Assessment of waste management scenarios toward marine plastic debris mitigation and cost reduction

Abstract

The increase in solid waste volume and change in composition due to urban development cause negative effects on the marine ecological environment. The aim of this study was to assess the amount of plastic waste leaking into the environment from the municipal solid waste (MSW) management system and propose mitigation measures towards sustainable development in Hue city, Viet Nam. The method of modelling MSW management system applying Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and simulating models through scenarios were used to propose strategic solutions to improve and develop the system. As a result, the implementation of segregation at source and improvement of the current collection system are urgently needed. Integrated treatment system including material recovery facility combined with transfer station, incineration, centralized and decentralized composting treatment can reduce the landfilled amount to 5% and the quantity of mismanaged plastic waste infiltrating the ocean has undergone a substantial reduction of several hundred-fold.