Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management Research Articles

Environmental Impact Assessment of a Dumping Site: A Case Study of Kakia Dumping Site

Open dumping threatens the environment and public health by causing soil, water, and air pollution and precipitating the deterioration of the environmental balance. Therefore, sustainable waste management practices and compliance with environmental regulations are important to minimize these negative impacts. In this context, it is very important to identify the environmental damage inflicted by open dumping areas and to take measures to prevent this damage. Makkah is among the cities that still use open dumping for solid waste disposal. The rapid increase in this city’s population is generating large quantities of municipal solid waste (MSW), making it difficult to manage waste economically without harming the environment or public health. During Umrah and Hajj, the rate of MSW generation increases to an even greater degree. The sustainable management of MSW in holy cities is of great importance. This study aimed to investigate the environmental impact of the Kakia Open Dumping Site in Makkah on air quality, soil, and nearby groundwater wells. It also conducted analyses of essential elements (Ca, Mg, and Na), heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr), and a metalloid (As) in leachate produced at the Kakia Open Dumpsite, enabling the development of management strategies. In addition, the correlations between the essential elements, the metalloid, and the heavy metals were also analyzed. The goal is not only to mitigate the negative effects of open dumping, but also to highlight the need to adopt sustainable management strategies for MSW in religiously significant cities like Makkah.

Fostering community participation in sustainable municipal solid waste management at multiple scales in Tehran, Iran

This article delves into the intricacies of waste management in Tehran, offering insights into the structured framework governing the control of solid waste materials. As collected, the average daily generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the region is 0.645 kg per inhabitant. Unexpectedly, the impact of socio-economic factors on processes such as garbage sorting, creating products from recyclable waste, and composting was shown to be comparatively weaker than that of supporting elements. The initial approach entails providing environmental cadres and the community with more comprehensive MSW reduction training, which will cultivate a nuanced comprehension of waste management. The second strategy focuses on amplifying information dissemination through mass media and targeted campaigns, emphasizing effective MSW practices. The objective of the third endeavor is to augment the quantity of environmental cadres, which will be comprised of community and local leaders, in order to inspire and direct endeavors to reduce MSW. The fourth and final strategy underscores the expansion and diversification of waste storages, positioning them as customer-centric institutions dedicated to environmental campaigns and training. Ultimately, the collaborative implementation of these strategies is poised to instigate a positive shift towards heightened community participation in MSW reduction practices.

Community participation in municipal solid waste management: Special reference to Gampaha municipality

Effective management of municipal solid waste is a pressing issue for numerous developing countries, including Sri Lanka. Despite efforts to implement eco-friendly waste disposal methods, many nations struggle with open landfills and unregulated dumping, causing detrimental effects on both public health and the environment. This study delves into the impact of community participation on solid waste management, with Sri Lanka serving as a case study. Urbanization and shifting consumption patterns exacerbate the challenges surrounding solid waste management. In Sri Lanka's urban areas, the absence of adequate waste management mechanisms emphasizes the necessity for active community involvement. Identifying the types and sources of solid waste is crucial for devising efficient waste management strategies. Concepts like the 3R approach (reduce, reuse, recycle) and composting play pivotal roles in sustainable waste management. Employing logistic regression analysis, the study assesses how community participation influences solid waste management. Results indicate that community involvement positively affects waste reduction, recycling, and composting efforts. However, while a considerable portion of the community actively engages in waste reduction, participation in waste reuse and recycling is limited. This highlights the significance of promoting the 3R concept and enhancing community involvement in waste management endeavors. Overall, the study underscores the instrumental role of community participation in achieving sustainable municipal solid waste management. Recommendations include prioritizing the 3R approach, investing in composting initiatives, and fostering greater community engagement in waste management practices. By adopting these strategies, municipalities can effectively address solid waste challenges while promoting environmental sustainability and public health.

Problems and Possible Solutions to Municipal Solid Waste Management in Malawi Urban Areas – An Overview

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management poses significant challenges in urban areas of Malawi, with rapid population growth, poor sanitary conditions, and inadequate waste disposal infrastructure exacerbating the situation. This overview synthesizes existing literature to examine the complexities of MSW management in key Malawian cities, including Mzuzu, Blantyre, Zomba, and Lilongwe. Drawing from diverse sources such as peer-reviewed papers, governmental reports, and policy documents, the study investigates the root causes of MSW problems and explores potential remedies. Key issues identified include poor waste disposal habits, lack of waste classification, insufficient waste removal services, and community perceptions towards waste disposal. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the legal frameworks and environmental regulations governing MSW management in Malawi, highlighting the roles of various stakeholders and policy instruments. To address these challenges, the paper proposes a multi-faceted approach involving enforcement of legal laws, civic education and awareness campaigns, community engagement, involvement of private operators, conversion of waste to energy, promotion of recycling activities, composting, and provision of public bins/trash containers. By implementing these strategies, Malawi can move towards sustainable MSW management, mitigate environmental risks, and improve public health outcomes in urban areas.

Unlocking the potential of municipal solid waste: Emergy accounting applied in a novel biorefinery

The rampant municipal solid waste (MSW) generation caused mainly by people's lifestyle has required technological solutions to deal with this global issue. This paper assess an innovative and integrated biorefinery (2IB) to manage MSW. The 2IB is rooted in the circular economy concept, and it differs from any other currently existing technological route in managing MSW due to its integrated processes that receives both inorganic and organic fractions at the same time, besides unveiling an innovative aspect related to thermoplastic production. Due to its scientific-based advantages, the emergy accounting (withy ‘m’) is considered as method to quantify the 2IB environmental performance, comparing the results with alternatives MSW management facilities. Results show that 2IB has similar performance for the three traditional emergy indicators (m-EYR of 1.17, m-ELR of 5.73 and m-ESI of 0.20) compared to incineration and landfilling, indicating low yield, moderate load on the environment, and unsustainable. On the other hand, the emergy return indicator (ERI of 20.33) indicates higher performance for the 2IB, in which for each solar emjoule (sej) – the measure unit of emergy – invested it generates a return of about 20 sej that becomes available as benefits for societal development. From an emergy perspective, results support that 2IB should be considered as a powerful technological alternative to manage MSW. This study contributes from a theoretical perspective with discussions on the emergy accounting procedures applied on systems located at far right side of energy hierarchy, while contributing from a practical perspective by providing technical information about the 2IB that supports decision makers towards more sustainable MSW management systems.

Designing a sustainable municipal solid waste management system over multiple periods using extended exergy accounting method – a case study of Shanghai

Waste-to-energy technologies can significantly alter urban metabolism and sustainability. This article proposes a multicriteria analysis framework based on the extended exergy accounting method to assess and plan a sustainable municipal solid waste management system from urban metabolism perspective. This framework includes three components. Firstly, an accounting model that integrates material, energy, social, economic, and environmental criteria was developed to identify the contribution of municipal solid waste management system to urban sustainability and to decide whether it is sustainable. Then, a multiperiod municipal solid waste management system planning model was developed to provide the optimal strategy for waste-to-energy facilities deployment and municipal solid waste allocation for different periods. Finally, multidimensional indicators were proposed for a sustainability comparative analysis in overdeployment, pressure on urban ecosystem and urban resource conversion efficiency. The proposed method was applied to the case study of household solid waste management in Shanghai and two scenarios were considered. Our comparison showed that the hybrid scenario (in which various waste recycling technologies were applied together) theoretically performs significantly more sustainable than the incineration scenario in terms of material investment, emissions, economic performance, resource depletion, and recovery. Sensitivity analysis of three parameters—the maximum deployment number of each unit waste-to-energy facility ([Formula: see text]), the minimum utilization rate ([Formula: see text]), and the capacity budget ([Formula: see text])—were carried out. The proposed hybrid method was found to be sensitive to [Formula: see text], but less sensitive to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Lessons learnt can be used to plan similar waste-to-energy strategies in other countries.

Transitioning towards circular economy through municipal solid waste analysis and characterisation using SowaCLINK software

Municipal solid waste constitutes environmental challenges globally, especially in developing countries, due to increasing waste generation, population growth, inadequate infrastructure, lack of data and poor planning. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive waste audit on the municipal solid waste generated in Aba, a metropolis in southeastern Nigeria. Aba is a commercial city considered the messiest because of the massive municipal solid waste generation and poor management. The study investigated the energy potential and waste regeneration. Municipal solid waste data was sought to provide insight into the quantity and composition of municipal solid waste. The methodology was site-based, in line with the standard test method for determining unprocessed municipal solid waste (ASTM-D5231-92) and SowaCLINK software, a computer-based environmental application, was used for characterization. Linear extrapolation was adopted to quantify the rate of municipal solid waste generated. The geometric mean was applied to forecast the area’s population for a 10-year design period. The chemical elements of the characterized municipal solid waste were utilized based on the ASTM-D5291 standard for municipal solid waste thermochemical conversion, and the high and low heating values were analyzed. The outcomes provided energy recovery potential, the electrical power potential, and the power to the grid of electrical power of the municipal solid waste. The results obtained were 0.7813 kg/p/d and 490,268 t/y for a population of 1,719,185 persons. The percentage of the municipal solid waste components with energy potential was 71%, comprising 48% combustible and 23% organic components on average. The high heating value computed was 176.5 MJ/kg, and the low heating value was 14 MJ/kg. The energy recovery potential was 3,709,463 MWh, the electrical power potential was 38,680 MW, and the power to the grid was 26.1 MW daily. The research reveals a promising direction in transitioning from the linear economy of municipal solid waste management toward implementing an integrated sustainable municipal solid waste management based on the circular economy model. The study recommends adopting detailed steps to proffer solutions to the environmental challenges associated with municipal solid waste in most low-middle-income countries to achieve sustainable municipal solid waste management while generating electricity and bio-fertilizers through incineration and anaerobic digestion.

Global perspective of municipal solid waste and landfill leachate: generation, composition, eco-toxicity, and sustainable management strategies.

Globally, more than 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) are generated each year, with that amount anticipated to reach around 3.5 billion tonnes by 2050. On a worldwide scale, food and green waste contribute the major proportion of MSW, which accounts for 44% of global waste, followed by recycling waste (38%), which includes plastic, glass, cardboard, and paper, and 18% of other materials. Population growth, urbanization, and industrial expansion are the principal drivers of the ever-increasing production of MSW across the world. Among the different practices employed for the management of waste, landfill disposal has been the most popular and easiest method across the world. Waste management practices differ significantly depending on the income level. In high-income nations, only 2% of waste is dumped, whereas in low-income nations, approximately 93% of waste is burned or dumped. However, the unscientific disposal of waste in landfills causes the generation of gases, heat, and leachate and results in a variety of ecotoxicological problems, including global warming, water pollution, fire hazards, and health effects that are hazardous to both the environment and public health. Therefore, sustainable management of MSW and landfill leachate is critical, necessitating the use of more advanced techniques to lessen waste production and maximize recycling to assure environmental sustainability. The present review provides an updated overview of the global perspective of municipal waste generation, composition, landfill heat and leachate formation, and ecotoxicological effects, and also discusses integrated-waste management approaches for the sustainable management of municipal waste and landfill leachate.

Scenario analysis of the eco-efficiency for municipal solid waste management: A case study of 211 cities in western China

Mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is vital for creating sustainable municipal solid waste management systems (MSWMS). In this study, we constructed an MSWMS considering recycling and carried out GHG emission accounting for MSWMS in western China from 2012 to 2021 based on the IPCC mass balance (MB) method. Then, we modeled the emission reduction potentials and economic benefits under different scenarios for 211 prefectural and county-level cities. We formed an eco-efficiency analysis framework that can be used to explore the sustainable development mode. Results revealed that: (1) Emissions from the western region's municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal exhibit an inverted “U” pattern, increasing at an annual rate of about 1.3 % since 2012, peaking in 2019, and then decreasing at rates of 14.4 % and 10.6 %. (2) The GHG emissions show a spatial pattern of decreasing evolution from east to west and south to north, and the provincial-municipal level shows different trends. (3) The SB3 scenario (optimization of landfill gas power generation technology) was the most ecologically efficient in 43 % of the western cities, followed by SB4 (33 %) and SA3 (24 %). (4) The development of integrated urban domestic waste management strategies by the three-level scenarios derived from this study will help local governments achieve the goal of sustainable urban development. Clarifying the differences in GHG emissions and eco-efficiency among cities will help provide policy recommendations for regions with similar characteristics to explore technically applicable, economically affordable implementation paths for city management according to local conditions.

Household solid waste management in a recently established municipality of Bangladesh: Prevailing practices, residents’ perceptions, attitude and awareness

Increasing population, economic activities, and the associated factors put a serious strain on municipal solid waste management in developing nations. We assessed the amount of solid waste generated and elucidated the existing management practices at household level in Mymensingh City Corporation, Bangladesh. We also investigated residents’ perceptions and attitudes on waste management and their awareness on waste-induced health and environmental problems. Data were gathered by a questionnaire survey of 352 households and two key informants’ interviews. The Kruskal-Wallis H and Pearson Chi-Squared tests were used for statistical analysis. Results show that a household generated about 0.62 kg of waste per day of which 99% was organic. Following the door-to-door approach, the city corporation collects unsegregated waste. More than 50% of the households reused fresh food waste as green fertilizer, and either reused or sold paper, metal, and plastic waste. Small, higher-income, and educated households generated higher amounts of organic waste than their counterparts. Respondents were satisfied with the existing door-to-door waste collection system, like to use of bioenergy and organic fertilizer, and were willing to pay for sustainable and eco-friendly waste management. More than 80% of respondents were aware of public health and environmental issues caused by waste mismanagement. The corporation has a plan to establish an energy and compost plant for which we suggest providing incentives for source segregation and designated bins to households. The city planners can take the findings of this study as useful baseline information for planning sustainable municipal solid waste management.

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste in Sub-Saharan Africa via sustainable waste management: An economic benefit assessment

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a major challenge for cities worldwide, particularly in Africa. This study used an emission-reduction framework to assess the economic benefit of sustainable MSW management in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over a 60-year period (2000–2060). Two waste-to-energy (WTE) methods, sanitary landfills and anaerobic digestion, were used to assess the potential electricity generation from MSW under four waste collection scenarios. The assessment was compared to the potential economic damage from cumulative methane (CH4) emissions under business-as-usual waste management practices for the same period. The results show that energy recovery from current MSW generation forecasts can contribute to 100–245 kWh per capita electricity generation between 2025 and 2060, depending on the WTE technology employed. The net present value (NPV) of WTE technologies is less than half the dollar cost of the potential economic damage from methane emissions. These results have significant policy implications for increasing access to sustainable and clean energy in SSA countries. Given that the current average per capita electricity generation in SSA is 158 kWh and that several countries in the area are experiencing energy problems, MSW electricity generation offers untapped economic development prospects. These findings highlight the economic advantages of effective waste management in SSA to mitigate future environmental and climate change consequences of greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, this study underscores the need for stakeholders to develop cost-effective and sustainable waste management strategies to avoid possible future economic and environmental damage in SSA.

A Road Map for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management In Lagos: Using Scotland As A Case Study Of Best Practice

This paper presents a road map for sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) in Lagos, using Scotland as a case study of best practice. Lagos status as an industrial and commercial hub of the Nigerian economy, complemented by its rapid population growth and urbanisation, has complicated the problem of achieving sustainable solid waste management, thereby making it a subject of concern in the literature. Various authors have expressed issues with the types of municipal solid waste generated, waste treatments, and barriers to sustainable municipal solid waste management in Lagos. The existing collection service inosho Lagos has been rated inefficient despite the weekly average evacuation exercise, as waste accumulation exceeded the existing storage and collection facilities, resulting in an unclean environment and significant environmental degradation. This study provides a view of waste management practices in Lagos and the lessons Lagos can learnt from Scotland in achieving sustainable municipal solid waste practice. A total of eight interviews were conducted with authorities and experts involved in municipal solid waste in both Lagos and Scotland to gather their experience and opinions in their respective regions and analyse them thematically. The findings from this research highlighted some initiatives directed towards promoting sustainable waste practices in both Lagos and Scotland. These empirical findings were used to propose a framework that could be used to achieve a circular economy in Lagos and identify areas for improvement in Scotland. This would promote the creation of more jobs and a subsequent reduction in carbon emissions and raw material importation in both regions. Future work should involve informer actors in interviews to get a broader view and increase the accuracy of the data collected on MSW practice in Lagos and provide analysis of strategies used and their impact to engage communities and promote behaviour change towards sustainable MSW management practice in Scotland. Keywords: Municipal Solid Waste, Management Practice, Lagos, Scotland. Proceedings Citation Format Olaniyi, T.K. & Ajayi, A.J. Jane (2023): A Road Map for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management In Lagos: Using Scotland As A Case Study Of Best Practice.Proceedings of the 37th iSTEAMS Multidisciplinary Cross-Border Conference. 30th October – 1st November, 2023. Academic City University College, Accra, Ghana. Pp 43-56 dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/ACCRACROSSBORDER2023V2P4

Towards integrated, and sustainable municipal solid waste management system in Shashemane city administration, Ethiopia

Solid waste generation is attested to be unavoidable product of human activities. Sustainable management of such waste is a pressing challenge faced in many developing countries today. The study was motivated by the fast growing population and the inefficient waste management system threatening the public health and the image of Shashemene city in Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were: to explore the existing household solid waste management practices, to examine the current governance system of municipal solid waste management, to investigate the contemporary challenges and opportunities of municipal solid waste management, and forward integrated and sustainable municipal solid waste management system for Shashemene city. Data were collected from sampled households, key informants, focus groups, and the city's environment. Data were analyzed by employing quantitative and qualitative methods. 94.8 % of the respondents opined that the solid waste generated in their city is organic in nature (Ash, and sweeps; leftover food, and vegetable peels; paper, and cardboards; green leaves, and grass; and cattle dung). 96.7 % of respondent households opined that they have temporary waste storage in their yards and trash bags were asserted to be widely used (87.6 %) in handling the trash in the courtyard. The waste sorting and recovering practices among the residents is very low and is certainly the major cause for inefficient and unsustainable management system of municipal solid waste in Shashemene city. Generally, a grand mean of 2.23 confirmed the absence of good governance in municipal solid waste management system in Shashemene city. Moreover, the significant proportion of responses ( ≥ 50 %) for each of the nine principles of good governance as either poor or very poor asserted governance failure of the municipal solid waste management system in Shashemene city. The results of the study confirmed that low public awareness on waste management; inadequate collection capacity; poor integration and coordination of stakeholders; environmentally unsound dump site; and illegal dumping by key stakeholders are the major challenges underpinning the unsustainable municipal solid waste management in the city. It is recommended that Shashemene city must adopt integrated sustainable municipal solid waste management system to substantially enhance the waste management service in the city leading to ultimate advancement of public health and environmental quality.

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.

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.

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.