Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is an essential service provided by municipalities and other public entities to manage solid waste generated by households, businesses, and institutions within their jurisdiction. Effective MSWM is crucial for protecting public health and the environment, conserving natural resources, and promoting sustainable development. This section provides an overview of the background, history, and current practices of MSWM (Brunner & Rechberger, 2015; Kulkarni, 2020; Shah et al., 2021; Vyas et al., 2022).
Background
MSWM has been a concern for humans since the beginning of civilization. Historically, people disposed of waste by throwing it into rivers, burying it in pits, or burning it. In ancient Rome, waste was thrown onto the streets, while in medieval Europe, waste was burned in large pits. However, with the rise of industrialization and urbanization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, MSWM became more complex and challenging (Brunner & Rechberger, 2015; De Feo et al., 2014; Karak et al., 2012; Sandhu, 2014; Wilson, 1976).
In the United States, the first municipal dump was established in New York City in 1895. Other cities followed suit by creating their own landfills. However, landfills began to reach capacity, and the public became increasingly aware of the environmental and health hazards associated with improper waste disposal. In the 1960s and 1970s, the U.S. government passed a series of laws and regulations to address these issues, including the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965 and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (Kollikkathara, Feng, & Stern, 2009; Kollikkathara, Feng, & Stern, 2009; Lee & Huffman, 1989; Oakes & Shank, 1979; Wilson, 1976).