new waste management strategies. However, these novel strategies must be based on the accurate forecasts of future waste flows. Municipal solid waste production data demonstrate behavior of hierarchical time series. Among all possible approaches to hierarchical times series forecasting, this article is focused on the reconciliation of the base waste generation forecasts. The novel method, that is based on the game-theoretically optimal reconciliation of hierarchical time series, is presented. The modified approach enables to incorporate interdependencies between time series using correlation matrix and to obtain the forecasts corresponding to the unique solution of the optimization problem. The potential of the proposed abstract approach is demonstrated on the waste production data of paper, plastics (both primarily sorted by households), and mixed municipal solid waste from the Czech Republic.