System dynamics model for the municipal solid waste management system in the metropolitan area of Medellín, Colombia

Abstract

This paper analyses the management of municipal solid waste in the metropolitan area of Medellín (Colombia). The composition and production of solid waste, the collection system, the informal and formal sectors in the region, the different flows of materials and its final disposal, are some topics that have been considered. A basic model for the SWM system in the city has been developed based on the system dynamics methodology. With the help of the Vensim PLE software, it has been possible to simulate different scenarios, such as the implementation of the formalisation process of the informal waste pickers that are present in the city. The generation of waste for the residential sector in Aburrá Valley is 49,115.2 ton/month, and only 12.5% of the solid waste produced is reintroduced into the production cycle. Part of this work is done by approximately 4,474 waste pickers, but only 10.63% of them are part of pre-cooperatives or cooperatives. The outcomes of the model for the geographical area allow to conclude that the inclusion of the informal sector in the municipal solid waste management system would imply huge benefits related to the social, economic and environmental aspects of the system.

The use of system dynamics on urban solid waste management: a literature analysis

“…Collection vehicles and equipment are considered in some models (~ 12% of the sample), which makes it possible to relate the collection capacity, the number of trips required, purchase price and fuel consumption, impacting the total collection costs (Sufian & Bala, 2007;Akinyemi, 2014;Rahayu et al, 2013;Bala et al, 2017;Bala, 2009;Sukholthaman & Sharp, 2016;Vélez & Mora, 2016;Paucar & Ataucusi, 2017). It is necessary to analyze, in a complementary way, the effectiveness of the labor, vehicles and collecting equipment, to simulate policies that interfere in the productivity of the process (Akinyemi, 2014).…”

“…On the other hand, the USW management system is also influenced by the operational costs of the process, which includes the stages of collection, separation, treatment and disposal of waste. This cost variable is present in approximately 40% of the articles, demonstrating its relevance for analysis of policy implementation, more realistic estimates of the municipal budget necessary for the maintenance of the system and identification of process improvement (Ahmad, 2012;Alam & Ahmad, 2015;Sufian & Bala, 2007;Akinyemi, 2014;Yeh et al, 2002;Chen et al, 2012;Giannis et al, 2016;Rahayu et al, 2013;Cai & Liu, 2013;Bala et al, 2017;Bala, 2009;Rong, 2004;Sudhir et al, 1997;Massote et al, 2015;Al-Khatib et al, 2015;Kum et al, 2005;Zanjani et al, 2012;Manasakunkit & Chinda, 2017;Manasakunkit & Chinda, 2014;Manasakunkit, 2013;Matos, 2012;Chinda, 2015;Karavezyris et al, 2002;Ulli-Beer et al, 2004a, b;Sukholthaman & Sharp, 2016;Vélez & Mora, 2016;Kum et al, 2004;Rodrigues et al, 2017).…”

“…The model considers the financial inputs and outputs of the cooperative, including quotas for each member. Vélez & Mora (2016) simulated the effect of formalizing the informal sector on the USW management system, to analyze how this process can solve social and environmental questions. Regarding the social, there was an improvement in income that could lead to better living conditions for the population.…”

Effect of the Colombian Renewable Energy Law on the Levelized Cost of a Substitute Gaseous Fuel Produced from MSW Gasification

“…The residential (74,5 wt%), commercial (11,8 wt%), industrial (7,9 wt%), and institutional (5,8 wt%) sectors make up the city's MSW, which is coded here as 'Mixed'. In Medellín, only ∼16% of the produced MSW is recycled, and the remaining waste is disposed in La Pradera, a landfill located ∼57 km from the city (Vélez and Mora, 2016). In general, the chemical composition of MSW is different for each sector (SGCT-UM, 2015).…”

Stakeholder views of source separation collection programme in East São Paulo, Brazil

“…In the city of São Paulo, Brazil, according to the regional integrated solid waste management plan (São Paulo Municipal Government, 2014), it was estimated that 2300 waste pickers are active in the metropolitan area in collecting recyclable waste and delivering it to WCs. In the city of Medellín, Colombia, about 4500 wastes pickers perform selective collecting activities every day (Vélez and Mora, 2016). In Nicaragua, waste pickers earn between US$1.50 and US$2.00 per day, while in more developed countries such as Mexico, India, and Brazil, waste pickers earn more than US$7.00 per day (Kasinja and Tilley, 2018).…”