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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology
Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
ISSN: 1735-1472 EISSN: 1735-1472
Vol. 13, No. 6, 2016, pp. 1615-1624
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Bioline Code: st16152
Full paper language: English
Document type: Short Communication
Document available free of charge
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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology, Vol. 13, No. 6, 2016, pp. 1615-1624
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Quantitative evaluation of the sustainability or unsustainability of municipal solid waste options in Tabriz, Iran
Phillips, J. & Gholamalifard, M.
Abstract
Iran has been seeking to develop fully functional
waste management strategies to address the problem
of its rapidly growing cities. This requires proper evaluation
to determine the most appropriate strategies to meet
the goals of sustainable waste management. Environmental
Impact Assessment is capable of contributing towards this
goal. However, such assessments tend to involve a qualitative
approach in the evaluation of the sustainability or
unsustainability of potential options. Therefore, a suitable
quantitative approach to evaluate sustainability/unsustainability
is necessary. The paper applies a
mathematical model to evaluate the sustainability of
unmitigated options for a municipal solid waste disposal
site in Tabriz, Iran. This was based upon rapid impact
assessment matrix evaluation of the options. The model’s
application determines whether the options are sustainable
or unsustainable. The model application results indicate
that all of the options were considered as unsustainable in
an unmitigated state. The results for Tabriz were then
compared and contrasted with results obtained by the
authors for another MSW disposal site near Tehran. Based
on this, there are questions as to the potential value of
current waste management strategies. The paper concludes
by stating that economic costs are the largest single barrier
to achieving sustainable waste management. Furthermore,
it is important to develop solutions which disposes and
manages waste in a manner conducive to the long-term
sustainability of the environment–human relationship.
Keywords
Mathematical model; Rapid impact assessment matrix; Sustainability science; Waste management
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