Environmental Impact Assessment of Urban Waste Recycling Challenges: A Review of DPSIR for Life Cycle Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Challenges in Greater Monrovia, Liberia

Abstract

This study evaluates the environmental impact of municipal solid waste management recycling probability in Greater Monrovia, using the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Greater Monrovia generates approximately 236155 tons of recyclable waste annually, comprising biodegradable, plastics, paper, inert materials, and assorted waste. Inadequate infrastructure causes less waste collection, and most are openly dumped or burned, triggering severe environmental pollution. The LCA examines key impact categories, including global warming potential (GWP), water pollution, resource depletion, and human health impacts across four waste management scenarios. Scenario one (Landfill) identified significant emissions, contributing to global warming (194.86 kg CO2 eq), marine aquatic ecotoxicity (MAE) (2259578 kg 14-DB eq), and human toxicity (172.59 kg 14-DB eq). Scenario two (Anaerobic Digestion) illustrates lower impacts on human toxicity (237.83 kg 14-DB eq) and freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity (86.99 kg 14-DB eq), with moderate GWP (415.51 kg CO2 eq). In Scenario three, (Open Burning) results are the highest GWP (444.03 kg CO2 eq) and MAE (1426606.7 kg 14-DB eq), indicating substantial environmental and health risks. Scenario Four, a combined approach integrating landfill, anaerobic digestion, and open burning, optimizes the strengths and mitigates the weaknesses of each scenario, offering a balanced approach with reduced impacts across multiple categories.  Findings indicate Scenario Two has a relatively moderate environmental impact. Assumed as the most preferred scenario based on the waste management option due to low environmental effects, thereby recommended as the appropriate technology for the MSW recycling process in Greater Monrovia, ultimately reducing environmental impacts and improving resource recovery.