This work presents a methodology that has been developed and applied to help the decision-making process, at both tactical and operational levels, in solid urban waste management. This methodology, based on an optimization mathematical model of Non-Linear Goal Programming, has been applied to Piracicaba, a city in the State of São Paulo. Some problems in tactical and operational management of solid urban waste collection have been found there, such as lack of standard collection of all the waste generated in some areas, non-optimization of fleet of vehicles available, productivity above that established as optimal in most areas, densities below or above average, among others. Furthermore, the need of restructuring collection areas has been noticed so that management can be more effective. Upon applying the model, it was concluded that such tool is useful in tactical and operational decision-making, as well as in helping redefining strategies to be followed by decision-makers.
logistics; management of solid urban waste collection; goal programming
