Optimizing Urban Waste with 4Rs and System Dynamics

Urbanization and population growth have led to unprecedented waste management challenges, creating a need for sustainable and efficient waste management systems. This paper presents a comparative analysis of waste management systems in three international cities, using the 4Rs framework—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover—modeled through System Dynamics (SD). The research emphasizes defining critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) based on the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) framework. These KPIs are essential for monitoring long-term efficiency improvements in waste management systems. This paper focuses on integrating SD models to simulate waste management strategies over time to identify the most effective methods for reducing environmental impact, enhancing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainability. The research also discusses gaps in the literature and proposes future work to refine and expand the model for broader applications.