A Simulation of the Environmental Impact of the Curbside Collection of Garbage

Maiko Okuno* and Kikuo Miyokawa**
* Management System Consulting Department, UFJ-RIC Corp.
** Graduate School of Social Sciences, Hitotsubashi University
+ Correspondence should be addressed to Kikuo Miyokawa:
(2-1, Naka, Kunitachi, Tokyo, 186-8601 Japan)

Abstract
The environmental impact of the curbside collection of garbage was simulated using a modified "Grid City" model and NOx, CO and THC emissions from collection trucks were colculated. The important results are: (1)inter-collection station distances of 50-100 m maximizes collection efficiency and minimizes environmental impact, (2)increase of the velocity of collection truck increases collection efficiency and decreases environmental impact and (3)a small collection area is favorable in respect to collection efficiency and environmental impact. Comparisons of simulated and estimated emissions of the three pollutants indicates that the "velocity" method gives satisfactory results, while assumptions about gas mileage can signicanfly influence the estimate of the environmental impact.

Key words: simulation, curbside collection, collection efficiency, environmental impact, estimation