Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Composition, and Management: The World Scenario

• Published in: Critical reviews in environmental science and technology Vol. 42; no. 15; pp. 1509 - 1630
• Main Authors: Karak, Tanmoy, Bhagat, R. M, Bhattacharyya, Pradip
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.08.2012; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; composting; developed countries; Developing countries; Environmental protection; Exact sciences and technology; incineration; landfilling; LDCs; MSW; MSW composition; MSW generation rate; MSW management; Municipal solid waste; people; Pollution; population growth; recycling; Urban and domestic wastes; Urbanization; Waste disposal; Wastes; Waste dumping; Heat treatment; Waste treatment; Urban waste; Bibliographic survey; Developing countries; Review; Sustainable development; landfilling; MSW generation rate; MSW management; Waste management; MSW; Composting; Incineration; Solid waste; MSW composition; Recycling; Biological treatment; Industrialized country; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 1547-6537; 1064-3389; 1547-6537
• DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2011.569871

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is the abridgment of the waste generated from domestic, commercial, and construction activities by natural persons that is collected and treated by municipalities. Exponential growth of population and urbanization, and the development of social economy, coupled with the improvement of living standard, have resulted in an increase in the amount of MSW generation throughout the world. On average the developed countries typically generate 521.95–759.2 kg per person per year (kpc) and 109.5–525.6 kpc typically by developing countries. Recent estimates suggest that the MSW generation globally exceeds 2 billion tons per year, which is a potential threat to environmental dilapidation. Therefore, MSW management (MSWM) seems to be one of the key topics for environmental protection in present days and also in the future. The authors have illustrated MSW generation and composition analysis and have provided a comprehensive review of MSWM in different countries throughout the world based on the available literatures. Some of the important aspects of waste management, such as composting, landfilling, and incineration, are illustrated.