Discrete event simulation to aid decision-making and mitigation in solid waste management

Raquel Lopes Oliveira (), Liliane Dolores Fagundes (), Renato da Silva Lima () and Marcelo Montaño ()
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Raquel Lopes Oliveira: Federal University of Itajuba (UNIFEI)
Liliane Dolores Fagundes: Federal University of Itajuba (UNIFEI)
Renato da Silva Lima: Federal University of Itajuba (UNIFEI)
Marcelo Montaño: University of São Paulo (USP)

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2020, vol. 25, issue 1, No 4, 67-85

Abstract: Abstract This article aims to evaluate municipal solid waste (MSW) management schemes in order to promote sustainability and eco-efficiency, core elements in global mitigation strategies in both public and private policies. A discrete event simulation (DES) approach was used to integrate the economic, environmental, and social aspects related to aseptic carton packages (ACP) in Itajuba, Brazil. The simulated scenarios consider three alternatives for disposing ACP: landfills, recycling, and incineration with energy recovery. According to our findings, incineration alternatives are preferred from an eco-efficiency perspective, given the potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions and due to the possibility of energy recover, which reinforces the contribution of this technology to promote sustainability as largely found in the international literature. Given the context of MSW management in Brazil, this represents a significant opportunity to increase the effectiveness of mitigation strategies adopted in the country. Taking into account that this is by far the least applied technology, the authors strongly advocate that global strategies for mitigation consider different approaches to integrate carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions related to the entire MSW management system and its alternatives, thus advancing from a waste disposal-oriented system to a life cycle–oriented system.

Keywords: Municipal solid waste management; Sustainability; Discrete event simulation; Reverse logistics; Environmental assessment; Triple bottom line (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11027-019-09859-4

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