No abstract

The evaluation method to compare municipal solid waste management (MSWM) systems has been presented. The results of the integrated waste management model (IWM-1), were used as the input data for the analysis. The results were integrated into life cycle analysis (LCA) impact categories. The authors present possible to calculate categories, and calculate them for the two MSWM scenarios. Next, the system performance was compared using a multicriteria method, called analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The hierarchical preference analysis on the World Wide Web software (Web-HIPRE) was applied to conduct the analysis. The criteria ratios for the AHP were assumed arbitrarily based on the best knowledge of the authors. Finally, the presented sensitivity analysis showed the confidence of the obtained results and pointed out the most important assumptions of the whole analysis. The two Cracow MSWM systems were used as a case study.

The article presents two aspects of sludge management: regional planning and product recovery. The introduction of these two elements can reduce the cost, close the ecocycle and make the management more sustainable. A spreadsheet program to optimize the regional location of different facilities is presented. The simple example shows the potential of the model. The brief comparison of formal problems concerning sludge disposal in Poland and Sweden is also discussed. Requirements of phosphorus recovery and recycling of phosphorus to the phosphate industry make sludge fractionation in combination with product recovery a new development in wastewater handling. Phosphorus recovery from sludges with chemical bound phosphorus requires complex and expensive process technology and may therefore lead to increased regional sludge management with a central sludge treatment plant.

The chapter presents the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method in the field of environmental management. The work shows how to use the results of environmental engineering tools or models as an input for the AHP method. Three case studies are presented: selection of the best municipal solid waste disposal system, assessment of the tap and bottled water consumption on the environment, and selection of the heat pump for the individual home. In the first case study, the AHP analysis was required to assess the environmental impact of waste disposal system. This was done by the use of Integrated Waste Management model (IWM-1), which delivered results aggregated, at the next step, into Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) categories. The obtained results were used in the AHP analysis to choose the best scheme for the waste disposal system. In the second case study, the AHP method was used to evaluate different patterns of water drinking. Obtained results help decision makers in assessing regional and individual environmental impact if the drinking pattern changes. Selected evaluation criteria were solid waste stream, energy consumption, carbon dioxide emission, and Ecoindicator 99 H/A points. The third case study presents the method of heat pump selection. The environmental performance criteria were developed using the criteria of the ecolabeling program. All three case studies are based on real data.