through this renewable approach, then it will enhance the energy security and
environment integrity of these two continents.
2.1
Introduction
The increasing solid waste generation and its mismanagement is a global issue,
causing serious environmental pollution and human health issues (Zavodska 2003).
Uncontrolled urban sprawl has further added salt to injury and made solid waste
management (SWM) a challenging problem (Ghose et al. 2006). Legal, financial,
and economic aspects associated with it have highlighted this issue in developing
countries on a regional, local, and national level (Palabiyik 2002). There cannot be a
single panacea to this problem. Every city and state has to develop its SWM system
according to the physical and geological setup coupled with the nature of waste
being produced (Monavari et al. 2016). Developed countries have successfully
developed an integrated waste collection and disposal system, while developing
countries, mainly due to lack of capacity building and technological advancements,
are left with the only option of open dumping. SWM system of Pakistan, like other
developing countries’ systems, is also not immune to these mismanagement issues
and serves as grave environmental hazards of the time. Even the most advanced
urban localities have 57% of their housing societies equipped with a formal disposal
system. The situation is more alarming in small towns where only 2/5th of the
population has access to a decent waste collection system (Khan et al. 2016).
This open dumping or somewhat decent disposal techniques not only pose severe
environmental hazards in the form of land, water, and air pollution but also additionally release around 590–880 million tons of methane. This is the outcome of the
biological decomposition and degradation of organic matter in waste through microbial activities (GATE, GTZ 2007). The methane contributes 17% of total greenhouse
gas emissions, making it a potent greenhouse gas. The global warming potential of
methane is 21% over CO 2 . Since 1750, its concentration has increased from 15% to
1800 ppm. In terms of total radiative forcing (TDF), it accounts for 20% (IPCC
2001, 2007). China, India, United States, European Union, and Brazil are ranked as
the top economies with maximum methane emissions (Climate Analysis Indicator
Tool 6.0 Version 2009). Agriculture is the primary source of GHG emissions, and it
contributes 14% of the total methane emission. Livestock and paddy rice are also
leading causes of methane emission, and Livestock makes up 37% of anthropogenic
methane emissions (Korres et al. 2013).
Figure 2.1 provides an account of various GHGs emitters in Pakistan. The energy
sector has been responsible for most of the GHG emissions in the past, present, and
the trend seems to remain valid as far as future predictions are concerned. The
agriculture sector is the second-largest contributor to GHG emissions. Emissions
from waste and energy production can be significantly reduced through waste to
32
M. N. Anwar et al.
environment integrity of these two continents.
2.1
Introduction
The increasing solid waste generation and its mismanagement is a global issue,
causing serious environmental pollution and human health issues (Zavodska 2003).
Uncontrolled urban sprawl has further added salt to injury and made solid waste
management (SWM) a challenging problem (Ghose et al. 2006). Legal, financial,
and economic aspects associated with it have highlighted this issue in developing
countries on a regional, local, and national level (Palabiyik 2002). There cannot be a
single panacea to this problem. Every city and state has to develop its SWM system
according to the physical and geological setup coupled with the nature of waste
being produced (Monavari et al. 2016). Developed countries have successfully
developed an integrated waste collection and disposal system, while developing
countries, mainly due to lack of capacity building and technological advancements,
are left with the only option of open dumping. SWM system of Pakistan, like other
developing countries’ systems, is also not immune to these mismanagement issues
and serves as grave environmental hazards of the time. Even the most advanced
urban localities have 57% of their housing societies equipped with a formal disposal
system. The situation is more alarming in small towns where only 2/5th of the
population has access to a decent waste collection system (Khan et al. 2016).
This open dumping or somewhat decent disposal techniques not only pose severe
environmental hazards in the form of land, water, and air pollution but also additionally release around 590–880 million tons of methane. This is the outcome of the
biological decomposition and degradation of organic matter in waste through microbial activities (GATE, GTZ 2007). The methane contributes 17% of total greenhouse
gas emissions, making it a potent greenhouse gas. The global warming potential of
methane is 21% over CO 2 . Since 1750, its concentration has increased from 15% to
1800 ppm. In terms of total radiative forcing (TDF), it accounts for 20% (IPCC
2001, 2007). China, India, United States, European Union, and Brazil are ranked as
the top economies with maximum methane emissions (Climate Analysis Indicator
Tool 6.0 Version 2009). Agriculture is the primary source of GHG emissions, and it
contributes 14% of the total methane emission. Livestock and paddy rice are also
leading causes of methane emission, and Livestock makes up 37% of anthropogenic
methane emissions (Korres et al. 2013).
Figure 2.1 provides an account of various GHGs emitters in Pakistan. The energy
sector has been responsible for most of the GHG emissions in the past, present, and
the trend seems to remain valid as far as future predictions are concerned. The
agriculture sector is the second-largest contributor to GHG emissions. Emissions
from waste and energy production can be significantly reduced through waste to
32
M. N. Anwar et al.