Energy and time modelling of kerbside waste collection: Changes incurred when adding source separated food waste

• A general model to predict fuel and time required for kerbside waste collection is proposed.
• Model is significantly more accurate than other models for Australian case studies.
• 5 scenarios for the collection of source separated food waste are modelled including co-mingled food and garden waste bin as well as a separate FW bin.
• Food waste bin and co-mingled bin have similar results for L of fuel/t of food waste diverted.

The collection of source separated kerbside municipal FW (SSFW) is being incentivised in Australia, however such a collection is likely to increase the fuel and time a collection truck fleet requires. Therefore, waste managers need to determine whether the incentives outweigh the cost. With literature scarcely describing the magnitude of increase, and local parameters playing a crucial role in accurately modelling kerbside collection; this paper develops a new general mathematical model that predicts the energy and time requirements of a collection regime whilst incorporating the unique variables of different jurisdictions. The model, Municipal solid waste collect (MSW-Collect), is validated and shown to be more accurate at predicting fuel consumption and trucks required than other common collection models. When predicting changes incurred for five different SSFW collection scenarios, results show that SSFW scenarios require an increase in fuel ranging from 1.38% to 57.59%. There is also a need for additional trucks across most SSFW scenarios tested. All SSFW scenarios are ranked and analysed in regards to fuel consumption; sensitivity analysis is conducted to test key assumptions.

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