Waste Management in the Smart City: Current Practices and Future Directions

Abstract

The discourse surrounding sustainability, particularly in the urban environment, has gained considerable momentum in recent years. The concept of a smart city epitomises the integration of innovative technological solutions with community-centred approaches, thereby laying the groundwork for a sustainable lifestyle. One of the crucial components of this integration is the effective and innovative management of waste. The aim of this article was to classify scientific research pertaining to waste management within the context of smart city issues, and to identify emerging directions for future research. A systematic literature review, based on a bibliometric analysis of articles included in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, was conducted for this study. The purpose of such a systematic review is to identify, integrate, and evaluate research on a selected topic, using clearly defined criteria. The research query included: TITLE-ABS-KEY (“smart city” AND (waste OR garbage OR trash OR rubbish)) in the case of Scopus, and TS = (“smart city” AND (waste OR garbage OR trash OR rubbish)) in the case of the Web of Science database. A total of 1768 publication records qualified for the analysis. This study presents an investigation into the current and forthcoming directions of waste management in smart cities, synthesising the latest advancements and methods. The findings outline specific future research directions encompassing technological advancement, special waste challenges, digitisation, energy recovery, transportation, community engagement, policy development, security, novel frameworks, economic and environmental impact assessment, and global implications. These insights reflect a multifaceted approach, advocating a technology-driven perspective that is integral to urban sustainability and quality of life. The study’s findings provide practical avenues for cities to enhance waste management through modern technologies, promoting efficient systems and contributing to sustainable urban living and the circular economy. The insights are vital for policymakers and industry leaders globally, supporting the creation of universal standards and policies, thereby fostering comprehensive waste management systems aligned with global sustainability objectives.

Multi-Factor GIS Modeling for Solid Waste Dumpsite Selection in Lilongwe, Malawi

“…It includes various materials such as leaves, food remnants, paper, textile materials, bones, and dead animals [2]. Waste production is expected to rise to 2.8 billion metric tons by 2050 worldwide [3]. This rise creates enormous cost constraints for collection, landfills, and recycling [3], with the Sub-Saharan Africa region producing around 62 million tons of waste annually [3].…”

“…Waste production is expected to rise to 2.8 billion metric tons by 2050 worldwide [3]. This rise creates enormous cost constraints for collection, landfills, and recycling [3], with the Sub-Saharan Africa region producing around 62 million tons of waste annually [3]. The development of smart waste management is required, leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled services and other smart technologies to support real innovation in waste management.…”

“…With a projected growth in the global population expected to reach 9.75 billion by 2050 (a 22.5% increase from the population of 7.96 billion in 2022), it is anticipated that the Sub-Saharan Africa region will be producing around 62 million tons of waste annually [4]. In terms of environmental pollution, social inclusion, and economic sustainability, solid waste (SW) mismanagement and misgovernance in cities, mining, and the wood industry among others are global issues that call for integrated evaluations and holistic measures to address them [3,[5][6][7][8][9]. Cities [3] and many nations worldwide, including Cambodia [9], Brazil [8], India [7], and Chile [5], among others, face significant economic challenges when it comes to waste management.…”

“…In terms of environmental pollution, social inclusion, and economic sustainability, solid waste (SW) mismanagement and misgovernance in cities, mining, and the wood industry among others are global issues that call for integrated evaluations and holistic measures to address them [3,[5][6][7][8][9]. Cities [3] and many nations worldwide, including Cambodia [9], Brazil [8], India [7], and Chile [5], among others, face significant economic challenges when it comes to waste management. These challenges include a lack of coordination between various data sources and an integrated data cloud that can be shared among various stakeholders; a lack of environmental awareness on the part of citizens and the implementation of technologies in recycling, reverse logistics, and support of environmental regulations [3]; illegal dumping (open dumping) [9]; a lack of a global agreement regarding the best practices for tailings management and governance [5], limited financial resources, inadequate technologies; and a lack of a policy framework [9].…”

Smart City Actions Integrated into Urban Planning: Management of Urban Environments by Thematic Areas

“…For technological innovations, the IoT has emerged as a main driver of smart city initiatives. IoT-enabled systems catalyze transformations, promoting improvements for human life in urban spaces [7].…”