Open research questions in Municipal Solid Waste Management

What the literature leaves open

• Future research could address these issues by incorporating multiple case studies, expanding the scope of sensitivity analyses, and adopting broader system boundaries.

  How sustainable is waste collection and transport in Nigde Turkiye? · 2026 · DOI

• Nevertheless, it remains to be further empirically examined whether the stringency of BAT-AEL compared to permitted emission standards has been reflected in actual emission reduction outcomes.

  Relative Stringency of Permitted Emission Standards Compared with Best Available Techniques–Associated Emission Levels and Changes in Emission Intensity: A Study on Waste Incineration Facilities · 2026 · DOI

• This cluster reflects the perspectives of waste management from the Global South. As seen in the cooccurrence network (Figure 3), keywords include such as Global South, informal economy, waste pickers, governance, plastic pollution, COVID-19, solid waste and Ghana. In this sense, waste pickers are more present in the Global South belonging to the informal economy. Hence, this should be the prime role of government and other policy makers to make them transition to a formal organization and be counted as a formal economy. Governance plays a key role in transition of these waste pickers into a formal economy. Moreover, waste pickers are linked to waste pollution and solid waste, indicating their primal role in managing solid waste through plastic collection. On a broader perspective and rare occasion, COVID-19 appears in this cluster suggesting their role during the pandemic period and likely its impact on health as a waste picker.

  Trends in Waste Picking: A Bibliometric Analysis of Waste Pickers Impact on Solid Waste Management · 2026 · DOI

• Existing infrastructure remains insufficient to effectively reinte- grate recovered materials into productive use, while informal waste pickers—despite their substantial contribution to material recovery—remain largely excluded from for- mal waste management systems, further contributing to operational fragmentation.

  Mapping plastic waste flows and leakage in Bacolod City using the waste flow diagram · 2026 · DOI

• In addition, future studies should examine the impact of Future research is recommended to address these limitations by adopting a mixed-methods approach that integrates qualitative insights with quantitative measurements of waste reduction performance. Targets are appropriate, and community participation is growing, but city-level waste volumes continue to increase, indicating that program scale remains insufficient to achieve the national 30% waste reduction target. These findings contribute to the literature on waste bank program evaluation in Indonesian cities by demonstrating that policy design adequacy alone is insufficient for effectiveness— operational infrastructure constitutes a critical determinant of program outcomes.

  Effectiveness of the Sukabumi Main Waste Bank (SAMMI) Program on Waste Prevention in Sukabumi City · 2026 · DOI

• The results of this study clearly demonstrate the pressing need to enhance public awareness and education on the proper handling and disposal of spent in Mtendere and damaged energy-saving bulbs In addition, to avoid occupational exposure and secondary contamination during waste collection and processing, waste handlers and municipal personnel should be trained on the appropriate handling of hazardous waste, including broken energy-saving bulbs (Li et al., 2012). By integrating such training into current waste management procedures, it will be possible to ensure that the entire disposal process is carried out securely and efficiently. Finally, interventions that have been put in place should be evaluated and monitored on a regular basis to determine how effective they are.

  ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND DISPOSAL PRACTICES OF SPENT AND BROKEN ENERGY-SAVING BULBS AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN MTENDERE COMPOUND LUSAKA ZAMBIA · 2026 · DOI

• • Based on these findings, the research study recommends the following: • • Promoting community-led initiatives at the local level and highlighting successful local and regional waste management initiatives through various media channels to inspire community participation and strong action. Giving priority and focus to waste literacy education when framing waste management policies. Informing the public about the waste management process in their local area and keeping them involved in addressing and implementing sustainable measures. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS None. REFERENCES Ashik, M. N. P., and Shaju, P. P. (2019). Participatory Communication: A Case Study of Waste Management Strategies in Pappinisseri Panchayat. Communication and Media Studies, 8(2), 57–64. Dulta, M. (2023). Solid Waste Management in Municipal Corporation Shimla: A Study. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology, 10(1), 358–362. Johnson, A. (2023, October 16). Chennai's Ongoing Battle to Improve Waste Management. Citizen Matters. Kala, K., Bolia, N. B., and Sushil. (2020). Waste Management Communication Policy for Effective Citizen Awareness. Journal of Policy Modeling, 42(3), 661–678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2020.01.012 Kumar, S. (2024, November). Empowering Communities Developments Through Waste Management Practices: A Case Study of Haritha Karma Sena in Kerala. International Journal of Research Culture and Society, 8(11). Mandal, D., and Manasi, S. (2022). Civic Activism in Urban Waste Management in Bengaluru City, India (Working Paper No. 545). Institute for Social and Economic Change. Okeke, A. O., Mohammed, U., and Garba, S. (2024). Evaluation of Communication Interventions for Improved Waste Management System in Nigeria. International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research, 2(1), 81–95. Purushothama, K. V. (2018). Implementation of Solid Waste Management by the Local Governments: A Study of Dakshina Kannada District. International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research, 3(11), 6468–6476. Reddy, B. A. (2022). Opportunities and Challenges in Solid Waste Management of Hyderabad: A Case Study of Swatch Hyderabad ShodhVichar: Journal of Media and Mass Communication Mission. International Journal of Research in Academic World, 1(16), 12–20. 223 Integrating Communication Channels to Educate Waste Literacy: The Kilvelur Model - A Case Study Shyamal, D. S., Sawai, A., and Kazmi, A. A. (2022). A Review on the Urban Municipal Solid Waste Management System of an Indian Himalayan State. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 24(3), 835–851. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-022- 01375-z Suthar, S., and Singh, P. (2015). Household Solid Waste Generation and Composition in Different Family Size and Socio-Economic Groups: A Case Study. Sustainable Cities and Society, 14, 56–63.

  INTEGRATING COMMUNICATION CHANNELS TO EDUCATE WASTE LITERACY: THE KILVELUR MODEL - A CASE STUDY · 2026 · DOI

• This study is limited to Kilvelur local body, Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. The study focuses on the solid waste management policies and initiatives implemented by the Kilvelur municipal administration. The findings rely largely on Kilvelur municipal sources. ShodhVichar: Journal of Media and Mass Communication 220 SCOPE OF THE STUDY Iswarya K., and Dr. G. Balasubramania Raja The study can be studied further, focusing on the overall waste management, and comparing it with other small urban local bodies of Tamil Nadu. The scope of the study can be extended further by focusing on the role of informal waste pickers, women in effective waste management. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Rapid urbanization leads to various environmental implications. Growing unchecked consumption patterns pose a great difficulty in managing waste. Municipal solid waste management has emerged as a critical issue to address in the 21st century. Several studies highlight the challenges in effective municipal solid waste management. A case study by Thakur and Ganguly discusses the overall efficiency of the waste management system in Una Town (Himachal Pradesh). This study highlights the inefficiencies in transportation and waste treatment facilities. A study by Dulta (2023) addresses the importance of mitigating future challenges in waste management. This study discussed the existing level of waste management awareness among the public in Shimla. This study also mentions the importance of integrating technological advancements in waste management to facilitate a proper disposal mechanism. Communication plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions towards waste management Okeke et al. (2024). To address proper waste management, communication strategies are much needed. Behavioural change is possible by prioritizing effective communication through various means. Effective communication not only creates awareness but also empowers the community to take part in waste management initiatives. Sustained public participation in waste management initiatives would bring drastic changes in waste management. A study by Mandal and Manasi (2022) discusses the role of civic activism in urban waste management. The study highlighted how various civil society protests against improper waste disposal activities drew government attention. A study by Kala et al. (2020) aims to identify the appropriate communication channels based on the socio-economic categories of citizens. Rapport between Citizens and Government is essential in executing effective waste management initiatives. Outreach campaigns and regular local-level meet-ups among stakeholders increase awareness among the public.

  INTEGRATING COMMUNICATION CHANNELS TO EDUCATE WASTE LITERACY: THE KILVELUR MODEL - A CASE STUDY · 2026 · DOI

• This outcome suggests that training a CNN from scratch on a relatively limited dataset with considerable inter-class visual similarity is insufficient to learn highly discriminative feature representations.

  Klasifikasi Sampah Berbasis Citra Menggunakan Metode CNN: Studi Komparatif dengan Decision Tree, Random Forest, dan SVM untuk Pengelolaan Sampah Berkelanjutan · 2026 · DOI

• However, to fully realize AI's promise, critical issues, including scarce data availability, expensive implementation costs, the requirement for efficient human‐AI cooperation, and ethical considerations regarding algorithmic transparency and workforce impacts, must be systematically addressed.

  <scp>AI</scp> ‐driven circular economy optimization in waste management: A review of current evidence · 2026 · DOI

• This article draws on a three-year interdisciplinary project exploring UK household waste to illuminate the crucial yet underexplored role of the household in improving recycling rates.

  Towards a circular economy of plastic: exploring the vital role of everyday household disposal · 2026 · DOI

• This study acknowledges several limitations that present opportunities for future research. The temporal scope of data collection over two weeks during a specific season limits generalizability, as seasonal variations (e.g., monsoon vs. dry seasons, agricultural cycles, festival periods) significantly influence waste generation patterns in transitional municipalities [68, 69]. The cross-sectional design constrains understanding of dynamic waste management transitions over time, while the geographic focus on a single municipality limits broader applicability across Nepal’s diverse urbanization contexts. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies examining seasonal variations in waste generation and composition across multiple transitional municipalities to enhance regional transferability. Long-term implementation studies of the proposed sustainable waste plan are essential to evaluate practical effectiveness.

  Solid waste management across the urbanization gradient in Changunarayan municipality (Nepal): exploring barriers and identifying strategies for sustainability · 2026 · DOI

• Recommendations for future research include, a broader geographical and demographical scope as this study focused on textile waste patterns between two global regions, perhaps future studies could explore community level differences and be more country specific considering factors such as age, gender, income and education. Additionally, psychological and cultural drivers should be explored because there remains a huge gap in qualitative research with regards to exploring the values, cultural attitudes and consumer motivations towards clothing disposal and consumption.

  Analysing the differences in textile waste management practices between the <i>Global North </i>and the <i>Global South </i>apparel industry · 2026 · DOI

• includes variables such as production, the amount of solid residue (FABA), and potential health compensation.

  Techno-Enviro-Economic Assessment of Hydrodrive-Incinerator Waste-to-Energy Technology in Bogor Cit · 2026 · DOI

• Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, the following recommendations are proposed: 1. Barangay officials and the Local Government Unit IRE 1718401 ICONIC RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING JOURNALS 4466 © MAY 2026 | IRE Journals | Volume 9 Issue 11 | ISSN: 2456-8880 DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I11-1718401 (LGU) should strengthen the implementation and monitoring of solid waste management programs through stricter enforcement of waste segregation policies, regular environmental inspections, and consistent compliance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9003. acknowledge the encouragement and assistance of their families and friends, whose support contributed significantly to the successful completion of this research entitled Household Solid Waste Management Practices and Environmental Effects in Barangay Bantug Norte, Cabanatuan City. (MRF) operations 2.

  Household Solid Waste Management Practices and Environmental Effects in Barangay Bantug Norte, Cabanatuan City · 2026 · DOI

• It is recommended that the USTP system implement campus-specific waste management strategies focusing on enhanced source segregation, recycling of plastics, paper, metals, and glass, and composting of organic waste. Larger campuses should prioritize frequent collection, adequate stor- age, and targeted reduction programs, while smaller cam- puses can focus on efficient segregation, recycling, and awareness campaigns. All campuses should apply clear poli- cies for hazardous and special wastes, use per capita and com- position data to guide planning, and monitor compliance to improve diversion, sustainability, and overall campus waste management.

  Solid Waste Analysis across USTP System: Basis for a Sustainable Management Framework · 2026 · DOI

• However, the study has several limitations, including the size and diversity of the dataset, variations in image quality, and the need for broader testing to evaluate system scalability. In addition, user acceptance, access to appropriate technology, and institutional support are critical factors that may influence the successful adoption and long-term implementation of AI-based e- waste management solutions. CONCLUSION (e-waste) management The study demonstrates that AI-based web applications, particularly the developed chatbot system, have significant potential to improve electronic waste in Zanzibar Urban District. The system effectively supports and classification image enhancing public recognition, while awareness of safe disposal and recycling practices. identification through automated of e-waste also The findings of the study show that a total of 253 images were processed, of which 219 (86.6%) were classified as e-waste. This indicates a high prevalence of electronic waste within user- generated data, reflecting increasing electronic device consumption and disposal challenges in the study area. The results further reveal that most e- 240 | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. East African Journal of Information Technology, Volume 9, Issue 1, 2026 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.37284/eajit.9.1.4987 waste originates from small equipment and electronic components, which also present significant environmental and health risks due to hazardous materials. The study also confirms that AI-based systems can improve both technical efficiency and user engagement in environmental management. By intelligence with user integrating artificial interaction, real-time the chatbot provides feedback that supports informed decision-making regarding waste disposal. However, the successful adoption of such systems depends not only on technological performance but also on user acceptance, access to digital tools, and institutional support. RECOMMENDATIONS to support The study recommends the deployment of AI- based e-waste management systems integrating computer vision and chatbot technologies into municipal workflows real-time classification, monitoring, and reporting of electronic waste. Zanzibar Municipal Council should adopt interoperable digital platforms that enable structured e-waste data capture and decision support for environmental management.

  Artificial Intelligence for Electronic Waste Management: An Image Recognition Framework for Zanzibar Urban District · 2026 · DOI

• The limitation of the current study is that it used one dataset to validate the model, this could restrict its gener- alizability to different SWM scenarios.

  Hybrid neutrosophic-driven stacking ensemble learning for sustainable waste recycling rate estimation · 2026 · DOI

• SVR A regression technique which is based on kernels and • Suitable in modeling of nonlinear • Hard to compute when dealing with large which builds an optimal hyperplane by minimizing the relations. datasets. prediction error within a given margin. • A good generalization ability. • Sensitive to kernel and hyperparameter • Memory effective with medium selection. sized data. RF A group of decision trees that was trained on bootstrap • Minimizes overfitting and variance. • Computationally intensive. sampling and random selection of features. • Robust to noise and outliers. • Lower interpretability than single trees. • Processes data of high dimensions. ANN An ANN is inspired by the human brain and it employs • Ability to estimate high nonlinear • Difficult to achieve the optimal results. layered structures to learn patterns by means of data. relations. • Processes numerical data only. • Acquires high-level features • Needs large datasets for stability. representations. • Lean model architecture. AdaBoost A boosting-based ensemble, which is achieved through • Enhances the accuracy of • A high noise level impairs performance. successive weighted combinations of weak learners by prediction. • Hyper sensitive to the noise and outliers. reweighting samples that are misclassified. • Reduces bias. ETS A collection of very randomized decision trees using • Faster training than RF. • Increment in randomness can lead to random split sampling. • Reduced variance because of decrease in interpretability. increased randomness. • Good with complicated features. LightGBM A class of gradient boosting approaches that employs • High levels of computational • Hard to tune the parameters. tree-based learning algorithms. efficiency. • It is susceptible to overfitting, particularly • Good performance in tasks of when the dataset size is small. nonlinear regression. TABLE 5 Tuned hyperparameter configurations of models.

  Hybrid neutrosophic-driven stacking ensemble learning for sustainable waste recycling rate estimation · 2026 · DOI

• 1. Technical Enhancements a. Improve the user interface and user experience (UI/UX) of both mobile and web applications to raise usability scores beyond “Satisfactory.” Integrate Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to visualize waste hotspots and optimize collection routes. b. c. Explore the use of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and GPS trackers for automated detection and geolocation of hazardous waste. d. Refine the private blockchain ledger and implement smart contracts to automate validation of waste collection and disposal.

  Tox Track: Blockchain-Enabled Tracking and Management System for Hazardous Waste in Madridejos · 2026 · DOI

• The paper identifies the lack of dynamic feedback and debugging mechanisms as causing institutional rigidity in policy implementation communities, but does not propose what specific adaptive management protocols, monitoring intervals, or performance threshold triggers should be designed and tested to enable self-renewal in waste sorting systems.

  Diagnosing the structure of policy implementation community in waste sorting: a grounded theory analysis from a China’s case study · 2026 · DOI

• The study shows smart sorting equipment became non-functional data showpieces after third-party teams withdrew and funding ended, but does not specify what long-term funding models, maintenance cost-sharing arrangements, or sustainability metrics should be implemented and evaluated to prevent the cyclical reversion to low-level equilibrium in waste sorting policy implementation communities.

  Diagnosing the structure of policy implementation community in waste sorting: a grounded theory analysis from a China’s case study · 2026 · DOI

• The paper documents that resource recovery enterprises systematically reject low-value recyclables due to absent market pricing, but lacks analysis of what subsidy payment structures, per-ton compensation rates, or market pricing mechanisms should be tested to resolve goal heterogeneity between government environmental targets and enterprise cost-control logic in policy implementation communities.

  Diagnosing the structure of policy implementation community in waste sorting: a grounded theory analysis from a China’s case study · 2026 · DOI

• The research reveals community heterogeneity is ignored through one-size-fits-all standardized disposal times and campaign-style publicity, but does not operationalize what differentiated governance approaches or localized adaptive mechanisms should replace uniform regulations in specific community contexts within policy implementation communities.

  Diagnosing the structure of policy implementation community in waste sorting: a grounded theory analysis from a China’s case study · 2026 · DOI

• The paper identifies malfunctions of smart devices creating monitoring blind spots and resident counter-innovations like covert mixed disposal, but does not specify maintenance protocols, failure rate thresholds, or smart device redesign criteria that should be investigated to prevent policy implementation community disruption in waste sorting systems.

  Diagnosing the structure of policy implementation community in waste sorting: a grounded theory analysis from a China’s case study · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Municipal Solid Waste Management

• Municipal solid waste generation, composition, and management: the global scenario · Social Responsibility Journal · 2020 · 291 citations
• Smart waste management: A paradigm shift enabled by artificial intelligence · Waste Management Bulletin · 2024 · 262 citations
• Assessing the Impact of Recycled Building Materials on Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency: A Comprehensive Framework for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions · Buildings · 2024 · 116 citations
• Worldwide scaling of waste generation in urban systems · Nature Cities · 2024 · 104 citations
• Quantifying the Impact of Construction Waste Charging Scheme on Construction Waste Management in Hong Kong · Journal of Construction Engineering and Management · 2013 · 99 citations
• Global perspective of municipal solid waste and landfill leachate: generation, composition, eco-toxicity, and sustainable management strategies · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · 2024 · 90 citations
• Evolving waste management: The impact of environmental technology, taxes, and carbon emissions on incineration in EU countries · Journal of Environmental Management · 2024 · 86 citations
• Food waste management and sustainable waste to energy: Current efforts, anaerobic digestion, incinerator and hydrothermal carbonization with a focus in Malaysia · Journal of Cleaner Production · 2024 · 81 citations
• Optimizing waste management strategies through artificial intelligence and machine learning - An economic and environmental impact study · Cleaner Waste Systems · 2024 · 77 citations
• Toward sustainability of Waste-to-Energy: An overview · Energy Conversion and Management · 2024 · 74 citations

Most recent work

• <scp>AI</scp> ‐driven circular economy optimization in waste management: A review of current evidence · Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy · 2026
• Artificial intelligence application in municipal and port waste management: systematic literature review · Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy · 2026
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• AI-Driven Model Predictive Control for Smart Waste Collection Routing in Urban Environments · IJARCCE · 2026
• Current Trends and Challenges of Solid Waste Management in India · International Scientific Journal of Engineering & Management · 2026
• Advancements in waste management: a comprehensive review of Artificial Intelligence applications in smart cities · Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities · 2026
• Image-Based Waste Classification Using a Hybrid Deep Learning Architecture with Transfer Learning and Edge AI Deployment · Mathematics · 2026
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• BiAPPSS: an enhanced bipolar fuzzy APPSS framework for sustainable solid waste management · Frontiers in Environmental Science · 2026

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