Analysis of Solid Waste Management Operations in Cleveland, Ohio: A Case Study

Planning for urban solid waste management requires an assessment of many complex interactions among transportation systems, land use patterns, urban growth and development, and public health considerations. This paper describes the application of a data acquisition and analysis system and a simulation model to the complex problems of the solid waste management system in Cleveland, Ohio. As the result of applying these techniques, Cleveland's solid waste managers reduced their annual budget of $14.8 million in 1970 to a low of $8.8 million in 1972. The total savings in a four-year period have been $14.6 million based on the 1970 budget. In addition, the city has reduced its solid waste work force from 1640 to 850, and has completely redesigned its collection routing system. The management structure of Cleveland's Division of Solid Waste Collection and Disposal has been completely reorganized in order to take advantage of and to supplement these major operational changes.