Application of Multi Criteria Decision Making in Adopting Suitable Solid Waste Management Model for an Urban Local Body. Case Study of Bhubaneswar City of Odisha, India

Abstract

A practical approach to deal with the municipal solid waste at hand needs the adoption of a suitable model and an understanding of the required processes to manage it effectively. A case study of Bhubaneswar City/ Municipal Corporation of Odisha in India, focused on the development of a suitable model based on approaches like Process of elimination, Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis, Mathematical analysis, Analytical Hierarchy Process and the Test of sustainability. The study focused on the processes in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) value chain like waste generation, primary source storage, collection, secondary storage, transportation, processing and disposal. A two by two matrix model was adopted to arrive at a suitable disposal model mapped with the source segregation. The Urban Local Body (ULB) analysed Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as one of the criteria to select suitable Collection, Transportation and Disposal Model based on Technical, Economic, Social and Environmental considerations .The mathematical analysis involved Pair-wise Comparison Matrix for the quantitative variables while qualitative variables were examined by Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The economic factor dominated the decision making; ‘street dumping and street sweeping’ got an upper ranking in the final matrix analysis of the collection and Transportation plan and ‘incineration’ dominated the decision making for the disposal plan. The limitation of the study showed that the application of mathematical model to find out optimum Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Model does not accommodate qualitative variables. Therefore, SWOT analysis and sustainability studies were examined to arrive at the best possible model. SWOT criteria drew upon the work environment with respect to financial position of the Urban Local Body, Not in my backyard (NIMBY) factor, Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode aspirants, availability of mature technology and threat in factors like adverse regulatory order, disruptive technologies and the lack of political will. The test of sustainability based on the proposed model passed through the test of capability and constraint study, social acceptance, regulatory compliance, and ground level feasibility. Based on multiple criteria in decision making, the study found that ideally Bhubaneswar should adopt a model where source segregation with door to door collection of waste facility is given top priority. Decentralization of waste disposal and cluster approach of cities and towns nearby to curb the waste menace and facilitate the waste to go the fuel way looked sustainable and achievable. At the same time, addressing the Not in my backyard (NIMBY) factor by earmarking land bank for waste disposal and collection of cesses from the city inhabitants could generate enough financial resources for its sustainability.

This research unbolts discussions with respect to the challenges presented by the Not in my backyard (NIMBY) factor, finding suitable landfill sites for solid waste disposal, interference of disruptive technologies and the change in leadership not owning up to responsibilities or revoking the previously established management practices.

Sustainability studies should help all stakeholders to participate harmoniously with a common goal of clean city and striving for a better planet.

Similarly, the comparative matrix based on the scientific, financial, social and ecological considerations were applied to the disposal plan to develop a fitting model for the Urban Local Body (ULB).

The study ascertained that Bhubaneswar should have source segregation with door to door collection facility and may need decentralized composting facility centres to handle the biodegradable wastes. The plastic wastes may be used for Waste to Fuel or for road making. The non-degradable may go to land fill or Waste to Energy plant with cluster approach combining nearby Cuttack and Khurdha districts to meet the waste requirement of 550 tonnes per day to sustain the plant. At the same time, it should collect cess from the city habitants to generate enough financial resources for sustainability. It should earmark the land-bank for waste processing facilities as it faces serious Law and Order problems due to Not in my backyard (NIMBY) factor.