Life Cycle Assessment Approach to Attain Sustainability in the Waste Management Sector: A Case Study

The amount of carbon emissions released due to waste management from the cities in India has been on a steep rise and has emerged as a serious concern for authorities. In 2019, as per the Central Pollution Control Board, which has come into existence four years ago after the commissioning of Swachh Bharat Mission, India dumped 23.35 million tons of waste into existing dump sites. The legacy quantities held at these sites is a ticking time bomb of emissions, polluting air, water, and soil. In Mumbai, greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector were at 1.94 million metric tons of CO2, e (carbon dioxide equivalents), which is 8% of the city’s total emissions. By 2030, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ambitious plans of the execution of municipal solid waste (MSW) management projects based on environmentally friendly technologies. This paper is a maiden study for the analysis of emissions from the waste management practices of Mumbai and compares present emissions with emissions after the successful implementation of BMC’s projects for green technology-based waste management by 2030. The study develops a comprehensive framework that integrates life cycle assessment while conducting the emission analysis. This study showcases the multidimensional positive impacts of BMC’s treatment-based projects in terms of overall emission reduction, enhanced capacity handling at existing sites, and reduced projections of emission intensity. Additionally, the study highlights the sustainable development goals achieved through the implementation of these technologies. The findings of this study reinforce the importance of adopting a sustainability approach for addressing the challenges posed by MSW.