Route Optimisation - Efficient waste collection route planning

I worked with a regional waste management provider in Carinthia, Austria to optimise their organic waste collection routes. The initial phase focused on mapping and analysing existing collection and disposal routes using ArcGIS, with a particular emphasis on the final legs leading to the region’s three composting facilities.

I developed a route optimisation tool to evaluate and visualise multiple infrastructure scenarios. The first scenario introduced a fourth composting plant in a central location, while the second assumed the closure of all existing sites in favour of a single, large scale central facility. Each model was designed to test the impact of these changes on travel distances, fuel usage, and route efficiency.

By simulating daily operations under each scenario, I was able to quantify the potential for CO₂ emissions reduction and recommend optimal disposal paths. These insights directly informed strategic planning decisions, balancing environmental sustainability with operational efficiency.