As　key　drivers　of　urbanisation　and　economic　growth　in　China,　major　urban　agglomerations　play　a　critical　role　in　mitigating　carbon　emissions　from　municipal　solid　waste　(MSW)　treatment.　This　study　investigated　the　spatial　correlation　network　and　its　underlying　drivers　across　63　cities　in　urban　agglomerations　from　2006　to　2022,　using　social　network　analysis　and　quadratic　assignment　procedure　regression.　The　results　reveal　that　the　total　MSW　carbon　emissions　peaked　at　1.28　million　tons　in　2017　and　dropped　to　−　27,200　tons　by　2022,　with　87.30　%　of　cities　achieving　net-negative　emissions.　The　emissions　network　evolved　into　a　core-periphery　structure,　with　leading　cities　such　as　Beijing,　Shanghai,　and　Guangzhou　driving　regional　coordination.　Intercity　linkages　increased　from　708　in　2010　to　1246　in　2022,　reflecting　a　shift　from　fragmented,　unidirectional　flows　to　a　more　integrated,　bidirectional　network.　Further,　divergences　in　population　density,　treatment　capacity,　and　policy　support　consistently　fostered　stronger　network　connectivity,　whereas　mismatches　in　technology,　industrial　structure,　and　economic　development　posed　persistent　barriers　to　collaboration,　varying　notably　across　urban　agglomerations.　These　findings　underscore　the　need　for　region-specific　governance　models　and　differentiated　policy　strategies　to　strengthen　spatial　coordination　for　MSW　carbon　mitigation.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd