Integration of economics and social factors into optimization of solid waste management system | |
| Author | Sembiring, Emenda |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.UE-10-02 |
| Subject(s) | Refuse and refuse disposal--Economic aspects--Developing countries Refuse and refuse disposal--Social aspects--Developing countries |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Environmental Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Systems analysis (SA) has been used extensively in the area of solid waste management (SWM). Some scholars have developed comprehensive computational and analysis tools to support decision makers in SWM system (SWMS). However, these tools involve higher level of details that sometimes it is difficult for decision makers to overview for a preliminary decision-making. Besides, limited works have been conducted to investigate the willingness to use the SA and how SA and sustainable development (SD) aspects are perceived by decision makers. Therefore, this study is aimed at supporting decision makers by developing an optimizing tool for preliminary planning of the system and exploring how decision makers perceive the SA and the SD. This study adopts a systems approach by utilizing a linear programming model that can determine what type of regional integrated SWM, what type of applicable technology and waste allocation for each chosen technology. The model takes into account both conventional consideration and emerging factors. The conventional consideration includes the economic factor, whereas the emerging factors include environmental and social factors. The environmental factors comprise both positive and negative externalities, whereas social factors include policy implementation and public participation. The novelties of this model lay in both context of the model for developing countries such as the informal sector inclusion and regional issue such as the emerging issue of transaction cost among authorities. Questionnaires were used to elicit the perception of decision makers regarding the SA and SD. SWMS in greater Bandung has been used to test the capability of the model. The developed optimization model can effectively generate the optimal configuration of flows based on parameter inserted in the context of developing countries. The output of the model is an optimized combination of facilities, or treatments, and disposal of SWMS. The simulation results show that the model is capable to assist decision makers to find when it is necessary to use economic instruments to promote one specific alternative. The model can also assist to check the availability of waste for overall system. In greater Bandung case, the optimum configuration based on objective function is the integration of composting and land filling, which is also the most favorable scenario according to decision makers. The current SWM practice causes more environmental cost than that of other alternative scenarios. Statistically, decision makers preferred integrating the composting technologies to integrating the informal sector even though the informal sector plays a significant role in collecting recyclable materials. The most important SD indicator is minimizing the negative environmental impact. Most of decision makers agree the importance of SA in decision making which qualifies this model to be applied. |
| Year | 2010 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Vilas Nitivattananon; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Sajor, Edsel;Chettiyappan Visvanathan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Canada (CIDA); |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2010 |