Pakistan faces a severe and escalating municipal solid waste (MSW) management crisis driven by rapid urbanization, population growth, and inadequate infrastructure. With over 30 million tons of MSW generated annually, current disposal methods are predominantly limited to environmentally hazardous open dumping and uncontrolled landfilling. This leads to significant public health risks, groundwater contamination, and the release of potent greenhouse gases like methane. The core scientific problem lies in the unique, challenging composition of Pakistan’s MSW, which is characterized by a high organic fraction (60–75%), high moisture content (45–55%), and a consequently low calorific value. These properties render conventional, widely-used thermal treatment methods like mass-burn incineration.

Аамир У. (науч. рук. Сергиенко О.И.) A sustainable solution for low-calorific municipal solid waste for Pakistan // Сборник тезисов докладов конгресса молодых ученых. Электронное издание. – СПб: Университет ИТМО, [2026]. URL: https://kmu.itmo.ru/digests/article/16568