Environmental Quantification of the Existing Waste Management System in a Developing World Municipality Using EaseTech: The Case of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Abstract

Evaluation of existing operational and managerial provisions and identification of specific actions that fit and impact in a local context is key to find sustainable solutions. The study aims to develop an understanding of existing waste management practices for a medium sized city of Pakistan and to quantify the related environmental impacts using life cycle assessment (LCA). The existing waste management system in "Bahawalpur", a city with predominant rural-urban infusion, is characterized by straining resources, low generation rates (0.424 kg/capita/day), prominent source separation, high scavenging activities and open dumping practices. The waste composition analysis proposes organic wastes as the largest constituent (64%) followed by recyclables (27%) and inerts (9%). The LCA model "EaseTech" used to quantify the environmental performance of existing waste management arrangements illustrated that existing waste management system in Bahawalpur City has tangible effects on climate change (3.16 × 10 7 kg CO 2 -Eq) and ecotoxicity (3.12 × 10 6 CTU) categories, while depletion of abiotic resources fossil (−9.60 × 10 7 ) category points up most environmental savings. Significant environmental compensations for different impact categories are offered due to high source separation and recycling trade off. The overview necessitates suitable modification in existing waste disposal practice that poses severe impacts on the environment.

A comprehensive review of sectorial contribution towards greenhouse gas emissions and progress in carbon capture and storage in Pakistan

“…Pakistan is facing numerous challenges in municipal waste management, i.e. unavailability of data and research, unskilled manpower, poor legal and regulatory framework, weak institutional and administrative structure and lack of technical and financial resources . Systematic waste disposal systems are working only in the main urban centers of Pakistan, while the rural and small cities have no proper waste disposal facility .…”

“…unavailability of data and research, unskilled manpower, poor legal and regulatory framework, weak institutional and administrative structure and lack of technical and financial resources. 95,153 Systematic waste disposal systems are working only in the main urban centers of Pakistan, 56 while the rural and small cities have no proper waste disposal facility. 34 A study shows that if solid waste management (SWM) is tackled by Pakistan systematically and scientifically through numerous schemes, especially by landfilling, it will enable the country not only to cope with the energy crisis but will also enable it to reduce the carbon emissions.…”

Qualitative and quantitative characterization of municipal solid waste and the unexploited potential of green energy in Tunisia

“…Generally, the scientific community MSW classifies MSW into organic degradable and inorganic waste (Ayodele et al 2017;Majeed et al 2018). Degradable waste which could be used as raw material for biological conversion processes like composting, biogas and bioethanol refinery process (Miezah et al 2015).…”

Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management Practices in Bahawalpur City, Pakistan

“…Another study also certified that about 35.3% waste comprised by organic waste, followed by textile/rags (8.4%) and plastic and rubber (7.3%) respectively (Shafqat et al, 2014). Similarly, in Karachi, the examination of composition of waste suggests organic waste as the biggest portion of 64% followed by recyclables stuff with 27% and inert material with 9% (Majeed et al, 2018).…”