Optimization Model for Sustainable End-of-Life Vehicle Processing and Recycling

Shimaa Al-Quradaghi, Qipeng P. Zheng, Alberto Betancourt-Torcat and Ali Elkamel
Additional contact information
Shimaa Al-Quradaghi: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Qipeng P. Zheng: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Alberto Betancourt-Torcat: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Ali Elkamel: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-26

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide a mathematical programming model for sustainable end-of-life vehicle processing and recycling. Environmental benefits and resource efficiency are achieved through the incorporation of a processing and recycling network that is based on industrial symbiosis whereby waste materials are converted into positive environmental externalities aimed at decreasing pollution and reducing the need for raw materials. A mixed-integer programming model for optimizing the exchange of material flows in the network is developed and applied on a real case study. The model selects the components that maximize reusable/recyclable material output while minimizing network costs. In addition, GHG emissions are calculated to assess the environmental benefits of the network. The model finds the optimal processing routes while maximizing the yield of the components of interest, maximizing profit, minimizing cost, or minimizing waste depending on which goals are chosen. The results are analyzed to provide insights about the network and the utility of the proposed methodology to improve sustainability of end-of-life vehicle recycling.

Keywords: End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs); Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP); process systems engineering; optimization; sustainable development; Qatar (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/6/3551/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/6/3551/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:3551-:d:773817

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().