Technical Note Multi-criteria analysis for the identification of waste disposal areas MARIA LU ´ CIA CALIJURI 1 , EDER T. MARQUES 1 , JULIANA F. LORENTZ 1 , ROBERTO F. AZEVEDO 1 and CARLOS A. B. CARVALHO 1,2 1 Federal University of Vic ¸osa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. e-mail: calijuri@ufv.br 2 Department of Civil Engineering, s/n Campus UFV 36571-000 Vic ¸osa MG, Brazil (Received 31 December 2002; revised 7 April 2003; accepted 24 April 2003) Abstract. ThemunicipalityofCachoeirodeItapemirim(ES)iscurrentlythelargestdomestic producerandexporterofmarbleandgraniteinBrazil.Theprocessingoftherock,especially thesawingresultsinalargevolumeofwaste,includingtheabrasivesusedduringsawingand theoff-cutpieces.Presentlythesewasteproductsaredisposedofwithoutproperenvironmen- tal protection and cause pollution to surface water and groundwater resources, including silting, an increase in hardness and increased aluminium values in the groundwater. In order to minimize the harmful effects of these practices on the environment, a research project was undertaken to identify potential disposal sites for the generated waste. A multi- criteria approach was followed during which a database was compiled of all the companies generating waste products and also including a baseline environmental study of the region, integrated analysis (multi-criteria analysis) of the restriction factors and the preliminary identification of possible disposal sites. Key words. database, environment, exploration of ornamental rocks, multi-criteria analysis, residue disposal. 1. Introduction Sinceearlydays,menhavegeneratedresidueswhicharecharacteristicofthedifferent traditions, activities and phases of intellectual, social and technological evolution. Forcenturies,themaineconomicactivitywasconcentratedonagriculturalproduc- tion with its main residues being easily assimilated by the environment. The main change brought about by the Industrial Revolution was shifting from agricultural production and life in the country into an urban-oriented life in the big cities, increasingly dependent on manufactured and disposable products. Consequently, the volume and variety of residues have been increasing. Modern life generates millions of tons of all types of residues (solid, liquid and gaseous), daily, due to the technological advancements and the most varied antropic activities developed to sustain life on the earth. This becomes more evident during late 19th Century. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 22: 299–312, 2004. 299 # 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.