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<p>Achieving circular economy goals requires optimizing waste flows across jurisdictions with uneven recovery performance. In Australia, disparities in treatment capacity and efficiency hinder progress. This study introduces the Weighted Flow Redistribution and Recovery Maximization (WFRRM) algorithm, a graph-theoretic optimization framework applied to national waste flow data (2016–2023). WFRRM reallocates waste from low-efficiency donor states to high-efficiency recipients under capacity constraints. Three streams-plastics, organics, and paper/cardboard were selected to represent distinct recovery challenges. Results show national recovery rises by + 335 kt (~ 0.5% of total waste), with redistributed flows contributing 13% of optimized recovery. Plastics improve by + 4.8% points (12% to 16.8%), with gains of + 195 kt in VIC and + 140 kt in SA, while NSW and QLD decline due to redistribution. These findings reveal mismatches between generation and treatment capacity and demonstrate that recovery improvements are achievable without new infrastructure. Future extensions will integrate transport costs, CO₂ emissions, and socio-economic factors, positioning WFRRM as a scalable tool for equitable circular economy transitions.</p>

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Optimizing waste redistribution for circular economy outcomes: a graph-theoretic WFRRM approach in Australia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月8日

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  • R. Anitha,
  • A. Parthiban

摘要

Achieving circular economy goals requires optimizing waste flows across jurisdictions with uneven recovery performance. In Australia, disparities in treatment capacity and efficiency hinder progress. This study introduces the Weighted Flow Redistribution and Recovery Maximization (WFRRM) algorithm, a graph-theoretic optimization framework applied to national waste flow data (2016–2023). WFRRM reallocates waste from low-efficiency donor states to high-efficiency recipients under capacity constraints. Three streams-plastics, organics, and paper/cardboard were selected to represent distinct recovery challenges. Results show national recovery rises by + 335 kt (~ 0.5% of total waste), with redistributed flows contributing 13% of optimized recovery. Plastics improve by + 4.8% points (12% to 16.8%), with gains of + 195 kt in VIC and + 140 kt in SA, while NSW and QLD decline due to redistribution. These findings reveal mismatches between generation and treatment capacity and demonstrate that recovery improvements are achievable without new infrastructure. Future extensions will integrate transport costs, CO₂ emissions, and socio-economic factors, positioning WFRRM as a scalable tool for equitable circular economy transitions.