Linear Programming Model for Optimizing Municipal Solid Waste Allocation in Gilan Province Based on a Regional Hubs Approach
Subject Areas : Solid wasteNiloofar Abedinzadeh 1 , niloofar Abedinzade 2 * , Sadaf Feyzi 3
1 - Faculty Member, Environmental Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Rasht, Iran.
2 - Faculty Member, Environmental Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Rasht, Iran.
3 - Researcher, Environmental Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Rasht, Iran.
Keywords: Municipal Solid Waste Management, Linear Programming Model, Regional Hub Allocation, Gilan Province,
Abstract :
Optimizing waste flows in Gilan Province requires a regional approach due to the spatial distribution of population, variations in waste generation, and the uneven distribution of waste-processing capacities. This study aims to develop a linear programming model for allocating municipal solid waste from the selected counties to three regional hubs—central, eastern, and western—with the objective of minimizing the total weighted transportation distance. Each county was assigned to a single hub, while constraints related to complete waste allocation and processing capacity were incorporated into the model. The model was solved using LINGO software, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of the results to changes in waste composition and facility capacities. The results showed that, of the total daily waste generation of 1,516.9 tons, the central hub received 889.65 tons (58.6%), the eastern hub received 359.5 tons (23.7%), and the western hub received 267.75 tons (17.6%). The allocated waste included 986 tons of compostable waste, 303.38 tons of reject waste, and 227.54 tons of recyclable materials per day. The objective function value, representing the total weighted transportation distance, was 26,417.35 ton-kilometers per day. The capacity and sensitivity analyses indicated that the type and spatial distribution of processing capacities, in addition to their overall magnitude, are important determinants of network performance. The proposed three-hub structure can therefore provide a suitable framework for regional municipal solid waste management planning in Gilan Province.
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