Systematic assessment of landfill mining potential in Zhejiang Province, China: Resource recovery and economic potential

Landfilling has been the predominant municipal solid waste disposal method in recent decades. Recently, landfill mining has gained attention due to increasing raw material costs and environmental concerns. However, most research has focused on individual or limited specific cases, with insufficient studies on landfill mining potential at the regional or national level. This study established a regional-scale evaluation of the economic viability and environmental benefits of landfill mining in Zhejiang Province, China. Six representative landfills were selected based on an investigation of the status of landfills in the province. Using a waste age map, 316 waste samples weighing 816.56 kg were meticulously collected from 27 sampling points across the six landfills, covering waste generated from 1994 to 2020. The correlation analysis explored the relationship between landfill waste composition and landfill conditions/socio-economic factors, providing a basis for the preliminary assessment of waste composition based on landfill conditions and the socio-economic characteristics of the landfill service area. Additionally, the study evaluates the economic and environmental potential of landfill mining. The economic assessment highlighted the potential of landfill mining for societal actors, with potential NPV ranging from 26.2 to 47.8 USD/ton. Notable environmental benefits also be observed, with potential greenhouse gas emission reductions of 0.09–0.51 kg CO₂-eq/ton and leachate reductions of 0.34–2.13 m³/ton. This study offers valuable insights into the resource recovery as well as the economic and environmental potential of landfill mining in Zhejiang Province, and serves as a useful reference for broader regional or national-scale assessments.