Optimal Land Allocation for Solid‐ and Hazardous‐Waste Landfill Siting

Abstract

A multiobjective optimization model is presented to determine the efficient aggregation of land parcels for use as a solid‐ or hazardous‐waste landfill. In this work, a new constraint for measuring compactness and contiguity of the selected subregion is introduced. This constraint measures compactness and contiguity as a function of the subregion's outside perimeter and area. The model optimally selects and sizes the landfill site from multiple bundles of available discrete and irregularly shaped land parcels. Each bundle consists of several individual and irregular land parcels and is disjoint from all other bundles. The model is multiobjective in nature, addressing land purchase cost, compactness, and contiguity considerations. The quantity of land required is determined by a projection of the flow of waste from the communities, commercial areas, and industries the landfill serves. To illustrate the model, a case study is presented using the landfill‐site search process in Orange County, North Carolina.