Optimal selection and challenges of municipal waste management system using an integrated approach: a case study

ABSTRACT

Efficient waste management is crucial for maintaining a clean and sustainable environment in Indian cities. Patna faces significant waste management challenges due to rapid population growth and urbanization. This has resulted in increased waste generation, straining the current waste management system. The state of Bihar ranks poorly in waste-management-based Environmental Performance, highlighting the need for improvement. Although around 4281.27 TPD of garbage is generated, only 4013.55 TPD is collected. Insufficient information regarding waste processing, landfilling, and technology adoption exposes critical gaps in solid waste management, including limited landfill facilities, inadequate technology implementation, and inadequate monitoring. Effective waste management is crucial for ensuring the sustainability and quality of life in Patna. To address these challenges, the implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in waste management is proposed. This study focuses on evaluating the most suitable smart waste management system for Patna Municipal Corporation. By employing an MCDM model with fuzzy logic-based TFN, the authors identified the optimal MWM alternative based on economic, technical, environmental, and social criteria. Findings unequivocally establish the IoT-based Door-to-Door system (Ʌ1) as the most effective and economical solution for MWM in urban settings like Patna, characterized by a proximity coefficient (PCi) = 0.942809. Furthermore, Social acceptance (ӄ₂) emerged as the most influential criterion with a weight of 0.19375. This system not only promises enhanced operational efficiency for municipalities but also offers significant environmental and social benefits, including waste reduction, improved public health, and heightened community engagement. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to validate the robustness of the proposed method. Notably, the IoT-based system demonstrated a higher sensitivity to cost changes, affirming its superiority in adapting to economic considerations. This insight is pivotal for decision-makers prioritizing cost efficiency in waste management solutions.

KEYWORDS:

• Waste management
• IoT
• triangular fuzzy numbers
• MCDM
• TOPSIS

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ahmad Rafiquee

Ahmad Rafiquee received his Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering from DIT University, India in 2018. He has received his Master of Technology degree in Wireless Communication from Birla Institute of technology, India in 2020. He is presently working as Research Fellow at Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, India

Shabbiruddin

Shabbiruddin received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, India in 2009. He has received his Master of Technology degree in Power Electronics from Sikkim Manipal University, India in 2011. He was awarded Ph.D. from Sikkim Manipal University, India in 2017. He is presently working as Associate Professor Cum Principal in-charge at Government Engineering College, Banka, Science Technology and Technical Education Department, Bihar Engineering University, Bihar, India. He has published several research articles and conference proceedings of both national and international stature.