Sustainability of the Collection of Norwegian Household Waste

Background: Despite concerted research efforts, the collection of domestic waste remains poorly understood in terms of financial and environmental cost drivers. Detailed studies of specific systems, yielding limited broader understanding, remain the norm. Methods: This study presents flexible and generally applicable models for domestic waste transport logistics, based on economic cost and environmental impact calculations. Results: The calculations reveal key sensitivities by highlighting the most important cost and environmental drivers and linking these to key factors relating to the deployment of staff and collection vehicles, behaviour of consumers, and others. Conclusions: This study demonstrates these elements in a Norwegian context, showing that the models can inform tactical and operational decision-making for the logistics of domestic waste collection, and inform policy development in the area.