Investigating utility level of waste disposal methods using multicriteria decision-making techniques (case study: Mazandaran-Iran)

Regardless of collection and disposal systems of wastes, which are the main causes of pollution in cities and villages, attention to the health and hygiene of a society is not possible. Hence, we try to identify the most appropriate waste disposal method considering geographical and environmental conditions of Mazandaran province using multicriteria decision-making techniques (Analytical Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process), in an applied and descriptive research. To do so, we, first, identified the most effective alternatives and criteria in the field of waste disposal by taking into account the region's environmental and geographical conditions through library studies and investigating various internal and external sources. Then, after compilation of questionnaires and distributing them among experts of municipalities and governor of the province, we determined effectiveness of the criteria and utility of the alternatives using the mentioned techniques. Our findings suggest that soil type and water level are the most important factors in selecting waste disposal method and recycling is the most appropriate waste disposal method in Mazandaran province.