A planning scenario for the application of geographical information systems in municipal waste collection: A case of Churriana de la Vega (Granada, Spain)

• Published in: Resources, conservation and recycling conservation and recycling, 2009-12, Vol.54 (2), p.123-133
• Main Authors: Zamorano, M., Molero, E., Grindlay, A., Rodríguez, M.L., Hurtado, A., Calvo, F.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Collection routes; Containers allocation; Exact sciences and technology; General treatment and storage processes; Geographic Information System; Municipal waste; Pollution; Urban and domestic wastes; Waste management; Wastes
• ISSN: 0921-3449; 1879-0658
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.07.001

The optimization of municipal waste collection can reduce management costs and negative impacts on the environment. This article analyzes municipal waste collection in Churriana de la Vega (Granada, Spain), and describes a way to improve waste collection service, based on the information provided by Geographic Information Systems. The results of our study showed that the town had an excessive number of containers for organic matter and rest-waste fraction. This made waste collection less efficient and raised costs related to the purchase of containers, collection time, personnel costs, collection route length, and vehicle maintenance. In the case of recyclable fraction collection, our results showed that waste collection could be improved by increasing the number of containers and optimizing their location. The solutions proposed could improve the percentage of selective waste collection and raise environmental awareness although this action should be accompanied by public awareness campaigns.