The assessment of air emissions increase due to the collection of municipal solid waste with old collection vehicles: A case study of Ludbreg (Croatia)

Abstract

The usage of old equipment (over 10-year-old diesel-fuelled waste collection vehicles, WCVs) for municipal solid waste (MSW) collection in Ludbreg for longer than a decade has had a negative environmental impact, which has been reduced by replacing an old diesel WCV with a new diesel WCV. This study aims to assess the share of air emissions of two old WCVs (FAP 1990 and MAN 2003) and one new (MAN 2015), expressed in CO₂ emissions. In addition, these vehicles have been found easily to reach the limit of 100 dB, which can cause hearing damage in their surroundings. Furthermore, their average fuel consumption is more than 80 l per 100 km, which makes them ineffective in terms of fuel consumption. Generally, higher fuel consumption results in more emissions and for a more eco-friendly operation, the MAN 2003 from Ludbreg WCV fleet should be technically amended and adjusted, and the FAP 1990 should be retired. Although the MAN 2015 is diesel fuelled, the best solution for replacement, according to Maimoun et al. (Waste Management 33: 1079–1089, 2016), would be the use of hydraulic-hybrid vehicles, which provide the best environmental benefits over other alternatives. According to Maimoun et al., hybrid is better environmentally, diesel is the best environmental–economical option and landfill gas-sourced natural gas is the best alternative when accessible because it significantly (up to 80%) reduces emissions of hazardous gases as well as noise levels (50–98%).