Geospatial and Optimization Modeling of Solid Waste Management Options: Environmental, Social, and Energy Assessment

Background

Globally, approximately 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) are generated each year, and it is estimated that at least 33% of this waste is not managed in an environmentally safe manner. If urgent measures are not adopted, total waste generation is projected to increase by about 70% by 2050, reaching nearly 3.40 billion tonnes annually.

In addition to this, other structural challenges exacerbate the situation. In many developing countries, uncontrolled urban expansion and the lack of effective urban planning have placed growing pressure on waste collection, treatment, and disposal systems. This problem is particularly critical in densely populated urban areas, where rapid and unplanned growth has extended residential zones toward the vicinity of existing landfills or waste disposal sites, increasing environmental and social vulnerabilities.

In many cases, this has led to social conflicts, service disruptions, and the accumulation of waste in public spaces such as markets, streets, and drainage channels. These conditions pose serious environmental and health risks, highlighting the fragility and unsustainability of current municipal solid waste management systems.

Therefore, proper management of municipal solid waste (e.g. recycling, waste-energy recovery) is essential not only for environmental protection but also for public health, social stability, and urban resilience.

Thesis objective and scope

This thesis aims to investigate the geospatial and optimal solid waste management options (e.g., sanitary landfills, incineration, aerobic digestion), integrating environmental, social, and energy criteria. The study seeks to propose sustainable and long-term strategies for municipal solid waste (MSW) management and to explore the potential for energy/resource recovery from the urban solid waste.

Students will further elaborate the thesis objectives considering the guiding research questions and suggested research approaches/methods. 

Research approach/methodology

The study adopts a bottom-up approach that integrates spatial, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions to support decision-making for sustainable municipal solid waste (MSW) management. This approach connects the urban environment with efforts to enhance resource efficiency, economic viability, and environmental protection.

The research will explore how technological, social, and institutional factors influence waste management practices and the potential for energy recovery from urban waste streams. Students will define specific research questions aligned with the main objectives and develop an appropriate methodological framework and work plan.

The work will start with a comprehensive literature review on MSW management and landfill siting practices, focusing on lessons from similar urban contexts. Analytical methods such as techno-economic assessment, geospatial analysis (GIS), and optimization modeling may be employed to identify the optimal location for treatment facilities (e.g., sanitary landfill, incineration, and anaerobic digestion plants) and evaluate sustainable waste-to-resource opportunities.

Criteria for evaluation

Critical criteria in the complete work and method development and metric for the final assessment are:

• Fulfilment of the ILOs for Master Thesis at KTH's ITM School.

• The student's initiative and independence in developing the overall research design.

• A critical and system perspective and critical discussion of the assumptions and results.

• Consideration of the literature.

• The ability to communicate the results of scientific work clearly and coherently.

If the work is of good quality and the student and project partners are interested, the research project will be designed to be suitable for a peer-reviewed publication in a high-quality journal.

Qualifications/prerequisities

This research combines technical, environmental, and social aspects, so it welcomes students from different backgrounds. A degree in engineering, environmental sciences, energy, biology, chemistry, or economics would be suitable.

It would be helpful to have some familiarity with waste management, energy systems, or sustainability topics. Basic knowledge of GIS tools, optimization models, or data analysis would be an advantage, but it is not strictly required; interest and motivation to learn are the most important.

Duration

6 months, start as soon as possible.

Specialization track

Transformation of Energy System (TES)

Division/Department

Division of Energy Systems – Department of Energy Technology

How to apply

Send an email expressing your interest in the topic to Dilip Khatiwada (dilip.khatiwada@energy.kth.se).

Supervisory team

Suggested readings

1. Maalouf A, Agamuthu P. Waste management evolution in the last five decades in developing countries - A review. Waste Manag Res. 2023 Sep;41(9):1420-1434. doi: 10.1177/0734242X231160099. Epub 2023 Apr 26. PMID: 37125680; PMCID: PMC10416556.

2. Derdera SE, Ogato GS. Towards integrated, and sustainable municipal solid waste management system in Shashemane city administration, Ethiopia. Heliyon. 2023 Nov 4;9(11):e21865. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21865. PMID: 38027681; PMCID: PMC10663929

3. Kaza, S., Yao, L.C., Bhada-Tata, P., Van Woerden F. What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050. Urban Development World Bank. © World Bank, Washington, DC (2018) https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10 986/30317 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.

4. Ziraba, A.K., Haregu, T.N. & Mberu, B. A review and framework for understanding the potential impact of poor solid waste management on health in developing countries. Arch Public Health 74, 55 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-016-0166-4

5. Kafle, S., Karki, B. K., Sakhakarmy, M., & Adhikari, S. (2025). A Review of Global Municipal Solid Waste Management and Valorization Pathways. Recycling, 10(3), 113. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling10030113

6. Zhang Z, Chen Z, Zhang J, Liu Y, Chen L, Yang M, Osman AI, Farghali M, Liu E, Hassan D, Ihara I, Lu K, Rooney DW, Yap PS. Municipal solid waste management challenges in developing regions: A comprehensive review and future perspectives for Asia and Africa. Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jun 20;930:172794. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172794. Epub 2024 Apr 25. PMID: 38677421.