Environmental capability assessment for MSW landfill site using geographic information system and multi criteria evaluation

Abstract

The proper management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a critical challenge in land use planning and environmental sustainability. The selection of suitable landfill sites is a pivotal component of MSW management, considering different environmental factors. This study evaluated the effectiveness of two Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods, Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) and Best-Worst Method (BWM), in combination with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for landfill site selection. SWARA and BWM were employed as MCDM tools to assess landfill sites based on ten criteria. The results demonstrate that SWARA exhibited superior performance over BWM in terms of its ability to identify and prioritize optimal landfill sites. SWARA offered a more accurate and reliable decision-making framework, taking into account both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of site selection criteria. Additionally, SWARA demonstrated better sensitivity to changes in input data and provided more consistent results. The findings emphasize the importance of choosing an appropriate MCDM approach to enhance the decision-making process, ultimately leading to more sustainable and environmentally responsible waste management practices in urban areas. By adopting and continually refining such methodologies, urban planners and waste management authorities can contribute to more efficient, responsible, and sustainable urban development.

Keywords

• environmental capability assessment
• landfill site selection
• swara
• bwm
• gis