Decentralized municipal solid waste management system (DMSWMS) as an alternative to centralized MSWMS (CMSWMS) for HEIs based on case study of the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Like other parts of the world, the source-specific generation of MSW in higher education institutes (HEIs) of Pakistan contain ≥ 70% compostables being managed through CMSWMS, a resource exhaustive environmental degradation approach. CMSWMS in the University of the Punjab, Lahore- 54590, a mother HEI in Pakistan, includes MSW containing over 2/3rd compostables (with ≥ 85% moisture contents) carrying poor collection efficiency and disposal at distantly located open dumps with linear economy. Here, DMSWMS effectiveness compared to CMSWMS was based on composting compostables at source-level to observe variations in the composition and characteristics of the MSW components, collection efficiency, cost, and combustibles’ earlier separation-driven impacts on its drying duration and calorific value for refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and assessing LCA-based acidification potential of carriage and disposal. Compared to CMSWMS, composting-based DMSWMS significantly improved characteristics of the compostables, combustibles, and recyclables. The DMSWMS resulted ≥ 97% collection efficiency, 89% reduction in collection and disposal cost, significant reduction in acidification potential through ≥ 94% GHGEs reduction, and rendered upfront availability of combustibles as RDF with 86% greater GCV. Cumulatively, all the DMSWMS-driven improvisations led the selected HEI in achieving 100% weighing score of MSWM component of the UI Green Metric World University Campus Ranking system. However, for prompting composting-based sustainable DMSWMS at broader scale in a city, multiple studies are required with stakeholders on board from union councils (smallest administrative units analogic to counties), which would streamline DMSWMS integration into MSW sanitation policy framework of municipalities.