Waste collection and transport optimization in accordance with zero waste principles of Karaman province in Türkiye

The zero waste approach introduces a novel perspective on waste management, allowing for the categorization of waste at its origin. This enables each identified waste group to be assessed and optimized individually. One of these optimization studies focuses on the optimization of waste collection and transportation. The placement and number of containers, as well as the collection routes of vehicles, are crucial for optimizing these processes. In this study, the number of containers placed in Karaman, their placement, the distance between the containers, and the vehicle route optimization were analyzed. The results show that the current number of containers is not used efficiently, with an average distance of only 33 meters between them. Moreover, optimizing routes in five pilot areas resulted in an average efficiency gain of 32%, which saved 17 kilometers, 50 minutes, and 8 liters of fuel per route. Based on these findings, a 32% improvement is anticipated not only in economic and time efficiency but also in reducing the carbon footprint during the collection and transportation stages.