Assessment and Evaluation of Advanced Solid Waste Management Technologies for Improved Recycling Rates

§ In order to obtain data for AHP, 173 email requests are placed to Floridian counties including Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Desoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington counties. § Florida Department of Environmental Protection solid waste management 2013 annual reports are used to obtain solid waste disposal types, landfill lifecycles, and waste generation data of each county and counties are categorized based on obtained data. § 67 counties are divided into 8 groups based on collected data of least recycled solid waste type and annual waste generation. § The Montgomery gasification facility in Orange County, St. Lucie plasma arc gasification project and JBI Niagara Falls pyrolysis facility are contacted to obtain the necessary data for technologies. § Criteria set are weighed using Expert Choice Decision Support Software for 8 groups. § AHP is performed for 8 groups and the most optimum advanced thermal SWM technology among plasma arc gasification, gasification and pyrolysis are selected for each group of county. § Recommendations are given based on the obtained results at the end.