Assessing multiple criteria for the optimal location of a construction and demolition waste management facility

Construction industry is the most significant fields on a global scale, with respect to its economic, technological, and environmental impact. Its rapid growth over the last decades has resulted in an enormous increase of the produced construction and demolition waste, thus provoking a considerable burden on the environment. The proposed methodological framework is aiming towards optimal location of units of alternative construction and demolition waste management and it is following the path of multicriteria analysis. For the problem under study, ELECTRE III technique is adopted. The decision process presented requires the adoption of a number of logical steps mainly, clarification of the decision criteria for selecting the optimal location (economical, environmental and social), the definition of their relative significance and data assembly. The approach allows a robust parameter analysis in order to evaluate and compare in detail all available alternatives. On top of that, sensitivity analysis is also available, since parameter values in real life applications originate from estimations which are sometimes more or less reliable. This paper presents an effort to interlace local acceptance, financial viability and level of environmental quality which represents a vital issue for the particular waste stream's management efficiency. The methodology is implemented and demonstrated for the case of the Region of Central Macedonia, Greece and can be employed either by private investors or public authorities in other areas internationally. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.