A hybrid fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS multi-criteria-based decision-making for evaluating waste-to-energy processes for mixed municipal solid waste in India

Vaishnavi Mahadevan; S. Raja; Maher Ali Rusho; Vinoth Kumar Selvaraj; Jeyanthi Subramanian; Shubham Sharma; Krishna Prakash Arunachalam; Krishnaraj Ramaswamy

doi:10.1177/01445987261427122

A hybrid fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS multi-criteria-based decision-making for evaluating waste-to-energy processes for mixed municipal solid waste in India

Vaishnavi Mahadevan
, S. Raja^*
, Maher Ali Rusho
, Vinoth Kumar Selvaraj
, Jeyanthi Subramanian
, Shubham Sharma^*
, Krishna Prakash Arunachalam
, Krishnaraj Ramaswamy^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

India's municipal solid waste (MSW) management system is predominantly characterized by unsegregated mixed waste streams, comprising heterogeneous organic and inorganic fractions such as food waste, plastics, and paper. The lack of source-level segregation presents significant challenges for conventional waste treatment pathways and highlights the need for context-specific waste-to-energy (WTE) processes. This study applies a hybrid multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework, integrating the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and the Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS), to systematically evaluate five WTE processes: incineration, anaerobic digestion (AD), pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Eighteen evaluation criteria covering elemental, environmental, energy, economic, and socio-economic aspects were identified and weighted using Fuzzy AHP, with environmental impacts emerging as the highest priority (∼34%), followed by elemental and energy recovery efficiency (∼30%), economic feasibility (∼19%), and socio-economic considerations (∼7%). The weighted criteria were then used within the Fuzzy TOPSIS model to rank the technological alternatives. The results indicate that HTL is the most promising WTE process for India's mixed MSW, followed by gasification, pyrolysis, incineration, and AD. The hybrid MCDA framework employed provides a robust and adaptable decision-making process for policymakers and stakeholders to identify optimal WTE process options in regions facing high waste heterogeneity and inadequate waste segregation infrastructure.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2275-2317
Number of pages	43
Journal	Energy Exploration and Exploitation
Volume	44
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/01445987261427122
State	Published - Jul 2026
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

Waste to energy
fuzzy AHP
fuzzy TOPSIS
hydrothermal liquefaction
mixed municipal solid waste
multi-criteria decision analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Nuclear Energy and Engineering
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Access to Document

10.1177/01445987261427122

Cite this

Mahadevan, V., Raja, S., Rusho, M. A., Selvaraj, V. K., Subramanian, J., Sharma, S., Arunachalam, K. P., & Ramaswamy, K. (2026). A hybrid fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS multi-criteria-based decision-making for evaluating waste-to-energy processes for mixed municipal solid waste in India. Energy Exploration and Exploitation, 44(4), 2275-2317. https://doi.org/10.1177/01445987261427122

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title = "A hybrid fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS multi-criteria-based decision-making for evaluating waste-to-energy processes for mixed municipal solid waste in India",

abstract = "India's municipal solid waste (MSW) management system is predominantly characterized by unsegregated mixed waste streams, comprising heterogeneous organic and inorganic fractions such as food waste, plastics, and paper. The lack of source-level segregation presents significant challenges for conventional waste treatment pathways and highlights the need for context-specific waste-to-energy (WTE) processes. This study applies a hybrid multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework, integrating the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and the Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS), to systematically evaluate five WTE processes: incineration, anaerobic digestion (AD), pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Eighteen evaluation criteria covering elemental, environmental, energy, economic, and socio-economic aspects were identified and weighted using Fuzzy AHP, with environmental impacts emerging as the highest priority (∼34\%), followed by elemental and energy recovery efficiency (∼30\%), economic feasibility (∼19\%), and socio-economic considerations (∼7\%). The weighted criteria were then used within the Fuzzy TOPSIS model to rank the technological alternatives. The results indicate that HTL is the most promising WTE process for India's mixed MSW, followed by gasification, pyrolysis, incineration, and AD. The hybrid MCDA framework employed provides a robust and adaptable decision-making process for policymakers and stakeholders to identify optimal WTE process options in regions facing high waste heterogeneity and inadequate waste segregation infrastructure.",

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AU - Mahadevan, Vaishnavi

AU - Raja, S.

AU - Rusho, Maher Ali

AU - Selvaraj, Vinoth Kumar

AU - Subramanian, Jeyanthi

AU - Sharma, Shubham

AU - Arunachalam, Krishna Prakash

AU - Ramaswamy, Krishnaraj

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

PY - 2026/7

Y1 - 2026/7

N2 - India's municipal solid waste (MSW) management system is predominantly characterized by unsegregated mixed waste streams, comprising heterogeneous organic and inorganic fractions such as food waste, plastics, and paper. The lack of source-level segregation presents significant challenges for conventional waste treatment pathways and highlights the need for context-specific waste-to-energy (WTE) processes. This study applies a hybrid multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework, integrating the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and the Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS), to systematically evaluate five WTE processes: incineration, anaerobic digestion (AD), pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Eighteen evaluation criteria covering elemental, environmental, energy, economic, and socio-economic aspects were identified and weighted using Fuzzy AHP, with environmental impacts emerging as the highest priority (∼34%), followed by elemental and energy recovery efficiency (∼30%), economic feasibility (∼19%), and socio-economic considerations (∼7%). The weighted criteria were then used within the Fuzzy TOPSIS model to rank the technological alternatives. The results indicate that HTL is the most promising WTE process for India's mixed MSW, followed by gasification, pyrolysis, incineration, and AD. The hybrid MCDA framework employed provides a robust and adaptable decision-making process for policymakers and stakeholders to identify optimal WTE process options in regions facing high waste heterogeneity and inadequate waste segregation infrastructure.

AB - India's municipal solid waste (MSW) management system is predominantly characterized by unsegregated mixed waste streams, comprising heterogeneous organic and inorganic fractions such as food waste, plastics, and paper. The lack of source-level segregation presents significant challenges for conventional waste treatment pathways and highlights the need for context-specific waste-to-energy (WTE) processes. This study applies a hybrid multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework, integrating the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and the Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS), to systematically evaluate five WTE processes: incineration, anaerobic digestion (AD), pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Eighteen evaluation criteria covering elemental, environmental, energy, economic, and socio-economic aspects were identified and weighted using Fuzzy AHP, with environmental impacts emerging as the highest priority (∼34%), followed by elemental and energy recovery efficiency (∼30%), economic feasibility (∼19%), and socio-economic considerations (∼7%). The weighted criteria were then used within the Fuzzy TOPSIS model to rank the technological alternatives. The results indicate that HTL is the most promising WTE process for India's mixed MSW, followed by gasification, pyrolysis, incineration, and AD. The hybrid MCDA framework employed provides a robust and adaptable decision-making process for policymakers and stakeholders to identify optimal WTE process options in regions facing high waste heterogeneity and inadequate waste segregation infrastructure.

KW - Waste to energy

KW - fuzzy AHP

KW - fuzzy TOPSIS

KW - hydrothermal liquefaction

KW - mixed municipal solid waste

KW - multi-criteria decision analysis

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DO - 10.1177/01445987261427122

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SN - 0144-5987

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JO - Energy Exploration and Exploitation

JF - Energy Exploration and Exploitation

IS - 4

ER -

A hybrid fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS multi-criteria-based decision-making for evaluating waste-to-energy processes for mixed municipal solid waste in India

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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