A methodology for forecasting hazardous waste flows

In previous years, great attention has been paid to the problem of hazardous waste management. “Prevention costs” of the activities concerned with hazardous waste (HW) are lower than “restoration costs” after damage is done. Within the scope of the paper the methodology for forecasting hazardous waste flows was elaborated. The methodology of the research included 6 modules: historical data, assumptions, choose of indicators, data processing, and data analysis with STATGRAPHICS, and forecast models. The proposed methodology was validated for the case for Latvia. A new type of the indicator based on the HW intensity within the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev. 2) sectors and households has been developed. The indicator allows for assessing the HW production intensity. The results of the study suggest that HW intensity in Latvia is forecasted to slowly decrease by 3.8% in next six years. The pessimistic prognosis (upper 95%) gives an increase in HW intensity by 44.5%, but the intermediate (upper and lower 50%) gives a corridor of +18.4% to –36.1%.