Application of system dynamics to evaluate reduction targets for the entry of solid waste into a landfill site

Abstract

The waste produced around the world increases daily due to population increase and the fact that life expectancy is longer. Waste production is higher in urban environments; therefore, managing Urban Solid Waste must be more rigorous to avoid environmental problems and health effects. For this reason, standards are created to properly manage landfills so that each life cycle stage is managed responsibly. However, a solid commitment from the community and more management regulations from the government are needed to be focused on reducing, reusing, and recycling materials as much as possible. This commitment needs to be reinforced to the extent that regulatory policies are created at the household level as much as education and awareness programs are implemented. This study presents a method to evaluate how imposing waste management goals before they reach landfills can increase the lifetime of landfills and, consequently the suitableness of a treatment plant implementation.