The use of multi-criteria decision analysis to tackle waste management problems: a literature review

Abstract

Problems in waste management have become more and more complex during recent decades. The increasing volumes of waste produced and social environmental consciousness present prominent drivers for environmental managers towards the achievement of a sustainable waste management scheme. However, in practice, there are many factors and influences - often mutually conflicting - criteria for finding solutions in real-life applications. This paper presents a review of the literature on multi-criteria decision aiding in waste management problems for all reported waste streams. Despite limitations, which are clearly stated, most of the work published in this field is reviewed. The present review aims to provide environmental managers and decision-makers with a thorough list of practical applications of the multi-criteria decision analysis techniques that are used to solve real-life waste management problems, as well as the criteria that are mostly employed in such applications according to the nature of the problem under study. Moreover, the paper explores the advantages and disadvantages of using multi-criteria decision analysis techniques in waste management problems in comparison to other available alternatives.

A Simplified Multi-Criteria Evaluation Model for Landfill Site Ranking and Selection Based on Ahp and Gis

“…The siting of MSW landfill is a spatial multi-criteria decision analysis (SMCDA) for which both GIS and MCDA methods should be used (Kontos et al 2005). Some relevant studies on landfill siting and solid waste management have integrated GIS and MCDA in various ways which also include analytic hierarchy process(AHP) using weighted linear combination (WLC) (Carver 1991;Siddiqui et al 1996;Charnpratheep et al 1997;Kao et al 1997;Lukasheh et al 2001;Kontos et al 2003Kontos et al , 2005Higgs 2006;Şener et al 2006;Chang et al 2008;Delgado et al 2008;Wang et al 2009;Şener et al 2010;Kara, Doratli 2012;Yildirim 2012;Achillas et al 2013;Allesch, Brunner 2014;Demosouka et al 2014).…”

Analyzing the structure of barriers to municipal solid waste management policy planning in Maputo city, Mozambique

“…Analytic Network Process (ANP) as a relatively new MCDM technique, was proposed by Saaty (1996) (Tseng, 2009;Achillas, 2013). It is a mathematical theory that can deal with all kinds of dependence systematically (Wu, 2007).…”

Technology selection for infectious medical waste treatment using the analytic hierarchy process

“…The method was developed by Saaty (1980) and has been applied to waste management applications, including evaluation of treatment technologies or companies (Hsu et al, 2008;Karagiannidis et al, 2010;Ho, 2011;Achillas et al, 2013). The AHP software Expert Choice 2000, version 2 (Expert Choice Inc., Pittsburgh, PA), was used for the analysis.…”