Optimization of the management of waste sorting centres for Polygone
All construction sites entail the production of waste that must be managed and disposed of as efficiently and sustainably as possible. For this reason, main contractors must carefully consider how waste is sorted on site. To be carried out effectively, this activity requires dedicated management. Main contractors therefore call on companies specialised in waste management, such as the Luxembourgish company Polygone.
Faced with numerous variables and several types of waste — which evolve throughout the course of a project — this planning process, which is both complex and largely manual, represents a significant combinatorial optimisation challenge. Behind this challenge lies a hidden opportunity: achieving multiple efficiency and sustainability gains through the optimisation of key aspects of waste sorting centre management, including stock levels, transport logistics, fleet allocation, staffing, installation, and maintenance.
The optimisation and automation of organisations and processes is a core area of expertise for LIST researchers specialised in operations and supply chain optimisation. This domain is equally central to Polygone's strategic vision, which identifies it as a key competitive differentiator. On this basis, Polygone and LIST established a collaborative research project with the aim of developing a prototype addressing this decision-making need.
With the project OCTogone (Optimisation de Centres de Tri pour Polygone), the partners focused on optimising the planning and design of waste sorting centres. To this end, they automated the steps of the current process, developed new calculation methods — in particular through the optimisation of waste sorting centre utility criteria, namely total cost, total surface area required, and CO₂emissions from transport — and enhanced the speed, precision, and overall added value of the process.
Together, the partners developed an IT tool prototype designed to respond quickly, individually, and optimally to the needs of Polygone's customers. More broadly, this work resulted in a technological solution that contributes to the active and growing research domain focused on improving the sustainability of the urban environment and the management of resources.
The partners finalised a prototype of a decision-making tool for the management of waste sorting centres and validated the finding that the optimisation and automation of waste sorting centre design enable businesses specialised in this field to become more efficient, higher-performing, and competitive. The results revealed a marked potential for efficiency and productivity gains compared to current practices, including reductions in cost, surface area, and CO₂ emissions, typically in the range of 5–20% for all three. The approach also demonstrated its ability to handle the main characteristics and constraints of the waste management process.
More broadly, the research carried out and the methods developed throughout the project enrich LIST's body of knowledge in operations optimisation. This expertise has since been leveraged across several other projects — including solutions in the automotive sector, the design of buildings and urban environments, and challenges related to mobility. These skills in applied mathematics and data science can be rapidly deployed to deliver tangible added value to businesses, supporting them in their digital transformation journey.
Start date | 1.5.2018 | |
End date | 31.12.2018 | |
Duration | 8 Months | |
Keywords | optimization, logistics, construction, waste management |
Simon Emile, System and method for handling containers, 2018
LU100980B1; EP3877919A1; WO2020094665A1
 | This project is a direct collaboration between Polygone and LIST |
