Selection of the optimal system for municipal solid waste management by integrated application of LCA and MCDM methods

Abstract

Defining the optimal and sustainable system for municipal solid waste management at the local level is a very complex task that involves encountering challenges and overcoming a number of contradictories. The greatest efforts are directed towards designing a cost-effective system that will minimize negative impact on the environment and enhance energy efficiency. This paper presents a procedure for selection of the optimal local system for municipal solid waste management though integrated application of LCA and MCDM methods for the city of Kragujevac (the Republic of Serbia). Six different strategies for municipal solid waste management have been made and modelled using the software packet IWM2. For each strategy, a comparative analysis of the values for eight different parameters has been made. Based on the relevant indicators for each of the strategies and applying the Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) Method and multicriteria decision-making, the optimal management system has been chosen. In order to further verify the choice, an additional analysis of the sensibility of the results to the change of the criteria coefficients has been made. The applied procedure can be successfully used for defining the optimal system for municipal solid waste management for various municipalities.