Abstract: Since 2019, China has fully launched municipal solid waste（MSW） classification in cities at the prefecture level and above, but there is still a lack of economic benefit analysis for MSW classification in large and medium-sized cities. Economic benefits of MSW classification in Zhanjiang city by using the cost-benefit methods were evaluated. For the revenue unit, the economic benefit of recyclables after being included in the government supervision system were the highest (221.19-342.25 million yuan/a). Followed by the economic benefit (49.47 million yuan/a) from front-end recovery of recyclables which were assumed entering the end-treatment facility. The economic benefit of different recycling paths of food waste were quite different, specifically, 100% anaerobic digestion (20.33 million yuan/a)>50% composting+50% insect rearing (17.42-19.00 million yuan/a)>100% composting (4.73-7.89 million yuan/a). Furthermore, based on the cost-benefit method and referring to the specific indicators in Zhanjiang Urban Solid Waste Classification Special Plan (2020—2035)，it was indicated that Zhanjiang MSW classification work could achieve net income in the fifth year (2040) after the second fixed investment. This study filled the gap in economic benefit analysis for Zhanjiang city’s MSW classification and could provide a reference for other large and medium-sized cities to calculate the economic benefit of MSW classification.

Key words: Zhanjiang city, MSW classification, economic benefit, cost-benefit method