Resource utilization model for sustainable solid waste management in Vietnam: A crisis response hierarchical structure

Abstract

This study contributes a hierarchical framework for sustainable solid waste management in the context of crisis and organizational changes. A resource utilization model for sustainable solid waste management in Vietnam is built, and important attributes for providing practical crisis responses are indicated by employing the resource-based view and resource dependence theory. COVID-19 has created obstacles and uncertainty among municipalities, making it necessary for solid waste management organizations to enhance their capability to assess available resources and thereby quickly respond to changes. A hybrid method consisting of the fuzzy Delphi method, a fuzzy interpretive structural modeling matrix of cross-impact multiplications applied to classification, and a fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation method is proposed to structure the hierarchical framework and to transform uncertain and complex attributes into measurable attributes. There are 30 valid attributes arranged into 12 levels and grouped into 9 aspects of sustainable resource utilization. The results show that the policy and regulation framework has the greatest driving power, followed by information sharing and communication, occupational intervention, employment standards, and city parameter support. The linkage criteria, which have strong driving and dependence power in equilibrium interactions with other criteria and play an essential role in balancing the system, include the skills and capacities of in-house staff, working conditions and the environment, internal knowledge sharing and exchange, staff awareness and training, and the design of safety interventions; these criteria must be emphasized in practice.