Navigating the heights of environmental impacts of the Himalayan waste management system through life cycle assessment approach

Abstract

The Himalayan region, characterized by its unique ecological diversity and fragility, faces escalating challenges related to waste management against the backdrop of global concerns about climate change. Rapid urbanization, population growth, changing consumption patterns, and thriving tourism have intensified the generation of municipal solid waste, contributing to the release of GHGs. This study aimed to quantify GHG emissions associated with waste management practices in the region. LCA was employed to evaluate the environmental impacts of waste management practices, identifying key areas for improvement and sustainable solutions. Contribution of waste management practices of composting, material recovery facilities, waste-to-energy, RDF facilities, landfills, incineration, and waste transportation were assessed in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The municipal solid waste management infrastructures in the state contributed to 3,98,098 tCO_2eqyr⁻¹ emissions of which waste transportation and landfills were identified as the major sources, highlighting the constraint of infrastructure in rural areas of the region. They made up 82% of all the emissions from waste management infrastructures in the state. The LCA studies confirmed that landfills for MSW were the major source of environmental incompatibility in the state. However, material recovery and fuel production practices in MSW management facilities drastically reduced the impacts on indicators, namely, abiotic depletion, acidification, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, human toxicity, and ozone depletion potential. The findings highlight the pressing need for efficient waste management facilities in the state to bolster climate change resilience and environmental compatibility, given the current inadequacies in infrastructure, processes, and skilled manpower.

Graphical Abstract