Sequential Methodology for the Selection of Municipal Waste Treatment Alternatives Applied to a Case Study in Chile

Estefani Rondón Toro, Ana López Martínez () and Amaya Lobo García de Cortázar
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Estefani Rondón Toro: Grupo de Ingeniería Ambiental, Departamento de Ciencias y Técnicas del Agua y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. de Los Castros, 39005 Santander, Spain
Ana López Martínez: Grupo de Ingeniería Ambiental, Departamento de Ciencias y Técnicas del Agua y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. de Los Castros, 39005 Santander, Spain
Amaya Lobo García de Cortázar: Grupo de Ingeniería Ambiental, Departamento de Ciencias y Técnicas del Agua y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. de Los Castros, 39005 Santander, Spain

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Most municipalities in developing countries lack technical and economic resources to improve their municipal solid waste management (MSWM) system. Therefore, tools are needed that enable the most appropriate solutions to be identified to put waste to better use. This study presents an easy-to-apply sequential methodology for the analysis of MSWM alternatives. The method consists of two stages: (1) screening available technologies based on a small set of key variables; (2) ordering the selected alternatives by a combination of multicriteria methods that integrate local priorities. For this second stage, a basic series of technical, environmental, economic and social indicators is proposed. The methodology is applied to a case study where current management is limited to mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in a landfill without gas recovery. Seven options for implementing energy recovery in landfill, using mechanical plants to recover part of recyclable material, treating the organic fraction, and employing refuse-derived fuel and/or waste to energy incineration, were evaluated together with the current situation and considering four scenarios. The results identify various alternatives that allow the sustainability of MSWM in the case study to improve. Notwithstanding, today, it is necessary to introduce economic instruments that discourage final disposal to make municipal waste recovery viable.

Keywords: waste management; decision making; waste-to-energy; developing countries; resource efficiency; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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