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Reverse Logistics Network Design for Effective Management of Medical Waste in Epidemic Outbreaks: Insights from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in Wuhan (China)

Author

Listed:
  • Hao Yu

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Lodve Langesgate 2, 8514 Narvik, Norway)

  • Xu Sun

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Lodve Langesgate 2, 8514 Narvik, Norway)

  • Wei Deng Solvang

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Lodve Langesgate 2, 8514 Narvik, Norway)

  • Xu Zhao

    (School of Economics and Management, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

Abstract

The outbreak of an epidemic disease may pose significant treats to human beings and may further lead to a global crisis. In order to control the spread of an epidemic, the effective management of rapidly increased medical waste through establishing a temporary reverse logistics system is of vital importance. However, no research has been conducted with the focus on the design of an epidemic reverse logistics network for dealing with medical waste during epidemic outbreaks, which, if improperly treated, may accelerate disease spread and pose a significant risk for both medical staffs and patients. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel multi-objective multi-period mixed integer program for reverse logistics network design in epidemic outbreaks, which aims at determining the best locations of temporary facilities and the transportation strategies for effective management of the exponentially increased medical waste within a very short period. The application of the model is illustrated with a case study based on the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China. Even though the uncertainty of the future COVID-19 spread tendency is very high at the time of this research, several general policy recommendations can still be obtained based on computational experiments and quantitative analyses. Among other insights, the results suggest installing temporary incinerators may be an effective solution for managing the tremendous increase of medical waste during the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, but the location selection of these temporary incinerators is of significant importance. Due to the limitation on available data and knowledge at present stage, more real-world information are needed to assess the effectiveness of the current solution.

Suggested Citation

  • Hao Yu & Xu Sun & Wei Deng Solvang & Xu Zhao, 2020. "Reverse Logistics Network Design for Effective Management of Medical Waste in Epidemic Outbreaks: Insights from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in Wuhan (China)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:5:p:1770-:d:330198
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    Cited by:

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    7. Yin Ting Chu & Jianzhao Zhou & Yuan Wang & Yue Liu & Jingzheng Ren, 2023. "Current State, Development and Future Directions of Medical Waste Valorization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-28, January.
    8. Esin Balci & Sezin Balci & Aysun Sofuoglu, 2022. "Multi-purpose reverse logistics network design for medical waste management in a megacity: Istanbul, Turkey," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 372-387, September.
    9. Masłowski Dariusz & Kulińska Ewa & Pawlas Karolina & Salwin Mariusz & Kulińska-Jachowska Karolina, 2022. "Impact of policy regulations on the functioning of hospitals in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative analysis," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 58(2), pages 192-217, June.
    10. Gabriele Cervino & Luca Fiorillo & Giovanni Surace & Valeria Paduano & Maria Teresa Fiorillo & Rosa De Stefano & Riccardo Laudicella & Sergio Baldari & Michele Gaeta & Marco Cicciù, 2020. "SARS-CoV-2 Persistence: Data Summary up to Q2 2020," Data, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-16, September.
    11. Milad Mohammadi & Alibakhsh Nikzad, 2023. "Sustainable and reliable closed-loop supply chain network design during pandemic outbreaks and disruptions," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 969-991, June.
    12. Tushar, Saifur Rahman & Alam, Md. Fahim Bin & Bari, A.B.M. Mainul & Karmaker, Chitra Lekha, 2023. "Assessing the challenges to medical waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for the environmental sustainability in the emerging economies," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    13. Florin-Constantin Mihai, 2020. "Assessment of COVID-19 Waste Flows During the Emergency State in Romania and Related Public Health and Environmental Concerns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-18, July.
    14. Eugenia Ama Andoh & Hao Yu, 2023. "A two-stage decision-support approach for improving sustainable last-mile cold chain logistics operations of COVID-19 vaccines," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 328(1), pages 75-105, September.
    15. Piotr Nowakowski & Sandra Kuśnierz & Patrycja Sosna & Jakub Mauer & Dawid Maj, 2020. "Disposal of Personal Protective Equipment during the COVID-19 Pandemic Is a Challenge for Waste Collection Companies and Society: A Case Study in Poland," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-11, September.
    16. Luca Fiorillo & Gabriele Cervino & Marco Matarese & Cesare D’Amico & Giovanni Surace & Valeria Paduano & Maria Teresa Fiorillo & Antonio Moschella & Alessia La Bruna & Giovanni Luca Romano & Riccardo , 2020. "COVID-19 Surface Persistence: A Recent Data Summary and Its Importance for Medical and Dental Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-10, April.
    17. Rashid Nazir & Jawad Ali & Ijaz Rasul & Emilie Widemann & Sarfraz Shafiq, 2021. "Eco-Environmental Aspects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Potential Control Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-16, March.
    18. Fariba Goodarzian & Ali Navaei & Behdad Ehsani & Peiman Ghasemi & Jesús Muñuzuri, 2023. "Designing an integrated responsive-green-cold vaccine supply chain network using Internet-of-Things: artificial intelligence-based solutions," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 328(1), pages 531-575, September.
    19. Xuan Luo & Wenzhu Liao, 2022. "Collaborative Reverse Logistics Network for Infectious Medical Waste Management during the COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-28, August.

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