شبیر کرمی

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management poses a significant and growing challenge in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, characterized by high waste generation, a substantial organic fraction, and a heavy reliance on landfilling. While MSW is often viewed as a problem, it also presents an opportunity as a resource for energy and materials. However, the selection of an optimal management strategy is complex, involving multiple economic, environmental, social, and technological criteria. This study addresses the lack of a comprehensive decision-making framework for MSW management in the MENA region by employing a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making approach. Utilizing the fuzzy TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method, this research evaluates and ranks 13 alternative MSW management scenarios based on expert-derived criteria weights and performance scores. The results indicate that the most sustainable and preferable alternative is separation at the source followed by the recycling of recyclables and composting of the organic fraction (Alternative A13). The second-ranked alternative is on-site separation with recycling and composting (Alternative A9). Conversely, scenarios involving incineration without energy recovery and landfilling, particularly from source-separated waste streams, received the lowest rankings. The findings demonstrate that integrated waste management strategies emphasizing segregation, recycling, and composting are superior to traditional disposal methods. This study provides a systematic and quantitative framework to guide policymakers and urban managers in the MENA region toward more sustainable, efficient, and economically viable MSW management systems.