Life Cycle Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management Scenarios in Faridabad, India

Penaganti Praveen

Department of Civil Engineering, P P Savani University, Dhamdod, Surat, Gujrat, India. 

Abstract

The sustainable management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a pressing environmental and public health issue in rapidly urbanising regions like India. Faridabad, Haryana, generates around 800 tonnes of MSW daily, with much disposed of through open dumping at the Bandhwari landfill. This practice results in serious ecological and health risks, including groundwater contamination, air pollution, and increased disease prevalence. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) serves as an effective tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of different waste treatment strategies. This study uses LCA, adhering to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards, to compare five MSW management scenarios for Faridabad, including the prevalent practice of open dumping with partial refuse-derived fuel (RFD) recovery.
Using SimaPro 9.0.0.48 and Eco-indicator 99 (H), this research assesses environmental impacts in four areas: Global Warming Potential (GWP), Acidification Potential (AP), Eutrophication Potential (EP), and Human Toxicity Potential (HTP). Scenario 5 [Material Recovery Facility (20%) + Composting (40% of biodegradable waste) + Anaerobic Digestion (40% of biodegradable waste) + Sanitary Landfill (residual waste)] proves to be the most sustainable option, significantly reducing GWP, EP, and HTP, despite a slight increase in AP. Sensitivity analysis indicates that increasing recycling rates for the prevalent scenario from 20% to 90% can significantly reduce overall environmental impacts. This study underscores the necessity for integrated waste management systems in India, combining recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, and sanitary landfilling, providing valuable guidance for municipal authorities and policymakers in Faridabad and similar urban environments.

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); Municipal solid waste management (MSWM); Global Warming Potential (GWP); Acidification Potential (AP), Human Toxicity Potential (HTP); Sanitary landfill

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