Sustainable approach for valorization of solid wastes as a secondary resource through urban mining

The incessant population has increased the production and consumption of plastics, paper, metals, and organic materials, which are discarded as solid waste after their end of life. The accumulation of these wastes has created growing concerns all over the world. However, conventional methods of solid waste management i.e., direct combustion and landfilling have caused several negative impacts on the environment (releasing toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases, huge land use) besides affecting human health. Therefore, it is requisite to determine sustainable alternative technologies that not only help in mitigating environmental issues but also increase the economic value of the discarded solid wastes. This process is known as urban mining where waste is converted into secondary resources and thereby conserves the natural primary resources. Thus, this review highlights the technological advancements in the valorization process of discarded wastes and their sustainable utilization. We also discussed several limitations of the existing urban mining processes and further the feasibility of valorization techniques was critically analyzed from a techno-economical perspective. This paper recommends a novel sus-tainable model based on the circular economy concept, where waste is urban mined and recovered as a sec-ondary resource to support the united nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). The implementation of this model will ultimately help the developing countries to achieve the target of SDGs 11, 12, and 14.

Automated summary

This review paper explores the advancements in urban mining technology and its sustainable utilization, emphasizing the importance of transforming waste into secondary resources. The limitations and feasibility of existing techniques are critically analyzed. The paper proposes a novel sustainable model based on the circular economy concept to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.