Eco-efficiency Tool for Urban Solid Waste Management System: A Case Study of Mumbai, India

Abstract

Carbon emissions in urban solid waste treatment are a main cause for the change in climate which, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), accounts for almost 5% of ozone-depleting substances worldwide. The gases and fluids that are being released cause many ecological effects like environmental change and acidification particularly in the major metropolitan cities in India like Mumbai. Therefore, managing the solid waste properly is one of the major concerns of almost all the cities in India. The aim of the present study is to analyse the eco-efficiency for managing urban solid waste in Mumbai region. The assessment model is developed on the basis of adapting Eco-Efficiency Analysis (Eco-Eff) methodology that helps in the formulation of solid waste management (SW) criteria. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been considered for portraying and recognizing proficient techniques and proposing improvement criteria for appropriate treatment of these wastes. The ecological profile of both i.e the original situation and the virtual (proposed improvement measures) were compared all together to identify the net benefits connected with the changed inputs. This evaluation framework is useful for the assessment of system alternatives and adapting the changes for decision-making. The model was implemented in the context of Mumbai which explicitly tackles sustainability in its organizational strategic plan. The development of the model depends on an adaptation of the technique that would allow a comparison of the proposed key objectives with the available data on solid waste management. This technique showed the overall decrease in environmental impact utilizing profitable strategies as the major objective towards improving waste management. The segregation proportion and the techniques utilized for treatment are key markers of optimization steps. Comparing the intervals with the prior efficiency of the system and the proposed performance, it is finally concluded whether the eco-efficiency score obtained is neutral or good. On the basis of the assessment of the performance of the optimization measure proposed, it is quite possible that its value would demonstrate a better management of solid waste being generated in this area.