Analyzing Waste Management System Alternatives for Kabul City, Afghanistan: Considering Social, Environmental, and Economic Aspects

Ahmad Nadim Azimi, Sébastien M. R. Dente and Seiji Hashimoto
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Ahmad Nadim Azimi: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan
Sébastien M. R. Dente: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan
Seiji Hashimoto: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: Our earlier work identified social issues of stakeholders who are highly exposed to poor social performance in the current waste management system (WMS) of Kabul city, Afghanistan. The present work builds on earlier findings to elaborate four alternative scenarios with better social outcomes. For each scenario of the current system, greenhouse gas (GHG) and economic assessments were conducted. Results show that Scenario 2, considering increase waste collection coverage, recycling, unsanitary landfilling, and integration of informal workers, was found as the best alternative. Scenario 3, which added a source-separated system to Scenario 2, was the second-best alternative. These two scenarios address social issues and can reduce GHG emissions, save costs, and provide more jobs than the current system. In contrast, the absence of recycling in Scenario 1, and the conversion of unsanitary landfill into sanitary landfill in scenario 4 result in higher costs and GHG emissions, even though they deal with social issues and generate higher jobs to the existing waste management practice.

Keywords: social issues; life cycle assessment (LCA); greenhouse gases (GHGs); economic analysis; number of jobs; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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