On Time Waste Collection

Product Used: Route Optimization API

Background

A waste collection company serves large shopping malls, office complexes, and busy urban zones where waste collection is only allowed during specified off-peak hours, typically late at night or early in the morning. These commercial areas generate high volumes of waste daily, but tight time windows are imposed to minimize disruption to businesses and avoid traffic congestion. Additionally, landfill sites or recycling facilities also have specific operating hours, making it crucial to coordinate disposal within available time slots.

Problem Statements

The waste collection company want to solve for:

1. Restricted Collection Hours: Malls and office buildings often limit waste collection to specific hours, making it essential to manage the collection schedule tightly.
2. Waste Disposal Operating Hours: Disposal sites also operate within set hours, so if waste is collected outside those hours, trucks may end up waiting to dispose of their load, delaying the next collections.
3. Inefficiencies and Fines: Missed time windows for collections can lead to disruptions, fines, and customer dissatisfaction, while poor coordination with disposal facilities can result in idle trucks, higher operational costs, and compliance issues.

Solution

NextBillion.ai Route Optimization API allows specifying time windows for the required waste collection tasks and dropping them off at waste disposal sites. By implementing time window-based collection and disposal scheduling, the waste management company can optimize routes to meet the operational constraints of collection sites and disposal facilities efficiently.

Synchronized Collection and Disposal

Using time windows for both collection and disposal, the system schedules routes that ensure collections align with permitted hours at client sites and that waste is disposed of within the operating hours of designated facilities.

Reduced Idle Time and Improved Efficiency

The optimizer combines the pickups and drop-offs intelligently to prevent trucks from idling or waiting, as they follow a schedule that aligns with both collection and disposal availability. This leads to smoother operations and fewer delays.

Sample API request and response

Here is a complete JSON request that we built for adhoc waste collection from one point and disposal at another.

API Request

1
curl --location 'https://api.nextbillion.io/optimization/v2?key=<your_api_key>' --header 'Content-Type: application/json' --data '{...}'

API Response

1
{
2
    "description": "On Time Waste Collection",
3
    "result": '{...}',
4
    "status": "Ok",
5
    "message": ""

In the response, we can see that all pick-ups and drop-offs were completed within the stipulated windows. Time window-based collection and disposal is critical for waste management companies servicing areas with restricted collection times and disposal facility hours. This feature helps the company remain compliant, optimize resources, and meet client expectations efficiently.