Characterization Of Municipal Solid Waste Research Articles

Municipal solid waste characterization and quantification as a measure towards effective waste management in Ghana

Reliable national data on waste generation and composition that will inform effective planning on waste management in Ghana is absent. To help obtain this data on a regional basis, selected households in each region were recruited to obtain data on rate of waste generation, physical composition of waste, sorting and separation efficiency and per capita of waste. Results show that rate of waste generation in Ghana was 0.47kg/person/day, which translates into about 12,710tons of waste per day per the current population of 27,043,093. Nationally, biodegradable waste (organics and papers) was 0.318kg/person/day and non-biodegradable or recyclables (metals, glass, textiles, leather and rubbers) was 0.096kg/person/day. Inert and miscellaneous waste was 0.055kg/person/day. The average household waste generation rate among the metropolitan cities, except Tamale, was high, 0.72kg/person/day. Metropolises generated higher waste (average 0.63kg/person/day) than the municipalities (0.40kg/person/day) and the least in the districts (0.28kg/person/day) which are less developed. The waste generation rate also varied across geographical locations, the coastal and forest zones generated higher waste than the northern savanna zone. Waste composition was 61% organics, 14% plastics, 6% inert, 5% miscellaneous, 5% paper, 3% metals, 3% glass, 1% leather and rubber, and 1% textiles. However, organics and plastics, the two major fractions of the household waste varied considerably across the geographical areas. In the coastal zone, the organic waste fraction was highest but decreased through the forest zone towards the northern savanna. However, through the same zones towards the north, plastic waste rather increased in percentage fraction. Households did separate their waste effectively averaging 80%. However, in terms of separating into the bin marked biodegradables, 84% effectiveness was obtained whiles 76% effectiveness for sorting into the bin labeled other waste was achieved.

Urban and Rural MSW Stream Characterization for Separate Collection Improvement

In the new legislation framework enacted by new member countries of the European Union (EU), the characterization of municipal solid waste (MSW) represents an important instrument for local governments and sanitation operators in setting and achieving targets for waste recycling and recovery. This paper presents the results of a study conducted in accordance with the Romanian methodology for domestic wastes characterization ROMECOM, aiming to provide a proper basis for developing clear and realistic forecasts in current municipal waste management, based on MSW composition and generation rate. The analyzed MSW came both from areas where the waste is collected in mixed and separate ways, in urban and rural areas. The MSW composition by fraction is detailed for dense urban areas, urban areas, rural and touristic areas from Romania. Based on these results, the MSW composition was determined for the eight development regions in Romania, and a generation rate of 0.9·kgMSW inhabitant−1·day−1 for the urban region and 0.4·kgMSW inh−1·day−1 for the rural region was established. The calorific values of urban and rural areas were determined as 6801 kJ·kg−1 and 5613 kJ·kg−1, respectively. In the perspective of sustainable development in this technical area, based on the obtained results and on the prognosis made for the following years, two proposals for urban and rural areas were developed for MSW treating options improvement. The two systems are characterized by selective collection (different efficiencies for urban and rural areas) with subsequent recovery of the separated materials and energy recovery of the residual waste in a large-scale waste to energy (WTE) plant.

A baseline study characterizing the municipal solid waste in the State of Kuwait

This paper provides a new reference line for municipal solid waste characterization in Kuwait. The baseline data were collected in accordance with the Standard Test Method for the Determination of the Composition of Unprocessed Municipal Solid Waste (ASTM). The results indicated that the average daily municipal waste generation level is 1.01kg/person. Detailed waste stream surveys were conducted for more than 600 samples of municipal solid waste (MSW). The waste categories included paper, corrugated fibers, PET bottles, film, organic matter, wood, metal, glass, and others. The results indicated that organic waste dominated the characterization (44.4%), followed by film (11.2%) and then corrugated fibers (8.6%). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate the influence of season and governorate on waste composition. A significant seasonal variation was observed in almost all waste categories. In addition, significant differences in proportions between the current level and 1995 baseline were observed in most waste categories at the 95% confidence level.

Municipal Solid Waste Characterization and It Is Assessment for Potential Compost Production: A Case Study in Zanjan City, Iran

The increasing amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generations and their improper disposal have great social costs, and is an issue of increasing concern. There are strict mandatory targets in many nations to reduce the amount of MSW entering the landfill. At present, the source reducing, recycling, reusing, waste combusting, and also composting the MSW are the major strategies which are being advised spread across the world. Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) practices in Zanjan, a city with population of about 350,000 persons, are generating about 300 tons of MSW daily those are consisting of the collection, transportation and land filling of the wastes. The wastes are not recycled and composted but just mainly land filled. Therefore, this research is conducted to study the generation, characterization and management strategies of solid wastes in Zanjan city. The samplings of MSW were performed in all four seasons during 2010 and the contents of its main components are determined. The qualitative and quantitative results indicated that the composting of MSW is feasible and can be adopted as a proper MSWM approach in the studied area. Recycling of paper, plastic and glass along with composting of MSW are highly recommended.

An Experimental Setup for Simultaneous Physical, Geotechnical, and Biochemical Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste Undergoing Biodegradation in the Laboratory

Abstract Municipal solid waste (MSW) is biodegradable in landfills under anaerobic conditions. The biodegradation of MSW consists of physical and biochemical processes that affect the geotechnical characteristics of the waste. Laboratory landfill simulators that enable simultaneous characterization of these processes are presented. The simulator configuration, testing procedure, sampling methods, and measurement methods are described. The temporal phases of MSW biodegradation were studied using the experimental setup. Good repeatability of the measurements was demonstrated between duplicate simulators. In addition to data on biogas and leachate samples, a solid waste core sampling technique for retrieving disturbed solid waste samples for chemical and microbial analyses is presented. It was demonstrated that core sampling did not significantly affect simulator operation and measurements. The simulators and sampling methods presented in this study can be used to generate data that will be useful in the development and calibration of comprehensive models for MSW biodegradation in landfills.

Integrated municipal solid waste scenario model using advanced pretreatment and waste to energy processes

In this paper an Integrated Municipal Solid Waste scenario model (IMSW-SM) with a potential practical application in the waste management sector is analyzed. The model takes into account quantification and characterization of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) streams from different sources, selective collection (SC), advanced mechanical sorting, material recovery and advanced thermal treatment. The paper provides a unique chain of advanced waste pretreatment stages of fully commingled waste streams, leading to an original set of suggestions and future contributions to a sustainable IMSWS, taking into account real data and EU principles. The selection of the input data was made on MSW management real case studies from two European regions. Four scenarios were developed varying mainly SC strategies and thermal treatment options. The results offer useful directions for decision makers in order to calibrate modern strategies in different realities.

Municipal Solid Waste Characterization, Tehran-Iran

Effective waste management has been greatly restricted by insufficient statistical data on the generation, processing and waste disposal. This study was undertaken in the municipality of Tehran. A total of 6,060 samples were compared by statistically comparing source generation, destination and intermediate stations. The results from these analyses showed that the average per capita waste generation in Tehran was 589 g day(-1). It was also observed that, of the total amount of waste generated in the municipality of Tehran, 73% was domestic waste and 27% was non-domestic waste. In addition, 68% of total household waste was organic waste, while 41% of non-domestic waste was organic waste. Furthermore, 61% of waste in Tehran was generated at the source, while 72% of the waste coming into the Aradkoh disposal and processing center was organic waste. The physical analysis was showed that there was no significant difference between the wastes generated in 2004 and those generated in 2009 and that there was not equal percentage of wet waste coming into the disposal center with urban service stations. This indicates that active source separation programs in metropolitan Tehran.

Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in Jalandhar City, Punjab, India

AbstractCharacterization of the existing municipal solid waste (MSW) in Jalandhar, India, has been performed to evaluate its suitability for various waste-processing technologies. The predominance of open dumping and the absence of reliable data regarding generation and characterization of waste has created a difficult situation for urban local bodies responsible for managing MSW generated in the city. In this study, MSW samples collected from a city dump site at different times throughout a year were analyzed for physical, chemical, and geotechnical characteristics. Physical characterization of the city waste indicates that MSW is rich in biodegradables and inerts. The waste characterization highlights the importance of waste segregation before sending the waste fractions for different waste-treatment technologies including composting, biomethanation, refuse-derived fuel, and landfilling. Further, physical and geotechnical characterization of the city waste confirms its suitability for applying bioreacto...

Characterization of municipal solid waste in Istanbul, Turkey

Solid waste management was one of the most significant environmental issues encountered in developing countries. Quantity of produced waste as well as its composition was known to vary by general consumption patterns that were affected by socio‐economic status, household size, or even by seasons. Due to the dynamic nature of waste quantity and composition, the handling and disposal of waste in an economically and environmentally feasible way presented itself as a challenge. Therefore, in order to conduct a successful decision‐making process to determine the feasible and sustainable processes in the disposal of waste, priority should be given to the statement of the problem at hand. The aim of this study is to achieve a characterization of municipal solid waste of Istanbul, Turkey. Waste samples were collected from the transfer stations servicing certain zones of the city and consequently substance group, moisture content and calorific value analyses were performed over these samples. Results indicated that approximately 54% of the municipal solid waste composition was of organic nature. The paper/cardboard group was coming next in ranking with a proportion of 15.57%. Average moisture content of samples was calculated to be 62.41% and 1435 kcal kg−1 was calculated to represent the average calorific value. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 32: 734–739, 2013

Characterisation of municipal solid waste physical properties and their evolution with age

This paper presents results of the physical characterisation of municipal solid waste (MSW) through laboratory and in situ tests, as well as by a monitoring system. The physical parameters of MSW characterised are: particle size distribution, geometry and classification of the waste, moisture and organic matter content, unit weight, and temperatures of the landfilled waste. The results are part of research carried out in the Sto Tirso landfill (in the north of Portugal) between 2001 and 2007. The results obtained from different analysis methods are compared. The influence of the average age of the deposited MSW and of the landfill phase (construction and post-construction) on the parameters is also presented. Regression models are presented for the decay of total and degradable organic matter, and for the influence of overburden stress on MSW unit weight, plus correlations obtained between some of the analysed parameters.

Composition of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Generated by the City of Chlef (Algeria)

The Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) is one concern of cities in the world, notably in Algeria and specifically in the city of Chlef. Local authority faced these difficulties have more and more problems to bring local solutions to support an ever growing stream of waste.This support needs to organize the collection and sorting of waste generated by households, and the relevant elimination procedures other than dumping in landfill. The recycling of biodegradable materials by composting may be a possible way. Prior to justify this choice and to quantify the expected benefits for the environmental and agronomic areas, it is essential to proceed with the characterization of the MSW.Based on the zoning of the current collection of household waste as well as the sectorization of the different collection zones, sampling was performed on the dump trucks arriving on the controlled landfill of Meknassa, situated 9km from the center of the city. The method of characterization used is adapted from MODECOM (Method of Characterization of the household waste, the protocol recommended by ADEME in France), which distinguishes three size distribution fractions, big:> 100mm, medium: 100-20mm, fine: <20mm, and 13 categories (organics, paper, cardboard, plastics .). This operation is repeated for five zone of the municipality of Chlef, out of 5 campaigns spread over two years (2010-2011) according to the seasons.After this complete and detailed characterization of MSW collected in Chlef, and taking into account the biodegradable organic matter and humidity contents, the composting could be a solution for the region of Chlef which agricultural activities will be a natural outlet to compost product.

Characterisation of municipal solid waste at landfill, India

Characterisation of municipal solid waste (MSW) is important for adequate decision making in the management strategy of urban MSW of a city. The objective of this study was to characterise the MSW at a landfill of Pune city, India and suggest appropriate MSW management methods. The investigations showed that biological treatment of MSW will be feasible as it contains high organic matter and moisture content. This would help to divert 70% of the total waste, if solid waste treatment facilities were provided at source, which would lead to enormous cost savings of waste collection, transport and disposal. Energy generation through incineration of MSW was not feasible. The changing pattern of characterisation of MSW in relation to socio-economic changes has been discussed. Though the study was focused on Pune city, investigations will help solid waste management planners, materials recovery facility designers and for estimation of landfill gas emission in developing metropolitan cities.

Energy recovery from municipal solid waste via gasification

The quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) has increased significantly worldwide and its safe disposal is an important concern in present time. In this article, pretreatment and characterisation of MSW from the Bhalswa landfill site (located in Delhi) is presented for green-energy recovery via gasification process. Sampling and physical characterisation of MSW is carried out in terms of combustibles (i.e., fuel, organics, miscellaneous) and non-combustibles (i.e., concrete/stone and recyclables). MSW sample was transformed into energy rich refuse derived fuel (RDF) to facilitate the transformation. For thermochemical characterisation, the proximate, ultimate, TGA pyrolysis thermogram and ash analysis of MSW and RDF were carried out for chemical analysis, fixed carbon, volatile release rate and residual ash. After certain modifications in gasifier design, gasification of waste can be considered to be among the most efficient technology for energy recovery and safe disposal of MSW with ecological harmony.

Municipal Solid Waste Generation and Characterization in Ensenada, Mexico

A comprehensive study of the generation and characterization of municipal solid waste is essential to the long- term efficient and economical planning for solid waste management. The aim of this study was to quantify and analyze the solid waste generated in the city of Ensenada, Mexico, and to use this data in a project that will generate energy through methane gas production. Ensenada's per capita waste generation is approximately 0.87 ± 0.07 kg per person per day within a 98% confidence interval. Ensenada's solid waste composition consists of food scraps at 34.28%, paper and cardboard 22.49%, plastic 12.53%, disposable diapers 7.14%, and textiles 6.58%. Of the total waste generated, 86.36% has potential for reuse, whereas 13.65% has no further identifiable use and must be landfilled. Of the usable percentage, 48.34% can be recycled and 51.66% can be used to generate energy, obtaining financial and environmental benefits.

Physical Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste for Geotechnical Purposes

A procedure to characterize municipal solid waste (MSW) for geotechnical engineering purposes is developed based on experience with waste characterization and testing. Existing MSW classification systems are reviewed briefly, and the field and laboratory waste characterization programs of two important projects are presented. Findings on the influence of the waste's physical composition on its mechanical response from these projects and recent studies of MSW are integrated to develop a waste characterization procedure for efficient collection of the relevant information on landfill operation and waste physical characteristics that are most likely to affect the geotechnical properties of MSW. A phased approach to implementation of this procedure is proposed as a best practice for the physical characterization of MSW for geotechnical purposes. The scope of the phased procedure can be adjusted to optimize the effort required to collect relevant information on a project-specific basis. The procedure includes a systematic evaluation of the moisture and organic content of MSW, because they are important factors in the geotechnical characterization of MSW.

Characterization of MSW and related waste-derived compost in Zanzibar municipality

The spread of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Zanzibar municipality has been associated with environmental pollution, unpleasant city conditions, contamination of water sources and coastal areas together with harbouring of malaria vectors. The contamination has a close relationship with eruption of diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid which claim the lives of the residents. Most of the wastes are of domestic and market origin and have the potential for compost production. This study examined the possibility of composting MSW from Zanzibar municipality as an alternative way of SW management and assessed the nutrient contents of the compost for application in agricultural production. Two major classes of SW were selected for the study: municipal solid waste and rice milling by-products. The samples were composted aerobically and anaerobically. The results showed that aerobic composting reduced about 60% of the waste volume. This volume reduction suggests that composting can be a promising SW management technique by reducing the large demand of space for landfilling. Municipal solid waste composted under anaerobic conditions produced compost with relatively higher concentrations of dissolved species than that produced under aerobic conditions. The trace metal contents were higher in MSW than in rice milling by-products. It was found that the unmanaged compost collected from the dumping site had low nutrient contents and was enriched with trace metals. Generally, physico-chemical characteristics, nutrients and trace metal levels suggest that Zanzibar municipal solid waste can produce high-quality compost for application to a wide range of soil types to improve their fertility, under proper management.

Seasonal characterization of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico

Management of municipal solid waste (MSW) has become a significant environmental problem, especially in fast-growing cities. The amount of waste generated increases each year and this makes it difficult to create solutions which due to the increase in waste generation year after year and having to identify a solution that will have minimum impact on the environment. To determine the most sustainable waste management strategy for Chihuahua, it is first necessary to identify the nature and composition of the city's urban waste. The MSW composition varied considerably depending on many factors, the time of year is one of them. Therefore, as part of our attempt to implement an integral waste management system in the city of Chihuahua, we conducted a study of the characteristics of MSW composition for the different seasons. This paper analyzes and compares the findings of the study of the characterization and the generation of solid waste from households at three different socio-economic levels in the city over three periods (April and August, 2006 and January, 2007). The average weight of waste generated in Chihuahua, taking into account all three seasons, was 0.592 kg capita(-1) day(-1). Our results show that the lowest income groups generated the least amount of waste. We also found that less waste was generated during the winter season. The breakdown for the composition of the waste shows that organic waste accounts for the largest proportion (45%), followed by paper (17%) and others (16%).

Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and a proposed management plan for Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management practices in Kharagpur, a small city in West Bengal, India, were examined in detail and an integrated solid waste management plan proposed based on the study results. At present, the total solid waste generated in Kharagpur municipality is 95 metric tons/day, but the waste collected by the municipality is about 50 metric tons/day, which implies that almost 45 metric tons/day of the solid waste generated remains uncollected. Most of this waste is dumped on open land and in natural and engineered drains, thus blocking the flow of stormwater and contaminating groundwater. Other major problems include inappropriate bin locations and poorly designed community bins, collection vehicles that are in poor condition, inadequate labor for collection and transport of waste, and lack of waste treatment and disposal facilities. Twenty samples were characterized physically and their proximate analyses were done in the laboratory. The average values of various parameters were moisture content = 42.05 (±10.25) percent, total solids = 58.36 (±11.57) percent, volatile solids = 19.63 (±9.53) percent of total solids, fixed solids = 80.35 (±9.54) percent of total solids, organic carbon = 8.91 (±5.79) percent, COD = 0.158 (±0.08) mg oxygen/mg of SW and calorific value = 2391.16 (±264.58) cal/g (10,008.24 kJ/kg). MSW in Kharagpur has high moisture content and low calorific value, making aerobic composting the best treatment strategy. Composting can help to divert more than 80% of the total waste and will lead to enormous savings in costs of waste collection, transport and disposal. The remaining waste can be disposed off in an engineered landfill. Augmentation in labor and vehicle inventory has been proposed along with better treatment and disposal facilities.

Characterization of domestic and market solid wastes at source in Lagos metropolis, Lagos, Nigeria

Waste management is an important element of environmental protection. Proper characterization of municipal solid waste is fundamental for the planning of municipal waste management services. The objectives of this study were to estimate the percentage of various components of household and market waste generated from source and also the seasonal composition of household waste. The domestic and market solid wastes generated during a period of 48 days by a sampling of 200 households and 40 market waste samples of different socio – economic characteristics were classified and weighed at source between March 2004 and April 2006. The household solid waste mainly consisted of putrescible waste (68.16%), paper (12.46%), nylon (7.68%), Plastic (3.64%), glass (1.78%), metal (2.08%), and garden waste/grit (4.20%). The market waste consisted of putrescible waste (68.98%); paper (23.57%), nylon (3.92%), Plastic (1.77%) and metal (1.77%). The seasonal composition shows a high generation of putrescible during the wet season and nylon during the dry season. Key words : Household waste, market waste, waste composition, Lagos metropolis.

Characterization of domestic and market solid wastes at source in Lagos metropolis, Lagos, Nigeria

Waste management is an important element of environmental protection. Proper characterization of municipal solid waste is fundamental for the planning of municipal waste management services. The objectives of this study were to estimate the percentage of various components of household and market waste generated from source and also the seasonal composition of household waste. The domestic and market solid wastes generated during a period of 48 days by a sampling of 200 households and 40 market waste samples of different socio – economic characteristics were classified and weighed at source between March 2004 and April 2006. The household solid waste mainly consisted of putrescible waste (68.16%), paper (12.46%), nylon (7.68%), Plastic (3.64%), glass (1.78%), metal (2.08%), and garden waste/grit (4.20%). The market waste consisted of putrescible waste (68.98%); paper (23.57%), nylon (3.92%), Plastic (1.77%) and metal (1.77%). The seasonal composition shows a high generation of putrescible during the wet season and nylon during the dry season. Key words: Household waste, market waste, waste composition, Lagos metropolis