An economic analysis of a regionalized rural solid waste management system [Costs, Alabama]

A quantitative model is developed to examine the possibility of cost savings through cooperative efforts in collecting and disposing of solid waste material. Heuristic algorithms are used to determine the best locations for landfills and the best routes for the collection trucks to follow in serving the five-county study area. The results of the economic analyses indicate that a regional system for solid waste collection and disposal can be justified from a cost standpoint.