Title: A multi-objective and multi-period location-allocation model for solid waste disposal facilities: a case study of Delhi, India

Authors: Amitabh Kumar Srivastava, Arvind K. Nema

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India. ' Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India

Abstract: Disposal facilities are essential components of waste management. Even with the increased emphasis on waste minimisation, reuse and recycling, the amounts of waste residues requiring disposal are continuously increasing. Urban centres are faced with a multitude of problems owing to increasing quantities of waste residues coupled with decreasing availability of land in urban areas. Optimal use of land for the disposal facilities is a necessity for the civic authorities. Landfills are still the most used method of disposal, especially in developing countries. Costs and environmental risks associated with disposal facilities vary with respect to time in a complex manner. The success of a long-term plan for solid waste disposal critically depends on the best use of landfills with respect to time. In this paper, an integer linear programming based optimisation model is presented. This model addresses multiple objectives including costs and environmental risk for multi-period planning. A case study of solid waste disposal in the capital city Delhi, India, is presented, demonstrating the utility of the proposed model.

Keywords: multi-objective optimisation; planning; disposal facilities; integer linear programming; location allocation; solid waste; waste disposal; India; waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2008.020659

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2008 Vol.2 No.2, pp.184 - 197

Published online: 08 Oct 2008 *

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