Lesson 6: Solid Waste Collection

Automated Collection:

Read: MSW Management: What's the Deal With Automated Collection? (Judy Usherson • December 1, 2011)

Collecting Recyclables

Read: Text - pp. 85-91 in the yellow text, pp. 80- 85 in the blue text

Review: MSW Management: The Benchmarking of Residential Recycling (Jeremy O'Brien • July 1, 2010)

• Be sure to review Tables 4 and 5
• THINK: Bring a good question to class on recycling or yard waste collection costs and evaluation of the total municipal waste system.


Skim: MSW Management: The Future of Multi-Bin Systems (Forester Media • July 1, 2004)

Skim: Dual- Versus Single-Stream Recyclables Systems: Which Is Better? (Bob Brickner and Lois Clarke • September 11, 2015)

Read: Text -pp. 76 - 80 in the yellow text, pp. 72-80 in the blue text

and Chap. 3 Appendix (pp. 96-101 in the yellow text, pp. 91-95 in the blue text)

Skim: MSW Management: Collection and Routing Software for Waste Collection Trucks (August 31, 2006)

• Path established by
  • Trial and error
  • Computer
  • Heuristic methods (common sense)
• Steps
  • Define collection area
  • Assign disposal sites if more than one
  • Establish daily collection zones - collection area divided into sections for daily service established based on compacted volume
  • Balance daily vehicle assignments (districting)
  • Route vehicles within daily districts
    • Location maps with pertinent info; sources, volume, containers
    • Layout preliminary routes
• Rules
  • Begin and end near arterial streets
  • Start at top of hills
  • Work toward disposal site
  • Work in congested areas during non-rush hours
  • Large quantities first

Review: Collection System Analysis - Routing Efficieny Article (This article is available as a PDF file on the CANVAS course web-site under On-Line Lessons - Lesson 6: Solid Waste Collection)
Review: Collection Analysis - Making the Day More Productive Article (This article is available as a PDF file on the CANVAS course web-site under On-Line Lessons - Lesson 6: Solid Waste Collection)

Exercise: Go to this site and work the problem (NOTE: It may take a moment for the video to load.)