Application of a geographic information system-based fuzzy analytic hierarchy process model to locate potential municipal solid waste incineration plant sites: A case study of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality

Abstract

Locating candidate sites for municipal solid waste management facilities is a multi-criteria decision and involves spatial consideration that all municipalities have to deal with. This study aims to develop a holistic model for locating the most suitable facility sites in municipal solid waste management considering environmental and economic factors, and its application to an incineration facility in Izmir as a case study. A fuzzy analytic hierarchy process model was developed by integrating multi-criteria decision analysis methods and a geographic information system. A stepwise methodology was conducted, including generating a spatial database, exclusion analysis, preference analysis to determine spatial membership degrees and weights for each preference factor and generating the final land suitability map. A high-resolution land suitability map and the point vector format data of potential incineration plant sites were created as the model outputs. The case study results demonstrated that an incineration facility with a total capacity of 117 MWe could be established for energy recovery from 5649 tonnes day–1 municipal solid waste. Four locations were determined as potential incineration facility sites in the case study area. The model can be utilized for different study areas to aid decision-makers in the process of site selection for not only incineration facilities but also for other municipal solid waste management facilities.