Assessment of the Socio-Environmental Effects of the Wet Waste Processing Station Using Simpson's Representation Matrices and Rapid Assessment

Khalili, Ehsan; Baghkhanipour, Mohammadsaber; Hosseini, Seyed Hossein; Mehrjo, Farzad

doi:10.22111/jneh.2025.50905.2099

Assessment of the Socio-Environmental Effects of the Wet Waste Processing Station Using Simpson's Representation Matrices and Rapid Assessment

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

¹ Master's Graduate, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

² PhD. Graduate, Department of Planning and Designing the Environment, Environmental Sciences Research Institute (ESRI), Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

³ MSc. Student, Department of Education, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Assistant Professor, Department of Water Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Kashmar Higher Education Institute, Kashmar, Iran

10.22111/jneh.2025.50905.2099

Abstract

Waste management resulting from human activities and its socio-environmental effects has been a worldwide challenge in recent years. One of the options for processing wet waste is the compost production from it, which has had positive and negative economic, environmental, and social consequences. This study aimed to determine the social and environmental effects of the Pahneh-e-Jahad compost station in District 19 of Tehran Municipality and the corrective measures to mitigate its negative effects using the rapid impact assessment matrix along with the Simpson impact representation method. To collect information, interviews, document studies, and field visits were used. Then, the identified socio-environmental effects were examined qualitatively using the Simpson representation matrix method and quantitatively using the rapid assessment matrix method. Results of the evaluation of the categories in physical-chemical components were -293, socio-cultural 181, biological-ecological -24, and economic and operational +200. Among the matrix impact categories, the most positive outcomes were economic-operational effects, and the most negative and destructive outcomes were physical-chemical effects. Based on the rapid assessment matrix, the overall station score was -298. Based on the results of the RIAM matrix and scoping, the negative effects of the station prevail over its positive effects. This means that the existence of the studied station under current conditions has had destructive effects on the environment and local community. The compost station is not environmentally sustainable and will ultimately lead to social problems. Therefore, the continuation of the study station is socio-environmental unacceptable and will result in destructive environmental and social damage in the not-so-distant future. It is recommended to modify the waste management process by adopting an active aeration system equipped with a filtration unit to further minimise odour emissions. Additionally, relocating the station to a more suitable site, distant from residential and agricultural zones, is advised to mitigate potential environmental and social impacts.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Environmental Management

References

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