Reverse Logistics for Sustainable Waste Management Processes

Reverse Logistics for Sustainable Waste Management Processes

Fraser McLeod (University of Southampton, UK) and Tom Cherrett (University of Southampton, UK)
Copyright: © 2012 |Pages: 14
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-585-8.ch015

Abstract

This chapter highlights some of the innovative approaches that have been taken by businesses involved in reverse logistics for the removal of waste from urban areas. The chapter reviews some of these approaches and suggests which could be used more widely, recognising the specific limitations which may restrict their applicability. These innovative approaches include: the use of delivery vehicles to take-back waste/recyclate to out-of-town facilities such as a freight consolidation or recycling centre; combining commercial and household waste collections; deploying public transport vehicles to carry specialist recyclate; using multi-modal transport; ‘smart’ bin technology and pipelines for the removal of waste from buildings.
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Existing Practice

In the UK, commercial waste is collected either by a national or local contractor, by the local authority, where they offer such a service, or in-house, using the business’ own vehicles; in some cases, commercial waste may be taken, often illegally, to household waste recycling centres (Maynard and Cherrett, 2010). The frequency of collection depends on the size of the business, with the largest typically receiving daily collections and the smallest often requiring one collection each week; an average of 2.4 collections per week was estimated in a study of 83 businesses in the city of Winchester, UK (Maynard and Cherrett, 2010). The typical collection arrangements for commercial recyclable waste and residual waste from a survey of businesses on Winchester High Street are shown (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Summary of waste management systems used by businesses on Winchester High Street (Source: Maynard and Cherrett, 2010)

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