Unveiling Key Parameters: Time Windows and Travel Times in Capacitated Waste Collection

Numerous studies in waste management propose solutions to the Waste Collection Problem, often focusing on constraints such as time windows and truck capacity. Travel times between points play a vital role in optimizing waste collection. However, the methods for determining them are frequently omitted. Another parameter that has a great influence on waste collection is the time window. Here, the impact of time windows and travel times on the capacitated waste collection problem with time windows solution was assessed for collecting three waste types. Surprisingly, travel times were found to have minimal influence on route optimization, while time windows significantly affected the algorithm’s ability to identify the most efficient collection route. Addressing these considerations is crucial for practical application and improving the performance of waste collection algorithms in real-world contexts.