Expert Systems in Municipal Solid Waste Management Planning

Abstract

Sound municipal solid waste management planning is an integral part of environmental protection. The cost of disposing of municipal solid wastes has risen quickly, as landfills approach capacity, and stronger environmental legislation is introduced. The choice of waste treatment and disposal methods is complicated by changing technology, uncertain waste generation rates, and waste stream composition, as well as social and political pressures. Expert systems approaches may be useful in developing waste management plans that are cost-effective and capable of meeting a variety of qualitative and quantitative system objectives.