Benchmarking Canadian solid waste management system integrating fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) with efficacy...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Economics
• Operations Research

Background:

• Urbanization and population growth present significant solid waste management challenges globally.
• Assessing the economic efficiency of waste management systems is crucial for sustainable development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and compare the economic efficiency of Canadian waste management systems.
• To determine the most influential economic indicators for waste management performance.

Main Methods:

• Integration of the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) for indicator weighting.
• Application of the efficacy method for ranking economic indicators.
• Analysis of six key economic indicators including diversion gross domestic product (DGDP) ratio and diversion rate.

Main Results:

• The DGDP ratio was identified as the most influential factor for GDP-related indicators.
• The DGDP ratio and diversion rate are critical for assessing economic efficiency.
• Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Ontario demonstrate higher economic performance in waste management.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a robust framework for evaluating the economic efficiency of solid waste management.
• Findings will assist governments and organizations in developing effective waste management strategies.
• Improved economic performance in waste management can be achieved through focused policy interventions.