The waste-to-energy incineration plant site selection based on hesitant fuzzy linguistic Best-Worst method ANP and double parameters TOPSIS approach: A case study in China

The waste-to-energy (WTE) project can handle the expanding volume of municipal solid waste (MSW) and promote the development of the circular economy, effectively. To achieve sustainable MSW management, it is pivotal to select a promising WTE incineration plant site. Thus, this paper aims to propose a novel methodology for selecting the optimal WTE incineration plant site. A sustainable evaluation index system is constructed from the environment, economy, society, risk, and energy aspects. Evaluation criteria are articulated by mathematical models and hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set, respectively. Given interactional relations among criteria and computation efficiency, HFL-BWM-ANP (hesitant fuzzy linguistic Best-Worst method-Analytic Network Process) is proposed to obtain criteria weights. The double parameters TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) approach is employed to rank alternative sites. The feasibility of the proposed methodology is illustrated by a numerical case. Triple sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis are performed to demonstrate the robustness, effectiveness, and superiority of the proposed methodology. Some managerial insights are provided from multiple dimensions for investors and the government to implement the WTE incineration plant project. [Display omitted] •Constructing a sustainable evaluation index system from multiple dimensions.•Articulating evaluation criteria by mathematical models and hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set, respectively.•Proposing a weighting model to improve efficiency and handle correlations among criteria.•Introducing the double parameters TOPSIS method to rank WTE incineration plant sites.•Providing managerial insights for investors and the government to manage WTE incineration plants.