A new system for weighting environmental criteria for use within ELECTRE III

Abstract ELECTRE III is a multi-criteria decision-aid model, particularly suited to the environmental appraisal of complex engineering projects. The authors propose a system which can be used to weight criteria within those non-compensatory decision-aid models, such as ELECTRE III, where information on the relative importance of the criteria is required. The limitations of the weighting systems used to date within ELECTRE III are outlined, and Hinkle's `resistance to change' grid is proposed as a new, simple, and straightforward weighting system with a coherent methodological basis. A worked example of Hinkle's technique, applied in the area of solid waste management, illustrates how it can be used to derive importance weightings for a set of mainly environmental criteria.