Sustainable Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Pathways: Integrating Hybrid Technologies for Climate-Resilient Urban Development in South Asia

Authors

  • Helal Uddin Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh
  • Rasel Ahmed Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
  • Zaryab Basharat MOE Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
  • Manfred Obeng Amoh Department of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England
  • Touhidur Rahman Sajib Department of Management, Multimedia University, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Syed Anaitullah Bukharie Department of Statistics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70112/arme-2026.15.1.4346

Keywords:

Waste-to-Energy, Climate Resilience, Municipal Solid Waste, Circular Economy, Decentralized Systems

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in South Asia has significantly increased municipal solid waste (MSW) generation, intensifying infrastructure and environmental health challenges. Open dumping remains a common waste management practice, but it contributes to climate change through methane emissions, while large-scale empirical research on sustainable solutions for vulnerable megacities remains limited. This study assesses the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of waste-to-energy (WTE) systems to enhance urban climate resilience and circular resource use. The analytical framework integrates life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis of incineration, anaerobic digestion, gasification, and pyrolysis. Performance indices for selected South Asian cities were evaluated using multi-criteria decision-making models. MSW generation was estimated at 0.5-0.8 kg/capita/day, with organic fractions of around 50-65%. Hybrid systems achieved the highest performance scores, reducing landfill dependence by 60-80% and carbon emissions by 30-50%. Decentralized designs showed shorter payback periods of 5-8 years compared with 8-12 years for centralized systems. The paper concludes that decentralized hybrid WTE technologies offer a transformative and scalable pathway to sustainable urban growth and climate adaptation in South Asia.

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Published

05-05-2026

How to Cite

Helal Uddin, Rasel Ahmed, Zaryab Basharat, Manfred Obeng Amoh, Touhidur Rahman Sajib, & Syed Anaitullah Bukharie. (2026). Sustainable Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Pathways: Integrating Hybrid Technologies for Climate-Resilient Urban Development in South Asia. Asian Review of Mechanical Engineering, 15(1), 68–80. https://doi.org/10.70112/arme-2026.15.1.4346

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026): January-June 2026

Section

Research Article

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