Algorithm for the Optimization of MSW Collection Systems and for the Optimal Siting of Depots Under Multi-Trip Operations with Vehicles of Different Capacities: Case Study of The Municipality of Tiznit, Morocco

Abstract

The collection of Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents the most important challenge in MSW management as the economy and efficiency of the whole MSW management system is affected by the quality of the collection operations. The methodology proposed in this paper is based on the development of an algorithm for the optimization of MSW collection systems where the objective is to minimize the distances and the number of vehicles required as well as the optimal siting of the depot, considering vehicles of different capacities operated in multi-trips and the possibility of the use of multi depots. Therefore, the algorithm analyzes the validity of the collection system from the environmental and economic perspectives. The algorithm is performed in a sequence of phases defined by vehicle capacities in which each phase is composed of three major steps including partitioning, optimization of collection configurations and vehicle allocation. The algorithm was developed using mixed integer linear programming (MILP) and is applied for the municipality of Tiznit showing its applicability and efficiency. A sensitivity analysis was applied demonstrating the importance of vehicle capacities for collection optimization in the case of high waste generation rates.
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