Study of Operations Research in Waste Management

Nancy Sharma, Nabhya Gupta, Muskaan Ahuja, Mrinesh Jain, Mridul Shah

Operations Research (OR) is the application of scientific & mathematical techniques to study & analyse problems involving complex systems. It enables more effective decisions and more productive systems based on robust data, the fuller consideration of available options, and careful prognosis of outcomes and estimates of risk. It is considered a kit of scientific and programmable rules which provides the management a “quantitative basis” for decisions concerning the operation under its regulation.

An additional characteristic is that OR frequently attempts to find a best solution (referred to as an optimal solution) for the problem under consideration, rather than simply improving the status quo, the goal is to identify a best possible course of action.

Solid waste management is a convoluted task, absorbing a huge amount of resources and having a major environmental impact. It is one of the contemporary society’s most relevant issue. Computerized systems based on operations research techniques can aid decision makers to achieve remarkable cost savings as well as to improve waste reclamation. The objective of this paper is to present an updated survey of the most applicable operations research literature on solid waste management, mainly stressing on strategic and tactical issues. In addition develop and supply analytic support for optimal time, costing, pricing, or logistics networks for evaluation and/or implementation.