Tracking the carbon flows in municipal waste management in China

Abstract

Municipal solid waste (MSW), a carbon-intensive waste stream, may create both instant and indirect impacts onto environmental and climate management. Despite multiple studies made for greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions of municipal waste, this research aims to achieve a comprehensive assessment for the carbon cycle by exploring evolution of waste composition and temporal-spatial disparities in waste management. Carbon flows embodied in MSW have been estimated across 31 provinces in Mainland China in the period 2000–2018. This improved estimation could be 15–40% smaller than the conventional estimation employing a constant waste composition. Aggregately some 578 ± 117 megatonnes carbon (MtC) were contained in MSW, including 239 ± 60 Mt of fossil carbon and 339 ± 58 Mt of degradable organic carbon. After treatment, 299 ± 66 MtC were possibly deposited in landfills and dumps. 279 ± 51 MtC were released to the atmosphere, creating net GHGs emissions equivalent to1870 ± 334 megatonnes of CO2 (MtCO2e). MSW generation in China nearly doubled during the period, net GHGs emissions increased by 1.8×, whereas fossil carbon grew by a factor of 3.5, mainly propelled by an increasing content of waste plastic in MSW. More rapid growth was witnessed in provinces in southern China than in northern. Distinct spatial–temporal evolution of waste and carbon metabolism was driven by increment, composition, and management effects. In the long run, the increment and composition effects may drop off. Enhanced practices of waste management integrating the circular economy are needed to fully recycle carbon flows, minimize emissions, and manage carbon deposits in aging landfills and dumps.

Life Cycle Assessment of Incineration Technique for Management of Used Sanitary Napkins

“…Notably, the nuanced analysis enabled by Table 5 underscores its significance in informing evidence-based policy decisions aimed at ameliorating air quality and fostering a healthier living environment for communities. Research by Sharma et al (2022) and Zhang et al (2024) corroborates the pivotal role of comprehensive air quality datasets in advancing our understanding of atmospheric dynamics and guiding proactive interventions to address pollution concerns. The ambient air composition includes 18.70% oxygen (O2) and 78.00% nitrogen (N2), with carbon dioxide (CO2) present at 2.23%.…”

“…These emission characteristics underscore the importance of understanding incinerator emissions for environmental management. Table 4 provides a breakdown of key pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and dioxins/furans, drawing from studies like Zhang et al (2024). This data informs research on emission complexities and regulatory efforts for sustainable waste management practices (Table 4).…”

Impacts of Global Climate Change on Agricultural Production: A Comprehensive Review

“…This wasted food encompasses losses occurring at various stages including production, harvesting, processing, transportation, storage, and consumption. However, when this discarded food is subjected to landfill or incineration processes, it produces greenhouse gasses such as CH 4 and CO 2 , further exacerbating climate change [76,77]. Bernstad Saraiva Schott, A. et al [78] utilized the life-cycle assessment method to compare the current waste treatment methods of anaerobic digestion or incineration of food waste with a hypothetical scenario where avoidable food waste is eliminated, and only unavoidable food waste is subjected to anaerobic digestion or incineration.…”