Critical Review of the Cost-Benefit Analysis in the Literature on Municipal Solid Waste Management

This paper reviews the municipal solid waste management (MSW) literature with particular respect to the cost-benefit analysis of MSW management alternatives. To diagnose the state of the field, the author examined the studies that use the cost-benefit approach in analyzing the MSW management. The review reveals a few important research notes. First, the current literature does not offer an example of a comprehensive and objective cost-benefit model for comparing MSW management options. Second, a systematic measurement of environmental benefits of MSW management methods was not found. Third, recycling may be cost-competitive depending on the situations. However, these circumstances are not clearly identified. And, lastly, few of the current cost-benefit studies discuss the methodological issues such as standing in a systematic way. These findings suggest that the subject of MSW management still lacks comprehensive and rigorous research that may guide both researchers and practitioners to the making of effective MSW management decisions.