A Multi-objective Optimization Model for Waste-to-Energy Facility Location in Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management

Efficient municipal solid waste (MSW) management has a vital role in securing economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Waste-to-Energy (WtE) is a significant method that converts waste into electricity or heat energy, offering a crucial approach to reducing MSW. In this study, a new multi-objective mixed-integer programming model was developed in order to determine the location of the WtE facility with three objectives. The three objectives of the mathematical model were as follows: (1) minimizing total costs, including investment cost of incineration facility, transportation cost, and operating costs; (2) maximizing energy generation; and (3) minimizing greenhouse gas emission. The proposed model incorporates constraints related to the monetary equivalence of objectives, facility location, capacity constraints, mass balances, and flow balances across municipalities, transfer stations, recycling centers, and landfills. The proposed model was applied to a practical scenario in Istanbul, Türkiye, demonstrating its real-world applicability. Based on the model result of the Multi Obj, the optimal location of the WtE facility was found to be E3 and A2 for the European and Asian sides, respectively. The model results revealed that the optimal location for the WtE facility is close to the recycling facility and landfill, primarily to minimize transportation costs between waste source sites and these facility ies. stations, recycling centers, and incineration facilities. We applied this model to a case study in Istanbul, Türkiye. The findings from our study have significant implications for initiating new MSW management projects with a focus on sustainability.