Towards Sustainable Management of Wastes: Results of a Modelling Case Study, and the Emerging Environmental Decision Support System Based on the Energy Footprint

Here we present an emerging EDSS, based on the energy and materials flow model for evaluation of alternatives for processing domestic and commercial waste. The input information for the model is obtained through a literature search, consultations with stakeholders, and also using a specially designed expert system (ES) The ‘Smart Waste Questionnaire’. The ES implements an ITbased interrogative data acquisition methodology built using a custom-designed expert system software and integrated databases. In this paper we present the results of an ongoing case study of the model’s application to the management of specific waste types in the area of Southampton (England, UK). The model has been designed in Microsoft Excel and Visual Basic, which were chosen due to their userfriendly interface and common availability. In the model calculations, the input data on material flows, waste quantities and mass balances are combined with information on the energy requirements for different types of collection and processing systems for re-use, recovery, recycling and disposal, and on the energy benefits (e.g. production of heat by incineration or gas by anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, etc.) of these options. The output shows the energy balance of the current practice, and also allows a comparison with a number of alternative scenarios. The results are directly applicable only for the study area. However, following certain modifications the methodology used may be easily applied elsewhere. Examples of the collected data and model simulations are given, problems with data collection and availability outlined, and limitations and implications of the study discussed.