B. Goswami,
- Ex-Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering, RVS College of Engineering and Technology, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
Abstract
The increase in global prosperity and population has led to a significant rise in the generation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), posing serious threats to public health and the environment. This study explores the global state of MSW generation, composition, and management strategies, comparing the effectiveness of various technologies across 59 developed and developing countries. A total of 19 criteria for the selection of MSW management technologies are discussed, highlighting challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, insufficient policies, and informal waste practices, especially in low-income regions. In the context of Southern Ethiopia’s Dilla town, for example, waste generation is predominantly organic (68.4% by weight), with severe limitations in waste collection systems, public awareness, and resources. Recommendations for integrated urban agriculture, public policy changes, and financial incentives are provided as possible solutions to these problems. Globally, the future projections indicate a significant increase in MSW, which could reach 3.4 billion tons by 2050, requiring urgent re-evaluation of existing waste management practices to meet sustainability goals. This study aims to provide valuable insights for countries struggling with MSW issues and help policymakers adopt more sustainable waste management practices.
Keywords: Municipal Solid Waste, Solid Waste Management, Waste-to-Energy, Waste Composition, Organic Waste, Global Waste Trends, Environmental Health, Dilla Town, Ethiopia, Circular Economy.
[This article belongs to International Journal of Sustainability ]
B. Goswami. Municipal Material Management. International Journal of Sustainability. 2024; 01(02):11-15.
B. Goswami. Municipal Material Management. International Journal of Sustainability. 2024; 01(02):11-15. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijsu/article=2024/view=186062
References
- Sharma, K. D. and Jain, S.: Municipal solid waste generation, composition, and management: the global scenario, Soc. Response. J.; 16 (6) (2020) 917.
- Workineh Mengesha Fereja and Dereje Diriba Chemeda: Status, characterization, and quantification of municipal solid waste as a measure towards effective solid waste management: The case of Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia, J. of the Air & Waste Manage. Ass., 72 (2) (2022) 187.
- David Meng-Chuen Chen et al.: The world’s growing municipal solid waste: trends and impacts; Environ. Res. Lett.; 15 (2020) 074021.
- Sharma, K. D., & Jain, S. (2020). Municipal solid waste generation, composition, and management: The global scenario. Society and Responsibility Journal, 16(6), 917. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-09-2020-0342.
- Workineh Mengesha Fereja & Dereje Diriba Chemeda. (2022). Status, characterization, and quantification of municipal solid waste as a measure towards effective solid waste management: The case of Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 72(2), 187-196. https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2021.1942879.
- Chen, D. M.-C., Bodirsky, B. L., Krueger, T., Mishra, A., & Popp, A. (2020). The world’s growing municipal solid waste: trends and impacts. Environmental Research Letters, 15(7), 074021. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab8677.
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2010). Municipal solid waste management: Global overview. UNEP Report.
- Karak T, Bhagat RM, Bhattacharyya P. Municipal solid waste generation, composition, and management: the world scenario. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology. 2012 Aug 1;42(15):1509-630.
- Meena MD, Dotaniya ML, Meena BL, Rai PK, Antil RS, Meena HS, Meena LK, Dotaniya CK, Meena VS, Ghosh A, Meena KN. Municipal solid waste: Opportunities, challenges and management policies in India: A review. Waste Management Bulletin. 2023 Jun 1;1(1):4-18.
- Cervantes DE, Martínez AL, Hernández MC, de Cortázar AL. Using indicators as a tool to evaluate municipal solid waste management: A critical review. Waste management. 2018 Oct 1; 80:51-63.