Waste Management Strategies for Sustainable Development: Exploring Alternatives to Waste Incineration to Minimize Ecological Footprints

¹ Laboratory of Electronic Systems, Information Processing, Mechanics and Energy, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, P.O. Box 242, Morocco
² Laboratory of Materials and Subatomic Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, P.O. Box 242, Morocco
³ Higher Institute of Health Sciences (ISSS), Hassan First University, Settat, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published online: 3 February 2026

Abstract

Municipal solid waste management is a major challenge for modern environmental policies. Although incineration effectively reduces waste volume, it generates greenhouse gases and heavy metal residues that threaten ecosystems. Furthermore, residues from incineration processes introduce heavy metals into landfill soils, thereby endangering surrounding ecosystems. In this study, soil samples collected from an uncontrolled landfill subjected to waste incineration were found to contain elevated concentrations of heavy metals. Genotoxic assessments using Vicia faba indicated reduced mitotic indices and increased micronucleus formation, suggesting genetic damage from contaminants. Enzymatic analyses showed increased activities of peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in plants experiencing toxic stressors attributable to heavy metal contamination and oxidative damage. These findings underscore significant ecological hazards associated with current incineration practices. By contrast, recycling emerges as a more sustainable alternative capable of mitigating emissions while conserving resources and decreasing reliance on both landfilling and incineration methods. This study compares the environmental impacts of incineration and recycling, emphasizing the need for a transition towards recycling.