Evaluation of solid waste treatment methods in libya by using the analytic hierarchy process

Abstract

Evaluation and selection of the appropriate method for solid waste treatment (SWT) in Libya are a complex problem and require an extensive evaluation process. This is because it is very difficult to develop a selection criterion that can precisely describe the preference of one method over another. Waste management is the collection, transport, treatment, recycling or disposal and monitoring waste materials. In this paper, four treatment systems for waste management in Libya are evaluated using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in respect to four main criteria and twenty-two sub-criteria. The treatment systems for waste management are anaerobic digestion, landfilling, incineration and compost. The selected criteria used in the evaluation of four treatment systems are environmental impacts, socio-cultural aspects, technical aspects and economic aspects. According to the evaluation, anaerobic digestion ranks the highest in classification in Libya. Compost ranks higher than landfilling and incineration. Furthermore, it should be noted that the rank of waste treatment systems can be changed according to the future technological developments.