Abstract
With rapid economic growth and increased
urbanization, South Africa faces the problem of municipal
solid waste (MSW) disposal and pressing the need for waste to
energy recovery. Nowadays, renewable energy is the key
consideration in the discussion of the sustainable worldwide
energy system that reduces global climate change, human
health problems, and environmental degradation. Sustainable
development requires the sustainable supply of clean and
affordable renewable energy. The renewable energy source
such as bioenergy, solar energy, wind energy, hydropower,
geothermal is usually viewed as sustainable energy sources that
drive economic development. Wastes are convertible to useful
energy through waste to energy (WtE) technologies. In this
study, renewable energy technologies from the organic fraction
of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and their relation to
sustainable development are discussed. Via the application of
the simple multi-attribute rating (SMART) technique of
multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and analytical
hierarchy process (AHP) as a decision support tool, the most
preferred model option for WtE technology was selected from
a list of potential alternatives available in the market base on
environmental, sociocultural, technical and economical
consideration. From our investigation into the City of
Johannesburg Landfill, the OFMSW had the highest fraction
that comprises of 34% in portion. From MCDA-AHP results,
anaerobic digestion was the most preferred technology of
choice, taking into consideration environmental preservation
as the ultimate goal.