The present work is focused on the collection and transportation
of a glass-waste system in a Portuguese selected area. In Portugal
the collection and transportation systems of MSW consist of
networks of containers for both undifferentiated collection and
selective collection of recyclables. The containers for recycled
materials like glass, plastics and paper/cardboard are organized
in the so-called ecopoints. Each ecopoint normally comprises one
container for each of the previously mentioned fractions; nevertheless,
some ecopoints can have multiple containers if necessary,
i.e. more than one container for a given fraction, or no containers
for a particular waste type. In general, fleets of heavy-duty vehicles
to collect different types of waste (undifferentiated or recyclable)
fulfill predefined itineraries with a predefined collection frequency.
While undifferentiated solid waste collection is under the responsibility
of municipalities, there are multi-municipal or intermunicipal
systems for recyclable waste, managed separately by
private companies.