Inexact Fuzzy Full-Infinite Mixed-Integer Programming Method for an Integrated Air and Waste Management System

Inexact fuzzy full-infinite mixed-integer programming (IFFMIP) was proposed as an extension of inexact full-infinite programming. It can deal with the uncertainties that exist in most of the parameters as intervals, economic data as functional intervals, fuzzy set in capacity constraint, and discrete variables in a facility-expansion plan. Although many models for dealing with waste planning and the air quality management problem exist, this is the first attempt to integrate waste flow allocation and an air quality control system. The proposed model was applied in an integrated air and waste management system. It can solve the waste allocation plan and air quality control, and reflect the interaction between these two systems. The solutions from the proposed IFFMIP model indicate that a landfill would be the first choice in period 1, whereas an incinerator would become the main approach for waste disposal at the end of the planning horizon. This is because of the increasingly strict environmental standards and loading capacity of SO2 for industries, upon which waste planning prefers less operation costs for waste disposal. The solutions reflected the tradeoff between the environment and system cost. To control air quality at a safe level, the system must be willing to pay more operating costs; however, a desire to reduce the costs will run into the risk of potentially violating the emissions and/or ambient air quality standards.