Mohsen Amiri - Department of Environment, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Mojgan Zaeimdar - Department of Environment, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Hamidreza Khaledi - Department of Agriculture, Yadegar Imam Khomeini branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Sahar Rezaian - Department of Environment, Shahrood Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran

Background: Effective waste management is critical during crises, as it can lead to the release of toxic waste and the mixing of hazardous substances, which can have detrimental effects on the environment and public health. Proper storage and transportation of waste during critical times can significantly reduce vulnerability through the implementation of passive defense measures, as examined in this study.Methods:  This   descriptive-analytical   research   was   undertaken   to   identify   passive   defense principles  and  location  criteria  for  waste  storage  and  transportation  systems  in  District  ۶  of Tehran municipality, Iran. After determining the effective factors in the socioeconomic, physical- spatial,  hydrological-climatic,  geological,  and  passive  defense  sectors,  the  identified  criteria were  subdivided  into  ۳۵  sub-criteria  across  seven  main  criteria. These  were  evaluated  by  ۲۸ experts in waste management and crisis management using the Delphi method over two stages and subsequently prioritized using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS).Results:   The   criteria   “Population   density”,   “Distance   to   fault”,   and   “Distance   to   power substation”, with similarity to ideal solution (cli ) values of ۰.۸۶۱, ۰.۷۷۴, and ۰.۷۷۱, respectively, were  identified  as  the  top  priorities.  Conversely,  “Distance  to  gas  pressure-reducing  stations” (cli = ۰.۱۳۴) was determined to be the least significant risk factor in the location of the mechanized systems.Conclusion:  Intelligently  locating  mechanized  waste  storage  and  transportation  systems  based on the coefficients of the prioritized effective factors, following the principles of passive defense, can  not  only  mitigate  the  vulnerability  of  the  urban  area  during  critical  conditions  but  also enhance environmental and health conditions during normal times.

location criteria, Waste Management, mechanized collection system, Passive Defense, Delphi, TOPSIS