Optimizing waste bin allocation in the mount yun scenic area: a data-driven approach based on the stage-weighted covering location model

The rapid expansion of tourism has intensified environmental pressures in scenic areas, making efficient waste management a critical component of sustainable tourism development. To address the limitations of empirically planned waste-bin layouts, this study proposes a Stage-Weighted Covering Location Model (SWCLM), a data-driven optimization framework that incorporates priority-areas assurance and heterogeneous demand patterns under resource constraints. Empirical results from the Mount Yun Scenic Area in China demonstrate substantial performance improvements. Under the optimized configuration, the same target coverage level is achieved using only 41.2% of the existing facilities. When balancing coverage effectiveness and investment efficiency, facility numbers can be reduced by 36.3%, while increasing the weighted coverage value by 17.0%. Moreover, under the same facility quantity as the current layout, the proposed model achieves full target coverage. These findings confirm that the SWCLM enhances allocation efficiency without additional resource input. The framework provides a transferable methodological basis for data-driven facility planning in tourism and urban environments, supporting cleaner production practices and sustainable spatial management.