Transformation of Solid Waste Management in China: Moving towards Sustainability through Digitalization-Based Circular Economy

Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan, Xue Liang, Elizabeth O’Callaghan, Huihwang Goh, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman, Ram Avtar and Tutuk Djoko Kusworo
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Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan: College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
Xue Liang: School of Electrical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Elizabeth O’Callaghan: Department of Chemical Sciences, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
Huihwang Goh: School of Electrical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman: Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai 81310, Malaysia
Ram Avtar: Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 0600808, Japan
Tutuk Djoko Kusworo: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University, Semarang 50275, Indonesia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: In China, environmental pollution due to municipal solid waste (MSW) over-generation is one of the country’s priority concerns. The increasing volume and complexity of the waste poses serious risks to the environment and public health. Currently, the annual growth of MSW generation is estimated to be approximately 8–10% and will increase to 323 million metric tons (Mt) by 2030. Based on the secondary data collected from a literature survey, this article critically evaluates the recent progress of MSW management (MSWM) in China and offers new insights into the waste sector in the era of Industry 4.0. This helps decision makers in China to plan a smooth transition nationwide to a circular economy (CE) in the waste sector. It is evident that digitalization is a driving force for China to move towards low-carbon development strategies within the framework of CE. Through digitalization, the waste sector has promoted prevention, reduction, reuse, and recycling (3Rs) of waste before waste disposal in landfills. A proper implementation of digitalization-based waste recycling has contributed to an efficient cooperation between the government and private sector, increased job opportunities, and promoted the conservation of resources. It is anticipated that this work not only contributes to the establishment of an integrated MSWM system in China, but also improves local MSWM through digitalization in the framework of a CE.

Keywords: circular economy; digitalization; industry 4.0; greenhouse gas (GHG) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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