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<p>Rapid urbanization has intensified the challenge of managing solid waste, especially in densely populated cities across the globe. Traditional landfill-based disposal methods not only strain land resources but are also major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions—particularly methane, which has over 25 times the global warming potential of CO₂ over a 100-year period. This paper explores the transformative potential of innovative urban solid waste management practices as a strategic tool for climate change mitigation. By examining decentralized composting, waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven sorting systems, this study highlights practical approaches that can be integrated into urban infrastructure to improve resilience and environmental performance. Decentralized composting initiatives help reduce organic waste at the source, offering community-level climate benefits. Waste-to-energy plants, when appropriately regulated, can provide renewable energy alternatives while significantly reducing landfill reliance. Moreover, AI-powered sorting systems offer a high-efficiency method for maximizing recycling rates and minimizing contamination in material recovery facilities. Using case studies from cities like San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Pune, the paper evaluates implementation frameworks, policy drivers, and community engagement models that have enabled these innovations to thrive. The research concludes with a policy-oriented framework for scaling these strategies in rapidly urbanizing regions, emphasizing multi-stakeholder collaboration, financial innovation, and data-driven monitoring tools. This paper contributes to the discourse on sustainable urban development by framing waste not as a burden, but as a climate-smart resource, turning “waste to worth” for the cities of tomorrow.</p>

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From waste to worth: innovative urban solid waste management as a climate mitigation strategy

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月18日

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  • Thompson Faraday Ediagbonya,
  • Isaac Olajide AREO,
  • Osahon Imafidon,
  • Vincent Ochoko Akpojivi,
  • Stephen Seyi Ogunleye,
  • Christopher Mupenzi

摘要

Rapid urbanization has intensified the challenge of managing solid waste, especially in densely populated cities across the globe. Traditional landfill-based disposal methods not only strain land resources but are also major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions—particularly methane, which has over 25 times the global warming potential of CO₂ over a 100-year period. This paper explores the transformative potential of innovative urban solid waste management practices as a strategic tool for climate change mitigation. By examining decentralized composting, waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven sorting systems, this study highlights practical approaches that can be integrated into urban infrastructure to improve resilience and environmental performance. Decentralized composting initiatives help reduce organic waste at the source, offering community-level climate benefits. Waste-to-energy plants, when appropriately regulated, can provide renewable energy alternatives while significantly reducing landfill reliance. Moreover, AI-powered sorting systems offer a high-efficiency method for maximizing recycling rates and minimizing contamination in material recovery facilities. Using case studies from cities like San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Pune, the paper evaluates implementation frameworks, policy drivers, and community engagement models that have enabled these innovations to thrive. The research concludes with a policy-oriented framework for scaling these strategies in rapidly urbanizing regions, emphasizing multi-stakeholder collaboration, financial innovation, and data-driven monitoring tools. This paper contributes to the discourse on sustainable urban development by framing waste not as a burden, but as a climate-smart resource, turning “waste to worth” for the cities of tomorrow.