Assessment methods for solid waste management: A literature review

Abstract

Assessment methods are common tools to support decisions regarding waste management. The objective of this review article is to provide guidance for the selection of appropriate evaluation methods. For this purpose, frequently used assessment methods are reviewed, categorised, and summarised. In total, 151 studies have been considered in view of their goals, methodologies, systems investigated, and results regarding economic, environmental, and social issues. A goal shared by all studies is the support of stakeholders. Most studies are based on life cycle assessments, multi-criteria-decision-making, cost-benefit analysis, risk assessments, and benchmarking. Approximately 40% of the reviewed articles are life cycle assessment-based; and more than 50% apply scenario analysis to identify the best waste management options. Most studies focus on municipal solid waste and consider specific environmental loadings. Economic aspects are considered by approximately 50% of the studies, and only a small number evaluate social aspects. The choice of system elements and boundaries varies significantly among the studies; thus, assessment results are sometimes contradictory. Based on the results of this review, we recommend the following considerations when assessing waste management systems: (i) a mass balance approach based on a rigid input-output analysis of the entire system, (ii) a goal-oriented evaluation of the results of the mass balance, which takes into account the intended waste management objectives; and (iii) a transparent and reproducible presentation of the methodology, data, and results.

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).…”

Fully integrated modelling for sustainability assessment of resource recovery from waste

“…For environmental assessments in contexts of resource recovery from waste, methods such as MFA and LCA are widely applied (Allesch and Brunner, 2014). Reviews of MFA applied to RRfW have indicated that it is valuable for observing how waste management systems function and understanding the pathways hazardous substances take through systems (Allesch and Brunner, 2015).…”

Selection of use channels for dredged sediments : a multicriteria analysis approach

“…Ce cas de gestion récurrent pour l'entreprise EDF est intéressant du fait de son caractère frontalier. Une étude de la littérature montre que, dans un contexte de développement durable, les outils et méthodes principalement utilisés pour les études de gestion de déchets portent principalement sur les dimensions environnementale et économique (ALLESCH & BRUNNER, 2014). La prédominance de la partie environnementale s'explique, en partie, par l'utilisation de l'Analyse de Cycle de Vie (ACV), méthode normée et qui fait consensus à l'international (AFNOR, 2006).…”