Evaluation of life cycle cost for the comparison of decentralized waste to composting and landfilling of municipal solid waste

Background

Municipal solid waste (MSW) has increased dramatically in emerging economies like Bangladesh as a result of rapid urbanization and economic growth. Due to the high land requirements and nature of the waste, options of municipal waste management such as landfilling and waste-to-energy have proven to be expensive and inefficient. Previously, a pilot study on a waste-to-compost program in a decentralized facility was done in Dhaka to evaluate the effectiveness of municipal waste management.

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze the life cycle costs (LCCs) of a waste-to-composting facility in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The objective was to ensure economical and effective management of MSW by comparing overall spending to the current and proposed waste management process.

Methodology

In order to evaluate the potential of the planned decentralized compost plant, LCC methods using UNEP/SETAC guidelines are used in the study. This includes an additional analysis of environmental and operational costs and benefits.

Result

The research found that the overall cost of the decentralized compost facility was $857,110, much less than the expenditures associated with landfilling and conventional composting methods in Dhaka.

Conclusion

This study shows that a decentralized waste-to-compost plant may be a profitable option for dealing with municipal solid waste. Its potential to ease stress on municipal governments is highlighted by its much lower price tag. Insightful for policymakers and urban planners in emerging nations confronting comparable waste management difficulties, this research stresses the need to implement such creative, cost-effective approaches in quickly rising metropolitan cities.

Other Information

Published in: Discover Sustainability
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
See article on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00409-w