Post-earthquake debris waste management with interpretive-structural-modeling and decision-making-trial, and evaluation-laboratory under neutrosophic fuzzy sets

This study investigates the barriers to managing debris waste in the post-earthquake period in Türkiye following the significant earthquakes of 2023. Debris waste in the aftermath of earthquakes poses significant challenges to society and the environment. Thus, the critical need for effective debris waste management is essential to identifying and prioritizing barriers that impede the process. The study fills a gap in the literature by integrating Interpretive-Structural-Modeling (ISM), Decision-Making-Trial, and Evaluation-Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Neutrosophic Fuzzy Sets (NFSs) methodologies to assess barriers in the management of earthquake debris waste. The integrated approach considers technical, economic, regularity, environmental, and social dynamics influencing debris waste management. The results show that the first causal barrier is the “lack of legal enforcement,” which has the most significant impact. The lack of legal regulations is caused by insufficient financial, technical, and institutional capacity, especially in Turkiye and similar developing countries. Secondly, the “lack of awareness regarding the environment” is another barrier to effectively managing post-earthquake debris. To improve post-earthquake debris management, the study highlights the importance of barriers for policymakers to create effective and sustainable management strategies. It also contributes to advancing circular economy practices and achieving sustainable development goals 3-8-9 and 11. Further, it assists managers and policymakers in effectively managing debris waste after earthquakes by providing insights into the interrelationships of barriers and mitigation strategies.