Opportunities and challenges for solid waste reuse and recycling in emerging economies: A hybrid analysis

Abstract

This study enriches sustainable solid waste management knowledge by establishing a valid hierarchical model and critiques the causal interrelationship between waste reuse and recycling attributes. The challenges and opportunities for sustainable waste reuse and recycling are emphasized, and direction is provided for practices. Many developing and emerging countries have been attempting to address solid waste management problems and serious restrictions on material reuse and recycling activities. However, it is not well developed, and reuse and recycling efforts have not yet been well implemented due to weak economic and political institution levels. This study aims to propose a sustainable solid waste management model and address opportunities and challenges for waste reuse and recycling in a developing country. A hybrid approach is adopted using a systematic data-driven analysis comprising content analyses, system uncertainty and complexity, the fuzzy Delphi method, interpretive structural modeling, and the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory. The results show that 19 valid indicators are congregated into five aspects, in which circular resource management, societal requirements, and municipal sustainability are causative aspects with the capability to improve sustainable solid waste management as it regards waste reuse and recycling. The top prominent indicators helping to enhance practices are the circular economy, the informal sector, material flow analysis, policy restrictions, waste treatment technologies. The state-of-the-art literature is presented, and further opportunities and challenges are determined.