An Investigation into Integrating Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management and Energy Recovery: A Case Study of Tehran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Elnaz Maleki-Ghelichi ¹
• Asadollah Akram ²
• Mohammad Sharifi ³

¹ Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

² Faculty Member in Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

³ Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Keywords

• Aradkooh
• Incinerator
• Landfill
• LandGEM

Main Subjects

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EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Introduction

Tehran, Iran's capital and most populous city, faces significant challenges in waste management. The ever-increasing population and the resulting massive waste generation necessitate robust and efficient waste management systems. Effective waste management planning requires a thorough understanding of the quantity and quality of waste produced. The complex nature of waste management, including the selection of appropriate disposal options, makes it a challenging problem. The implementation of waste-to-energy technologies as a waste management strategy offers a promising avenue for energy recovery from waste. In addition to improving waste management systems, it can contribute to increasing access to renewable energy for the community.

Material and methods

This research conducted a statistical analysis of ten years' worth of waste generation data (2012-2021). The waste was subjected to physical and chemical characterization. The study also assessed the performance of Tehran's waste management system and quantified the gas emissions from the Aradkuh landfill using the LandGEM software. The study emphasizes the need for improved waste management practices, including the development and implementation of waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies to mitigate these issues. So, two scenarios for energy recovery from waste, sanitary landfill and incineration, were modeled to estimate the energy generation potential and pollutant emissions over a decade.

Results and discussion

Annual waste generation varied over the ten-year period. The cumulative waste deposited at the Aradkuh landfill from 2012 to 2021 exceeded 59,000 metric tons. The analysis revealed that a significant portion (approximately 65%) of Tehran's waste is organic. Despite the potential for energy recovery from waste, most is currently landfilled, leading to uncontrolled emissions and environmental degradation The LandGEM model estimated that the landfill emitted over 16 million cubic meters of gas during this period, including approximately 10 million cubic meters of methane. These emissions pose significant environmental and health risks. In the first scenario evaluating the development of a sanitary landfill as a biochemical conversion plant, 459 kWh of energy was recovered per ton of input waste, with a methane equivalent carbon dioxide emission of 0.28 tons. In the second scenario, evaluating the development of an incinerator as a thermal conversion plant, 468 kWh of energy was recovered per ton of input waste, with a carbon dioxide emission of 0.56 tons.

Conclusions

The high levels of pollutant emissions from the Aradkuh landfill underscore the importance of transitioning to more sustainable waste management practices. By adopting waste-to-energy technologies, we can divert waste from landfills, preventing the release of approximately 6000 tons of methane and generating over 27,000 megawatt-hours of clean energy over a ten-year period. This would not only mitigate climate change but also contribute to a more sustainable future.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, M.Sh., E.M.Gh. and A.A.; methodology, E.M.Gh. and M.Sh.; software, E.M.Gh. and M.Sh.; validation, E.M.Gh., A.A. and M.Sh.; formal analysis, E.M.Gh. and M.Sh.; investigation, E.M.Gh., A.A. and M.Sh.; resources, E.M.Gh.; data curation, E.M.Gh. and M.Sh.; writing-original draft preparation, E.M.Gh. and M.Sh.; writing-review and editing, E.M.Gh., A.A. and M.Sh.; visualization, M.Sh., A.A.; supervision, M.Sh. and A.A.; project administration, M.Sh., E.M.Gh. and A.A.; funding acquisition, A.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Iran Renewable Energy Organization (SATBA) and Engineer Behrouz Dashti for his invaluable support. Additionally, the authors express their gratitude to the Waste Management Organization of Tehran Municipality for providing access to the necessary data.

Ethical considerations

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Tehran. authors avoided data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and misconduct.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.