Reinforced urban waste management for resource, energy and environmental benefits: China's regional potentials

•An integrated system focusing on reinforced MSW management is constructed.•Scenarios with moderate, strengthened and complete waste recycling levels are designed.•Potentials of resource and energy recovery in 31 provincial regions are evaluated.•Four types of mitigated environmental impact potentials are quantified.•Guangdong, Jiangsu, shandong and zhejiang are more advantageous regarding all benefits.