Decision support tool for life-cycle-based solid waste management

Existing solid waste management (SWM) planning software provides only limit ed assistance to decision makers struggling to find strategies that address their multifarious concerns. The combinatorial nature (many waste items an d many management options) and multiple objectives of the SWM problem sever ely constrain the effectiveness of a manual search process using these tool s. Recognizing this, researchers have proposed several optimization-based s earch procedures. These methods, however, enjoy limited use due to the subs tantial expertise required for their application. This paper presents a new computer-based decision support framework that addresses these limitations . The new framework integrates process models that quantify the lifecycle i nventory of a range of pollutants and costs for an extensive municipal soli d waste system, an optimization search procedure that identifies strategies that meet cost and environmental objectives and site-specific restrictions , and a user-friendly interface that facilitates utilization of these compo nents by practitioners. After describing the software design, the use and v alue of the tool in typical waste management scenarios is demonstrated thro ugh a hypothetical, but realistic, case study in which several alternative SWM strategies are generated and examined.