ASSESSING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management presents significant environmental challenges, especially with increasing urbanization and population growth. This study assesses the environmental impacts of MSW, focusing on waste composition, management practices, and their effects on air, water, and soil quality. The primary objective is to evaluate how MSW contributes to environmental degradation and to explore strategies for mitigating these impacts. A hypothesis was developed that optimizing waste composition through proper sorting and treatment can reduce the environmental footprint of MSW management by at least 10% in terms of leachate production and greenhouse gas emissions. Samples were collected using a randomized sampling approach across different zones within the landfill to capture variability in waste composition. Key parameters analyzed included moisture content, pH, Ignition Loss (IL), Residue Ignition (RI), Total Carbon (Tc), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Calorific Value (Cv), and the Carbon-Nitrogen (C/N) ratio. Statistical methods, including ANOVA, were applied to compare moisture content across sample locations, and correlation analyses were conducted to investigate relationships between parameters such as pH and microbial activity. Hygroscopic, total moisture, and Total Solids (TS) were measured at 34.06%, 46.45%, and 53.55%, respectively. The pH ranged from 5.084 to 5.100, IL was between 72.04% and 78.92%, and the C/N ratio 38.87. These values, though still within the recommended threshold for landfill disposal, suggest that the high moisture content and slightly acidic pH present challenges for waste treatment, especially for landfill and composting processes. The high moisture content directly impacts the study's objective of understanding waste composition's impact on landfill sustainability, as it increases leachate production and reduces waste-to-energy potential. The findings highlight the need for improved sorting, recycling, and treatment technologies to enhance sustainability in MSW management. Future research should focus on integrating emerging technologies and policies to address these challenges and minimize the environmental impact of waste.