Fuel consumption estimation for kerbside municipal solid waste (MSW) collection activities

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Transportation Engineering
• Waste Management

Background:

• Waste collection vehicles are significant fuel consumers.
• Understanding fuel usage patterns is crucial for optimizing operations and reducing environmental impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate and compare fuel consumption of co-collection and normal garbage packer trucks during daily activities.
• To identify factors influencing fuel consumption, such as route type and housing density.
• To evaluate potential strategies for reducing fuel consumption in waste collection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized global positioning system (GPS) data and fuel consumption records.
• Analyzed fuel consumption across seven different daily activities for two truck types.
• Calculated fuel rates (L/km) and per-kilogram waste collection fuel requirements.

Main Results:

• Co-collection and normal packer trucks consumed approximately 1.8 L/km and 1.26 L/km, respectively.
• Over 60% of daily fuel was consumed during active waste collection.
• Fuel consumption was 2-4 times higher on rural routes versus urban routes, and 5-6 times more fuel was needed per kg of waste on rural routes.
• Consistent use of optimal routes could save an average of 7.5 L of fuel per truck daily.

Conclusions:

• Waste collection activities, particularly on rural routes with lower housing density, are the primary drivers of high fuel consumption.
• Optimizing collection routes presents a significant opportunity for fuel savings.
• Reducing loading time per stop showed minimal potential for fuel reduction.