University of Guilan Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences 1735-3033 2026 02 04 Management and economic planning of waste collection and transportation using WAGS Software: A case study of the Ports and Maritime Department of Guilan Province, Northwest Iran 1 11 9412 10.22124/cjes.2026.9412 EN Shokoufe Bakhshi Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Iran Babak Tavakoli Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Iran Journal Article 2026 02 04   Effective waste management is a crucial component of sustainable development due to its significant role in environmental preservation. Given that a substantial portion of waste management expenditures is allocated to collection and transportation, strategic planning and efficient management can significantly enhance system performance and reduce unnecessary costs and time delays. This study evaluates the application of the WAGS software—a managerial-economic tool comprising 40 primary variables and 16 default parameters—for the optimization of waste collection and transportation systems over a 15-year period. The case study focuses on the Ports and Maritime Department of Guilan Province, Northwest Iran which covers an area of 142 hectares and serves a population of 6,700. Waste sampling was conducted three times per month throughout 2017 at various collection points across the port. Each sample was weighed, separated into categories (organic, plastic, metal, paper, etc.), and analyzed for moisture content and density. The software facilitated the assessment of key resource requirements including supplies, equipment maintenance, personnel, and fuel. Findings indicate that in 2017, the total cost of waste collection and transportation was approximately 5,850 million Rials. Projected costs for the next 15 years amount to 11.162 billion Rials, with machinery procurement accounting for the highest share. Capital distribution was as follows: machinery (49%), manpower (28%), fuel (14%), and maintenance (9%). The study proposes an optimized model for organizing and managing waste systems in port environments. https://cjes.guilan.ac.ir/article_9412_574a86ea4465f99d5d02724b6953d92d.pdf