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A Review of Life Cycle Assessment Application in Municipal Waste Management: Recent Advances, Limitations, and Solutions

Author

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  • Amanzhan Nurzhan

    (College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
    Zhejiang Baocheng Machinery Technology Co., Ltd., Ningbo 315033, China)

  • Xuewei Ruan

    (Zhejiang Baocheng Machinery Technology Co., Ltd., Ningbo 315033, China)

  • Dingjiang Chen

    (College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
    Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
    Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China)

Abstract

The treatment or utilization of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a topic of intense global concern. Life cycle assessment (LCA), as applied to municipal waste, has recently attracted significant attention from researchers. The life cycle of MSW encompasses a series of processes, beginning with waste generation and ending with its final disposal. This study aims to provide an overview of the LCA methodology and the development of various software tools, discussing both the limitations and potential of LCA. We searched the Web of Science database for all articles published between January 2003 and October 2023 on the topic of “life cycle assessment in municipal waste management”. This review thus offers the most current evidence on LCA in MSW management, emphasizing the need for more effective global environmental governance to address waste management issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Amanzhan Nurzhan & Xuewei Ruan & Dingjiang Chen, 2025. "A Review of Life Cycle Assessment Application in Municipal Waste Management: Recent Advances, Limitations, and Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:1:p:302-:d:1559486
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Prasesh Pote Shrestha & Anish Ghimire & Mohan B. Dangi & Michael A. Urynowicz, 2023. "Development of a Municipal Solid Waste Management Life Cycle Assessment Tool for Banepa Municipality, Nepal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Asma Majeed & Syeda Adila Batool & Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry, 2018. "Environmental Quantification of the Existing Waste Management System in a Developing World Municipality Using EaseTech: The Case of Bahawalpur, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-22, July.
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