Analyzing the relationship between municipal solid waste generation and urban land use using integrated geospatial...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Urban Planning
• Geospatial Analysis

Background:

• Understanding spatial variability in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation is crucial for effective urban planning and sustainable waste management.
• Urban form and density significantly influence waste generation patterns, necessitating localized management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between land use patterns and MSW generation in Kota City, India.
• To identify spatial clusters of MSW generation and assess the influence of urban form and density.

Main Methods:

• An integrated geospatial-statistical approach was employed across 146 urban wards.
• Techniques included Hotspot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*), Global and Local Moran's I, overlay analysis, and zonal statistics.
• Waste generation data were spatially linked with land use typologies and population density.

Main Results:

• Daily MSW generation varied from 0.43 to 11.13 metric tons per day.
• High-intensity waste generation hotspots were identified in densely populated, mixed-use zones.
• Significant spatial clustering of MSW was confirmed (Global Moran's I = 0.056, p = 0.009), with specific wards identified as hotspots.

Conclusions:

• Urban land use, population density, and mixed-use zoning are significant drivers of MSW generation patterns.
• The developed spatial-statistical framework offers a scalable decision-support tool for waste planning and sustainable resource management in urbanizing areas.