1st African International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management

A reverse logistics network optimization model for residual OTR tires from the mining industry: A Colombian case study

Jorge Oyola
Publisher: IEOM Society International
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Track: Waste Management
Abstract

Around a billion new tires are generated every year around the world as a result of the global growing of the tire industry, but only a small percentage are reused as in closed-loop supply systems. The mining industry is one of the world’s massive scrap off-the-road (OTR) tire generators in both weight and quantities, considering their uninterrupted high-scale activity fueling faster OTR tire life cycles. The handling of massive OTR tires discarded from the mining industry represents an economic, environmental and social challenge. As a solution to this problem, reverse logistics plays an important role enabling the cost-effective management of residual items while impacting on the service and product recovery value, adequate final disposition and the development of environmentally friendly practices. This research proposes a solution approach to the problem of the reverse logistics network for residual OTR tires from the mining industry, illustrating with a Colombian case study. An optimization model is proposed to determine the final OTR tires disposition at a minimum cost. Results showed that opening a power generation plant might be a potentially cost-effective solution that could help mines to comply with the country’s regulations and turn this waste into a positive value good.

Published in: 1st African International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Johannesburg, South Africa

Publisher: IEOM Society International
Date of Conference: October 30-1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5323-5947-7
ISSN/E-ISSN: 2169-8767