Municipal solid waste management and greenhouse gas emissions at international airports: A case study of Astana International Airport. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sarbassov, Yerbol; Venetis, Christos; Aiymbetov, Berik; Abylkhani, Bexultan; Yagofarova, Almira; Tokmurzin, Diyar; Anthony, Edward J.; Inglezakis, Vassilis J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of air transport management. Volume 85(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: Astana International Airport -- Municipal solid waste -- Recyclable fractions; Airlines -- Management -- Periodicals; Aeronautics, Commercial -- Management -- Periodicals; 387.7068
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2020.101789
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-6997

Abstract

Abstract: The steady expansion of the city of Astana and the increase of airport capacity is leading to an increase in municipal solid waste generation. The purpose of this study was to perform compositional analysis of the municipal solid waste produced at the Astana International Airport and evaluate different waste management scenarios in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Recyclable and combustible fractions were found to be the major fractions (over 50%) of the total municipal solid waste generated in the Astana International Airport. Four base greenhouse gas emissions scenarios were proposed in this study, namely scenario-1 describing the current municipal solid waste management case, scenario-2 with integration of 29% recycling and 71% of municipal solid waste landfilling, scenario-3 for 100% of airport municipal solid waste being incinerated and scenario-4 for recycling 29% and the remaining waste being processed for energy recovery purposes. The proposed scenario 2 demonstrated significantly reduced net greenhouse gas emissions (t CO2 eq/year) over the existing scenario 1, while scenarios 3 and 4 showed negative net greenhouse gas emissions. The experimental data provided and the scenarios discussed in this work are useful tools for decision makers for environmental waste management at airports. Highlights: Municipal solid waste from Astana International Airport was investigated. Four MSW management scenarios were compared in terms of emissions and cost. Incineration of airport waste provides better environmental footprint but at high cost.