Morphological composition of bio-waste collected selectively in towns and villages during autumn and winter

Abstract

It is generally believed that bio-waste is a suitable substrate for valorizations through fermentation with biogas production. An increasing number of municipalities in Poland implement selective collection of bio-waste. Limited qualitative and quantitative data are available on the composition of household bio-waste, including the contaminant content. This paper presents the adopted research method and the analysis results of the composition of household bio-waste segregated at source from 4 rural and 4 urban communes, from districts with single-family and multi-family housing. Household bio-waste is mostly food waste (43.9 to 56.0%), with a smaller percentage of garden waste (27.4 to 46.3%). According to data from other countries, in Poland, ‘fruit and vegetable’ waste constitutes the main part of household bio-waste (from 40.0 to 53.8%). The share of “contaminants” is relatively high. The most contaminated waste is that collected in containers in city districts with multi-family housing (16.6%). The share of contaminants in bio-waste collected in bags (rural areas and cities with single-family housing exceeded 10.0%). Implications: This article presents the results of an empirical analysis of the morphological composition, occurring contaminants and seasonal fluctuations in the stream of biodegradable waste delivered to the mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) installation in Marszow (Poland, Lubuskie province). This installation serves the area of 22 municipalities with more than 200.000 residents. Nearly 98% of households and housing estates are covered by regular waste collection. The study covered 12 streams of bio-waste delivered to the installation, divided into rural and urban areas with single-family and multi-family housing during the 2 seasons of autumn and winter. The importance of the conducted research is emphasized by the fact that the analysis of the morphological composition of bio-waste generated in households is rare, which is probably due to its labor- and time-consuming nature. The data obtained are a source of valuable information for both national and local governments, as well as can help meet the ambitious targets set for EU member states in terms of preparing for reuse and recycling of municipal waste, which are unlikely to be achieved without proper management of bio-waste. Another important argument is to reduce food waste in line with the sustainable development goal of reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.