Optimal municipal solid waste energy recovery and management: A mathematical programming approach.

Highlights • A Mixed-Integer programming model was developed to attain an optimal solution to the MSW management. • The model allocates the various types and amounts of wastes to different processes (recycling, composting and landfilling). • An LFG-to-energy system is designed by considering the dynamic behavior of the LFG generation in the landfill. • The model is applied to a case study in a municipality in Mexico. • Results confirm that LFG used to produce electricity reduces the economic burden of MSW management. Abstract A multi-period approach to municipal solid waste (MSW) management is proposed. The analysis includes the optimization of a MSW network considering waste reduction processes and landfilling. The optimization of the transportation of MSW to its potential destinations has been addressed using a direct-hauling system and an optimally allocated off-municipality transfer station. As the main component in the formulation, an optimal landfill gas (LFG) to energy design is obtained to improve the economics of the landfill operation; the design involves the installation of several harnessing technologies according to the annual increase or decay of the LFG flow rate. A case-study for a municipality in Mexico has been solved through the GAMS® modeling environment. The resulting mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model has been assessed through several scenarios. The results show that the installation of an LFG-to-electricity system and a materials recycling facility achieve the minimum overall cost of the MSW management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]