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A review of municipal solid waste in China: characteristics, compositions, influential factors and treatment technologies

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Listed:
  • Yanli Zhu

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Youxian Zhang

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Dongxia Luo

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Zhongyi Chong

    (Sound Resource and Environment Company)

  • Erqiang Li

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Xuepeng Kong

    (Lanzhou University)

Abstract

Municipal solid waste (MSW) severely threatens human health and the ecological environment owing to its toxicity, mutagenic activity and carcinogenicity. The continuous increase in MSW together with stringent regulations makes sanitary disposal imperative. Waste sorting and recycling has been recognized as an efficient and economical treatment strategy. By analysing research data from 31 provinces between 2000 and 2017, the overarching goal of this work was to determine the characterizations and the compositions of MSW in China and then provide advices for sorting, transporting, storing and disposing of MSW. The results showed that the amount of MSW that was generated ranged from 0.08 to 2.34 kg d−1 ca−1 and averaged 0.73 kg d−1 ca−1 in China. The average bulk density, moisture content and the wet basis of the low calorific value of the MSW were 325 kg m−3, 50.3% and 4649 kcal kg−1. The MSW in China could be classified into four main categories, food waste, recycling waste, landfill waste and hazardous substances, and could be further classified into ten sub-categories. Overall, food waste was the most common and could be best managed via compost production. Bulk density was highly positively correlated with the ratio of the dust and bricks in all MSW and highly negatively correlated with the ratio of the food waste, metal, glass, plastic and rubber. The wet basis of the low calorific value was highly positively correlated with the ratio of the plastic and rubber, and the water content was highly positively correlated with the ratio of the food waste. Temporally, most of the components, especially waste paper and plastics, increased, while wood, dust and bricks decreased. Graphic abstract

Suggested Citation

  • Yanli Zhu & Youxian Zhang & Dongxia Luo & Zhongyi Chong & Erqiang Li & Xuepeng Kong, 2021. "A review of municipal solid waste in China: characteristics, compositions, influential factors and treatment technologies," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 6603-6622, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:23:y:2021:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-020-00959-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-020-00959-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jianbing Ma & Yong Deng & Huiyu Zhou & Hongchuan Yu, 2017. "Uncertainty Management in Smart Environment," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Hindawi, vol. 2017, pages 1-2, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nikolaos Remmas & Nicola Manfe & Ioanna Zerva & Paraschos Melidis & Roberto Raga & Spyridon Ntougias, 2023. "A Critical Review on the Microbial Ecology of Landfill Leachate Treatment Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Zahra Fozouni Ardekani & Seyed Mohammad Javad Sobhani & Marcelo Werneck Barbosa & Ehsan Amiri-Ardekani & Samaneh Dehghani & Najmeh Sasani & Hans De Steur, 2024. "Determinants of household food waste behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran: an integrated model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 26205-26235, October.
    3. Dek Vimean Pheakdey & Nguyen Van Quan & Tran Dang Khanh & Tran Dang Xuan, 2022. "Challenges and Priorities of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Cambodia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-27, July.
    4. Wang, Shengnan & Bai, Xuemei & van der Heijden, Jeroen & Tong, Xin, 2024. "The evolving roles of actors in sustainability experiments: Evidence from community waste management in a Chinese city," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).

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