Optimization of logistics of municipal waste transport in regional formulation

Abstract

The aim of the article was to present the possibilities of logistic solutions of management system of mixed waste and segregated waste that can be one coherent system or two parallel systems. The authors of the article attempted to optimize the transport of various waste fractions from their origins and collection to recycling and storage sites. The assumptions and limitations of adopted systems as well as conclusions are presented. Sustainable waste management should follow the hierarchy: waste prevention, reuse preparation, recycling, other recovery methods, e.g. incinerating with or without energy recovery, final disposal of residues after processing. The structure of waste management in law in Poland is designed to reduce waste as much as possible, while reducing its harmfulness. To achieve this, it is necessary to create large structures / systems that will perform the technical tasks, while taking into account the natural and socio-economic conditions of the region and preserving the existing natural balance. The new waste management system introduced obligations for municipalities, which include, among other things, ensuring the construction, maintenance and operation of their own or common with other communities regional installations to processing municipal waste. The new regulations have also imposed the levels of recovery and recycling of waste fractions, not showing how they can be implemented and accounted for. In the long term, by 31 December 2020, communes should ensure achieving the adequate levels of recycling, preparation for reuse and recycling by another means of paper, metal, plastics and glass at least 50% of recycling weight and at least 70% of recycling weight of building construction and demolition waste. In addition, they are obliged to reduce the total weight of biodegradable municipal waste by 16 July 2020 by 35% in relation to the mass of those wastes generated in 1995. The researches have been based on secondary sources of information about waste. This information has been collected by individual communes as a result of monitoring the size and type of waste, and comes from waste management plans. The methodology of the studies allowed for elaborating the optimal routes of waste collected from inhabitants. The analysis concerns mixed waste. As a result of the research, it can be assumed that the optimization will reduce the emission of car exhaust to the environment because of diminution of transport volume. Another result is travel costs’ reduction. Taking into account the high recurrence of waste transport, which arises from permanent consumption, the performed optimization can influence the reduction of costs of entire system functioning. Diminution of operating costs of the whole system can affect the minimization of costs incurred by residents for maintaining the waste management and disposal system.