Municipal Solid Waste Management

Municipal solid waste management is the study of how cities collect, process, and dispose of the everyday refuse generated by households and businesses, with particular attention to the environmental and public-health consequences of different approaches. Researchers examine the full chain from collection logistics to landfill design, recycling infrastructure, and technologies that convert waste into electricity or heat—often applying life cycle assessment to compare the true costs and benefits of each option. The field carries special urgency in rapidly urbanizing parts of the developing world, where waste volumes are outpacing infrastructure and open dumping remains common. Active research questions include how to design economically viable waste-to-energy systems for lower-income cities and how informal recycling networks can be integrated into formal management frameworks without displacing the livelihoods that depend on them.

Works

74,053

Total citations

542,327

Keywords

Municipal Solid WasteWaste ManagementDeveloping CountriesRecyclingLandfillLife Cycle Assessment