IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i7p2822-d1618163.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainability of the Integrated Waste Management System: A Case Study of Bihor County, Romania

Author

Listed:
  • Olimpia Smaranda Mintaș

    (Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Environmental Protection, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania)

  • Daniela Camelia Marele

    (Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Environmental Protection, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania)

  • Alina Stefania Stanciu

    (Department of Agriculture-Horticulture, Faculty of Environmental Protection, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410048 Oradea, Romania)

  • Adrian Gheorghe Osiceanu

    (Morphological Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410048 Oradea, Romania)

  • Alina Stanca Osiceanu

    (Morphological Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 1 University Street, 410048 Oradea, Romania)

  • Horia Pop

    (Department of Technical and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăstur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Teodor Rusu

    (Department of Technical and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăstur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Abstract

This study examines a range of aspects relating to the projected waste generation in Bihor County, Romania from 2020 to 2040, focusing on key milestones set for 2020, 2025, 2030, 2035, and 2040. The analysis incorporates socio-economic, macroeconomic, and demographic factors, along with household income, economic activities, and waste composition, in order to obtain accurate projections. Furthermore, this study evaluates the current state of waste management, identifies deficiencies, and proposes targeted objectives. The assessment methodology considers targets such as increasing waste reuse and recycling rates, reducing biodegradable waste landfilling, enhancing energy recovery, and improving separate waste collection systems. Three alternative waste management strategies are analyzed, including a “zero” alternative (i.e., maintaining the current system) and two investment-driven alternatives. The evaluation integrates both quantitative criteria—such as financial viability and environmental impacts—and qualitative factors, including market risk and adherence to circular economy principles. Through a comprehensive analysis, this study offers a robust foundation for strategic decision-making in the context of sustainable waste management and the efficient implementation of waste treatment practices in Bihor County.

Suggested Citation

  • Olimpia Smaranda Mintaș & Daniela Camelia Marele & Alina Stefania Stanciu & Adrian Gheorghe Osiceanu & Alina Stanca Osiceanu & Horia Pop & Teodor Rusu, 2025. "Sustainability of the Integrated Waste Management System: A Case Study of Bihor County, Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-34, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2822-:d:1618163
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/2822/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/2822/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sabrina Lattanzio & Pasquale Stefanizzi & Marilena D’ambrosio & Eustachio Cuscianna & Giacomo Riformato & Giovanni Migliore & Silvio Tafuri & Francesco Paolo Bianchi, 2022. "Waste Management and the Perspective of a Green Hospital—A Systematic Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-9, November.
    2. Francisco Gutiérrez Galicia & Ana Lilia Coria Páez & Ricardo Tejeida Padilla, 2019. "A Study and Factor Identification of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Mexico City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-41, November.
    3. Svetlana Ivanova & Natalia Lisina, 2023. "Municipal and Industrial Urban Waste: Legal Aspects of Safe Management," Laws, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-26, May.
    4. Antonio Jacintos Nieves & Gian Carlo Delgado Ramos, 2023. "Advancing the Application of a Multidimensional Sustainable Urban Waste Management Model in a Circular Economy in Mexico City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-23, August.
    5. Nachalida Yukalang & Beverley Clarke & Kirstin Ross, 2018. "Solid Waste Management Solutions for a Rapidly Urbanizing Area in Thailand: Recommendations Based on Stakeholder Input," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, June.
    6. Danuta Szpilko & Antonio de la Torre Gallegos & Felix Jimenez Naharro & Agnieszka Rzepka & Angelika Remiszewska, 2023. "Waste Management in the Smart City: Current Practices and Future Directions," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-25, September.
    7. Solichah Ratnasari & Kosuke Mizuno & Herdis Herdiansyah & Edward G. H. Simanjutak, 2023. "Enhancing Sustainability Development for Waste Management through National–Local Policy Dynamics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-24, April.
    8. Syed Khusro Chishty, 2023. "Economic and Environmental Efficiencies of Organizations: Role of Technological Advancements and Circular Economy Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-20, November.
    9. Tatyana Khudyakova & Elena Lyaskovskaya, 2021. "Improving the Sustainability of Regional Development in the Context of Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    10. Tanzila Akmal & Faisal Jamil, 2021. "Testing the Role of Waste Management and Environmental Quality on Health Indicators Using Structural Equation Modeling in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
    11. Weronika Urbańska & Anna Janda & Magdalena Osial & Mateusz Słowikowski, 2023. "Sustainable Municipal Waste Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Case Study of Poland," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-16, June.
    12. Ismaila Rimi Abubakar & Khandoker M. Maniruzzaman & Umar Lawal Dano & Faez S. AlShihri & Maher S. AlShammari & Sayed Mohammed S. Ahmed & Wadee Ahmed Ghanem Al-Gehlani & Tareq I. Alrawaf, 2022. "Environmental Sustainability Impacts of Solid Waste Management Practices in the Global South," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-26, October.
    13. Jorge Alfredo Cerqueira-Streit & Patrícia Guarnieri & Luciel Henrique de Oliveira & Jacques Demajorovic, 2023. "From Trash to Profit: How Packaging Waste Management Has Driven the Circular Economy—An Integrative Literature Review," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-19, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán & Sónia Monteiro & Fátima David & Francisco M. Somohano-Rodríguez, 2023. "The Waste Hierarchy at the Business Level: An International Outlook," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Aleksandra Gulc & Klaudia Budna, 2024. "Classification of Smart and Sustainable Urban Mobility," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Kawther Saeedi & Anna Visvizi & Dimah Alahmadi & Amal Babour, 2023. "Smart Cities and Households’ Recyclable Waste Management: The Case of Jeddah," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-23, April.
    4. Nawaz, Ahmad & Razzak, Shaikh Abdur, 2024. "Co-pyrolysis of biomass and different plastic waste to reduce hazardous waste and subsequent production of energy products: A review on advancement, synergies, and future prospects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    5. Pablo Emilio Escamilla-García & Ana Lilia Coria-Páez & Francisco Pérez-Soto & Francisco Gutiérrez-Galicia & Carolina Caire & Blanca L. Martínez-Vargas, 2023. "Financial and Technical Evaluation of Energy Production by Biological and Thermal Treatments of MSW in Mexico City," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-14, April.
    6. Asif Iqbal & Abdullah Yasar & Abdul-Sattar Nizami & Rafia Haider & Faiza Sharif & Imran Ali Sultan & Amtul Bari Tabinda & Aman Anwer Kedwaii & Muhammad Murtaza Chaudhary, 2022. "Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Haulage Modeling Design for Lahore, Pakistan: Transition toward Sustainability and Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-39, December.
    7. Reem F. Alruwaili & Nourah Alsadaan & Abeer Nuwayfi Alruwaili & Afrah Ghazi Alrumayh, 2023. "Unveiling the Symbiosis of Environmental Sustainability and Infection Control in Health Care Settings: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-16, November.
    8. Aarthi Aishwarya Devendran & Brijesh Mainali & Dilip Khatiwada & Farzin Golzar & Krushna Mahapatra & Camila H. Toigo, 2023. "Optimization of Municipal Waste Streams in Achieving Urban Circularity in the City of Curitiba, Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, February.
    9. Qing Yang & Lingmei Fu & Xingxing Liu & Mengying Cheng, 2018. "Evaluating the Efficiency of Municipal Solid Waste Management in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-23, November.
    10. Elena Lyaskovskaya & Tatyana Khudyakova, 2021. "Sharing Economy: For or against Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-20, October.
    11. Dong, Weiwei & Niu, XiaoQin & Nassani, Abdelmohsen A. & Naseem, Imran & Zaman, Khalid, 2024. "E-commerce mineral resource footprints: Investigating drivers for sustainable mining development," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    12. Anupong Muttaraid & Sirintornthep Towprayoon & Chart Chiemchaisri & Thapat Silalertruksa & Komsilp Wangyao, 2024. "Enhanced Landfill Mining in Thailand: Policy Implications from Qualitative Case Study Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    13. Maria Antoniadou, 2024. "Integrating Lean Management and Circular Economy for Sustainable Dentistry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-25, November.
    14. Kaouther Kerboua & Hamza Cheniti & Clyde Falzon Bouvett & Intissar Gasmi & Hani Amir Aouissi & Alexandru-Ionut Petrisor & Maria Boştenaru-Dan, 2025. "A Techno-Ecological Transformative Approach of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in Upper-Middle-Income Countries Based on Energy Recovery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-29, February.
    15. Alessio Conti & Elena Viottini & Rosanna Irene Comoretto & Chiara Piovan & Barbara Martin & Beatrice Albanesi & Marco Clari & Valerio Dimonte & Sara Campagna, 2024. "The Effectiveness of Educational Interventions in Improving Waste Management Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-22, April.
    16. Tanzila Akmal & Faisal Jamil, 2021. "Testing the Role of Waste Management and Environmental Quality on Health Indicators Using Structural Equation Modeling in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
    17. Thomas Akintayo & Juha Hämäläinen & Pertti Pasanen & Iniobong John, 2023. "A Rapid Review of Sociocultural Dimensions in Nigeria’s Solid Waste Management Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-17, June.
    18. Majdi Anwar Quttainah & Priya Singh, 2024. "Barriers to Sustainable Healthcare Waste Management: A Grey Method Approach for Barrier Ranking," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-19, December.
    19. Deniz Yalçıntaş & Suzan Oğuz & Eda Yaşa Özeltürkay & Murat Gülmez, 2023. "Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on Sustainable Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-14, January.
    20. Renata Činčikaitė, 2024. "Assessment of Sustainable Waste Management: A Case Study in Lithuania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-14, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2822-:d:1618163. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.