Benefits analysis of classification of municipal solid waste based on system dynamics

The problem of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) has become increasingly prominent that hinders the harmonious development of society. China recently regards the classification of municipal solid waste as one of the important strategies for national ecological civilization construction. However, the published references have not considered simultaneously on the classification effects of MSW in views of economy, resource, and environment. For this purpose, an integrated system dynamic model is developed for evaluating the impact of waste classification on the aspects of socio-economy, environment and resource. The application of the proposed model is shown using a case study in Tianjin, China during 2006–2017. The socioeconomic benefits show that as the separate rate increases, socioeconomic benefits change from negative to positive values and the maximum socioeconomic benefit could have reached to 0.36% of Tianjin’s GDP. The environmental assessment indicates that the yearly reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2-equivalent) from 2006 to 2017 could have ranged from 1.03 to 1.46 million ton due to waste at classification. The results also reveal for every 1% increase in the separate rate, the range of yearly land saved could have been between 502.92 and 2918.59 m2. The system dynamic model and present results are important to policy makers, strategic planners and researchers to realize and predict the importance of waste classification, which encourages residents to actively participate in the action of waste classification.