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Qualitative and quantitative analysis of municipal solid waste in Iran for implementation of best waste management practice: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 27, pages 37514–37526 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

With the rapid growth of population, development of different industries, and production of several ranges of products, the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) has been growing significantly in the recent years. However, if MSW is not managed properly, it can greatly contribute to an environmental crisis. In the present study, we aimed to examine the characteristics and quantity of MSW generated in Iran through a meta-analysis and systematic review. The major international and Iranian national databases including Science direct, Scopus, PubMed, Google scholar, and SID and Magiran were searched completely using appropriate keywords to identify the articles that have been published from 2003 up to November 2019 on the topic on interest. Based on the inclusion criteria, a number of 13 papers were found eligible to be reviewed in this study. The results showed that the amount of generated waste per capita in Iran is 839 g/capita/day. Moreover, organic matters, paper and cardboard, plastics, glasses, textiles, rubber, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), metals (ferrous and non-ferrous), wood materials, and other wastes were found to be contributed to 65.85%, 8.79%, 8.39%, 2.73%, 2.74%, 1.18%, 1.07%, 2.83%, 1.20%, and 5.22% of total MSW in Iran, respectively. Due to the high level of organic waste in MSW stream in Iran, composting program is recommended as a practical and beneficial approach. Of note, the recyclable materials include plastic, PET, glass, metals, and paper and cardboard have accounted for 24.05% of total MSW in Iran.

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Funding

This research was supported by the deputy of research and technology of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences (Khorramabad-Iran).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

    Bahram Kamarehie, Ali Jafari, Mansour Ghaderpoori, Faramarz Azimi, Fatemeh Ahmadi & Mohammad Amin Karami

  2. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

    Mohammad Faridan

  3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Research Institute for Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Kiomars Sharafi

Authors
  1. Bahram Kamarehie
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  2. Ali Jafari
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  3. Mansour Ghaderpoori
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  4. Faramarz Azimi
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  5. Mohammad Faridan
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  7. Fatemeh Ahmadi
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  8. Mohammad Amin Karami
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Correspondence to Mohammad Amin Karami.

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Highlights

• Up to date information on the quality and quantity on MSW in Iran.

• Organic waste constitutes the major portion of MSW.

• Climate, income level, education, cultural background, and consumption patterns are factors with greatest effect on quality and quantity of MSW.

Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Kamarehie, B., Jafari, A., Ghaderpoori, M. et al. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of municipal solid waste in Iran for implementation of best waste management practice: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 37514–37526 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10104-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10104-8

Keywords

  • Municipal solid waste
  • Quality and quantity
  • Meta-analysis
  • Recycling
  • Systematic review
  • Iran