Waste Management Strategies for Sustainable Development: Exploring Alternatives to Waste Incineration to Minimize Ecological Footprints

Municipal solid waste management is a major challenge for modern environmental policies. Although incineration effectively reduces waste volume, it generates greenhouse gases and heavy metal residues that threaten ecosystems. Furthermore, residues from incineration processes introduce heavy metals into landfill soils, thereby endangering surrounding ecosystems. In this study, soil samples collected from an uncontrolled landfill subjected to waste incineration were found to contain elevated concentrations of heavy metals. Genotoxic assessments using Vicia faba indicated reduced mitotic indices and increased micronucleus formation, suggesting genetic damage from contaminants. Enzymatic analyses showed increased activities of peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in plants experiencing toxic stressors attributable to heavy metal contamination and oxidative damage. These findings underscore significant ecological hazards associated with current incineration practices. By contrast, recycling emerges as a more sustainable alternative capable of mitigating emissions while conserving resources and decreasing reliance on both landfilling and incineration methods. This study compares the environmental impacts of incineration and recycling, emphasizing the need for a transition towards recycling.