Site Selection of Medical Waste Disposal Facilities Using the Interval-Valued Neutrosophic Fuzzy EDAS Method: The Case Study of Istanbul

Mesut Samastı, Yusuf Sait Türkan, Mustafa Güler (), Mirac Nur Ciner and Ersin Namlı
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Mesut Samastı: TUBITAK TUSSIDE (Turkish Management Sciences Institute), Gebze 41400, Türkiye
Yusuf Sait Türkan: Industrial Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul 34473, Türkiye
Mustafa Güler: Engineering Sciences Department, Engineering Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul 34473, Türkiye
Mirac Nur Ciner: Environmental Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul 34473, Türkiye
Ersin Namlı: Industrial Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul 34473, Türkiye

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: In recent years, as a result of the increasing demand for health services, medical waste (MW) generated from health facilities has increased significantly. Problems that threaten the environment and public health may arise as a result of inadequate medical waste management (MWM), especially in densely populated metropolitan areas. Therefore, it is very important that the disposal process of waste is carried out in a way that minimizes harm to human health and the environment. MW disposal site selection is among the most important decisions that local governments make. These decisions have many conflicting and similar criteria and alternatives. However, decision-makers may experience significant uncertainty when evaluating the alternatives. This study adopts the interval-valued neutrosophic (IVN) fuzzy EDAS method for the evaluation of MW disposal facility siting alternatives in Istanbul. This approach is used to evaluate potential sites based on a comprehensive, hierarchical criteria framework designed to address data uncertainty and inconsistency common in multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) scenarios. Within the scope of the study, six main criteria (distance settlement area, social acceptance, costs, environmental impacts, infrastructure facilities, and disaster and emergency) and nineteen sub-criteria are meticulously analyzed. Considering the geographical location and dense urban texture of Istanbul, the study emphasizes the criteria related to distance to residential areas, logistics costs, and potential disaster risks. Among the identified criteria, land costs, topographical features, proximity to landfills, and distance to high-voltage lines are emphasized as the least important criteria. This study, which evaluated various alternatives, identified Pendik, located on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, as the most suitable site for MW disposal due to its minimal risk. The study also compares the four main alternatives and highlights their relative strengths and weaknesses.

Keywords: medical waste; facility selection; multi-criteria decision-making; interval-valued neutrosophic fuzzy EDAS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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