Environmental Decision Support and Sustainable Waste Management Case Study
WestlakesScientific Consulting as developed an Environmental Decision Making (EDM) framework that allows waste management services to make well informed decisions about selecting between various sustainable waste management options.
The framework offers an accessible method for selecting the most appropriate and sustainable method for managing different waste types by balancing factors such as scientific and technical advice, economics, public perception and health impact.
Methodology
The mehodology behind the framework has been dened to ensure the framework will deliver objective, transparent decisions regarding the selection of sustainable waste management options.
The developement process has included:
- Researching current methodologies for decision making (which include both quantified and subjective factors)
- Identifying and testing the appropriateness of these methodologies for this application
- Identifying public opinion issues linked to an acceptance or rejection of particular disposal methods or barriers to its uptake at a local level
Benefits
Quantifiable scientific, economic and public opinion data is combined with other constraints in a spatial framework within a GIS system, to assist in communicating the results of complex risk-based evaluations, demonstrating improvements in quality of life indicators and assisting forward planning of regional waste management.