Cradle-to-grave supply chain for sustainable municipal solid waste management: developing nation perspective

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation, evolving consumption patterns and industrial development have led to environmental deterioration and pose a threat to sustainable development through the generation of significant volumes of municipal solid waste (MSW). The MSW management (MSWM) has thrust the world economy into an unparalleled challenge position, underscoring the need to mitigate its effects. This research analyses the components of a sustainable supply chain for MSW management using a comprehensive methodology that integrates total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) with fuzzy-MICMAC (cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification) analysis. The investigation conducted in this study identifies 17 key factors essential for a sustainable supply chain in MSWM, drawing insights from field research, existing literature and inputs from stakeholders. Subsequently, a hierarchical digraph of the 17 factors is constructed based on their interrelationships utilising the TISM approach. Moreover, a fuzzy-MICMAC sensitivity analysis categorises these factors into four clusters according to their driving forces and dependencies. The findings highlight the significance of adhering to solid waste management (SWM, 2016) regulations, enhancing local governance policies, and raising social awareness of MSW to foster a cleaner urban environment with reduced waste. Effective waste segregation, formal collection procedures, and efficient transportation and tracking systems are crucial for optimising the MSW supply chain. All the factors of a sustainable supply chain for handling MSW have been verified by the field investigation and experts’ opinions in Odisha, India only; hence, generalizability needs to be validated.