Development and test case application of a waste minimization project evaluation method

Abstract

The authors have developed and applied a methodology to ewiluate and prioritize proposed waste minimization activities affecting Department of Energy (DOE) programs. This approach provides a systematic and defensible method for selecting a set ot" waste minimization proposals that maximizes the benefits to DOE while maintaining costs within a specified budget. The report discusses the development of a structured set of evaluation criteria to characterize waste minimization issues; techniques for documenting the anticipated and potential costs, risks, and benefits of waste minimization proposals; and a method of translating disparate data into a figure of merit for each proposal. A test case demonstration of this prioritization approach was applied t,: proposals currently being considered at two DOE weapons production facilities. Recommendations are provided t'c_r combining this approach with the existing DOE proposal selection process.

Budget allocation and the analytic hierarchy process

“…Sub-criteria nodes may Sandia National Laboratories has give rise to sub-sub-criteria nodes, etc. just finished a Test Case [2] for the DOE Finally, ali of the alternatives (projects) "…”

“…Having developed the relevant DOE sites. In [2] Kjeldgaard, Saloio and criteria, the use of AHP next undertakes Varnado proposed the use of the to derive t)riorities for each of the Analytic Hierarchy Process [4] to alternativeff being compared. Priorities develop criteria against which are positive real numbers which reflect alternative projects can be compared as the relative values of the alternatives to relative benefits.…”

“…due to Thomas Saaty, is fully explained These are the numbers which may be i n [4,6 ], a n d i t s r e c o m m e n d e d taken as measures of benefit. application to DOE Waste Min/mization is summarized in [2].…”