The synergy benefits and drivers of pollution and carbon reductions from solid waste resource utilization in China

Solid waste management is a key issue in global efforts to address climate change and pollution. China is exploring ways to improve the management of various types of solid waste to reduce both pollution and carbon. This study aims to develop a method to measure the synergy of solid waste utilization and identify its influence factors. A model was created to assess the synergy of resource utilization for industrial waste, construction waste, and municipal waste. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model was used to identify key factors, and a geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model evaluated how these factors differ over time and space. The results show significant benefits in pollution and carbon reduction from urban solid waste resource utilization. The average synergy index increases from 1.0326 in 2013 to 1.1202 in 2022, showing the strengthened COPCR from SWRU. Pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity is observed, including a northeast-southwest spatial orientation, and an expansion of hot-spot areas over time. Key drivers include green technology innovation, common prosperity, industrial structure, solid-waste governance investment, energy-structure transition, and information infrastructure, while their effects vary across regions. The impact of industrial structure, information infrastructure, and common prosperity are most notable and important for future optimization. This study provides data to support policymakers in promoting and optimizing "Zero Waste City" initiatives in China.