What factors affect the selection of industrial wastewater treatment configuration

摘要: Abstract Industrial wastewater treatment is gaining significance in literature due to stricter environmental policies and increased awareness. The selection of the configuration encompasses both as well several decisions around collection disposal pertaining industrial decision-making sphere. However, so far literature, research has mostly discussed either technical features technologies, or policy issues at broader level, without focusing on driving factors leading a specific configuration. Starting from review, present study provides an innovative framework possible options for system configuration, major adoption by decision-makers. have been classified according 7 categories, namely: influent-related, technological, economic/financial, internal socio-cultural, external regulation, site characteristics. framework, validated with acknowledgeable experts, makers firms, preliminarily applied Italian Australian food firms. Our investigation reveals that was able include all relevant problems faced industries configuration; besides, relative importance assessed: legal requirements emerge most critical factors, followed volume discharge fee, latter particularly interesting purposes, since it may guide process. Further, seems play key role our exploratory investigation, smaller firms preferring complete off-site reduce complexity, whilst larger instead more partial on-site configurations compliance costs reduction. In conclusion, we provided managerial implications stemming sketched future avenues.