Title: Selecting the best network design for COVID-19 healthcare waste disposal using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

Authors: Khalid Alzoubi; Nader Al Theeb; Tasneem Al-Khalailah

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our lives and impacted healthcare systems and the global economy. Therefore, it has become necessary to limit the spread of the virus. The proper disposal of medical waste is one of the important ways to reduce the negative effect of the virus. This study focuses on selecting the best network design for COVID-19 waste disposal in Jordan. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) was used to select the best network design based on quantitative criteria of total cost and response time, and qualitative criteria of customer experience, safety practices in waste handling, and effect on the environment. Three reverse-logistic networks were considered; direct shipping, shipping with milk runs, and shipping with cross docking. The findings have revealed that shipping with cross docking was the best network design with a weighted score of 0.478. Therefore, the use of FAHP approach helped in selecting the best network configuration for disposing of COVID-19 waste under conditions of high uncertainty.

Keywords: distribution networks; waste disposal; COVID-19; reverse logistics; sustainability; fuzzy analytic hierarchy process; FAHP.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2025.144674

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2025 Vol.50 No.3, pp.319 - 333

Received: 19 Mar 2022
Accepted: 06 Aug 2022
Published online: 27 Feb 2025 *

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