The systems-engineering context of the solid waste disposal problem is discussed with a focus on the issues in Saudi Arabia. A methodology was developed for dividing the system of interest into a set of weakly-coupled sub-systems that interact with the narrow system of interest. A model of the narrow system of interest, in this case the municipal solid waste (MSW) system of Saudi Arabia, was then created and validated. The development of this mathematical model is described and is used to investigate a range of scenarios for the future of Saudi Arabia's MSW system with a time horizon of 30 years. The most effective method uses anaerobic digestion, incineration and recycling to reduce the total mass to landfill over the 30 years by 73% when compared to the default scenario (no action taken). In the final year of the simulation, this method reduces the total annual mass to landfill by 69% when compared to a reasonable source reduction strategy. The energy generated by incineration, is shown to contribute a maximum of 2.3% to the Kingdom's annual energy production. Lifecycle analysis shows that the best waste management method produces a DALY (disability life year) score which is 2% of the current strategy, even if moderate source reduction is employed. The two newly suggested scenarios are shown to have a net positive impact on the environment due to the recycling of a large part of the waste stream, preventing acidification/eutrophication due to the manufacture of virgin goods.

中文翻译：

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解决国家级问题的系统工程方法：沙特阿拉伯的城市固体废物管理

讨论了固体废物处理问题的系统工程背景，重点是沙特阿拉伯的问题。开发了一种方法，用于将感兴趣的系统划分为一组与感兴趣的狭窄系统交互的弱耦合子系统。然后创建并验证了狭义系统的模型，在这种情况下是沙特阿拉伯的城市固体废物 (MSW) 系统。描述了该数学模型的发展，并用于研究沙特阿拉伯城市生活垃圾系统未来 30 年的一系列情景。与默认情况（未采取任何行动）相比，最有效的方法是使用厌氧消化、焚烧和回收，在 30 年内将垃圾填埋场的总质量减少了 73%。在模拟的最后一年，与合理的源头削减策略相比，这种方法每年可将垃圾填埋场的总质量减少 69%。焚烧产生的能源被证明对王国年能源生产的贡献最大为 2.3%。生命周期分析表明，即使采用适度的源头削减，最好的废物管理方法产生的 DALY（残疾生命年）分数也是当前策略的 2%。由于回收了大部分废物流，防止了由于原始商品的制造而导致的酸化/富营养化，这两种新建议的方案显示出对环境的净积极影响。占王国年能源产量的 3%。生命周期分析表明，即使采用适度的源头削减，最好的废物管理方法产生的 DALY（残疾生命年）分数也是当前策略的 2%。由于回收了大部分废物流，防止了由于原始商品的制造而导致的酸化/富营养化，这两种新建议的方案显示出对环境的净积极影响。占王国年能源产量的 3%。生命周期分析表明，即使采用适度的源头削减，最好的废物管理方法产生的 DALY（残疾生命年）分数也是当前策略的 2%。由于回收了大部分废物流，防止了由于原始商品的制造而导致的酸化/富营养化，这两种新建议的方案显示出对环境的净积极影响。