Search Results (677)

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) remains a critical environmental governance challenge in rural and peri-urban regions of the Global South, where service delivery gaps exacerbate illegal dumping and public health risks. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly promoted as decision-support tools to improve waste collection efficiency and environmental monitoring; however, their adoption in resource-constrained municipalities remains limited. This study investigates the institutional and policy barriers shaping GIS readiness in four rural municipalities within South Africa’s Vhembe District. Using a qualitative case-study design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 municipal officials across managerial and operational levels, complemented by 399 community responses to an open-ended survey question. Thematic analysis, guided by Institutional Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), identified five interrelated themes: waste production and disposal behaviours, collection and infrastructure constraints, institutional and operational challenges, policy and standardisation gaps, and technology readiness. The findings reveal that weak service reliability, fragmented governance structures, limited human and financial capacity, and inconsistent policy enforcement collectively undermine GIS adoption, despite its high perceived usefulness among officials. The study demonstrates that the effectiveness of GIS as an environmental management tool is contingent on institutional readiness rather than technological availability alone and highlights the need for integrated reforms in service delivery, institutional capacity, and policy implementation to enable GIS-supported sustainable waste management. Full article

The rapid growth of online food delivery in urban areas reflects changing consumer lifestyles, but it has also contributed to increasing plastic waste and challenges in waste management. This study investigated the composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) related to online food delivery, consumer ordering behavior, and single-use plastic (SUP) generation in households in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. Data were collected from 385 food delivery customers via online questionnaires. The results show that the proportion of plastic waste in MSW has increased, with 76.6% of participants reporting higher online food delivery usage. SUPs from food delivery, including non-essential items such as plastic films, spoons, and cutlery, were prevalent, and participants rarely selected green options to opt out of receiving them. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, including closed-loop management involving producers, platforms, consumers, and government. Policy recommendations include implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) for environmentally friendly packaging, providing incentives for merchants and consumers to reduce SUP, applying the polluter-pays principle (PPP) to users, and designing government policies to regulate SUP and improve plastic waste management. Full article

Indonesia faces growing pressure to strengthen waste management while expanding renewable energy generation, particularly from high-moisture biomass such as palm oil mill effluent (POME) and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). Anaerobic digestion technology (ADT) is technically suitable for both feedstocks; however, its deployment depends on broader operational, financial, social, and institutional conditions. This study evaluates ADT readiness for biomass waste-to-energy (BWTE) development in Indonesia using a multistakeholder Japanese Technology Readiness Assessment (J-TRA) framework. The results and discussion are supported by a literature review, secondary data analysis, and interviews with government agencies, industry actors, financiers, non-governmental organizations, and researchers. The results reveal a clear divergence in readiness outcomes. POME-based ADT reaches Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of 6–8, supported by a stable and homogeneous feedstock supply, established industrial operations, and corporate incentives to mitigate methane emissions. Key remaining constraints relate to high capital costs for smaller mills, low electricity purchase tariffs, and competing export incentives for untreated POME. In contrast, OFMSW-based ADT remains at TRL 2–4, constrained by inconsistent waste segregation, insufficient operation and maintenance capacity, limited municipal budgets, residential safety concerns, and fragmented governance across waste and energy institutions. Across both cases, readiness is shaped by five interacting forces. The first three are technical: feedstock characteristics, operations and maintenance (O&M) capability, and financial certainty. The remaining two are enabling conditions: social acceptance and institutional coordination. This study concludes that Indonesia’s BWTE transition requires integrated technological, behavioral, and policy interventions, supported by further research on hybrid valorization pathways and context-specific life-cycle and cost analyses. Full article

A major factor in worldwide ecological harm is the large quantity of municipal solid waste generated because of rapid industrialization and population growth. Nowadays, there are numerous mechanical, biological, and thermal waste treatment processes that can reduce the amount of landfilled waste. A variety of analytical tests are conducted to evaluate the potential risks that landfills pose to human health and the environment. Among these, laboratory leaching tests are commonly employed to assess the release of specific waste constituents that may become hazardous to the environment. Municipal solid waste (MSW) management poses significant environmental risks due to leachate contamination in bioreactor landfills, where acidic conditions (pH ≈ 5) can mobilize heavy metals. This study evaluates the reliability of leaching tests for biodried reject MSW from CWMC Marišćina, Croatia, by comparing standard EN 12457-1 and EN 12457-2 methods (L/S = 2 and 10 L/kg) with simulations of aerobic degradation using acetic acid (10 g/L) to maintain pH = 5 over 9 days. Waste composition analysis revealed plastics (35%), paper/cardboard (25%), metals (15%), and glass (10%) as dominant fractions. Although the majority of parameters determined through standard leaching tests remain below the maximum permissible limits for non-hazardous waste, simulations under acidic conditions demonstrated substantial increases in eluate concentrations between days 6 and 9: Hg (+1500%), As (+1322%), Pb (+1330%), Ni (+786%), and Cd (+267%), with TDS rising 33%. These results highlight the underestimation of risks by conventional tests, emphasizing the need for pH-dependent methods to predict in situ leachate behavior in MBO-treated waste and support improved EU landfill regulations for enhanced environmental protection. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive decomposition analysis of waste-to-energy (WtE) in India through a systematic literature review (SLR) employing the PRISMA guidelines. The findings underscore the immense potential of WtE technologies in addressing India’s escalating municipal solid waste (MSW) generation amid rapid urbanization while simultaneously contributing to sustainable energy production and circular economy goals. The thematic analysis reveals four key themes: global trends in MSW generation, MSW as an alternative energy source, WtE approaches within a circular economy framework, and the impact of India’s urban expansion on MSW generation. Despite significant potential, India’s current WtE initiatives face substantial challenges, including inadequate waste segregation, policy gaps, public resistance, technological limitations, and insufficient financial investment. To effectively harness WtE technologies, strategic efforts must focus on robust policy implementation, indigenous technology advancement tailored to India’s waste characteristics, fostering public–private partnerships, and enhancing community engagement to mitigate public concerns. Future research should aim to quantify the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localized WtE interventions to guide scalable solutions. This study contributes valuable insights to policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders aiming to transition India toward sustainable waste management and energy systems. Full article

This study examines the psychosocial factors predicting municipal solid waste separation in Italy, applying and extending a model originally developed for Southern regions. The model integrates the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Value-Belief-Norm framework to explain how values, norms, and attitudes shape waste separation intentions and behaviours. Using data from 321 online survey respondents, this study tests the model’s validity in Northern Italy. Additionally, the study examines the relationships among the variables under investigation in people residing in the Northern and Southern regions of Italy. Findings confirm the model (χ² (10) = 28.118, p = 0.002, CFI = 0.956; RMSEA = 0.075; AIC = 8.118): bio-altruistic values and social norms significantly predict positive attitudes, which in turn determine behavioural intentions. Perceived distributive unfairness is negatively associated with attitudes toward waste separation. Separation behaviour is mainly influenced by internal attributions and knowledge, while egoistic values show a negative relationship. The multi-group analysis indicates a good model fit for both Northern and Southern samples (χ² (31) = 45.059, p = 0.049, CFI = 0.969; RMSEA = 0.053; AIC = −16.941), suggesting consistent psychosocial mechanisms. By integrating psychosocial insights with behavioural data, this research highlights the importance of knowledge, fairness, and social norms in promoting sustainable waste management. The findings provide practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners to design regionally communication and participation strategies that enhance the long-term sustainability of waste separation systems in Italy. Full article

This study compares the carbon footprints of two municipal solid waste treatment technologies—anaerobic digestion and a gas recovery system—with the aim of evaluating their potential for biogas recovery and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. The analysis applies the 2006 IPCC model to real operational data from the Paracambi Waste Treatment Complex (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), integrating carbon footprint estimation and environmental compensation modeling through tree planting. From a different perspective, this work evaluates the replacement of biogas recovery with a biologically controlled system based on material segregation. Within the limits and parameters defined for the system, anaerobic digestion achieved net emissions of 0.0029 tCO₂eq per ton of organic waste, compared to 1.14 tCO₂eq per ton for the biogas recovery system. This represents a potential 393-fold reduction in GHG emissions. However, this result is specific to the modeled conditions and does not consider the full life cycle impacts of non-organic waste fractions. The results suggest that anaerobic digestion, when integrated into an efficient selective collection system, can significantly improve energy recovery and mitigate the carbon footprint of waste management systems. Full article

Background: Municipal solid waste management is a relevant component of climate and air quality policy, yet published life cycle assessments report inconsistent conclusions on whether sanitary landfilling, waste-to-energy incineration, composting, or anaerobic digestion yields the lowest greenhouse gas and co-pollutant impacts because results depend strongly on methodological choices and local context. Objective: To synthesize and critically evaluate how key life cycle assessment assumptions and boundary decisions influence reported emissions across major waste management pathways, with primary emphasis on the United States and selected comparison to European Union policy frameworks. Methods: Peer-reviewed life cycle assessment studies and supporting technical and regulatory sources were reviewed and compared, focusing on functional unit definition, system boundaries, time horizon, energy substitution and crediting methods, and treatment of methane, nitrous oxide, and air pollutant controls; drivers of variability were identified through structured cross study comparison and sensitivity-focused interpretation. Results: Reported pathway rankings vary primarily with landfill gas collection and utilization assumptions, the carbon intensity of displaced electricity or heat for waste-to-energy systems, and the representation of biological process emissions across active and curing stages; harmonized comparisons reduce variability but do not yield a single consistently superior pathway across all plausible settings. Conclusions: Comparative conclusions are context-dependent and policy-relevant interpretation requires transparent reporting and sensitivity analysis for capturing efficiency, substitution factors, and biological emission controls, along with clear alignment between modeled scenarios and real-world operating conditions. Full article

The juice industry generates substantial quantities of solid waste and wastewater. Consequently, efforts have focused on their treatment and valorization to obtain high-value-added products. Traditionally, these wastes are managed through landfill disposal and treatment in municipal wastewater facilities, respectively. In the present work, two alternative scenarios for the valorization of orange juice waste were developed and assessed in comparison to the conventional approach by performing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Scenario 1 involved hydro-distillation of solid waste for essential oil recovery, followed by anaerobic digestion for biogas and fertilizer production, with wastewater treated via membrane filtration and chlorination. In Scenario 2, solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) was employed for essential oil recovery, followed by anaerobic digestion. Wastewater was treated in a membrane bioreactor followed by ultraviolet treatment. According to the results, Scenario 1 achieved a 36% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to the beneficial effects of biogas and fertilizer production, despite its high energy demands. Scenario 2 exhibited the best environmental performance due to lower energy demands and higher extraction efficiency compared to Scenario 1, with reductions of 46% in greenhouse gas emissions and 48% in resource depletion. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of integrating innovative, energy-efficient technologies for the sustainable valorization of juice industry waste, offering measurable environmental advantages for industrial-scale implementation. Full article

Solid waste management remains a critical challenge in rapidly urbanizing regions of the Global South, where limited infrastructure and informal disposal practices compromise environmental and public health. This study addresses the issue of illegal waste dumping in Dakar, Senegal, by integrating remote sensing, geographic information systems, and citizen science into a multi-criteria framework to identify areas most susceptible to dumping. Using Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 imagery, indicators such as land surface temperature, vegetation, soil, and water indices were combined with demographic and infrastructural data. A citizen survey involving local university students provided social perception scores and criterion weights through the Analytic Hierarchy Process. The resulting susceptibility maps revealed that high and very high dumping probabilities are concentrated around the Mbeubeuss landfill and densely populated areas of Keur Massar, while Malika showed lower susceptibility. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the model’s robustness but highlighted the influence of thermal and social perception variables. The results show that 28–35% of the study area falls under high or very high susceptibility, with hotspots concentrated near wetlands, informal settlements, and poorly serviced road networks. The weighted model demonstrates stronger spatial coherence compared to the unweighted version, offering improved interpretability for waste monitoring. These findings provide actionable insights for the Société Nationale de Gestion Intégrée des Déchets (SONAGED) and for municipal planners to prioritize interventions in high-susceptibility zones. Rather than being entirely novel, this study builds on existing remote sensing, geographic information systems and citizen science approaches by integrating them within a multi-criteria framework specifically adapted to a West African context. Full article

Landfill disposal continues to be the most economically viable municipal solid waste (MSW) management practice in many countries, including Mexico. Landfills are the third-largest source of methane emissions from human activity, a fact that has significant implications for the environment and human health. Due to the difficulty in experimentally quantifying methane emissions, mathematical models have been employed to predict gas emissions. In this work, three first-order decay models were implemented to estimate methane emissions in a landfill located in the metropolitan area of Oaxaca City, Mexico. Each model incorporated a Van’t Hoff–Arrhenius-type approach for calculating the reaction rate constant. Additionally, an uncertainty analysis of the models was presented, applying Monte Carlo simulations with triangular and log-normal distributions. The results show that the simple model exhibited the best predictive performance. For 2020, the simple model estimated 3,488,392.1 m³ of methane at a temperature of 46 °C, 3,509,625.1 m³ of methane at 47 °C, and 3,530,850.2 m³ of methane at 48 °C. The Monte Carlo simulation with a log-normal distribution exhibited more robust and natural process behavior. For the simple model, the mean was 3,486,946.03, the median was 3,487,154.73, and the standard deviation was 212,095.95. The LandGEM model exhibited more linear methane generation behavior, and the uncertainty analysis confirmed that this model had the lowest predictive capability of the three proposed models. Full article

Urban street sweeping infrastructure plays a critical role in municipal solid waste management by mitigating particulate matter resuspension and preventing contaminant mobilization into water bodies, thereby supporting public health and environmental sustainability. The primary objective of this study is to develop a dynamic evaluation model for urban street sweeping services in four localities of Bogotá, Colombia. Operating system variables are integrated with citizens’ perceptions to capture their coupled socio-environmental behavior. The methodology comprised four phases: a global literature review, a citizen-perception survey, the development of a dynamic simulation model integrating perceptions, and a statistical analysis of all collected data. The results demonstrate that technical efficiency in street sweeping operations, measured through the street cleanliness index, is insufficient to ensure service sustainability without incorporating citizen perception metrics. The model reveals that geometric, spatial, and climatic factors reduce the street cleanliness index by up to 100%, highlighting infrastructure vulnerability to external conditions. Model validation exposes a critical gap between operational cleanliness and citizen perception, with decreases of up to 64.2% in comprehensive service evaluation. The inclusion of perception indicators (Cronbach’s α = 0.770) underscores the significance of variables such as service punctuality and personnel attitude in determining citizen satisfaction and overall service assessment. The dynamic model constitutes a robust decision-support tool for optimizing resource allocation, mitigating socio-environmental impacts, and strengthening institutional legitimacy in urban infrastructure maintenance. Nevertheless, limitations in representing external factors (informal commerce and illegally parked vehicles) and spatial heterogeneity in cleanliness indices suggest future research directions incorporating stochastic modeling approaches and longitudinal studies on citizen perception dynamics. Full article

Air quality assessment and waste management are key priorities within the Sustainable Development Goals. This study proposes an integrated approach to optimizing waste management and assessing air quality on Chalki Island, located in the Southeastern Aegean region. For analysis, measurements of a mobile air quality system located in the port area were employed to investigate the variability in pollutant concentrations and discomfort conditions. In addition, the ERA5 reanalysis dataset was used to study the impact of climate parameters on air quality. This case study covers the period from February to June 2025. In the context of waste management, a multi-criteria-driven analytical framework was developed to determine the optimal number and configuration of source separation bin arrays tailored to different waste streams at the municipal level. The findings show that anthropogenic activities (i.e., traffic and tourist density) and meteorological parameters significantly affect air pollution. The simultaneous degradation in air quality and discomfort conditions during the high tourist (warm) season increases health risk. In parallel, the deployment of five- and eight-bin source separation arrays was identified as optimal for the off-season and peak tourism season, respectively. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of air pollution variability while additionally guiding sustainable waste management for vulnerable island ecosystems. Full article

Reliable model evaluation is critical in waste management research, where machine learning is increasingly used to inform policy, circular economy strategies and progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, common evaluation practices often fail to account for key methodological challenges, risking misleading conclusions. This study presents a theoretical analysis supplemented with a practical example of municipal solid waste generation in Ireland to demonstrate how standard evaluation metrics can produce distorted results. In particular, the widespread use of the $R^2$ in waste management/sustainability machine learning is examined, showing its susceptibility to inflation when data exhibit strong correlations, temporal dependence or non-linear model structures. The findings show that reliance on the $R^2$ misrepresents model performance under conditions typical of waste datasets. In the Irish example, the $R^2$ often suggested a degradation of predictive ability even when error-based metrics, such as root mean squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE), indicated improvement or stability. These results demonstrate the need for evaluation frameworks that move beyond single, correlation-based metrics. Future work should focus on developing and standardising robust practices to ensure that machine learning can support transparent, reliable and effective decision-making in waste management and circular economy contexts. Full article

This article investigates technological choices for Waste-to-Energy (WtE) implementations in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management. It identified challenges and opportunities, thereby transforming the perspective of MSW from waste into a valuable resource. The methodology included a systematic literature review, following PICO and PRISMA protocols. The analysis included 118 open-access review articles, published between 2018 and 2024, from Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect, concerning thermochemical, biochemical, and chemical technologies. Key challenges for new implementations include economic barriers, social issues, and regulatory shortcomings. Opportunities arise from education, supportive policies, and lessons learned from developed countries such as Germany and Japan. Limitations include the focus on specific databases and the potential oversight of data from other sources or unexamined data. Implications for future research should expand coverage as well as assess longer periods to enhance MSW valorization. Implications also include guidance for public managers and policymakers in formulating MSW management strategies, including policies, WtE technology selection, public education, and reducing misinformation to boost implementation and social acceptance of WtE initiatives. Effective WtE implementation improves public health and the environmental performance of regions by reducing landfills and generating economic and employment opportunities for vulnerable communities. The study’s originality lies in bridging a significant research gap on WtE implementation through a comprehensive examination of its challenges and opportunities. By integrating international experiences and lessons learned, it generates guidance for the sustainable development of MSW management systems. Full article