Cost analysis and optimization of Blockchain-based solid waste management traceability system

As global concerns over End-of-Life (EoL) wastes released to the environment is rising, the need for enhancing the transparency of recycling systems is growing. To address the waste traceability issue, technologies such as Blockchain can be instrumental in the proper disposal and handling of wastes. In this paper, we propose a Blockchain-based Solid Waste Management (SWM) model that can help municipalities enhance the efficiency of their waste management efforts. A Blockchain framework owned and controlled by a municipality is proposed in which customer companies pay to join the platform to avail services from the suppliers managed by the municipality. The cost burdens to both supplier and consumer companies have been discussed. In addition, an optimization model is developed to determine the optimal quantity of waste that can be traded between supplier and consumer companies in order to maximize their profit based on parameters such as the number of suppliers, consumer companies, and the processing capacity of customer companies and several constraints including maximum storing capacity, storage, and transportation constraints. Further, the cost aspects associated with Blockchain implementation are estimated from several use cases obtained from companies providing Blockchain solutions. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.