Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
A
PPLICATION OF
V
EHICLE
R
OUTING
P
ROBLEM FOR
S
USTAINABLE
W
ASTE
C
OLLECTION
:
C
ASE
S
TUDY OF
A
LTOONA
,
P
ENNSYLVANIA
Timothy J. Dolney
The Pennsylvania State University, Altoona College
Ivyside Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania, US
A
BSTRACT
The management of solid waste in the City of Altoona, Pennsylvania,
USA is unique in that a department responsible for the design and
collection of solid waste is non-existent. Further, the city does not
contract any particular company for collection. Rather, the city utilizes a
freedom to choose system where residents can choose from any one of
twenty companies for their solid waste collection. The Intermunicipal
Relations Committee (IRC) is the local organization responsible for
overseeing and enforcing waste and recycling regulations within the city.
The freedom to choose system is highly inefficient. The sheer number of
companies operating within the city makes it difficult for the IRC to
enforce regulations as each company's customers are scattered
throughout the city. On any particular day, several collection trucks could
be driving through the same neighborhood. This result in lengthy
