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Municipal Solid Waste Management through Sustainable Landfilling: In View of the Situation in Karachi, Pakistan

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  • Ihsanullah Sohoo

    (Circular Resource Engineering, Economy and Management (CREEM), Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstr. 15, 21079 Hamburg, Germany
    Department of Energy and Environment Engineering, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, New M.A Jinnah Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan)

  • Marco Ritzkowski

    (Circular Resource Engineering, Economy and Management (CREEM), Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstr. 15, 21079 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Jinyang Guo

    (Circular Resource Engineering, Economy and Management (CREEM), Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstr. 15, 21079 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Kiran Sohoo

    (Circular Resource Engineering, Economy and Management (CREEM), Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstr. 15, 21079 Hamburg, Germany
    School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Renewable Energy and E-Mobility, Hochschule Stralsund—University of Applied Sciences, Zur Schwedenschanze 15, 18435 Stralsund, Germany)

  • Kerstin Kuchta

    (Circular Resource Engineering, Economy and Management (CREEM), Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstr. 15, 21079 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

Open disposal is the most common technique used for municipal solid waste (MSW) management due to the absence of sanitary landfills in Pakistan. The major cities and small towns in Pakistan have become a showcase of negligence and mismanagement of MSW, which results in deterioration of the environmental and social-life quality. Moreover, research has proved that inefficient handling (disposal) of MSW results in uncontrolled emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly methane, and adds a significant share in global climate change. This study aims to estimate methane emissions from MSW disposed of at dumpsites and compare the GHG mitigation potential of different landfill strategies in specific climate and waste compositions in Karachi. The GHG estimations are based on lab-scale investigations conducted by simulating landfill conditions through the landfill simulation reactor (LSR) experiment. The synthetic MSW sample representing the composition of MSW generated in Karachi was used in the LSR experiment. Environmental sustainability and GHG mitigation potential of different landfilling strategies was evaluated by analyzing gas formation potential (GP 21 ) and respiration activity (RI 4 ) at the end of the experiment. This study revealed that the quantity of solid waste annually disposed of at dumpsites in Karachi possesses the potential to release about 3.9 Mt CO 2 -eq. methane (with specific methane potential of 1.8 tCO 2 -eq./tonne DM disposed) due to the biological decomposition of the organic fraction. Results show that the fresh waste disposed of at landfill sites in Karachi possesses about 92% and 94% higher GP 21 and RI 4 , respectively, than the German allocated criteria for mechanically and biologically treated (MBT) waste for landfills Furthermore, sanitary landfills with post-aeration conditions showed higher GHG mitigation potential and low biological activity in the waste. The second highest GHG mitigation potential and lowest biological activity of the waste was noticed from bioreactor landfills with post-aeration conditions. The third number in GHG mitigation and reduced waste activity was noticed in the waste sampled from bioreactors without aftercare approach. The least GHG mitigation potential was noticed from the uncontrolled waste dumping (existing) approach with high residual gas potential and respiration index level. This lab-scale landfill simulation study can provide baseline data for further research and planning the development of new sustainable landfills in Karachi, Pakistan and in the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Ihsanullah Sohoo & Marco Ritzkowski & Jinyang Guo & Kiran Sohoo & Kerstin Kuchta, 2022. "Municipal Solid Waste Management through Sustainable Landfilling: In View of the Situation in Karachi, Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:2:p:773-:d:722099
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ljiljana Rodić & David C. Wilson, 2017. "Resolving Governance Issues to Achieve Priority Sustainable Development Goals Related to Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Sohoo, Ihsanullah & Ritzkowski, Marco & Heerenklage, Jörn & Kuchta, Kerstin, 2021. "Biochemical methane potential assessment of municipal solid waste generated in Asian cities: A case study of Karachi, Pakistan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    3. World Bank, 2018. "Transforming Karachi into a Livable and Competitive Megacity," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 29376, December.
    4. Ihsanullah Sohoo & Marco Ritzkowski & Zubair Ahmed Sohu & Senem Önen Cinar & Zhi Kai Chong & Kerstin Kuchta, 2021. "Estimation of Methane Production and Electrical Energy Generation from Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Sites in Pakistan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, April.
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