Simulation Model of Refuse Collection Politics

A computer simulation program has been developed for the purpose of evaluating the dynamic operational characteristics of refuse collection crews employed on a constant length workday basis. The constant length workday simulation program was used to evaluate the overall performance of the collection crews, the quality and unit costs of the service provided to the service area (dollars/ton, dollars/service/week, percentage on-time collection), under different operational policies. Policies related to the use of overtime, the use of a relay driver for hauling the last load of the day, the average quantity of refuse assigned per crew, and the assigned total length of workday, were evaluated for a hypothetical service area. Unit cost expressed as dollars/service/week is preferable to unit cost expressed as dollars/ton in assessing the cost of refuse collection.