A comprehensive approach to landfill management is essential to enhancing urban resilience in the context of climate change

18 Feb 2026

In 2050, the global waste levels are expected to rise by 69% from 2016 levels, reaching 3.4 billion tons. Unfortunately, most of this waste—about 67%—is not properly managed, leading to a major environmental and public health issue. If nothing changes, waste management costs could soar to $640 billion by 2050.

To address this problem, the study focused on how better landfill management can enhance urban resilience against climate change. Advanced technologies like bioreactor landfills (which speed up waste breakdown and produce methane for energy), smart waste systems, and waste-to-energy solutions offer benefits like reducing pollution, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and even creating economic benefits by turning waste into energy. Furthermore, we need better landfill designs and waste-to-energy projects to protect landfills from extreme weather events, which can worsen pollution and emissions.

However, these solutions will not be enough to address the problem; community involvement and improved policies are needed to ensure waste is properly managed. Cities should integrate landfill planning into urban development and use a mix of technology, policies, and community involvement to create more sustainable waste management systems. By doing so, waste will not be a burden but a resource. This approach not only reduces pollution and health risks but also supports economic growth and climate change mitigation. In short, with proper landfill management with the right strategies, cities can transform their waste problems into opportunities, making the world a cleaner, healthier, and more livable place for future generations.

The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive approach to landfill management as a key component for urban resilience amid climate change. With the increasing challenges of the growing waste crisis, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions, this study aims to emphasize landfill management’s role in alleviating these issues. The study explores how improved landfill design and technological innovations, including bioreactor landfills, IoT-based monitoring, digital twins, and waste-to-energy systems, can effectively increase efficiency, reduce emissions, and contribute to renewable energy production.

In addition, the study links how effective landfill management enhances urban resilience by mitigating climate-related disasters and aligning with the Global Sustainability Goals, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By providing extensive information for practical, scalable solutions, it supports ongoing mitigation strategies and guides policymakers, engineers, and urban planners on best practices for resilient landfill management. Ultimately, this study presents a holistic perspective underscoring the potential of integrating landfill management with urban resilience and climate adaptation strategies.

Authors: Kai Chen Goh (Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Technology Management and Business, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia), Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan (College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University), Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman (Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), Abdelkader Anouzla (Laboratory of Process Engineering and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Hassan II University), Faissal Aziz (Laboratory of Water Sciences, Microbial Biotechnologies, and Natural Resources Sustainability, Faculty of Science Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University), Imran Ali (Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar), Joan Cecilia C. Casila (Land and Water Resources Engineering Division, IABE, CEAT, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Muhammad Imran Khan (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University), Dongdong Zhang (School of Electrical Engineering, Guangxi University), Wei Dai (School of Electrical Engineering, Guangxi University), Choo Wou Onn (INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana) and Ta Wee Seow (Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Technology Management and Business, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2025.106789

Image by Leonid Danilov from Pexels

A comprehensive approach to landfill management is essential to enhancing urban resilience in the context of climate change

In 2050, the global waste levels are expected to rise by 69% from 2016 levels, reaching 3.4 billion tons. Unfortunately, most of this waste—about 67%—is not properly managed, leading to a major environmental and public health issue. If nothing changes, waste management costs could soar to $640 billion by 2050.

To address this problem, the study focused on how better landfill management can enhance urban resilience against climate change. Advanced technologies like bioreactor landfills (which speed up waste breakdown and produce methane for energy), smart waste systems, and waste-to-energy solutions offer benefits like reducing pollution, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and even creating economic benefits by turning waste into energy. Furthermore, we need better landfill designs and waste-to-energy projects to protect landfills from extreme weather events, which can worsen pollution and emissions.

However, these solutions will not be enough to address the problem; community involvement and improved policies are needed to ensure waste is properly managed. Cities should integrate landfill planning into urban development and use a mix of technology, policies, and community involvement to create more sustainable waste management systems. By doing so, waste will not be a burden but a resource. This approach not only reduces pollution and health risks but also supports economic growth and climate change mitigation. In short, with proper landfill management with the right strategies, cities can transform their waste problems into opportunities, making the world a cleaner, healthier, and more livable place for future generations.

The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive approach to landfill management as a key component for urban resilience amid climate change. With the increasing challenges of the growing waste crisis, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions, this study aims to emphasize landfill management’s role in alleviating these issues. The study explores how improved landfill design and technological innovations, including bioreactor landfills, IoT-based monitoring, digital twins, and waste-to-energy systems, can effectively increase efficiency, reduce emissions, and contribute to renewable energy production.

In addition, the study links how effective landfill management enhances urban resilience by mitigating climate-related disasters and aligning with the Global Sustainability Goals, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By providing extensive information for practical, scalable solutions, it supports ongoing mitigation strategies and guides policymakers, engineers, and urban planners on best practices for resilient landfill management. Ultimately, this study presents a holistic perspective underscoring the potential of integrating landfill management with urban resilience and climate adaptation strategies.

Authors: Kai Chen Goh (Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Technology Management and Business, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia), Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan (College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University), Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman (Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), Abdelkader Anouzla (Laboratory of Process Engineering and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Hassan II University), Faissal Aziz (Laboratory of Water Sciences, Microbial Biotechnologies, and Natural Resources Sustainability, Faculty of Science Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University), Imran Ali (Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar), Joan Cecilia C. Casila (Land and Water Resources Engineering Division, IABE, CEAT, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Muhammad Imran Khan (Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University), Dongdong Zhang (School of Electrical Engineering, Guangxi University), Wei Dai (School of Electrical Engineering, Guangxi University), Choo Wou Onn (INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana) and Ta Wee Seow (Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Technology Management and Business, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2025.106789

Image by Leonid Danilov from Pexels