A prototype knowledge-based decision support system for industrial waste management: part I. The decision support system1Part II of this article has already been published in this journal: Boyle CA, Baetz BW. A prototype knowledge-based decision support system for industrial waste management; part II. Application to a Trinidadian industrial estate case study. Waste Management 1997;17(7):411–428.1

Although there are a number of expert systems available which are designed to assist in resolving environmental problems, there is still a need for a system which would assist managers in determining waste management options for all types of wastes from one or more industrial plants, giving priority to sustainable use of resources, reuse and recycling. A prototype model was developed to determine the potentials for reuse and recycling of waste materials, to select the treatments needed to recycle waste materials or for treatment before disposal, and to determine potentials for co-treatment of wastes. A knowledge-based decision support system was then designed using this model. This paper describes the prototype model, the developed knowledge-based decision support system, the input and storage of data within the system and the inference engine developed for the system to determine the treatment options for the wastes. Options for sorting and selecting treatment trains are described, along with a discussion of the limitations of the approach and future developments needed for the system.