CARBON CREDIT POTENTIAL OF INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF BAHAWALPUR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and inadequate waste management have positioned Pakistan’s municipal solid waste sector as a critical source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly methane from uncontrolled dumping. This study focuses on Bahawalpur under the Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Program (PICIIP) and the DREAMS initiative, where Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) is introduced as a model for climate-aligned urban services. Using the U.S. EPA’s Solid Waste Emissions Estimation Tool (SWEET) and IPCC Tier 1–2 methodologies, baseline emissions were assessed under a Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario and compared with a suite of project interventions including composting, material recovery, engineered landfills with methane capture, anaerobic digestion, and improved waste logistics. Results show cumulative reductions of approximately 1.72 million tCO₂e between 2028 and 2050, generating a potential revenue of USD 5.15–20.6 million through carbon crediting. The project’s peak mitigation benefits align with the operational maturity of landfill gas capture, while interventions such as composting and recycling reinforce circular economy objectives and co-benefits for health, employment, and resource recovery. Overall, Bahawalpur’s ISWM demonstrates both technical feasibility and financial viability, presenting a replicable model for Pakistan’s intermediate cities to access carbon finance and achieve long-term sustainability