Supporting mobile WEEE collection on demand: A method for multi-criteria vehicle routing, loading and cost...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science and Management
• Operations Research
• Circular Economy

Background:

• Increasing collection rates of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is a global challenge, particularly in the EU with new directive targets.
• The shift towards a circular economy prioritizes resource recycling in waste management policy.
• Emerging WEEE collection systems offer opportunities for improved efficiency and environmental benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-efficient, multi-criteria model for on-demand mobile WEEE collection from residents and EEE stores.
• To optimize vehicle routing, fleet selection, and WEEE loading for collection companies.
• To ensure timely waste equipment pickup and enhance resident satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A novel model for mobile WEEE collection utilizing a multi-criteria approach.
• Optimization of vehicle routes and selection from a heterogeneous fleet, incorporating the WEEE loading problem.
• Application of genetic algorithms and fuzzy logic for optimizing costs and resources.

Main Results:

• The proposed model effectively optimizes operational costs, vehicle fleet utilization, and waste loading.
• Demonstrated ability to ensure timely WEEE pickup, leading to increased resident satisfaction.
• Successful verification through a case study in Opole, Poland, indicating scalability to large cities.

Conclusions:

• The developed model provides a robust solution for optimizing WEEE collection logistics.
• The algorithm facilitates the design of software and mobile applications for WEEE collection companies.
• Implementation of this system can significantly improve WEEE collection efficiency and support circular economy goals.