Towards sustainable WEEE collection and transportation methods in circular economy - Comparative study for rural and urban settlements

Abstract

A circular economy approach requires methods of resource management that are sustainable and efficient. A crucial process in waste management is collection and transportation of waste. One of the most valuable streams is waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). There is a variety of disposal methods available for residents and a variety of collection methods for companies.The scope of this study includes the application of artificial immune systems in planning routes of vehicles in a mobile program and in placement of containers in stationary collections of WEEE. The intent is to create a level playing field by comparing sustainability of the waste collections and transportation methods in optimal designs.The analysis includes a comparison of the three most common methods of WEEE collection including cost analysis and vehicle emission using case studies for urban and rural areas. The results show the importance of properly planned collection routes. Mobile collection is the most sustainable method of WEEE collection while drop off of waste by residents at municipal collection centers is the worst case due to high emissions and operation costs. The results and the proposed model give an opportunity to evaluate existing WEEE collection methods in urban and rural areas and propose some improvements for waste collecting companies.