A Hybrid Multi-criteria Decision-making and Allocation Model for Selection of Hospital Waste Disposal Firms

In a context where substantial volumes of hospital waste are generated and disposed of daily, the ineffective sanitary disposal of such waste can lead to environmental risks and higher operational expenses. However, hospitals frequently overlook objective criteria when evaluating and selecting waste disposal firms, relying instead on subjective judgment and past experiences. This research proposes a decision-making framework that presents a hybrid model combining multi-criteria decision-making and linear programming. The primary objective of this study is to propose a safe and efficient method for outsourcing disposing of or recycling hospital waste.

This study presents a framework for decision-making in hospital waste disposal, addressing both single and multiple outsourcing scenarios. Firstly, the literature is reviewed to identify the criteria for evaluating waste disposal firms. The DEMATEL method is employed to explore the cause-and-effect relationships among these criteria, selecting the most significant ones and visualizing their causal relationships in a network format. The analytic network process (ANP) method is then utilized to evaluate and choose the most suitable waste disposal firm in a single outsourcing scenario. Additionally, to mitigate the risks associated with single outsourcing, a linear programming model is introduced for multiple outsourcing. This mathematical model determines the optimal allocation of waste quantities to various waste disposal firms, aiming to maximize the overall amount of waste disposed of by these firms.

Fidings: 

The framework introduced in this study was put into practice to assess and choose hospital waste disposal firms in Tehran. Through a comprehensive literature review, 10 evaluation criteria were identified. Among these, the six most influential criteria were selected using the DEMATEL method, and their causal relationships were depicted in a network. The ANP was employed to assign weights to the evaluation criteria and the candidate firms. The evaluation criteria, in descending order of importance, include qualified human resources, recycling and disposal capacity, experience, cost, collection and transportation infrastructure, and waste disposal and recycling technology. Furthermore, a linear programming model was solved using Lingo software to optimize the allocation of waste among the candidate firms.

The decision-making model presented in this article offers advantages to both hospital officials and urban pollution control officials in the context of outsourcing sanitary waste disposal. The outcomes obtained from implementing the proposed framework demonstrate that decision-making based on this model not only benefits hospitals in selecting a suitable firm but also helps to mitigate conflicts of interest and disagreements between hospitals, sanitary waste disposal firms, and urban pollution control officials.