The method was developed within the study "Bewertungsmethode für Technologien zur Nutzung von biogenen Abfällen und Hofdünger" and further applied to compare several disposal options for sewage sludge.

The method evaluates environmental, economic and social criteria with standardised cost-benefit scores. So far, the method was applied to compare different disposal options. In the first study several disposal routes of biogenic waste and manure was investigated. In the second study disposal of sewage sludge was analysed. The choice of indicators wthin each project depends on its goal and scope. However, the basis for evaluation of the environmental impact is always a life cycle assessment.

In the sewage sludge study the following criteria were selected and weighted by a group of experts: Conservation of non renewable energy sources, conservation of non-renewable resources, climate change, diffusion of hormonally active substances, eutrophication, human toxicity, ecotoxicity and highly radioactive waste volumes. In terms of economics, the disposal costs and securitycriteria and the financial risk were evaluated. In social terms, local acceptance (odour, noise), acceptance by society and security of supply were evaluated. Criteria-related quantitative indicators (loads, costs) or qualitative indicators (expert estimates) were used.

Exemplarily, the result of the multicriteria analysis for the sewage sludge study are shown below: