Applying the Efficiency Analysis Tree Method for Enhanced Eco-Efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Chilean Municipalities
Enhancing the eco-efficiency of municipal solid waste (MSW) services is pivotal for the shift toward a circular economy. Although the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is widely used, it is susceptible to overfitting, potentially distorting eco-efficiency assessments. This study applies the eff...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Clean Technologies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/6/4/75 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846105247156535296 |
|---|---|
| author | Ramon Sala-Garrido Manuel Mocholi-Arce Maria Molinos-Senante Alexandros Maziotis |
| author_facet | Ramon Sala-Garrido Manuel Mocholi-Arce Maria Molinos-Senante Alexandros Maziotis |
| author_sort | Ramon Sala-Garrido |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Enhancing the eco-efficiency of municipal solid waste (MSW) services is pivotal for the shift toward a circular economy. Although the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is widely used, it is susceptible to overfitting, potentially distorting eco-efficiency assessments. This study applies the efficiency analysis tree (EAT) method, which synergizes machine learning and linear programming, offering a more reliable framework for eco-efficiency evaluation in the MSW sector. This innovative approach provides deeper insights into the optimal levels of operational costs and unsorted waste. The research encompasses a case study of 98 Chilean municipalities from 2015 to 2019, uncovering significant disparities in optimal operational expenses and unsorted waste quantities, which underscores the necessity for customized waste management approaches. The average eco-efficiency scores for 2015–2019 range between 0.561 and 0.566. This means that assessed municipalities can reduce unsorted waste by amounts ranging from 1,632,409 tons/year (2016) to 1,822,663 tons/year (2018). Potential economic savings estimated are 105,973 USD/year (2019), which represents 44% of the total MSW management costs. Additionally, the investigation into the effects of external factors on eco-efficiency furnishes nuanced perspectives that can guide policymakers and municipal authorities in developing effective, context-specific waste management strategies. Beyond refining eco-efficiency evaluations, this study contributes to more informed decision-making processes, aiding the progression toward sustainable waste management practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f13c2de3af5e40e2af30b3705ff9696e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2571-8797 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clean Technologies |
| spelling | doaj-art-f13c2de3af5e40e2af30b3705ff9696e2024-12-27T14:18:29ZengMDPI AGClean Technologies2571-87972024-11-01641565157810.3390/cleantechnol6040075Applying the Efficiency Analysis Tree Method for Enhanced Eco-Efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Chilean MunicipalitiesRamon Sala-Garrido0Manuel Mocholi-Arce1Maria Molinos-Senante2Alexandros Maziotis3Departamento de Matemáticas para la Economía y la Empresa, Universidad de Valencia, Avd. Tarongers S/N, 46010 Valencia, SpainDepartamento de Matemáticas para la Economía y la Empresa, Universidad de Valencia, Avd. Tarongers S/N, 46010 Valencia, SpainInstitute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, C/ Mergelina S/N, 47002 Valladolid, SpainDepartment of Business, New York College, Leof. Vasilisis Amalias 38, 105 58 Athens, GreeceEnhancing the eco-efficiency of municipal solid waste (MSW) services is pivotal for the shift toward a circular economy. Although the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is widely used, it is susceptible to overfitting, potentially distorting eco-efficiency assessments. This study applies the efficiency analysis tree (EAT) method, which synergizes machine learning and linear programming, offering a more reliable framework for eco-efficiency evaluation in the MSW sector. This innovative approach provides deeper insights into the optimal levels of operational costs and unsorted waste. The research encompasses a case study of 98 Chilean municipalities from 2015 to 2019, uncovering significant disparities in optimal operational expenses and unsorted waste quantities, which underscores the necessity for customized waste management approaches. The average eco-efficiency scores for 2015–2019 range between 0.561 and 0.566. This means that assessed municipalities can reduce unsorted waste by amounts ranging from 1,632,409 tons/year (2016) to 1,822,663 tons/year (2018). Potential economic savings estimated are 105,973 USD/year (2019), which represents 44% of the total MSW management costs. Additionally, the investigation into the effects of external factors on eco-efficiency furnishes nuanced perspectives that can guide policymakers and municipal authorities in developing effective, context-specific waste management strategies. Beyond refining eco-efficiency evaluations, this study contributes to more informed decision-making processes, aiding the progression toward sustainable waste management practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/6/4/75eco-efficiencyefficiency analysis treemunicipal solid wasteunsorted wastewaste managementcircular economy |
| spellingShingle | Ramon Sala-Garrido Manuel Mocholi-Arce Maria Molinos-Senante Alexandros Maziotis Applying the Efficiency Analysis Tree Method for Enhanced Eco-Efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Chilean Municipalities Clean Technologies eco-efficiency efficiency analysis tree municipal solid waste unsorted waste waste management circular economy |
| title | Applying the Efficiency Analysis Tree Method for Enhanced Eco-Efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Chilean Municipalities |
| title_full | Applying the Efficiency Analysis Tree Method for Enhanced Eco-Efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Chilean Municipalities |
| title_fullStr | Applying the Efficiency Analysis Tree Method for Enhanced Eco-Efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Chilean Municipalities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Applying the Efficiency Analysis Tree Method for Enhanced Eco-Efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Chilean Municipalities |
| title_short | Applying the Efficiency Analysis Tree Method for Enhanced Eco-Efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Chilean Municipalities |
| title_sort | applying the efficiency analysis tree method for enhanced eco efficiency in municipal solid waste management a case study of chilean municipalities |
| topic | eco-efficiency efficiency analysis tree municipal solid waste unsorted waste waste management circular economy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/6/4/75 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ramonsalagarrido applyingtheefficiencyanalysistreemethodforenhancedecoefficiencyinmunicipalsolidwastemanagementacasestudyofchileanmunicipalities AT manuelmocholiarce applyingtheefficiencyanalysistreemethodforenhancedecoefficiencyinmunicipalsolidwastemanagementacasestudyofchileanmunicipalities AT mariamolinossenante applyingtheefficiencyanalysistreemethodforenhancedecoefficiencyinmunicipalsolidwastemanagementacasestudyofchileanmunicipalities AT alexandrosmaziotis applyingtheefficiencyanalysistreemethodforenhancedecoefficiencyinmunicipalsolidwastemanagementacasestudyofchileanmunicipalities |