Skip to content

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

Read our Science Bulletin
Project • ARCP2015-12CMY-Sharp, ARCP2014-21NMY-Sharp

Integrated solid waste management system leading to zero waste for sustainable resource utilization in rapid urbanized areas in developing countries

This study aims to identify appropriate integrated solid waste management system leading to a zero waste city for Mongar, Bhutan and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. Field visits, stakeholder consultations and pilot project were carried out to ensure participation of various sectors. It can be seen that organic waste contributes around 50%. Management gaps were identified as no waste segregation at source due to low awareness and poor waste collection system, and local authority having limited resources. Once the waste is segregated, the management options from the highest to lowest preference are as follows: composting > recyclable > anaerobic digestion > sanitary landfill. HCMC has a total population of more than ten million. Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a severe environmental problem as the quantity of solid waste has increased while infrastructure for collection and treatment are not sufficient. Based on the current MSW management system, technologies such as composting, biogas recovery and electricity generation either from anaerobic digestion plant or sanitary landfill are appropriate. Incineration for high calorific value waste can be adopted for energy recovery. Effective recycling technologies to convert waste into valuable product seem to be solutions for approaching zero waste for MSW management