SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR WASTE COLLECTION: ROUTE OPTIMIZATION CASE STUDY

The management of urban solid waste is a complex challenge in contemporary society. This research proposes a model of route optimization for waste collection in the Municipality of Angicos. Based on the conventional routes of the trucks, which operate at times defined by the municipal infrastructure department, the study adopts a heuristic process based on the Problem of the Unoriented Chinese Postman. This model pairs nodes in an undirected graph, optimizing routes. The integration between field observations and the theoretical model reveals a significant reduction in the distance traveled by the collection vehicles. Optimization saves resources, improves operational efficiency, and minimizes environmental and public health impacts, offering a sustainable model for other locations.