Review of multi-objective optimization models for solid waste management systems with environmental considerations

Abstract

This paper analyzes more than 50 papers with a limited area in the field of solid waste management systems and supply chain management, extending over mathematical models that include economic factors, as well as environmental and/or waste flow allocation. The review finds that there are a number of limitations to the current research in sustainable solid waste management systems. The narrow scope of environmental factors as constraints in the current models means that there is a need to go further and include new environmental metrics. The effective inclusion of environmental objectives in models with improved multi-objective approaches is a gap that needs to be filled. Furthermore, there are significant gaps in sensitivity analysis of models limiting the general applicability of the models. The paper concludes with promising new avenues of research that demand effective inclusion of sustainability into solid waste management system models.