The Application of Life Cycle Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study on Municipal Solid Waste Treatment Options in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

抄録

In developing countries, landfills and dumping are commonly used as options for the MSWM since it is a low-cost operation with available open space. The improper management of the landfill or dumpsite could significantly impact the environment and public health. Life cycle assessment was applied to evaluate the different solid waste management options, which helps identify the solutions to prevent and reduce resource consumption by considering the entire solid waste life cycle. Therefore, by applying the LCA approach, this research was conducted to assess the environmental impact of MSWM treatment options for the case of Phnom Penh City, Cambodia. The results of LCA revealed that Scenario S3 of composting plant seems to be an ideal MSW treatment despite the highest energy consumption. It shows the importance of waste separation and recycling, which could offer the benefit of MSW reduction at the final disposal site and provide the compost product for agricultural purposes. Moreover, the absence of a large amount of organic waste at the landfill could reduce the environmental burdens, especially landfill gas emission and leachate generation.