Economic and Operational Feasibility Analysis of Solid Waste Minimization Projects

The purposes of this chapter are to demonstrate a structured process to evaluate and determine the operational and economic feasibly of solid waste minimization projects that are based on proven financial engineering concepts. Many organizations are concerned with reducing solid waste levels, but few have the tools and necessary resources to evaluate and select among competing projects. These projects can range from fixed equipment purchases, such as balers or digesters, to implementing an office recycling program. This chapter provides a standardized business-based process to evaluate and select among competing solid waste minimization projects to determine which will best meet the organization’s goals and maintain compatibility with existing processes. The analysis process involves identifying the benefits, costs, and drawbacks associated with each alternative project. To accomplish this, each alternative is evaluated based on: the impact on the program goal, technical feasibility, operational feasibility, economic feasibility, sustainability, and organizational culture feasibility. As a companion, a case study from Lucas County, Ohio (USA) is provided that demonstrates the analysis process. In addition, the paper explores the impact of uncertainty in decision making by highlighting economic efficiencies, sensitivity analysis, and changes to the data inputs, specifically inflation, recycling levels, and recycling commodity market shifts. This chapter may serve as an example or model for organizations considering the implementation of competing solid waste minimization projects.