A Location-allocation Model for Bio-waste Management in the Hospitality Sector

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Operations Research
• Waste Management

Background:

• Tourism significantly contributes to waste generation, with hotels producing substantial amounts of food and garden bio-waste.
• Bio-waste from hotels presents an opportunity for resource recovery through composting and pellet production.
• Current waste management practices often involve costly transportation and do not fully leverage the potential of bio-waste.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mathematical optimization model for locating composting and pellet-making facilities.
• To minimize waste transportation from hotels to treatment facilities and product distribution.
• To establish a circular economy model where hotels utilize their bio-waste to produce necessary compost and pellets.

Main Methods:

• A mathematical optimization model was formulated to address the facility location and waste/product allocation problem.
• The model considers the dual objectives of minimizing transportation and implementing a circular waste management system.
• The proposed model's applicability was demonstrated through a case study example.

Main Results:

• The study presents a model that can effectively determine optimal locations for bio-waste processing facilities.
• The model facilitates the allocation of bio-waste to these facilities and the distribution of compost and pellets.
• Implementing the model can lead to reduced transportation costs and a more sustainable waste management approach for hotels.

Conclusions:

• The proposed location-allocation model provides a strategic framework for managing hotel bio-waste efficiently.
• Establishing local composting and pellet-making facilities supports a circular economy, reducing environmental impact and operational costs.
• This approach enables hotels to transform waste into valuable resources, contributing to sustainable tourism operations.