The environmental performance of four municipal solid waste management scenarios: A life cycle assessment study

Life cycle assessment was used to estimate the environmental impact of different municipal solid waste management strategies. Four scenarios (S1-S4) were considered, and the life cycle inventory of each scenario was performed using the integrated waste management (IWM) model. Scenario S1 in which all wastes are landfilled without processing and recovery of gas showed the highest negative impact on the environment. In scenario S2, where the organic portion of the waste is composted the environmental burden is greatly reduced compared to the first scenario. Scenarios S3 and S4, which are based on recycling and generation of energy, have a low environmental burden on the environment in addition to energy generation and conservation of nonrenewable resources. Therefore, increasing the use of waste processing and recovery options like composting, recycling, and energy generation base strategies is extremely recommended to reduce the adverse environmental impact of landfills.