Evaluación de rutas de recolección de residuos sólidos urbanos con apoyo de dispositivos de rastreo satelital: Análisis e implicaciones

Abstract

The management of solid waste is a complex task for public authorities due to its social, economic, technological and environmental implications. Waste collection represents between 70 and 85 [%] of the total costs of managing solid waste, so it is a critical aspect of the service. The aim of this study is to assess the waste collection system in the municipality of Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, based on GPS data. A fleet of garbage trucks was monitored, covering 71 waste collection routes. We used a conceptual route of methods proposed by the Ministry of Social Development (Secretaría de Desarrollo Social) of Mexico to assess the main operating parameters, determining the level of efficiency of the existing collection routes. The results show the advantages of using low-cost technological equipment in the planning and controlling of the solid waste collection systems, that play a key role in the environmental protection.