Decision making methodology for biowaste management planning support: Addressing an EU directive

In the European Union (EU), biowaste accounts for 34% of municipal waste generated. The EU Directive 2018/851 established a mandatory separate collection of biowaste by the end of 2023. The Directive allows for derogation in case the collection of waste is not technically, economically, or environmentally feasible. This study proposes a decision-making methodology to assess the technical feasibility of separate collection of biowaste. Two new indicators are proposed: the "Artificial Urban Area" indicator, which assesses the size of the built-up area where biowaste is generated, and the "Generation" indicator, which estimates the quantities of biowaste to be collected. To demonstrate its applicability, the methodology is applied to a national case study. Our results conclude that waste collection is technically viable in 44% of national parishes, representing 85% of the country's total biowaste generation. This study provides insight into where biowaste generation is concentrated, thus supporting an efficient allocation of waste management resources. • Decision-making tool for separate biowaste collection viability within territories, considering sustainable practices. • Two new indicators: "Generation" for biowaste collection efficiency, and "Artificial Urban Area" for assessing urbanization and collection distances. • Applied to mainland Portugal, study shows 44% of parishes are viable for biowaste separate collection, representing 85% of total biowaste generation. • Methodology can be applied to various waste streams and geographical levels.