An optimization model for transport, treatment and disposal of medical waste: a case study of Podlaskie Province

Abstract

The article describes optimization studies aimed at analysing the impact of capital and current cost changes for combustion waste storage on the cost of its system management and structure. The study was conducted using the example of an analysis of the system of medical waste management in Podlaskie Province, in north-eastern Poland. The scope of operational research carried out under the optimization study was divided into two stages of optimization calculations with assumed technical and economic parameters of the system. In the first stage, the lowest cost of functioning of the analysed system was generated, whereas in the second one the influence of the input parameter of the system, i.e. capital and current costs of combustion waste storage process on the economic efficiency index (E) and the spatial structure of the system was determined. Optimization studies were conducted for the following cases: with a 25% increase in capital and current costs for the storage process, followed by 50%, 75% and 100% increase. As a result of the calculations, the highest cost for system operation was achieved at the level of 1655 PLN/Mg with the assumption ca. 100% increase in capital and current costs for the storage process. There was an increase in the economic efficiency index (E) by about 4% in relation to first course of optimization studies.