A Comparative Study on Environmental and Economic Benefits of Centralized Versus Decentralized Solid Waste Management Systems

Abstract

The pressing issue of solid waste management has prompted cities and municipalities worldwide to seek efficient and sustainable solutions. This study conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of centralized and decentralized solid waste management systems, focusing on their environmental and economic impacts. Centralized systems, characterized by large-scale waste collection, processing, and disposal facilities, benefit from economies of scale, standardized operations, and potentially higher technological advancements. Conversely, decentralized systems involve smaller, community-based units that manage waste locally, offering benefits such as reduced transportation costs, increased community involvement, and tailored waste management strategies. The environmental analysis considers factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and resource recovery rates. Centralized systems often exhibit lower per-unit emissions due to advanced processing technologies but incur higher overall emissions from transportation. Decentralized systems, while potentially less efficient technologically, benefit from reduced transportation emissions and promote local recycling and composting practices, contributing to lower overall carbon footprints. Economically, the study evaluates cost efficiency, investment requirements, operational costs, and economic resilience. Centralized systems require significant initial capital investment and maintenance costs but can leverage cost savings through scale and advanced technology. Decentralized systems, while having higher per-unit operational costs, offer economic advantages through local job creation, reduced infrastructure investment, and resilience against large-scale system failures. Case studies from diverse geographical and socio-economic contexts illustrate the practical applications and outcomes of both systems. Urban areas with high population densities and robust infrastructure may favor centralized systems for their efficiency and technological capabilities. In contrast, rural or peri-urban areas with dispersed populations and limited infrastructure may benefit more from decentralized approaches that foster local solutions and community engagement. The study concludes that no one-size-fits-all solution exists; instead, a hybrid approach may often be optimal, combining the strengths of both systems. Policymakers are encouraged to consider local environmental conditions, economic capacities, and community needs when designing solid waste management strategies. The integration of advanced technologies, community-based initiatives, and supportive policies is essential to achieving sustainable and economically viable solid waste management. This comparative study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a nuanced understanding of the trade-offs and synergies between centralized and decentralized solid waste management systems, guiding future research and policy development towards more sustainable urban and rural waste management practices.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

Chandigarh is one of the most popular cities in Asia and is known as the City Beautiful in India. Chandigarh is a union territory; and is the capital of two prosperous states of India, Punjab and Haryana.

India is a developing country, and the problems associated with solid waste management (SWM) in our country are more serious in cities than in villages. Lack of financial resources, incorrect technologies and inadequate infrastructure hinder solid waste handling; Lack of financial resources leads to poor quality of service provision which leads to fewer people being willing to pay for said services, resulting in an even lessor resource base. The quality of waste disposal deteriorates due to the lack of correct technologies, leading to more garbage being dumped in landfills, resulting in the over-occupation of land resources. Inadequate infrastructure in urban local bodies leads to underutilization of other resources such as funds and technologies, leading to poor service delivery, resulting in further underutilization of resources.

The problem has been further compounded by the rapid growth in population and migration to cities for livelihood, which has significantly increased the amount of waste generated in cities and the demand for waste-handling services in municipal areas. Because the natural resource land is completely inelastic, the cyclical resources water and air are also available in limited quantities. Building more infrastructures requires more money, however, often; population growth does not match with a corresponding increase in local municipalities' revenues for waste management. Additionally, heavy migration and urbanization have meant rapid growth of slum-dwelling units, which are largely unplanned, and increase waste, health and sanitation problems. Another important factor that contributes to the problem of solid waste in the developed city of Chandigarh is the lack of proper final disposal facilities apart from proper collection, segregation, and transportation. Improper planning coupled with migration, rapid population growth and urbanization leads to increased congestion on roads and as a result, garbage collection vehicles are unable to reach such locations, leading to accumulation of filth over time. Due to a lack of proper characterization of solid waste and monetary resources, at times vehicles become unsuitable for waste disposal or there are no vehicles at all, which adds another dimension to the ever-increasing cycle of problems.

II. RESEARCH METHDOLOGY

This research responds to the need to assess the environmental and economic benefits of centralized versus decentralized solid waste management systems in Chandigarh. Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is located in the sub-Himalayan plain region of Punjab.

Chandigarh Municipal Corporation House passed a budget of ?2,325 crore for the financial year 2024-25.

The primary data published and materials were comprehensively reviewed and integrated with the research. This enables the researcher to compare the overall view of resources and perceived solutions. This research provides an environmental and economic assessment of centralized solid waste management system versus decentralized system. The assessment based on key factors such as waste generation, waste disposal practices, waste collection and transportation, changing nature of waste, etc. shows that the present centralized solid waste management system is not environmentally and economically useful in the long run.

III. DATA COLLECTION AND   SCRUTINY 

Data collection and analysis is one of the most important aspects of conducting research. High-quality data allows researchers to accurately interpret findings, serve as a basis for future studies, and provide credibility to their research. Well, research often needs to be kept under scrutiny to be free from suspicion of fraud and data falsification. Sometimes, unintentional errors in the data can also be viewed as research misconduct. Therefore, data integrity is essential to protect your reputation and the credibility of your study. Due to the nature of research and the vast amounts of data collected in large-scale studies, errors are bound to occur. One way to avoid “bad” or inaccurate data is data validation. Therefore, as per the instructions of the supervisors to know the exact composition of waste in Chandigarh city I have collected data from Chandigarh Municipal Corporation for various solid waste management activities.

Table I

Basic Data related to Solid waste generation in Chandigarh City

Source: Municipal Corporation Chandigarh

Table II

Status of Solid waste management Service

Source: Municipal Corporation Chandigarh

Table III

Door to Door Collection of Solid Waste

Source: Municipal Corporation Chandigarh

Table IV

Type and Number of Vehicles used

Table IV

Quantity of diesel consumed by Vehicles

95% of Total per day consumption that is 12,289 liters is 11674.55  say  11500 ltr per day

Table V

Type of secondary storage facilities in city

Source: Municipal Corporation Chandigarh

Table VI

Type of secondary Treatment/segregation facilities in city

Source: Municipal Corporation Chandigarh

Table VII

Type of processing done at RDF plant re-inaugurated in December 2022

Source: Municipal Corporation Chandigarh

Table VII

Type of other technology adopted in city

Source: Municipal Corporation Chandigarh

Table IX

Type of Solid waste Disposal Facilities adopted & done MCC in city

Source: Municipal Corporation Chandigarh

  Table X

Final Solid waste Disposal Facilities with MCC in city

Comparison of Landfills & Centralized Disposal solid waste management system versus Zero Landfills & Decentralized Disposal solid waste management system

Table XI

By studying the effects of the currently adopted system the following results were observed.

IV. RESULTS

1. Centralized Systems: Typically involve large-scale waste processing facilities, which can result in significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the transportation of waste over long distances. However, they often utilize advanced technology for waste-to-energy conversion, which can offset some emissions.
2. Decentralized Systems: These systems reduce GHG emissions by minimizing the need for long-distance transportation. Localized processing and recycling facilities can further lower the carbon footprint. The study shows a 50% reduction in GHG emissions after implementing decentralized waste management initiatives.

Conclusion

Both centralized and decentralized solid waste management systems offer unique environmental and economic benefits. Centralized systems excel in handling large volumes of waste with high efficiency but come with significant initial and operational costs. Decentralized systems, while potentially more costly per unit, offer substantial environmental benefits through reduced GHG emissions and enhanced community engagement. The optimal approach often involves a hybrid model that leverages the strengths of both systems, tailored to the specific needs and context of the region. Further research and case studies can help refine these models to maximize both environmental sustainability and economic viability.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2024 Ganesh Verma, Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Narsi Vishard . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.