An interactive optimization system for the location of supplementary recycling depots

In order to increase participation in residential recycling, convenient access to recycling depots is essential. Currently, most vendors have established various take-back systems in local retail shops. The integration of the recycling depots established by local authorities with these private facilities can significantly improve access for residents. As a response to this need, an integrated system capable of providing optimization analysis and geographical information system functions has been designed to assist local authorities in identifying the regions where supplementary recycling depots need to be located to improve access to. A customized program which allows online optimization analysis has been developed and embedded in an integrated system. Through a user-friendly interface, users can interactively locate the supplementary depots within the desired regions. The interactive process improves the flexibility of the integrated system and avoids the shortcomings of impractical locations for recycling depots. A case study of battery recycling in central Taiwan is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the integrated system. By using the proposed integrated system to analyze the existing conditions, the locations of supplementary points to improve access to the existing regional recycling collection points can be determined. In short, the proposed methodology provides local authorities with an uncomplicated and streamlined system with which to determine the number and locations of supplementary recycling points. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.