ABSTRACT
The increasing pressures of environmental regulation and the introduction of new policy frameworks by various nations have accelerated the popularization of industrial solid waste management and recovery, underscoring the transition towards a circular economy. This paradigm shift emphasizes the importance of material recovery, reuse, and recycling of industrial waste to minimize environmental impact and enhance sustainability. Despite the availability of individual approaches for waste recovery, there exists a significant gap in the systematic selection of optimal recovery pathways that facilitate the reintegration of materials into the production cycle. Addressing this gap, our study introduces a novel optimization model designed to identify the most efficient material circularity routes that leverage both the technical and biological cycles of the circular economy framework. Utilizing the Genetic Algorithm optimization tool in MATLAB, our model prioritizes pathways that maximize material recovery and profit generation simultaneously. This dual-objective function serves as the cornerstone of our analysis, ensuring a balanced approach to environmental sustainability and economic viability. The model's efficacy was tested on pre-calculated quantities of fabric waste generated by the Biyagama Export Processing Zone, providing a practical case study for its application. Our findings reveal diverse scenarios under which the model can allocate varying weights to each objective, demonstrating its flexibility and utility as a decision-making tool for stakeholders in the waste management sector. The results indicate that the model is not only capable of optimizing waste circularity pathways for maximum material recovery and profit generation but also offers a customizable framework that can adapt to the specific priorities of different stakeholders. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by filling a critical gap in the selection of sustainable waste recovery pathways, offering a practical, optimized, and scalable solution that can significantly advance the goals of the circular economy in the industrial sector.â¢Decision-making model for stakeholders in the waste management sector.â¢Model selects the best material recovery pathways.â¢Textile industrial fabric waste stream used as a pilot to test the model's effectiveness.
ABSTRACT
The transition from conventional landfill-centric waste management to resource-centric methodologies necessitates an enhanced comprehension of municipal solid waste (MSW) composition and its inherent value. Existing methodologies documented in the literature exhibit a lack of standardization, impending the formulation of a systematic engineering approach for MSW characterization and valuation. This study introduces a methodology specifically tailored to discern the composition of waste origination from urban households and evaluate its recyclability within the confines of a circular economy framework, Employing a volume-based measurement approach, aims to estimate the recycling value of waste materials. The study's outcomes contribute significantly to quantifying the potential recycling value that accrues to society. Furthermore, the validation of the proposed protocol elucidates the dynamic nature of recyclable value as it traverses the intricate pathways of the waste supply chain. This insight facilitates the formulation of commercial models grounded in circular economy principles for the effective management of household solid waste. Empirical findings reveal that the total recycling value fluctuates within the range of USD 3.39 and USD 5.76 per cubic meter of waste volume, contingent upon the specific waste composition at the experiment site. Additionally, the proposed methodology uncovers the nuanced variability in MSW composition and recycling value across diverse household collection patterns, identifying mixed plastic, paper, cardboard, mixed MSW, and clothing as primary constituents. The application of this methodology extends beyond mere quantification, providing a foundational framework for simulating the latent recycling value embedded within MSW samples. This, in turn, offers invaluable support to strategy developers, policymakers, and entrepreneurial ventures engaged in the sustainable management of household solid waste. In essence, this study establishes the groundwork for a comprehensive understanding of MSW composition and its recyclability, facilitating informed decision-making in the pursuit of a circular economy.â¢Novel methodology based on one cubic meter (1m3) composition analysis of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).â¢A new method to evaluate the recycling value of Municipal Solid Waste.â¢A basis for business model development for the waste-to-resource conversion model.
