A GIS-Based Suitability Analysis for Siting a Solid Waste Incineration Power Plant in an Urban Area Case Study: Alexandria Governorate, Egypt

Mahmoud A Hassaan

doi:10.4236/jgis.2015.76052

Abstract

Solid waste represents a key issue that threatens environmental quality in Egyptian urban areas. One of the most viable options to treat such an issue is to incinerate the collected solid waste for electricity generation, which can reduce the cost of solid waste disposal as well as pollution and generate surplus energy. Selecting appropriate site for a solid waste incineration power plant is a crucial step due to its economic and environmental implications. This would require assessing various constraining and favorable factors that determine feasibility and sustainability of the power plant site. This paper is intended to develop a GIS-based model for siting a municipal solid waste incineration power plant in Alexandria governorate, Egypt. For this purpose, five criteria are considered and a composite index was suggested to integrate these criteria in a numerical term reflecting suitability of various parts of the governorate for siting solid waste incineration power plant.

Highlights

Municipal solid waste is considered to be one of the key issues that threaten environmental quality in urban areas in developing countries [1]-[3]
It is worth mentioning that an efficient municipal solid waste management system is concerned with effective collection of generated municipal solid wastes and with proper utilization of the solid waste in recycling, treatment or disposal in sanitary landfills [1]
1) Identifying siting criteria The site selection decision for the solid waste incineration power plant should consider a wide range of factors that ensure selecting appropriate locations and the most optimal one for the plant [9]

Summary

Introduction

Municipal solid waste is considered to be one of the key issues that threaten environmental quality in urban areas in developing countries [1]-[3]. This is mainly due to the increasing quantities of generated municipal solid. (2015) A GIS-Based Suitability Analysis for Siting a Solid Waste Incineration Power Plant in an Urban Area Case Study: Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. Hassaan waste caused by ever increasing population, rapid urbanization and shifting consumption patterns [4]. On the other hand, limited solid waste management capacities, especially in developing countries, are exuberating the problem as well as its economic and environmental implications. It is worth mentioning that an efficient municipal solid waste management system is concerned with effective collection of generated municipal solid wastes and with proper utilization of the solid waste in recycling, treatment or disposal in sanitary landfills [1]

Methods

Results

Conclusion