A multi-objective approach to solid waste management

The issue addressed in this paper consists in the localization and dimensioning of transfer stations, which constitute a necessary intermediate level in the logistic chain of the solid waste stream, from municipalities to the incinerator. Contextually, the determination of the number and type of veh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Waste management (Elmsford) 2010-08, Vol.30 (8), p.1720-1728
Main Authors: Galante, Giacomo, Aiello, Giuseppe, Enea, Mario, Panascia, Enrico
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
09 BIOMASS FUELS
Applied sciences
COST
Costs
Costs and Cost Analysis
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EUROPE
Exact sciences and technology
Fuzzy
FUZZY LOGIC
General treatment and storage processes
Incineration - economics
Incineration - methods
INCINERATORS
INVESTMENT
ITALY
Logic
MANAGEMENT
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MINIMIZATION
Models, Theoretical
OPTIMIZATION
Organizational Objectives
Other wastes and particular components of wastes
POLLUTION
PROGRAMMING
Proposals
SOLID WASTES
Transfer stations
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Products - analysis
Waste Products - economics
WASTES
WESTERN EUROPE
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Summary:The issue addressed in this paper consists in the localization and dimensioning of transfer stations, which constitute a necessary intermediate level in the logistic chain of the solid waste stream, from municipalities to the incinerator. Contextually, the determination of the number and type of vehicles involved is carried out in an integrated optimization approach. The model considers both initial investment and operative costs related to transportation and transfer stations. Two conflicting objectives are evaluated, the minimization of total cost and the minimization of environmental impact, measured by pollution. The design of the integrated waste management system is hence approached in a multi-objective optimization framework. To determine the best means of compromise, goal programming, weighted sum and fuzzy multi-objective techniques have been employed. The proposed analysis highlights how different attitudes of the decision maker towards the logic and structure of the problem result in the employment of different methodologies and the obtaining of different results. The novel aspect of the paper lies in the proposal of an effective decision support system for operative waste management, rather than a further contribution to the transportation problem. The model was applied to the waste management of optimal territorial ambit (OTA) of Palermo (Italy).
ISSN:0956-053X
1879-2456
DOI:10.1016/j.wasman.2010.01.039