Collection Of Recyclable Waste Research Articles

Integrating a heterogeneous fixed fleet and a flexible assignment of destination depots in the waste collection VRP with intermediate facilities

We consider a complex recyclable waste collection problem that extends the class of vehicle routing problems with intermediate facilities by integrating a heterogeneous fixed fleet and a flexible assignment of destination depots. Several additional side constraints, such as a mandated break period contingent on tour start time, multiple vehicle capacities, and site dependencies are also included. This specific problem was inspired by a real-world application and does not appear in the literature. It is modeled as an MILP which is enhanced with several valid inequalities. Due to the rich nature of the problem, state-of-the-art solvers are only able to tackle instances of small to medium size. To solve realistic instances, we propose a multiple neighborhood search heuristic capable of systematically treating all problem features and general enough to respond to the varying characteristics of the case study regions for which it is intended. The results show that the heuristic achieves optimality on small instances, exhibits competitive performance in comparison to state-of-the-art solution methods for special cases of our problem, and leads to important savings in the state of practice. Moreover, it highlights and quantifies the savings from allowing a flexible depot assignment. The data from the state of practice comes from a company in the waste collection industry in Geneva, Switzerland.

Urban household solid waste generation and collection in Beijing, China

The household solid waste generated in Beijing is increasing quickly due to rapid population growth and lifestyle changes. However, there are no rigorous data on the generation and collection of recyclable household solid waste. The Beijing city government needs this information to establish policies and make plans for waste management. To address this need for information, we undertook the first comprehensive study of recyclable household solid waste for Beijing. We surveyed 500 families across sixteen districts in Beijing. We also analyzed the quantities, spatial distribution and categories of collected waste handled by permanent recycling centers and curbside recyclers for 340 of the 9797 city-defined residential areas of Beijing. From our results, we estimate that the total quantity of recyclable household solid waste was 1.805 million tons in 2013, and 72% of that was collected. The main generation categories were waste paper (24.4%), waste glass bottles (23.7%) and waste furniture (14.3%). In addition, we estimate there were 5.7 thousand permanent recycling centers and 22.8 thousand curbside recyclers in Beijing. The recycling rate of solid waste generated by urban households in Beijing was not low but varied significantly among different types of solid waste. The collecting capability of permanent recycling centers was inadequate. Urban residents had low awareness of some categories of solid waste recycling. The statistical system for waste management needed to be improved. Based on the problems mentioned above, the implications for solid waste management were discussed. We suggest accelerating the construction of permanent recycling centers and innovating the recycling modes. Meanwhile, it is also necessary to strengthen education on solid waste recycling and improve the recycling information statistics.

Waste and organized crime in regional environments: How waste tariffs and the mafia affect waste management and disposal

Waste management and disposal are influenced by socio-economic, institutional and policy factors that possess idiosyncratic features in regional settings. The role of organized crime is a largely unexplored factor. Crime organizations such as the mafia are known to collude with local institutions to control waste markets. As a result, legal forms of waste disposal and socially preferable management options are often undermined primarily through an influence on policy enforcement. Given its high regional heterogeneity and local ‘waste crises’, Italy provides a compelling case for the study of crime's effects on local waste performance. Panel econometric analyses show that sorted collection of recyclable waste and legal forms of waste disposal are lower when the mafia's effect on the actions of local governments is more intense.

Economic and environmental concerns in planning recyclable waste collection systems

This paper addresses the planning of recyclable waste collection systems while accounting for economic and environmental concerns. Service areas and vehicle routes are defined for logistics networks with multiple depots where different products are collected. The problem is modeled as a multi-product, multi-depot vehicle routing problem with two objective functions: distance and CO2 emissions minimization. A decomposition solution method is developed and applied to a real case study. Six scenarios regarding different service areas and objective functions are studied. Savings of up to 22% in distance and 27% in CO2 emissions are achieved, exceeding economic and environmental goals.

Planning a sustainable reverse logistics system: Balancing costs with environmental and social concerns

The present work aims to support tactical and operational planning decisions of reverse logistics systems while considering economic, environmental and social objectives. In the literature, when addressing such systems economic aspects have been often used, while environmental concerns have emerged only recently. The social component is the one less studied and rarely the combination of the three concerns has been analyzed. This work considers the three objectives and was motivated by the challenge of supporting decision makers when managing a real case study of a recyclable waste collection system, where strategic decisions on the number and location of depots, vehicles and containers were taken beforehand. Tactical and operational decisions are studied involving the establishment of service areas for each depot and the definition and scheduling of collection routes for each vehicle. Such decisions should represent a compromise solution between the three objectives translating a sustainable reverse logistics plan. The problem is modeled as a multi-objective, multi-depot periodic vehicle routing problem with inter-depot routes. A mathematical formulation and a solution approach are proposed. An approximation to the Pareto front is obtained for the case study and the trade-offs between the objectives are discussed. A balanced solution is proposed.

Eco-efficiency as an auxiliary measure for the definition of interregional public consortia responsible for the collection of recyclable domestic waste

Abstract This article presents as its main contribution a set of procedures for the definition of interregional public consortia responsible for the implementation and operation of door-to-door selective collection, which is a new approach to this definition. This procedure is structured in ten steps which are necessary for the generation of options of partitioning in a study region in a number (k) of groups, considering that groups with two or more subregions represent consortia, and the analysis of these options by means of financial and environmental performance measures. The referred procedure has been applied here to a case concerning a region in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Through the study of this case, it is concluded that the most adequate option is k = 2 groups. In this option, there is the formation of a public consortium comprising five study subregions and one of the subregions must not enter the consortium (this subregion is responsible for the generation of 73% of recyclable waste produced in the study area). The application of this procedure provides assistance in decision-making on the part of the analyst who needs to implement door-to-door selective collection, as an action for the improvement of solid waste management in a group of studied subregions.

Delimitation of service areas in reverse logistics networks with multiple depots

This paper describes a heuristic approach for the definition of service (or influence) areas of multiple depots in a reverse logistics network. This work is based on a case study: the recyclable waste collection system with 5 depots that covers seven municipalities in the Alentejo region, southern Portugal. The system optimization considers two objectives, related with economic and organizational issues: minimizing the variable costs (function of the travelled distances by the collection vehicles), and the pursuit of equity, aiming at minimizing the workload differences among depots. The goal of balancing workloads poses a problem not usually treated in the existing literature. This fact required the development of a new approach with innovative elements adjusted to the existing circumstances.

Diagnóstico da gestão de resíduos sólidos no município de Dois Irmãos (RS)

This paper presents a diagnosis of solid waste management in the town of Dois Irmaos. Analyze data relevant to the municipality such as population, budget for waste management, location of collection and recycling as well as estimating the potential and operation of recycling and disposal of other wastes through gravimetric surveys and data recorded by the Environmental Departament. The council has held since the year 1995 a system of selective collection, in addition to providing a collection of organic waste daily. The change in consumption habits of the population has been negligible on the characterization and composition of solid waste in the municipality during the time of registration of selective, keeping in 82% the amount of organic waste collected. The low volume of recyclable solid waste collection for the public and the efficient collection to and from a mounted network of environmental education that fosters the segregation of domestic waste at source of the familiar units, possible to obtain relevant data in the sorting and marketing of recyclable, saving raw materials, water and energy, as well as relevant indicators of social inclusion and employment generation and income. Key words: diagnosis, management, solid waste.

Avaliação da eficiência da técnica de Eletro-floculação no tratamento de efluentes de indústrias de subprodutos avícolas

This paper presents a diagnosis of solid waste management in the town of Dois Irmãos. Analyze data relevant to the municipality such as population, budget for waste management, location of collection and recycling as well as estimating the potential and operation of recycling and disposal of other wastes through gravimetric surveys and data recorded by the Environmental Departament. The council has held since the year 1995 a system of selective collection, in addition to providing a collection of organic waste daily. The change in consumption habits of the population has been negligible on the characterization and composition of solid waste in the municipality during the time of registration of selective, keeping in 82% the amount of organic waste collected. The low volume of recyclable solid waste collection for the public and the efficient collection to and from a mounted network of environmental education that fosters the segregation of domestic waste at source of the familiar units, possible to obtain relevant data in the sorting and marketing of recyclable, saving raw materials, water and energy, as well as relevant indicators of social inclusion and employment generation and income. Key words: diagnosis, management, solid waste.

Factors influencing households' participation in recycling

The success of a recycling programme depends on the active and sustained participation of citizens in the correct separation and collection of recyclable waste. An effective study of strategies aimed at augmenting people's involvement in recycling involves understanding which factors influence the decision to co-operate with a recycling programme. This research investigates the influence of attitudes, incentives, presence of children in household and information through direct media, on households' participation in recycling. The results suggest that positive attitudes toward recycling and information are important factors in explaining recycling participation. Some guidelines that may be considered in future communication and intervention strategies designed to promote recycling participation are discussed.

Quantifying the transport impacts of domestic waste collection strategies

This paper models the effects of three different options for domestic waste collection using data from three Hampshire authorities: (i) joint working between neighbouring waste collection authorities; (ii) basing vehicles at waste disposal sites; and (iii) alternate weekly collection of residual waste and dry recyclables. A vehicle mileage savings of 3% was modelled for joint working, where existing vehicle allocations to depots were maintained, which increased to 5.9% when vehicles were re-allocated to depots optimally. Vehicle mileage was reduced by 13.5% when the collection rounds were based out of the two waste disposal sites rather than out of the existing depots, suggesting that the former could be the most effective place to keep vehicles providing that travel arrangements for the crews could be made. Alternate weekly collection was modelled to reduce vehicle mileage by around 8% and time taken by 14%, when compared with a typical scenario of weekly collection of residual and fortnightly collection of recyclable waste. These results were based on an assumption that 20% of the residual waste would be directly diverted into the dry recyclables waste stream.

Gestão operacional da coleta seletiva de resíduos sólidos urbanos: abordagem utilizando um sistema de apoio à decisão

O trabalho apresenta a concepção, modelagem e implementação de um sistema de apoio à decisão aplicado ao planejamento operacional da coleta seletiva de resíduos sólidos (SCOLDSS), o qual tem por funcionalidade principal a geração de alternativas ao processo decisório no que se refere à: a) alocação de veículos para a coleta seletiva, bem como determinação do roteiro a ser percorrido; e b) determinação da quantidade diária de resíduos sólidos a ser enviada a cada unidade de triagem, de modo a evitar o desperdício de mão-de-obra e reduzir a quantidade de resíduos enviada aos aterros sanitários. Para seu desenvolvimento, foi utilizada a combinação de técnicas advindas da Pesquisa Operacional, quais sejam: a simulação de eventos discretos e algoritmos/heurísticas para o problema da alocação e roteamento de veículos. Para a validação do SCOLDSS, foram utilizados dados da coleta seletiva de um município do Rio Grande do Sul. É também apresentado um estudo de caso utilizando dados reais da coleta seletiva, no qual são apresentados os resultados gerados pelo sistema, bem como resultados comparados ao sistema atualmente utilizado no processo de coleta seletiva do município.

Recyclable waste collection planning––a case study

This paper describes a study of planning vehicle routes for the collection of urban recyclable waste. The aim is to create collection routes for every day of the month, to be repeated every month, minimizing the operation cost. Two important features of the problem are the planning of a relatively long period of time and the separate collection of three types of waste. The collection operation was modelled in accordance to the practice of the company that manages the collection system. Heuristic techniques were developed to solve the model in three phases: definition of the geographic zones served by the vehicles, definition of the waste type to collect on each day of the month, definition of the collection routes. Preliminary results suggest that significant economies in collection costs are possible.

An asymmetric vehicle routing problem arising in the collection and disposal of special waste

Abstract In this paper we consider a particular pick-up and delivery vehicle routing problem, with unit vehicle capacity and possible compatibility constraints between consecutive operations. The problem arises in the collection and disposal of bulky recyclable waste, where containers of different types, used to collect different waste materials, must be picked-up to be emptied at suitable disposal plants and replaced by empty containers alike. Disposal plants depend on the material and are located in different sites. Here we provide a graph model based on an Asymmetric Vehicle Routing formulation and discuss heuristic algorithms. Preliminary computational results obtained on real data are reported.

Solid waste management practices and review of recovery and recycling operations in Turkey

This paper provides a general overview of solid waste data and management practices employed in Turkey during the last decade. Municipal solid waste statistics and management practices including waste recovery and recycling initiatives have been evaluated. Detailed data on solid waste management practices including collection, recovery and disposal, together with the results of cost analyses, have been presented. Based on these evaluations basic cost estimations on collection and sorting of recyclable solid waste in Turkey have been provided. The results indicate that the household solid waste generation in Turkey, per capita, is around 0.6 kg/year, whereas municipal solid waste generation is close to 1 kg/year. The major constituents of municipal solid waste are organic in nature and approximately 1/4 of municipal solid waste is recyclable. Separate collection programmes for recyclable household waste by more than 60 municipalities, continuing in excess of 3 years, demonstrate solid evidence for public acceptance and continuing support from the citizens. Opinion polls indicate that more than 80% of the population in the project regions is ready and willing to participate in separate collection programmes. The analysis of output data of the Material Recovery Facilities shows that, although paper, including cardboard, is the main constituent, the composition of recyclable waste varies strongly by the source or the type of collection point.

Junk-buyers as the linkage between waste sources and redemption depots in urban China: the case of Wuhan

This paper locates junk-buyers in the recycling chain that includes waste source, collection system and end-user. With increasing needs of convenience for recycling at waste sources but disappearing redemption depots in city blocks of China, junk-buyers play a role of linkage between waste sources and redemption depots. It is these door-to-door collectors who make the general public aware of cash value inside recyclable waste. Also, the motivation of getting cash back pushes junk-buyers become immediate suppliers to redemption depots. Without junk-buyers as door-to-door collectors, the current waste recovery system in post-Mao's China would brake down. However, as in other developing countries, the junk-buyer occupation in urban China currently is typically driven by economic incentives, and the door-to-door collection of recyclable waste completely falls into junk-buyer individual business. It is difficult for junk-buyers who mainly come from the countryside to establish stable relations with waste sources for lack of recognition from urban society. The appropriate allocation of individual time and space becomes crucial to conducting the door-to-door activities so as to collecting more recyclables. While the collecting territory as the condition of production is positively reflected by the usual extent of the collecting distance, junk-buyers mostly spend time in finding sellers instead of simply expanding their collecting territory. This is a typical example of the cheapest and lowest skilled labor forces being in relatively unlimited supply in a developing country.

5348128 Apparatus for the collection, identification and reclamation of recyclable waste

Waste collection units include an orifice (4a) for accepting the waste materials. The units are equipped with (a) the orifice (4a), transmitter (25), receiver (26) and color sensors (27 and 28) adapted to ascertain an approximate identification of the waste introduced into the orifice; (b) a conveyor (24) for transporting the waste beyond the orifice; and (c) a distributor (33) for issuing a waste deposit slip, and controlled by the orifice (4a), transmitter (25), receiver (26) and color sensors (27 and 28), in combination with the conveyer (24).