Solid Waste Collection: A Case Study

Planning for urban solid waste management requires an assessment of many complex interactions among transportation systems, land use patterns, urban growth and development, and public health considerations. The authors discuss the application of a data acquisition and analysis system and a simulation model to the complex problems of the solid waste management system in Cleveland, Ohio. As the result of applying these techniques, Cleveland's solid waste managers reduced their annual budget of $14.8 million in 1970 to a low of $8.8 million in 1972. The total savings in a 3-yr period were $14.6 million based on the 1970 budget. In addition, the city reduced its solid waste work force from 1640 to 850 and the number of collection routes from 224 to 102, and it redesigned its collection routing system. The management structure of the Division of Solid Waste Collection and Disposal was completely reorganized to take advantage of and to supplement these major organizational changes. The City Council has, moreover, passed an ordinance which will allow the construction of transfer stations, as recommended in the study; one such facility has been built, and land has been purchased for the other.