Vol.:(0123456789) Energy Systems https://doi.org/10.1007/s12667-024-00693-5 ORIGINAL PAPER Evaluation of optimal technology for the sustainable processing of municipal solid waste employing MINLP model: a case study of Pakistan Hira Amin 1  · Muhammad Rizwan 2  · Muazzam Mukhtar 1  · Muhammad Zaman 1  · Salman Raza Naqvi 3  · Ali Elkamel 4,5  · Khurram Shehzad 1 Received: 11 March 2024 / Accepted: 29 July 2024 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024 Abstract This research presents a comprehensive framework for the sustainable management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and its conversion into valuable products and electricity. This study aims to optimize the MSW management system and identify the optimal pathway for handling MSW, employing Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Pro- gramming (MINLP) model. The framework includes data collection, mathematical modeling, and a case study of Pakistan. In the analysis of 15 cities in Pakistan, the authors found that the most proftable pathway involves the recycling of recycla- ble materials, followed by transesterifcation for biodiesel production. This approach yielded an average proft of $7367 per 100 tons of MSW. The authors also inves- tigated a scenario without recycling, where only transesterifcation was employed, resulting in an average proft of $4043. Additionally, sensitivity analysis revealed that key factors afecting proft and optimal pathways include technology yields, selling prices of products, and capital and operating costs. Notably, a 50% increase in transesterifcation yield led to a 62% proft boost, emphasizing the signifcance of technology performance. This research ofers valuable insights for policymakers and waste management stakeholders, highlighting the economic and environmental benefts of sustainable MSW management and waste to energy (WtE) technologies. It demonstrates the potential for transforming MSW into a valuable resource while addressing waste-related challenges in rapidly urbanizing regions like Pakistan. Extended author information available on the last page of the article