Environmental and financial assessments of open burning, open dumping and integrated municipal solid waste disposal schemes among different income groups

Abstract This research investigated the cost-effectiveness of twenty-four municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal schemes for four per capita income groups (low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income groups) using life cycle cost assessment (LCCA). In the study, the LCCA included cash inflow (sales of recycle materials, fertilizer, and surplus electricity), cash outlay (investment and operation and maintenance costs), and environmental costs (based on environmental impacts). The life cycle environmental impacts and costs assessments were carried out using Stepwise2006. The most environmentally and financially preferable MSW disposal scenarios were determined for all four income groups. The LCCA was further applied to existing LCA-based studies on MSW management in India (a lower-middle income country) and Brazil (an upper-middle income country), and results were compared with the original LCA-based findings. The results showed that the environmental impacts of disposal schemes of the lower income groups were the lowest, while the cost-effectiveness were the highest (−284.79 to −1698.77 US$2019 per ton). The findings also revealed that the environmental impacts and per capita income were positively correlated. Composting biodegradable waste (320.16–402.40 US$2019 per ton) and landfilling combustible waste (312.87–350.06 US$2019 per ton) incurred the lowest total environmental costs. The most environmentally and financially preferable MSW disposal scenarios for all four income groups were the disposal scheme that integrates multiple waste disposal processes, including recycling for recyclable waste, incineration for combustible waste, composting for biodegradable waste, and landfill for non-recyclable and non-combustible waste, given the high financial gains and low environmental costs. In essence, LCCA takes into account both the financial and environmental costs, thus closely reflecting the actual cost of MSW management. Therefore, policymakers should adopt the LCCA method in the formulation and implementation of the national MSW management policy and action plans.