Optimizing Multi-Period Fleet Utilization and Transition in Municipal Solid Waste Management

Rapid urbanization is increasing the volume of municipal solid waste, demanding efficient and environmentally compliant waste management systems. In response to stricter regulations, such as those introduced by the European Green Deal, municipalities must reduce emissions and transition to cleaner vehicle technologies. This paper presents a novel Mixed-Integer Programming (MIP) model for the Multi-Period Utilization and Fleet Transition Optimization Problem (MPUFTO), aiming to minimize the total discounted costs of purchasing and retrofitting municipal vehicles over a planning horizon. The model ensures compliance with emission limits, adapts to growing service demand, and supports the strategic planning of vehicle procurement and modernization. A flexible model structure allows for pollutant-specific constraints and budget limitations. Two use cases based on real-world data from the Kraków metropolitan area validate the model’s applicability and decision-support potential for sustainable municipal fleet transition planning.