Evaluation of Key Indicators of Waste Collection Using GIS Techniques as a Planning and Control Tool for Route Optimization

Expenditure on waste collection and transport in developing countries constitutes up to 70% of the total solid waste management budget. In this study, optimized scenarios were developed using the ArcGIS Network Analyst tool in order to improve the efficiency of waste collection and transportation in the cities of Irbid, Karak and Mafraq, Jordan. Geographic Information System (GIS) has been created based on data collection involving GPS tracking (collection route/bin position). Both key performance and key operational costs indicators of the actual state (Scenario S0) were evaluated, and by modifying particular parameters, other scenarios were generated and analyzed to identify optimal routes: S1, route optimized with the same working resources and method as in S0 (change of the daily working hours per shift only); S2, route optimized with a change of collection mode with the same daily working time per shift as in S0 (change the transportation equipment and relocate and/or introduce new transfer stations); and S3, route optimized using a combination of S1 & S2 (change of the daily working hours per shift and collection mode). The results showed that the three scenarios guarantee savings compared to S0 in terms of the total cost of waste collection of 15, 13 and 23% for S1, S2 and S3 respectively in the city of Irbid, 6, 3 and 8% for S1, S2 and S3 respectively in the city of Karak, and 11, 6 and 13% for S1, S2 and S3, respectively in the city of Mafraq. Thus, a direct impact on vehicle operating times can be expected with savings of 30%, without mentioning the additional benefits related to CO2 emissions, hours of work, vehicle wear/maintenance, and so forth.