Title: Evaluation of trade-offs between cost, perceived and environmental risk associated with the management of computer waste

Authors: Poonam Khanijo Ahluwalia, Arvind K. Nema

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi, New Delhi – 110016, India. ' Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi, New Delhi – 110016, India

Abstract: Growing public concern over the hazards associated with management of computer waste necessitates assessment of risk perceived by the public for such activities. This paper presents a goal-programming approach to achieve satisfaction of multiple objectives of economy, perceived risk and health and environmental risk during the entire life cycle of waste computers. A case study of Chennai (India) is presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed approach. The model can assist the decision makers in selecting optimum configuration of waste management systems and to arrive at the optimum reuse time span of a particular waste category.

Keywords: computer waste; goal programming; integrated waste management; multi-objective optimisation; perceived risk; relative risk; used computers; electronic waste; e-waste; hazardous waste; environmental risks; health risks; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2009.024705

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2009 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.135 - 163

Published online: 15 Apr 2009 *

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