Title: Process contributions to life cycle impacts of municipal solid waste management options in Harare, Zimbabwe

Authors: Trust Nhubu; Edison Muzenda; Charles Mbohwa

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, 2028, South Africa ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, 2028, South Africa; Department of Chemical, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag 16. Palapye, Botswana ' Department of Quality and Operations Management, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, 2028, South Africa

Abstract: This study assessed the process contributions to life cycle impacts of six developed municipal solid waste management (MSWM) options (A1-A6) for Harare. Results show that waste collection contributes to increased acidification, eutrophication and global warming of 0.012, 0.0002 and 0.065 species.yr respectively as well as human health impact potential of 34 DALYs across all the MSWM options. Anaerobic digestion contributed to increased acidification, eutrophication and global warming impact potentials of 0.053, 0,008 and 0.043 species.yr respectively and 52 DALYs under MSWM options A3 to A6. Overall, incineration performed better than landfilling. The recovery of 20% of the recoverable materials for reuse and recycle under MSWM options A5 and A6 contributes to impacts reductions of -0.05, -0.004 and -0.26 species.yr with regards to acidification, eutrophication and global warming respectively and -56 DALYs with regards to human health. Therefore, strategies earmarked at reducing the positive contributions need to be developed.

Keywords: municipal solid waste management; MSWM; life cycle assessment; LCA; life cycle impacts; life cycle stages; eutrophication; global warming; human health; acidification; sustainable; Harare; Zimbabwe.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2022.124689

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2022 Vol.29 No.4, pp.425 - 443

Received: 27 Aug 2019
Accepted: 08 Jun 2020
Published online: 08 Aug 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article