Design and Optimization of a Waste Glass Recycling Network

Rising sustainability concerns underscore the importance of efficient closed-loop supply chains, especially for energy-intensive materials like glass. Despite being fully recyclable, a significant amount of glass waste ends up in landfills. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of recycled glass as a supplementary cementitious material in concrete production, replacing 10–30% of Portland cement. This substitution can lower CO 2 emissions and mitigate waste challenges but involves trade-offs related to processing costs, environmental benefits, and material performance. This paper presents the first integrated reverse supply chain (RSC) model for Waste Glass (WG) recycling, designed to optimize profit while reducing carbon emissions. The proposed model aims to determine facility sizing, location costs, and reprocessing strategies within the recycling network. The model is validated through a case study with a regional waste recovery firm, offering actionable insights for advancing sustainable glass recycling practices.