Selecting the best network design for COVID-19 healthcare waste disposal using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

Khalid Alzoubi, Nader Al Theeb and Tasneem Al-Khalailah

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2025, vol. 50, issue 3, 319-333

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected our lives and impacted healthcare systems and the global economy. Therefore, it has become necessary to limit the spread of the virus. The proper disposal of medical waste is one of the important ways to reduce the negative effect of the virus. This study focuses on selecting the best network design for COVID-19 waste disposal in Jordan. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) was used to select the best network design based on quantitative criteria of total cost and response time, and qualitative criteria of customer experience, safety practices in waste handling, and effect on the environment. Three reverse-logistic networks were considered; direct shipping, shipping with milk runs, and shipping with cross docking. The findings have revealed that shipping with cross docking was the best network design with a weighted score of 0.478. Therefore, the use of FAHP approach helped in selecting the best network configuration for disposing of COVID-19 waste under conditions of high uncertainty.

Keywords: distribution networks; waste disposal; COVID-19; reverse logistics; sustainability; fuzzy analytic hierarchy process; FAHP. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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