Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management Research Articles

Reciclacentros: a sustainable municipal solid waste management initiative in a Mexican city

Due to the increase in the generation of municipal solid waste and its impact on the environment and health, governments have been overburdened by its impact. Therefore, they have developed initiatives for waste disposal options in which citizens are involved. For that reason, this article aims to identify the population sector that participates in the separation of municipal solid waste and goes to the collection centers, as well as to characterize waste in three points known as Reciclacentros in the city of Hermosillo, Sonora. For this purpose, surveys were applied, selecting the respondents in a non-probabilistic way. In the characterization, the amount of waste received at each point was weighed. The data obtained were analyzed through a non-parametric Kruskal - Wallis test with 95% confidence (p<0.05). It was found that the people going to the Reciclacentros have an average monthly income of more than 30 thousand Mexican pesos, mostly young adult women between 25 and 44 years old, with the highest participation. In addition, the collection center identified as R3 presented a significantly higher difference in waste received with respect to the other collection centers in the period evaluated (23 t). Cardboard and paper, plastic, and glass are the most recovered waste in the city.

A SWOT analysis for sustainable municipal solid waste management in Gurugram city, Haryana (India).

A SWOT analysis for sustainable municipal solid waste management in Gurugram city, Haryana (India).

Hybrid porous media gasification of urban solid waste pre-treated by hydrothermal carbonization.

Global population growth and rising consumption levels have significantly increased resource use and energy demand, leading to higher greenhouse gas concentrations and increased waste output. As a result, alternative waste treatment methods for sustainable municipal solid waste (MSW) management are crucial. This research evaluates the efficiency of integrating hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and gasification for an optimized MSW biomass blend. HTC was conducted for one hour at 220°C in a 5 L reactor, followed by gasification in a hybrid porous medium gasifier. The study investigated the effects of different filtration speeds on combustion temperature and hydrogen concentrations. The results showed that a filtration speed of 35 cm/s resulted in a maximum combustion temperature of 1035.7°C. The temperature remained consistent across filter speeds, while higher velocities yielded higher hydrogen concentrations. Additionally, increasing the filtration velocity raised temperatures in the hybrid bed while increasing the volumetric fraction of biomass decreased maximum temperatures. This research contributes to the understanding of merging HTC and gasification for MSW biomass blend treatment, aiming to reduce environmental impacts and costs while promoting renewable resources for long-term energy production.

Use of life cycle assessment for estimating impacts of waste-to-energy technologies in solid waste management systems: the case of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Analysing municipal solid waste (MSW) management scenarios is relevant for planning future policies and actions toward a circular economy. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is appropriate for evaluating technologies of MSW treatment and their environmental impacts. However, in developing countries, advanced assessments are difficult to introduce due to the lack of technical knowledge, data and financial support. This research aims to assess the main potentialities of the introduction of waste-to-energy (WtE) systems in a developing Argentinean urban area considering the existing regulations about MSW recycling goals. The study was conducted with WRATE software and the proposed scenarios were current management, grate incineration of raw MSW and incineration of solid recovered fuel (SRF). In addition, a sensitivity analysis on the energy matrix was included. It was found that the production of SRF allows increasing the energy generation from waste by 200% and reducing the environmental impact of about 10% regarding the current MSW management system. Acidification Potential and Abiotic Depletion Potential were sensitive to changes in electricity mix. Results showed that if MSW reduction goals are achieved, changes in MSW composition will affect the performance of WtE plants and, in some cases, they will be not technically feasible. The outcomes of this study can be of interest for developing countries stakeholders and practitioners interested in LCA and sustainable MSW management.

Health status assessment of people adjacent to temporary waste disposal sites in Khulna city, Bangladesh

Despite rapid population growth, urbanization, and economic development in Bangladesh, there is a lack of evidence to measure the impact of dumpsites on human health and the environment. This study sought to assess the health impact of temporary disposal sites in Khulna city on residents living nearby. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaire surveys surrounding the dumpsite areas. Altogether 180 households were surveyed by random sampling approach from >50 m (close to the dumpsites, CD) and 50–300 m radius (away from the dumpsites, AD) of the dumpsite. The participants were mostly employed with low income (<US$185.54 per month) and living more than 10 years in the community. This study found that the main concern for residents in both communities was the odor emanating from the dumpsites, with 74% of respondents identifying this as their primary concern. Approximately 18% of respondents claimed that the smoke from burning waste had the most severe impact on their health. The most common health problems reported by participants were dysentery, diarrhea, pulmonary diseases, asthma, and allergies. Diarrhea was reported by most of the respondents in both communities, such as 32.1% in the CD community and 22.8% in the AD community. Whereas chest-related illness (16.98%) and asthma (11.32%) were reported more frequently in the CD community. Participants living close to the dumpsites were found to be statistically significant victims of health problems, water pollution and unpleasant odor. However, the results did not show a significant effect of proximity to the dumpsite on causing waterborne and airborne diseases among those with higher incomes and better employment. This study suggests conducting a more comprehensive investigation in the study area to unravel the specific impacts of dumpsites on human health. The city corporation authority should follow sustainable municipal solid waste management practices and consider green energy production from waste using cutting-edge technologies.

Municipal solid waste management in developing economies: A way forward

This conceptual paper identifies how municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is currently being practiced in developing economies from an institutional perspective. Semi-systematic review of 934 peer-reviewed journal articles extracted from the Web of Science database is used as the foundation for this paper. The findings affirm that the current MSWM practices of most developing economies are either ineffective, inefficient, or limited. Hence, they are contributing to environmental, social, and economic negative impacts that can impede sustainable development. Though the literature highlights several remedies that could curtail the negative impacts of current MSWM practices, most developing economies are yet to engage with these due to numerous constraints. Special emphasis is on administrative constraints (or the norms, expectations, and requirements within the specific institutional field where MSWM is practiced in developing economies) that prevents adoption of new MSWM practices in developing economies. In this context, social movements can play a critical role in improving current MSWM practices. This paper makes recommendations for a way forward in which social movements could act as institutional entrepreneurs to change the norms, expectations, and requirements of the institutional field for a sustainable MSWM in developing economies.

Integrated Circulating Fluidized Bed Gasification System for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management: Energy Production and Heat Recovery

The management of municipal solid waste presents significant challenges globally. This study investigates the potential of an integrated waste-to-energy system based on circulating fluidized bed gasification technology to address these challenges, while also contributing to renewable energy generation. Using a MATLAB-based simulation model, the study determines the optimal operational parameters for various units within the system, including waste processing, gasification, ash handling, syngas treatment, and emission control. The proposed waste-to-energy system demonstrates a remarkable energy efficiency of 70% under these optimal conditions, notably outperforming conventional waste-to-energy technologies. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses reveal that waste composition, gasification temperature, and the oxygen-to-solid recovered fuel ratio are key determinants of the system’s output and performance. The system’s performance remained robust despite variations in these parameters, underscoring its potential as a reliable solution for waste management and energy generation. While the findings are promising, future research should focus on comprehensive lifecycle assessment and consider regional factors for practical implementation. This study contributes to the ongoing development of efficient waste-to-energy systems and highlights their potential in promising sustainable waste management and renewable energy production.

Smart technological options in collection and transportation of municipal solid waste in urban areas: A mini review.

The rapid increase in quantities and the mismanagement of municipal solid waste (MSW) in developing countries are increasing the environmental impacts such as air, water and soil contamination. The present scenario of MSW management deals with numerous issues such as lack of technological resources, strategical management, social awareness, public participation, etc. Globally, numerous efforts in the form of new policies, schemes and regulatory acts have been made to develop a systematic collection and transportation (C&T) method using advanced, integrated technologies. However, very few studies have addressed this issue for low- and middle-income countries due to the lack of availability of reliable resources and data sets. This paper addresses the present challenges in C&T methods and highlights the application of information communication technology in monitoring, capturing, data management, planning, live tracking and communication. This systematic mini-review is based on the availability of technical resources, consumer acceptance and cost-effectiveness of different technologies in managing the processes. The study revealed that the C&T methods in most developed countries are designed based on their geographical stretch, climatic factors, waste characteristics and compatible technology, resulting in sustainable MSW management. However, developing countries have followed the same monotonous approach in managing their MSW, which fails in C&T process. The case study provides a valuable resource for researchers and policymakers to frame a better C&T process based on the recent technological interventions, infrastructure development, and social and economic status.

Design of a robust waste recycling network integrating social and environmental pillars of sustainability

The design of an efficient Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management network can reduce the network costs, such as investment, operational and recycling costs, and improve its sustainability, from economic to environmental and social perspectives. In this paper, a multi-objective scenario-based robust stochastic optimization model for designing a sustainable MSW management network under uncertainty is proposed. The proposed model has four objectives to seek sustainability from two quantitative and qualitative aspects. Considering the dynamicity of the factors affecting an MSW management network as well as the multiplicity of sustainability perspectives, the proposed model allows, on one hand, reaching a robust solution considering the potential scenarios, and on the other hand, integrating sustainability indicators while creating a balance between the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of such indicators. Moreover, the waste treatment technologies, as the highest added-value echelon of the MSW management network, which also distinguishes the network from a generic waste recycling network, has been investigated in the model. Finally, fuel consumption, have been particularly emphasized as critical factor, highly contributing to transportation costs and Co2 emission that are decisive criteria from both economic and environmental points of view. The proposed model and solution approach are validated through a real case study.

Sustainable solid waste management in rural areas: A case study of Fayoum governorate, Egypt

Municipal solid waste generation and disposal are significant environmental problems in both urban and rural communities due to the increasing population, especially in developing countries, and the lack or absence of a proper waste management service. The present work aims to study the waste management system in rural areas to select an appropriate treatment facility to improve the waste management system. Hence, three villages (Qalamshah, Monshat Ramzy, and Abou Defeya) in Markaz Etsa in Fayoum Governorate were selected as study areas due to the waste management system weakness. In this respect, characterization study in these three villages where MSW management services are either non-existent or insufficient: thus, making them a high priority and an effective advancement step towards achieving the bigger goal of sustainable municipal solid waste management. The results showed that the percentage of organic in these three villages is 76%, 67%, and 80% without diapers percentage which represents 9.3%, 14.3%, and 5.8% respectively. Three life cycle assessment scenarios (landfill scenario, anaerobic digestion, and Composting Scenario) were carried out and simulated using WRATE software. The composting and anaerobic scenarios have comparable and similar values in the following categories: global warming potential, acid rain, eutrophication potential, and resource depletion. In the category of acidification, the composting and anaerobic categories produce higher values than the landfill scenario. Finally, the feasibility study proves that the compost treatment plant is the best solution for the current situation of municipal solid waste for the annual savings by an amount of EGP 1,365,043 over the project period. Also, the compost solution is beneficial due to the availability of areas in Fayoum governorate and will be used for land reclamations as the Egyptian government started to reclaim a huge desert area near these villages.

Stakeholders' social acceptance of a new organic waste management policy in the city of Florianópolis (Brazil)

Incorrect organic waste management can lead to several environmental and health threats. The literature shows that municipalities are adopting several strategies to reduce the improper disposal of organic waste. In 2019, Florianópolis, Brazil, became the first Brazilian state capital to approve a law on mandatory organic waste separation and composting, the Florianópolis composting law (FCL). Nevertheless, the successful implementation of this new regulation relies on acceptance among urban stakeholders and civil society. The role of social acceptance has not been investigated when dealing with new waste management regulations. To this end, 37 qualitative interviews with local stakeholders were conducted to determine the key factors influencing the acceptance of the FCL by analyzing stakeholders' perceptions of the relevant risks, benefits, hindering and promoting factors. The results show that the law could represent an important first step toward a sustainable municipal solid waste management system; however, several risks may arise in the absence of adequate monitoring systems. These risks are mainly linked to water contamination and health issues due to harmful insect proliferation. Furthermore, even though Florianópolis society seems culturally open, the lack of infrastructure and investments in the city could hinder the effectiveness of the law. Strategies for improving the law's effectiveness should be focused on supporting the existing formal and informal composting initiatives that have become widespread in recent decades. This could lead to a decentralized organic waste management system that empowers local initiatives and reduces the initial costs of implementing new composting systems and increases the separation rates at the household level.

Chula model for sustainable municipal solid waste management in university canteens

Managing the large amount and variety of waste produced by university canteens is challenging. This study used life cycle assessment (LCA) to investigate sustainable municipal solid waste (MSW) management solutions for Chulalongkorn University (CU) canteens. This study assessed three scenarios for MSW management in CU canteens: the past scenario (prior to the Chula Zero Waste Project in 2016; S1); the current scenario (2017–2021, when the Chula Zero Waste Project’s MSW management system was used; S2); and the future scenario (after 2021 with the new MSW management option for CU canteens under Chula Zero Waste; S3). The obtained results were characterized by eight impact categories: climate change, ozone depletion, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, human toxicity, photochemical oxidant formation, particulate matter formation, and fossil depletion. The LCA results show that the future scenario (S3) under the Chula Zero Waste Project is sustainable for MSW management. The most environmentally sustainable MSW plan for CU canteens is to reduce, separate it at the source, and reuse materials instead of landfilling mixed waste.

Exploring the multi-level perspective in municipal solid waste management transition

The successful transition of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in low-income economies towards a more sustainable practice is dependent on socio-political drivers, enablers/interventions, and service delivery practices. However, Environmental and sustainability sub-components influence this transition initiatives regarding sustainable MSWM. Informed by the theory of Multi-Level Perspective (MLP), we developed a nuanced Dimensional Evaluation of Waste Transition (DEWasT) model for MSWM to clarify societal factors and triggers for sustainability. This model elucidates the transition of MSWM, characterised by the three-level MLP, namely, landscape pressures, regimes, and niche innovations. The interaction of these transition levels within this model allows policymakers, institutions, and stakeholders to understand the current structure and dynamics. It will enable practical guidelines for MSWM sustainability practices, influencing a paradigm change towards MSWM innovations in low-income economies and closing the gaps identified by previous practitioners.

Implementing data analysis based on the mixed clustering technique for sustainable participatory waste management in a low-budget area

PurposeThe research objectives are as follows: to understand the situation of solid waste management in the Makham Tia Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Surat Thani Province, Thailand; identify the patterns in household waste generation and 3Rs behavior (recycle, reuse and reduce waste); and formulate sustainable municipal solid waste management guidelines.Design/methodology/approachThis study aimed to propose the solution by using data analysis and a participatory research approach to set the guidelines for sustainable community waste management in a low-budget area. A survey of household behavior was done with questionnaires. Mixed clustering using the Gower coefficient was performed to assess the categorical socio-demographic variables along with the numeric variables related to the 3Rs behavior. The guidelines for waste management were generated based on the characteristics of the household groups.FindingsThe guidelines for waste management were generated based on the characteristics of the household groups. An appropriate practical plan for municipal solid waste management in Makham Tia Subdistrict was proposed in this work. The study showed that the guidelines were implemented and revised by members of the community, and this led to the development of sustainable community solid waste management for the future.Originality/valueThe goal of this study was to provide a solution for sustainable community waste management in a low-budget location by using data mining techniques and a participatory research approach. The study showed that the guidelines were implemented and revised by members of the community, and this led to the development of sustainable community solid waste management for the future.

Editorial: Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Local Issue with Global Impacts

On a global level, communities are generating and disposing of increasing quantities of solid waste [...]

Prediction of the Production of Separated Municipal Solid Waste by Artificial Neural Networks in Croatia and the European Union

Given that global amounts of waste are growing rapidly, it is extremely important to determine what amount of waste will be generated in the near future. Accurate waste forecasting is also important for planning and designing a sustainable municipal solid waste (MSW) management system. For that reason, there is a need to build a model to predict the amount of MSW generated in the near future. Based on previous research, artificial neural networks (ANN) show better results in predicting waste generation compared to other mathematical models. In this research, an ANN model using the iterative algorithm Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS) for the prediction of MSW fractions, based on the socio-demographic characteristics, economic and industrial data obtained in Croatia and summarized data of the member states of EU (EU-27 from 2020), showed good predictive capabilities. The coefficient of determination during the training cycle for the output variables; household and similar waste (HHS), paper and cardboard waste (PCW), wood waste (WW), textile waste (TW), plastic waste (PW) and glass waste (GW) were 0.993; 0.997; 0.999; 0.997; 0.998; and 0.998, respectively, while reduced chi-square, mean bias error, root mean square error, mean percentage error, average absolute relative deviation and sum of squared errors were found low. In this paper, Yoon′s method of interpretation shows the relationships between socio-demographic data and the amount of generated waste. The results indicate that the lowest level of education shows a negative impact on observed waste-types calculations, with a relative impact between −9.889 and −4.467%. The most pronounced positive impact on the calculation of HHS, PCW, WW, TW, PW and GW was observed for year variable, gross domestic product, exports of goods and services, imports of goods and services, wages and salaries, secondary income, arrivals in collective accommodation establishments, overnight stays in collective accommodation establishments and exports of petroleum and petroleum products to partner countries, with a relative influence of 4.063–7.028; 2828–4851; 5240–6197; 5.308–6.341; 4290–4810; 4533–5805; and 4.345–4.493, respectively. The obtained results indicate that the amount of HHS waste at the EU-27 level in 2025 will decrease by approximately 18% compared to the data from 2018. The quantities of other observed recyclable types of waste will increase by 34% for PCW, 310% for WW, 40% for TW, 276% for PW and about 67% for GW. The amount of waste generated provides the basic information needed to plan, operate and optimize the waste management system. It could also help in the transition to an environmentally friendly and economically profitable circular economy. The model created in this research could also help with the system of separate waste collection, which would lead to more efficient recycling and the achievement of the set goals for recycling 55% of municipal waste by 2025.

Crisp and fuzzy optimization models for sustainable municipal solid waste management

Increasing municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in the city has caused a serious problem to the authority, especially for emerging countries. Improper management of MSW will increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Apart from landfill, there are other options to convert MSW into valuable products or energy, such as recycling and incineration. This paper presents crisp and fuzzy optimization models for designing optimal supply chain networks for sustainable MSW management, considering economic (cost minimization) and environmental objectives (emissions reduction). The crisp model is based on a superstructure and consists of material balances, capacity limits and planning constraints for MSW transfer stations, disposal sites and treatment technologies. Fuzzy optimization with max-min aggregation is then incorporated to handle conflicting economic and environmental objectives, as well as uncertainties in GHG emission factors and cost coefficients of MSW treatment. A case study for the design of an optimal MSW supply chain network in the city of Qingdao, China is presented to illustrate the proposed approach. The conflicting objectives of minimizing the total net cost and GHG emissions for MSW transport and treatment are analyzed using the crisp model, yielding a set of Pareto optimal solutions. A compromise solution achieving a 21.6% cost reduction and a 28.4% emissions reduction is identified using the fuzzy model. An inferior solution is also found with smaller cost (19.1%) and emissions reductions (25.1%) due to the use of conservative estimates of uncertain cost coefficients and emission factors. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed models in dealing with the MSW management problem.

Forecasting heterogeneous municipal solid waste generation via Bayesian-optimised neural network with ensemble learning for improved generalisation

Future projections of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation trends can resolve data inadequacy in formulating a sustainable MSW management framework. Artificial neural network (ANN) has been recently adopted to forecast MSW generation, but the reliability and validity of the stochastic forecast are not thoroughly studied. This research develops Bayesian-optimised ANN models coupling ensemble uncertainty analysis to forecast country-scale MSW physical composition trends. Pearson correlation analysis shows that each MSW physical composition exhibits collinearity with different indicators; therefore, the MSW should be forecasted based on its heterogeneity. The Bayesian-optimised ANN models forecast with smaller relative standard deviations (3.64–27.7%) than the default ANN models (11.1–44,400%). Malaysia is expected to generate 42,873 t/d of MSW in 2030, comprising 44% of food waste. This study provides a well-generalised ANN framework and valuable insights for the waste authorities in developing a circular economy via proper waste management.

Challenges and Priorities of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Cambodia

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is one of the utmost challenges for Cambodia’s city and district centers. The unsound management of MSW has detrimentally affected the environment and human health. In the present study, an attempt has been made to provide a comprehensive insight into the generation and characteristics, policies and legislation frameworks, management arrangement, collection, treatment, and disposal of MSW. The experience of developed and developing countries and the challenges and priorities of MSW management in Cambodia are also highlighted. In Cambodia, about 4.78 million tons of MSW were generated in 2020, with a 0.78 kg/capita/day generation rate. Only 86% of cities and districts have access to MSW collection services. The current practice of MSW management is reliance on landfill (44%). There are 164 landfills operating countrywide, receiving about 5749 tons of MSW per day. Recycling, incineration, and composting share 4%, 4%, and 2% of MSW generation, respectively. In 2021, the total revenue that was recovered from recyclables was USD 56M. The study concludes several major challenges and proposes valuable suggestions, which may be beneficial for the improvement of the current system to support the sustainable management of MSW in Cambodia.

Evaluating the waste management situation and attitudes of residents in Bandung, Indonesia.

The increasing amount of waste is becoming a crucial topic in developing countries, causing health-related and environmental issues. In past decades, the Indonesian government implemented regulations dedicated to municipal solid waste management (MSWM); unfortunately, these have not been well communicated to the public. The set tax level is inadequate for the MSWM financial needs in Bandung, Indonesia. Previous studies determined the public interest in MSWM as the critical factor of sustainable MSWM. However, this aspect is not well considered. This study investigated public perception and involvement in MSWM in Bandung. These investigations were conducted through two leading indicators: public interest in MSWM in environmental issues and willingness of inhabitants to pay for sufficient MSWM services. Using a binary probit model, it was found that age, educational level, locality, and satisfaction with MSWM practices play a significant role in the respondents' interest in MSWM, which is crucial to the public perception of MSWM. The results also demonstrate that more than 97% of respondents are not satisfied with MSWM practices, and more than 83% of respondents consider MSWM services insufficient. Awareness of essential operations such as waste handling and recycling is at a low level. On the other hand, more than 67% of respondents are interested in MSWM in connection with environmental issues and are familiar with the 3R concept (reducing waste, reusing, and recycling resources and products). Our MSWM research provides new perspectives on the public perception and involvement in Bandung that could be considered in the planning and implementation of sustainable MSWM. The results indicate that the public's perception and approach to MSWM in Bandung city should be enhanced by better education, providing sufficient awareness, and offering workshops. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:114-125.© 2022 SETAC.