The municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Bogotá, Colombia, is facing a crisis due to the increasing population and the inefficient existing waste treatment technology. The crisis has generated many debates regarding the best alternative to impr...
The municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Bogotá, Colombia, is facing a crisis due to the increasing population and the inefficient existing waste treatment technology. The crisis has generated many debates regarding the best alternative to improve MSWM and the future of the landfill in the city. Colombia government needs to explore other technological options implemented in developed and some less developed countries that treat waste as input for renewable energy generation, reducing waste volume together with green gas house emissions to control environmental impact and lowering fossil fuels dependence giving way to energy security.
The study compares the existing waste treatment technology with newly added technologies into the waste sector, considering three criteria: environment, economy, and energy recovery potential. Each criterion is addressed with different methodologies: the environment criterion is approached with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, economy variables is assessed with Life Cycle Cost (LCC) methodology, and Energy Recovery Potential (ERP) is calculated with different mathematical models. Once the results are collected from the various mythologies, a Multi-Criteria Decision Method (MCDM) helps to compare the results and identify the ideal technology depending on the interest of the decision-maker.
In conclusion, Bogota can achieve better MSWM by the implementation of pyrolysis technology that not only controls waste volume and generates renewable energy, but also has less environmental impact compared with the existing waste treatment technology.