Policy Planning Using Genetic Algorithms Combined with Simulation: The Case of Municipal Solid Waste

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 757-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D Linton ◽  
Julian Scott Yeomans ◽  
Reena Yoogalingam

Previous research had introduced a genetic algorithm procedure for creating alternative policy options for municipal solid waste (MSW) management planning. These alternatives were generated during the design phase of planning, with the final policy determined in subsequent comparative analysis. However, because of the many uncertain factors that exist within MSW systems, this earlier procedure cannot be applied to situations containing such stochastic components. In this paper, it is shown that a generic algorithm approach can be simultaneously combined with simulation to incorporate these stochastic elements in the policy option generation phase; thereby permitting uncertainty to be directly integrated into the construction of the alternatives during the planning-design phase. This procedure is applied to case data taken from the Regional Municipality of Hamilton–Wentworth in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It can be shown that this procedure extends the earlier approach and provides many practical planning benefits for problems when uncertain conditions are present.

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
T. Akyen ◽  
C. B. Boye ◽  
Y. Y. Ziggah

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management is one of the most serious environmental challenges facing the world at large due to the decomposing effect from the toxic gases being released into the environment by the MSW. The siting of landfill in any environment is a vital consideration that must be looked at due to the many factors such as the lifespan of the landfill, site selection, design, construction, operation and management. For this reason, it is important to estimate the lifespan of landfill accurately so as to explore the risk involved in acquiring new lands for landfills. Moreover, it is also necessary to consider proper methodology for estimating the lifespan of landfills. Based on these factors enumerated, various researchers have performed several laboratory tests in order to conclude on appropriate model that could be used to predict the lifespan of modern landfills. Mathematical models or expressions have also been suggested in literature as an alternative approach to the estimation of landfills lifespan. This research used the future value of money equation to estimate the lifespan of the Aboso landfill in Tarkwa, Ghana. The result showed that the landfill could operate for the next twelve years before it could exhaust its usefulness. Keywords: Landfill, Municipal Solid Waste, Lifespan Estimation


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 578-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imane Boumanchar ◽  
Younes Chhiti ◽  
Fatima Ezzahrae M’hamdi Alaoui ◽  
Abdelaziz Sahibed-dine ◽  
Fouad Bentiss ◽  
...  

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management presents an important challenge for all countries. In order to exploit them as a source of energy, a knowledge of their calorific value is essential. In fact, it can be experimentally measured by an oxygen bomb calorimeter. This process is, however, expensive. In this light, the purpose of this paper was to develop empirical models for the prediction of MSW higher heating value (HHV) from ultimate analysis. Two methods were used: multiple regression analysis and genetic programming formalism. Both techniques gave good results. Genetic programming, however, provides more accuracy compared to published works in terms of a great correlation coefficient (CC) and a low root mean square error (RMSE).


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunlin Xin ◽  
Tingting Zhang ◽  
Sang-Bing Tsai ◽  
Yu-Ming Zhai ◽  
Jiangtao Wang

The Chinese government is committed to ensuring separation of municipal solid waste (MSW), promoting the integrated development of the MSW management system with the renewable resource recovery system, and achieving construction of ecological civilization. Guided by the methods in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under five waste disposal scenarios in Beijing under the life cycle framework were assessed in this research. The study included collection and transportation, as well as three end disposal methods (sanitary landfill, incineration, and composting), and the emission reduction benefits of electricity generation from incineration and recycling of renewable resources were taken into account. The results show that an emission reduction benefit of 70.82% could be achieved under Scenario 5 in which kitchen waste and recyclables are sorted and recycled and the residue is incinerated, and the selection of the optimal strategy was not affected by changes in the separation rate. In addition, landfill would emit more GHG than incineration and composting. The results of this study are helpful for the government to make a decision on MSW management considering the goal of GHG emission reduction.


Author(s):  
Brian Bahor ◽  
Keith Weitz ◽  
Andrew Szurgot

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is internationally recognized for its potential to be both a source and mitigation technology for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Historically, GHG emission estimates have relied upon quantitative knowledge of various MSW components and their carbon contents, information normally presented in waste characterization studies. Aside from errors associated with such studies, existing data do not reflect changes over time or from location to location and are therefore limited in their utility for estimating GHG emissions and mitigation due to proposed projects. This paper presents an alternative approach to estimate GHG emissions and mitigation using the concept of a carbon balance, where key carbon quantities are determined from operational measurements at modern municipal waste combustors (MWCs).


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 527-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shira Daskal ◽  
Ofira Ayalon ◽  
Mordechai Shechter

Regulation is a key tool for implementing municipal solid waste (MSW) management strategies and plans. While local authorities in Israel are responsible for the storage, collection, and disposal of MSW, Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MoEP) is responsible for the formulation and implementation of waste management policies and legislation. For the past 12 years, about 80% of the MSW in Israel has been landfilled and recycling rates have not increased, despite regulations. This paper presents the state of MSW management in Israel in light of the MoEP’s strategic goal of landfilling reduction, the regulations and legislation designed and implemented for achieving this goal, and the ensuing results. Among other things, the results indicate the importance of monitoring and assessing policy and regulations to examine whether regulation is in fact effective and whether it keeps track of its own targets and goals or not. It is also concluded that even when there is an extensive regulation that includes a wide range of laws, economic penalties and financial incentives (such as landfill levy and financing of MSW separation at source arrangements), this does not guarantee proper treatment or even an improvement in waste management. The key to success is first and foremost a suitable infrastructure that will enable achievement of the desired results.


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