Robust reverse logistics network design for the waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) under recovery uncertainty

The recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become a major issue for solid waste management. Exploring new ways to dispose of WEEE has become mandatory in most of the countries in the world. Reverse logistics which is the backward flows of used product from consumers to producers is an important stage dealing with the WEEE. The reverse logistics network design for WEEE plays an important role in the total cost of recovery system. With this study, taking into account the uncertainty of reverse logistics network operation for WEEE, a robust mixed integer linear programming model for WEEE reverse logistics network was established for handling problem, which was affected by the uncertainty of recovery based on the risk preference coefficient and penalty coefficient deviated from the constraints, that could allow decision-makers to adjust the robust level of the operation system and risk preferences. The calculation and simulation of the model is used for lingo 11.0. The result showed that the robust mixed integer linear programming model was better than the classic model, which had a lower operational risk and could give consideration to the cycles of different circumstances that is effective in inhibiting the uncertainty of reverse logistics system for WEEE.