Estimation of Carbon Dioxide Emissionsin a Waste Collection Vehicle Routing Problem

Abstract

Recently there has been increasing concern regarding environmental impacts due to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions caused by waste collection activities, apart from the active industrialization efforts. In this context, evaluation of environmental impacts in Waste Collection Vehicle Routing Problem (WCVRP) is highlighted. As such, this paper investigated CO2 emissions based on solution derived from a prior study of the benchmark waste collection problem. With that, the fuel-based and distance-based methods had been employed to estimate CO2 emissions. Both methods were selected due to their applicability and suitability in the estimation of CO2 for WCVRP. The results showed that the distance-based method produced less value of CO2 emissions (approximately 7.1 % decrement) and lower value of fuel consumption (approximately 1.77 % of fuel saving), when compared to the fuel-based method. Besides, it is important to note that the reduction of CO2 emitted depends on distance travelled, fuel consumption, and emission factors. Thus, reductionin travelled distances and fuel usage do aid in mitigating vehicle emissions.