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An Environmental Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Comparative Life Cycle Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Mohammed Almansour

    (Department of Engineering, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK)

  • Mohammad Akrami

    (Department of Engineering, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK)

Abstract

The environmental implications of various municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, were analysed considering the Riyadh Green Initiative through a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This study evaluates five distinct scenarios: unsanitary landfilling (Sc0), incineration (Sc1), and a combination of technologies such as anaerobic digestion (AD) and a material recovery facility (MRF) in scenarios Sc2–Sc4. These scenarios were assessed using GaBi 9.2.1 software, employing the impact methodology outlined by CML (2001) to evaluate eight impact categories, including Global Warming and Acidification Potentials, among others. The findings indicate that scenarios incorporating the treatment of 100% of recyclable and organic waste through AD exhibited substantial environmental benefits. Additionally, Sc2 demonstrated the lowest environmental burdens across all impact categories. In contrast, Sc0 ranked the worst in all categories due to the absence of gas and leachate treatment. The results were shown to be reliable when compared qualitatively to previous studies. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess this study’s system boundaries and the impact of the MRF rate. Overall, this research provides valuable insights for optimising MSW management practices in Riyadh, aiming to reduce their environmental impacts and align with the goals of the Riyadh Green Initiative.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammed Almansour & Mohammad Akrami, 2024. "An Environmental Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Comparative Life Cycle Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:20:p:9111-:d:1503168
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gunamantha, Made & Sarto,, 2012. "Life cycle assessment of municipal solid waste treatment to energy options: Case study of KARTAMANTUL region, Yogyakarta," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 277-284.
    2. Esfilar, Reza & Bagheri, Mehdi & Golestani, Behrooz, 2021. "Technoeconomic feasibility review of hybrid waste to energy system in the campus: A case study for the University of Victoria," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Kais Ben-Ahmed & Sahar J. Melebary & Turki K. Bawazir, 2025. "Environmental Degradation, Renewable Energy, and Non-Renewable Energy Consumption in Saudi Arabia: An ARDL Bound Testing Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Abdullah Alghafis & Haneen Bawayan & Sultan Alghamdi & Mohamed Nejlaoui & Abdullah Alrashidi, 2025. "Harnessing Renewable Waste as a Pathway and Opportunities Toward Sustainability in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-30, October.

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