Municipal solid waste supply chain management under an integrated optimization of sustainability targets

Abstract

This research study presents a dynamic discrete optimization model for the treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW) with sustainability as an essential research objective. The optimization model screens capacity selections for MSW technologies over distributed sites with consideration of pretreatment biodrying technologies for waste calorific value enhancement. The choices for these MSW technologies and the network operation are described by binary and continuous variables, respectively. The MSW network economic seeks the maximization of the net present value (NPV). Key environmental impacts of MSW technology use as well as the impacts of MSW transportation are described by a minimization optimization problem. The social target of the MSW network considers the maximization of job creation. When applying the model to a case study, sustainability objective functions showed conflict in the results. Pareto optimal solutions are found from the multi-objective optimization model and a compromised solution is suggested for the considered case study.