A novel sustainable decision making model for municipal solid waste management
Resource
Waste Management 27 (2): 209-219
Journal
Waste Management
Journal Volume
27
Journal Issue
2
Pages
209-219
Date Issued
2007
Author(s)
Abstract
This paper reviews several models developed to support decision making in municipal solid waste management (MSWM). The concepts underlying sustainable MSWM models can be divided into two categories: one incorporates social factors into decision making methods, and the other includes public participation in the decision-making process. The public is only apprised or takes part in discussion, and has little effect on decision making in most research efforts. Few studies have considered public participation in the decision-making process, and the methods have sought to strike a compromise between concerned criteria, not between stakeholders. However, the source of the conflict arises from the stakeholders' complex web of value. Such conflict affects the feasibility of implementing any decision. The purpose of this study is to develop a sustainable decision making model for MSWM to overcome these shortcomings. The proposed model combines multicriteria decision making (MCDM) and a consensus analysis model (CAM). The CAM is built up to aid in decision-making when MCDM methods are utilized and, subsequently, a novel sustainable decision making model for MSWM is developed. The main feature of CAM is the assessment of the degree of consensus between stakeholders for particular alternatives. A case study for food waste management in Taiwan is presented to demonstrate the practicality of this model. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Other Subjects
Decision making; Mathematical models; Social aspects; Solid wastes; Sustainable development; Multicriteria decision making (MCDM); Municipal solid waste management (MSWM); Stakeholders; Sustainable decision making models; Waste management; Decision making; Mathematical models; Social aspects; Solid wastes; Sustainable development; Waste management; decision making; local participation; modeling; municipal solid waste; stakeholder; sustainability; waste management; article; calculation; community care; consensus; decision making; environmental sustainability; interpersonal communication; model; municipal solid waste; priority journal; social aspect; solid waste management; Cities; Decision Making; Models, Theoretical; Refuse Disposal; Asia; Eurasia; Far East; Taiwan
Type
journal article