Background and Objective: Managing municipal solid waste in megacities like Tehran, which generates approximately 8,500 tons of waste daily, presents significant environmental and economic challenges. Notably, biodegradable organic materials constitute an estimated 60–70% of this waste, necessitating effective management strategies to mitigate environmental impacts. This study aims to evaluate the technical feasibility, environmental benefits, and economic viability of implementing rapid composting technology as an innovative approach to managing Tehran's organic waste.
Materials and Methods: A composting system with a daily processing capacity of 1,000 kilograms of organic waste was analyzed. Economic evaluation employed cost-benefit analysis, calculating financial indicators such as Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, Payback Period, and Profitability Index.
Results: The rapid composting technology demonstrated an NPV of 56.6 billion Iranian Rials, an IRR of 20.48%, and a PBP of 3 years and 5 months. The PI was calculated at 3.52, indicating strong economic attractiveness. Environmentally, this technology contributes to reducing landfill volume, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, producing high-quality compost, and decreasing reliance on chemical fertilizers.
Conclusion: Implementing rapid composting technology for processing 1,000 kilograms of organic waste daily in a residential complex of 2,000 inhabitants in Tehran is both economically and environmentally justifiable. This approach offers a practical and sustainable solution for urban organic waste management.
