Development of a Simulation Model for Optimizing the Transport and Logistics System of Industrial Waste Management

Abstract

Background: Transport costs in industrial waste management can account for up to 60% of total expenditures, yet existing optimization models often rely on simplified distance metrics and treat facility location and routing separately. This paper addresses these gaps. Methods: A simulation model is developed integrating real OpenStreetMap road networks, differentiated environmental risk coefficients by waste hazard class, and joint optimization of the number, location, and capacity of sorting stations and recycling plants. A nearest-available-facility heuristic is applied for routing. The model is implemented as an agent-based simulation in AnyLogic and validated on real data from the Republic of Tatarstan. Results: The optimized configuration (five sorting stations and two new recycling plants) increased the recycling rate from 29.8% to 69.1%, reduced waste sent to storage from 59.3% to 21.5%, and achieved a positive net present value. Transport costs became the dominant cost item (47% of total costs). Conclusions: The model provides a practical decision-support tool for transport planners and logisticians, enabling an assessment of infrastructure decisions on transport work, mileage, and emissions. Integrating real road networks and environmental risk coefficients significantly improves the accuracy of logistics optimization in waste management systems.