scholarly journals Status and Potential of Resource Recovery from Municipal Solid Waste in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 11-24
Author(s):  
Dhundi Raj Pathak

Current waste management strategies are shifting from waste disposal to recycling and recovery and are considering waste as a potential new resource. This paper aims to quantify reusable and recyclable fractions with status of material recovery from municipal solid waste (MSW) in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. 550 households, 110 institutions and 110 commercial establishments were sampled to compute the generation, composition and quantify reusable and recyclable fraction of solid waste. In addition, 120 scrap shops were surveyed randomly from Kathmandu Valley to estimate the amount of resource recovered for economic benefits. As per results, the average per capita MSW generation can be estimated at range of 0.25 kg day-1 to 0.47 kg day-1 in municipalities of Kathmandu Valley. Based on these generation rates and population for the year 2011, the total MSW generation of the five municipalities of Kathmandu Valley was estimated to be 620 metric tonnes day-1. The major content of reusable and recyclable materials in MSW comprised with an average of 44% that is equivalent to 271 metric tonnes day-1 among which only 52% (i.e. 140 metric tonnes day-1) of these materials were found to be recovered during survey. The key materials that have been recovered are papers, plastics, metals, glasses, and batteries. Recovery of reusable and recyclable materials not only helps to minimize the quantity of solid waste for land filling, but also provides a potential source of livelihood for the urban poor.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 631-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina Medina Jimenez ◽  
Reynaldo Palacios- Bereche ◽  
Silvia Nebra

In Brazil, in 2016, 196,050 tonnes day-1 of municipal solid waste (MSW) were collected, which means a waste generation of 1.035 kg per capita per day. Only 59.1% of the waste has adequate destination in sanitary landfills, whereas the remaining 40.9% has inadequate destination in controlled landfills and open dumps (ABRELPE, 2018). Among all the states in the country, the State of São Paulo has the biggest per capita generation: 2.290 kg. Today, the only waste destination practiced in the country is deposition in landfills, but other possibilities can be considered. Among thermal treatment routes, the gasification of MSW is an interesting alternative to be studied, because of its versatility and relatively low emissions. The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential of electricity generation through MSW gasification in Santo André city, Brazil, comparing three waste gasification technologies: TPS Termiska Processer AB, Carbogas and Energos. These alternatives have operated commercially for a few years, and data are available. Specific characteristics of each technology were taken into account, such as the reactor type and fuel properties. For the electricity production scheme, two energy conversion systems were assumed: an internal combustion engine and a steam power cycle. From the process parameters adopted, the results showed that Carbogas technology, coupled to internal combustion engines, presents the highest efficiency of electricity generation (30%) and also the lowest cost of electrical energy produced (US$65.22 MWh-1) when Santo André’s gate fee is applied.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 27-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohanakrishnan Logan ◽  
Chettiyappan Visvanathan

Anaerobic digestion has emerged as the preferred treatment for organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Digestate management strategies are devised not only for safe disposal but also to increase the value and marketability. Regulations and standards for digestate management are framed to address the pollution concerns, conserve vulnerable zones, prevent communicable diseases, and to educate on digestate storage and applications. Regulations and the desired end uses are the main drivers for the enhancement of digestate through pretreatment, in vessel cleaning, and post-digestion treatment technologies for solid and liquid fractions of digestate. The current management practice involves utilization of digestate for land application either as fertilizer or soil improver. Prospects are bright for alternative usage such as microalgal cultivation, biofuel and bioethanol production. Presently, the focus of optimization of the anaerobic digestion process is directed only towards enhancing biogas yield, ignoring the quality of digestate produced. A paradigm shift is needed in the approach from ‘biogas optimization’ to ‘integrated biogas–digestate optimization’.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuemei Han ◽  
Ci Hu ◽  
Ling Lin

Based on the IPAT model, this study selects the two-order lag period that is then applied to the dynamic model created to explore the impact of China’s urbanization on the quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) produced. The study uses panel data collected from 27 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China that report directly to the central government. Results show that nationwide urbanization and urban per capita disposable income are positively correlated with the quantity of MSW produced. However, specifically, urbanization in the eastern and midwestern areas of China is insignificantly correlated with the quantity of MSW produced. It is, therefore, recommended that citizens should make sensible and environmental consumption decisions based on per capita disposable income. It is also suggested that quality development and Stead’s urbanization plan should become national policy, and that MSW categorization and a recycling policy should be implemented to treat MSW effectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 917-948
Author(s):  
Kapil Dev Sharma ◽  
Siddharth Jain

Purpose Due to the increasing population and prosperity, the generation rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) has increased significantly, resulting in serious problems on public health and the environment. Every single person in the world is affected by the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) issue. MSWM is reaching a critical level in almost all areas of the world and seeking the development of MSW strategies for a sustainable environment. This paper aims to present the existing global status of MSW generation, composition, management and related problems. Design/methodology/approach A total of 59 developed and developing countries have been grouped based on their gross national income to compare the status of various MSWM technologies among them. A total of 19 selection criteria have been discussed to select appropriate MSWM technology(s) for a city/town, which affects their applicability, operational suitability and performance. All risks and challenges arising during the life cycle of the waste to energy (WtE) project have also been discussed. This paper also gives a comparative overview of different globally accepted MSWM technologies and the present market growth of all WtE technologies. Findings It was found that most developed countries have effectively implemented the solid waste management (SWM) hierarchy and are now focusing heavily on reducing, reusing and recycling of MSW. On the other hand, SWM has become very serious in low-income and low-middle-income countries because most of the MSW openly dumps and most countries are dependent on inadequate waste infrastructure and the informal sector. There are also some other major challenges related to effective waste policies, availability of funds, appropriate technology selection and adequacy of trained people. This study clears the picture of MSW generation, composition, management strategies and policies at the worldwide context. This manuscript could be valuable for all nations around the world where effective MSWM has not yet been implemented. Originality/value This study clears the picture of solid waste generation, composition, management strategies and policies at the worldwide context. This manuscript could be valuable for all nations around the world where effective MSWM has not yet been implemented. In this study, no data was generated. All supporting data were obtained from previously published papers in journals, the outcomes of the international conferences and published reports by government organizations.


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