Hazardous Waste Disposal Network Analysis

Abstract

A method is presented for casting the problem of regional hazardous waste management into the form of a transportation “routing” optimization. The required network is formed from waste generation sources, waste treatment processes, and waste disposal sinks. Sources are allowed to generate multiple waste types selected from any convenient waste classification scheme. Wastes may be routed to any compatible treatment or disposal process. All wastes (including treatment process underflows) continue to move through the network until they are completely detoxified, or reach an ultimate disposal sink. Optimum solutions may be achieved based on either cost or risk penalties for all network activities using EPA's Waste Resource Allocation Program (WRAP). Example simulations are presented to illustrate the utility of optimum cost and risk simulations for hazardous waste disposal planning. It is demonstrated that one can identify the strengths or weaknesses of proposed management plans, or test the value of improvements to existing disposal networks.