Municipal Solid Waste Status in Iran: From Generation to Disposal

Abstract

The crucial step in policymaking and planning for local governments to select appropriate waste management methods and accomplish the required programs and projects is having comprehensive information on solid waste generation. Since there has not been a comprehensive study on waste management practices at a nationwide level in the last decade, this paper aims to present an overview of the current solid waste generation, characteristics, and disposal methods, covering all 31 provinces of Iran based on available information and regional integrated waste management plans. This study is applied research using the descriptive-case study method with quantitative data. The results show the average of solid waste generation (urban and rural) throughout the country is 0.63 kg/capita/day. Although this is 10% higher than its level in the past decade, it is still lower than the global average per capita (0.74 kg/day). Solid waste composition in Iran comprises primarily organic, with 70%, followed by paper and plastic, which account for 7% of the waste stream. In addition, on average, over 90% of the generated solid waste in Iran is still openly dumped, increasing health and environmental risks. To obtain accurate and reliable data, it is essential to establish a comprehensive waste monitoring plan at the national level. This plan should include the determination and periodic updating, through a standardized method, of waste composition and generation rates. According to the data from this research, planning and financial support for source separation can decrease environmental, economic, and social problems in current solid waste management systems.