Creating a sustainable and centralised internal waste logistics system for Oslo Airport
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Abstract
This master thesis explores the design and implementation of a sustainable, centralised waste logistics system at Oslo Airport. The project aims to address the challenges of waste management in a high-traffic environment by creating a comprehensive product-service system. The focus is on enhancing waste disposal efficiency, ensuring proper waste separation, reducing waste and promoting circularity within the airport terminal.
The literature review, including qualitative research articles and other published texts, established a theoretical foundation for the project. Key themes from the literature include the importance of centralised waste management systems, the role of technology in waste logistics, barriers to keep in mind that could hinder the transition towards circularity, and the significance of stakeholder involvement in designing sustainable solutions. Semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted to gather insights from various stakeholders, such as food and beverage managers, waste collectors, and store employees at Oslo Airport. And also at other, similar locations. These findings underlined the critical need for a streamlined, efficient waste management system that can adapt to the operational complexities of a major international airport. The identified main problem area’s at Oslo Airport were sub-optimal information provision regarding waste management, a lack in motivation among the people to reduce waste and recycle properly and logistical constraints within the airport infrastructure.
The primary research question guiding this thesis is: "How can a comprehensive product-service system be designed to establish a sustainable and centralised internal waste logistics system at Oslo Airport terminal?"
The design outcome of this project is a conceptual service design tailored for Oslo Airport. The proposed service includes a centralised waste disposal intervention in the form of container hubs placed throughout the terminal, a feedback system for improper waste separation, and a weighing solution for waste measurement, supplemented with a financial disincentive mechanism to stimulate waste reduction. The design leverages advanced technologies such as QR codes for traceability of the waste, cloud data storage, and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to enhance operational efficiency. The developed service provides a detailed visualisation of the service and its touchpoints, although further physical development and elaboration of certain components are required.
In conclusion, this thesis presents a strategic and innovative solution for waste management at Oslo Airport, emphasizing sustainability and efficiency. The findings highlight the need for further research to generalise the results across different contexts. Future work should focus on the scalability of the proposed system and addressing the technological dependencies to ensure robust and continuous operations. The project demonstrates the potential of a holistic, centralised waste logistics system to transform waste management practices in the aviation industry.