A literature review of the state of the art of sustainable waste collection and vehicle routing problem

Abstract

ABSTRACT Over the past decades, the amount of waste has dramatically increased worldwide due to rapid population growth and urbanization. Inefficient waste collection and transportation, known as the waste collection vehicle routing problem (WCVRP), negatively impacts economic, environmental, and social dimensions. This issue has drawn considerable attention from local and national governments. There is an urgent need for sustainable practices in waste collection and transportation. This paper conducts an exhaustive literature review on the WCVRP. The review covers various aspects, including waste types, common model characteristics, objective functions, solution methods, datasets and case studies. The analysis indicates a need for further research on underrepresented waste types, such as medical waste (MW). It also stresses the importance of incorporating more model characteristics to better capture the complexities of real-world scenarios. Moreover, there is a lack of multiple objectives optimization models that concurrently address economic, environmental, and social dimensions, in line with sustainable development goals. Additionally, there is insufficient research on hybrid algorithms, especially regarding their application to uncertainty management and advanced techniques. Finally, the use of hybrid testing is restricted, highlighting the need for diverse tests to validate solution methods under various real-world conditions. This study outlines a roadmap for decision-makers in the WCVRP domain, offering opportunities for the evolution of more efficient, adaptable, and sustainable waste collection and transportation systems. Implications: The discussion of waste collection and vehicle routing problems (WCVRP) is critical to solving urgent waste management issues. The optimization of WCVRP is a significant worldwide concern that requires immediate attention. Through a multi-dimensional evaluation of the research articles, this review paper provides recommendations Initially, while significant emphasis has been placed on urban solid waste, other categories, such as construction and demolition waste, agriculture waste, disaster waste, etc. have not garnered as much attention. Future research needs to explore efficient collection and transportation strategies for these waste types. Then, while the most common characteristics such as time windows, multi-depot, and homogeneous vehicles, are well explored, there is a lack of attention to other characteristics, this review emphasizes that future research should investigate the importance of integrating underexplored model characteristics and vehicle types into WCVRP models. Next, current models predominantly prioritize cost and public health exposure risk minimization. There is a necessity for more holistic approaches that incorporate multiple objectives, particularly those crucial to achieving sustainable development goals. Moreover, hybrid algorithms have emerged as efficient solutions, but there is a lack of exploitation of advanced technologies such as geographic information science, the internet of things, big data, and information and communication technology. These technologies, coupled with uncertainty management strategies, offer substantial potential for addressing the evolving complexities of WCVRP. Finally, the study further underscores the importance of datasets and case studies in validating WCVRP models. Hybrid tests enable researchers to comprehensively evaluate WCVRP solutions, offering a detailed understanding of their performance across different conditions. This method is essential for developing robust WCVRP solutions capable of adapting to dynamic environments and emerging challenngs