Abstract for: System dynamics modelling of waste management system

Waste management is an issue that has to be dealt with daily in order to control the huge amounts of waste currently passing through our towns and cities. It is main goal of this research to evaluate the performance of waste management activities.Waste management system quantities were identified from waste generation and waste collection activities. Thirteen quantities were identified and a causal loop diagram was developed for the system. Thereafter a stock and flow diagram was developed for the system and this depicts the dynamic relationships among system quantities. The performance of waste management technique was determine in terms of waste collected and waste in stock. A system dynamic software; Vensim PLE was used to run the system dynamic model to simulate the activities of waste management system for a period of ten years. Amount of waste collected increases as the amount waste generated increases. At a waste generation factor of 80% per year; the amount of waste collected was 302,137 tons at the end of ten years. If the amount of resources injected into waste management is increase; the amount of collected will definitely increase. The model developed will help the waste managers in decision making regarding waste management.