INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: A MULTICRITERIA APPROACH

The paper presents the first results of a long term research aimed at producing a decision support system to deal with the integrated solid waste management planning at regional level. In the last years urban waste management has received a strong attention from the public authority in Italy culminating in a new national law, which has priorities such as waste prevention (waste avoidance and reduction) reuse and recycling. Italian Legislation requires to consider not only a series of waste management options aimed at source reduction but also to integrate the environmental soundness with economical viability and social equity. To support this integrated solid waste management it is necessary to ascertain the environmental, economic and social impacts associated with various waste management options so that decision makers can trade them off to achieve a better waste management strategy. To deal with the problem a three level process is suggested: zoning of the territory, implementation of the waste plan, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the new facilities. The paper focuses, in a non technical way, on a dynamic mixed integer linear programming model to be used in the second phase of the previous process. A multicriteria approach has been adopted to manage waste as an integrated system of recollection, transportation, recovery and disposal activities. At the moment four objective functions have been defined: total cumulative distance, total discounted net cost, total cumulative impact on traffic due to waste transportation, total cumulative landfilling. The model includes different types of collection, as well as different technologies. The model gives the possibility to locate in the same site more facilities. In this way it is possible to construct waste integrated platforms which permit to reduce costs and impacts. The model chooses the sites to be developed, the types of technology that will be installed on such sites, and the schedule of activity. In accordance with the input concentration for each technology it is possible to specify the appropriate output coefficients. The model computes the yields of the intermediate technologies directly from the model parameters, such parameters are exogenously determined, case by case, on the basis of the technical information; all the yields are automatically recomputed by the model when they vary. In this way high flexibility is introduced into the model. According to the preference of the decision maker specific constraints can be introduced in order to limit the admitted technologies; such restrictions have yearly validity. In this way a good representation of a dynamic situation can be reached. The main aspects that can be studied in space and time are: waste recollection at municipality, destination of each type of waste, technologies operating at facilities, landfilling, material and energy recovering, cost, traffic impact due to waste transportation. The results of a first application referred to the Province of Ravenna, in Emilia Romagna Region, Northern Italy are presented in the final section.Environmental Economics and Policy,

Integrated participatory modelling of irrigated agriculture: the case study of the reorganisation of a water management system in Italy

The paper presents an application of the new version of the 'Decision Support for Irrigated agriculture' DSIrr designed to integrate water and agricultural policy analysis and to support participatory decision process. The tool is a scenario manager for bio-economic farm models considering climatic, agronomic, hydraulic, socio-economic and environmental aspects. The paper offers some insight on the decomposition approach adopted to integrate economic analysis at different scales by illustrating a case study conducted in Italy to support an ex ante evaluation of a water management system reorganisation. Reduce water consumption is a strategic objective which pricing policy cannot address given technical constraints. The replacement of the existing low-efficiency irrigation system could be the solution, but the recover of cost creates an affordability problem. Results suggest that a dual network, integrating agricultural and rural urban sectors, represents a real challenge for the Irrigation Board since this option meets the environmental goal and pass the economic sustainability test.Water, Agriculture, Economic analysis, Modelling and tools, Participatory process, Agricultural and Food Policy, Land Economics/Use, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

AN INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL SIMULATION MODEL TO EVALUATE CAP REFORM ON MEDITERRANEAN AGRICULTURE. METHODOLOGICAL PROPOSAL AND FIRST APPLICATIONS IN APULIA REGION (SOUTHERN ITALY)

The implementation of most recent CAP and water policy reforms calls for simulation analytical tools able to quantify socio-economic and environmental impacts that can be different in terms of regions and farm type. This work proposes a territorial mathematical programming model that integrates hundreds of farm models clustered in a single meta-model at regional level that can be easily standardized having the FADN as the main data source. The tool has been experimentally applied to Apulia region and several simulations have been conducted in scenarios differing in terms of agricultural policies (total decoupling, increase of the modulation rate and introduction of a flat rate system for the Single Farm Payment), price of the water resource, market conditions (price of products and cost of inputs). For each simulation, farmers’ choices - cropping patterns and techniques-, the economic assessment of the effects of such choices -revenue, costs and incomes- and environment impacts -use of factors and resulting pressures on natural resources- have been analysed. The results of the analysis show that agricultural policies measures do not affect land use pattern or the agricultural pressure on water resources. But can have major income redistributive effects. On the contrary, water policy and market conditions impact on farmers’ choices, economic performance and environmental pressure.Agricultural policies, Water policy reforms, territorial mathematical programming model., Agricultural and Food Policy, Political Economy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Q18, Q25, Q51.,

WATER POLICY AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF IRRIGATED SYSTEMS IN ITALY

The management of water resources is today one of the main issues in most countries. In Italy, as in many other European countries, irrigation is the main sector using water and hence it is at the centre of the water policy agenda. Water management for irrigation requires suitable policy tools able to meet social objectives and private behaviour. The legal framework in the European Union is today faced with the new Water Framework Directive (60/2000), that sets up new criteria for water management, regulation and pricing. Among other things, the Water Framework Directive introduces the principle of full cost recovery and the polluter pays principle for water users. For many areas of Italy, this may be a significant shift compared to present payment criteria, based on traditional rights, area prices, and only a partial cost recovery from final users. The objective of this paper is to analyse the problem of water regulation for irrigated agriculture, through a simulation model based on the integration of a mathematical decision making model and a principal agent. The methodology allows to quantify water demand and optimal regulation from the point of view of the policy maker. The results show major impacts of water availability and prices on farm income. The adoption of a mix of pricing instruments related at the same time to charges associated to crop mix, water consumption and pollution can significantly improve water policy efficacy.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Water Policy and Sustainability of Irrigated Farming Systems in Italy

The objective of this paper is to provide an analysis of the sustainability of irrigated agriculture in Italy in the context of CAP reform and Water Framework Directive. The work combines scenario analysis, multicriteria mathematical programming simulation models and economic, social and environmental indicators. Five irrigated farming systems were considered: cereals, rice, fruit, vegetables and citrus. The results show the diversity of Italian irrigated farming systems and the trade-off between socio-economic and environmental performance. This highlights the need for a differentiated application of the Water Framework Directive, balancing water conservation and rural development objectives.water framework directive, irrigation, economic models, sustainability indicators, scenarios, Land Economics/Use, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q1, Q2, Q25,

INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: A MULTICRITERIA APPROACH

The paper presents the first results of a long term research aimed at producing a decision support system to deal with the integrated solid waste management planning at regional level. In the last years urban waste management has received a strong attention from the public authority in Italy culminating in a new national law, which has priorities such as waste prevention (waste avoidance and reduction) reuse and recycling. Italian Legislation requires to consider not only a series of waste management options aimed at source reduction but also to integrate the environmental soundness with economical viability and social equity. To support this integrated solid waste management it is necessary to ascertain the environmental, economic and social impacts associated with various waste management options so that decision makers can trade them off to achieve a better waste management strategy. To deal with the problem a three level process is suggested: zoning of the territory, implementation of the waste plan, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the new facilities. The paper focuses, in a non technical way, on a dynamic mixed integer linear programming model to be used in the second phase of the previous process. A multicriteria approach has been adopted to manage waste as an integrated system of recollection, transportation, recovery and disposal activities. At the moment four objective functions have been defined: total cumulative distance, total discounted net cost, total cumulative impact on traffic due to waste transportation, total cumulative landfilling. The model includes different types of collection, as well as different technologies. The model gives the possibility to locate in the same site more facilities. In this way it is possible to construct waste integrated platforms which permit to reduce costs and impacts. The model chooses the sites to be developed, the types of technology that will be installed on such sites, and the schedule of activity. In accordance with the input concentration for each technology it is possible to specify the appropriate output coefficients. The model computes the yields of the intermediate technologies directly from the model parameters, such parameters are exogenously determined, case by case, on the basis of the technical information; all the yields are automatically recomputed by the model when they vary. In this way high flexibility is introduced into the model. According to the preference of the decision maker specific constraints can be introduced in order to limit the admitted technologies; such restrictions have yearly validity. In this way a good representation of a dynamic situation can be reached. The main aspects that can be studied in space and time are: waste recollection at municipality, destination of each type of waste, technologies operating at facilities, landfilling, material and energy recovering, cost, traffic impact due to waste transportation. The results of a first application referred to the Province of Ravenna, in Emilia Romagna Region, Northern Italy are presented in the final section

Integrated participatory modelling of irrigated agriculture: the case study of the reorganisation of a water management system in Italy

The paper presents an application of the new version of the 'Decision Support for Irrigated agriculture' DSIrr designed to integrate water and agricultural policy analysis and to support participatory decision process. The tool is a scenario manager for bio-economic farm models considering climatic, agronomic, hydraulic, socio-economic and environmental aspects. The paper offers some insight on the decomposition approach adopted to integrate economic analysis at different scales by illustrating a case study conducted in Italy to support an ex ante evaluation of a water management system reorganisation. Reduce water consumption is a strategic objective which pricing policy cannot address given technical constraints. The replacement of the existing low-efficiency irrigation system could be the solution, but the recover of cost creates an affordability problem. Results suggest that a dual network, integrating agricultural and rural urban sectors, represents a real challenge for the Irrigation Board since this option meets the environmental goal and pass the economic sustainability test

AN INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL SIMULATION MODEL TO EVALUATE CAP REFORM ON MEDITERRANEAN AGRICULTURE. METHODOLOGICAL PROPOSAL AND FIRST APPLICATIONS IN APULIA REGION (SOUTHERN ITALY)

The implementation of most recent CAP and water policy reforms calls for simulation analytical tools able to quantify socio-economic and environmental impacts that can be different in terms of regions and farm type. This work proposes a territorial mathematical programming model that integrates hundreds of farm models clustered in a single meta-model at regional level that can be easily standardized having the FADN as the main data source. The tool has been experimentally applied to Apulia region and several simulations have been conducted in scenarios differing in terms of agricultural policies (total decoupling, increase of the modulation rate and introduction of a flat rate system for the Single Farm Payment), price of the water resource, market conditions (price of products and cost of inputs). For each simulation, farmers’ choices - cropping patterns and techniques-, the economic assessment of the effects of such choices -revenue, costs and incomes- and environment impacts -use of factors and resulting pressures on natural resources- have been analysed. The results of the analysis show that agricultural policies measures do not affect land use pattern or the agricultural pressure on water resources. But can have major income redistributive effects. On the contrary, water policy and market conditions impact on farmers’ choices, economic performance and environmental pressure