Decentralized Biorefinery for Energy Recovery From Mixed Municipal Solid Waste: Life Cycle and Techno‐Economic Assessment
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The rapid urban expansion and economic development have resulted in an unprecedented increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. The global MSW generation is expected to increase from 2.1 billion tons in 2023 to ~3.8 billion tons by 2050. This study focuses on designing a decentralized biorefinery model for the treatment of mixed MSW in Lahore, Pakistan. The proposed system involves material recovery, anaerobic digestion (AD), composting, and thermochemical conversion processes to recover energy and valuable products from waste. GaBi and ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method with a functional unit of 1 ton was used to conduct a life cycle assessment (LCA). The results of this analysis indicate that the decentralized biorefinery substantially reduces landfill dependence and associated methane emissions. Hotspot analysis revealed that around 70% of the environmental burden is due to landfill disposal and transportation. It is estimated that each decentralized unit has the potential to generate an annual revenue of USD 51,831 against an operating cost of USD 41,268 annually. This means an approximate profit of USD 10,563 per unit and a payback period of about 3 years. The research highlights the potential of decentralized MSW biorefineries as an environmentally friendly alternative to Lahore’s traditional waste management system. Introducing resource recovery and renewable energy production at the local scale, this approach facilitates Pakistan’s path toward a low‐carbon circular economy and national renewable energy and climate ambitions (SDGs 7, 12, and 13).
DOI: 10.1155/er/8687085
Language: English
Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,700
OpenAlex ID: W7213243744