Title: Planning the reverse logistic for recyclable solid waste by a mathematical model and a simulated annealing metaheuristic

Authors: Israel Vasconcelos Soares Gomes; Rodrigo De Alvarenga Rosa; Carla Kulnig Musso; Lucas Volpini Cinelli; Vitor Oliveira Rodrigues; Dahlen Siqueira Silva

Addresses: Federal University of Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras – Vitória – Espírito Santo, CEP: 29.075-910, Brazil ' Federal University of Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras – Vitória – Espírito Santo, CEP: 29.075-910, Brazil ' Federal University of Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras – Vitória – Espírito Santo, CEP: 29.075-910, Brazil ' Federal University of Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras – Vitória – Espírito Santo, CEP: 29.075-910, Brazil ' Federal University of Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras – Vitória – Espírito Santo, CEP: 29.075-910, Brazil ' Federal University of Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras – Vitória – Espírito Santo, CEP: 29.075-910, Brazil

Abstract: Selective collection has grown over the last few years and this is leading to an increase of the reverse logistics costs paid by the city hall. Thus, a better planning of the reverse logistics may reduce costs by minimising the number of trucks needed and the total distance travelled. This paper proposes a mathematical model and a modified simulated annealing metaheuristic based on the vehicle routing problem with multiple trips to plan the reverse logistics for the selective collection. The mathematical model was solved by CPLEX 12.6 and the SA was developed in C. In order to test both of them, they were applied to the selective collection in five Brazilian cities that use a volunteer delivery stations (VDS) located at roads and squares. SA performed the planning of selective collection in a relatively low computational time and achieved a better plan than the ones done manually by the planners.

Keywords: selective collection; vehicle routing problem; VRP; multiple trips; VRPMT; simulated annealing; recyclable solid waste; reverse logistics; recycling; logistics planning; mathematical modelling; metaheuristics; travel distance; truck numbers; Brazil.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2017.081498

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2017 Vol.26 No.2, pp.181 - 202

Received: 10 Oct 2015
Accepted: 05 Dec 2015

Published online: 10 Jan 2017 *

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