The assessment of waste source-separated system in Tehran and comparative analysis between collection systems by RIAM method

Abstract

This study focuses on municipal solid waste (MSW) source separated collection system in Tehran in 2013. Tehran demonstrates a poor level in MSW source separated collection due to insufficient equipment, mismanagement as well as weak public awareness. To improve the current situation of waste collection system, a comparative assessment of MSW collection is done based on environmental sustainability between conventional collection system and its pneumatic alternative. The technique that we use to assess two approaches is rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) method. The physical-chemical (PC), social-cultural (SC), biological-ecological (BE) and economical-operational (EO) aspects of two methods were evaluated based on the experts' judgment. In pneumatic method both PC and SC indexes, are improved considerably compared to another method, and the improvement of BE and EO indexes are also obvious. According to the results, pneumatic method illustrates the most positive effects and it is recommended as a priority of MSW collection system in Tehran.