Waste Characterization Research Articles

Non-recyclable municipal solid waste characterization and pyrolysis for energy recovery

European regulations require that by 2030 waste suitable for recycling, material recovery, or energy recovery will no longer be allowed in landfills. MSW composition in non-recyclable containers affects what measures for recovery could be implemented. This study is a screening examination of 32 non-recyclable MSW samples in the Getafe municipality (Spain). In addition to non-combustible elements, MSW is separated into 15 waste materials. Merely 18.1 % of the non-recyclable component is placed in appropriate containers. Composition of all materials is analyzed. MSW samples are grouped into six clusters with similar properties using the K-nearest neighbor methodology. Representative sample from each cluster is pyrolyzed at 520 °C. The main product of pyrolysis is liquid, which makes up 57.9 wt%, while solid and gas fractions are 16.4 and 16.5 wt%, respectively. Liquid fraction is a blend of aromatic, aliphatic, oxygenated, and nitrogenated compounds, while gas fraction is mainly CO2.

Physicochemical properties and energy potential of combustible municipal solid waste from Lomé, Togo

ABSTRACT This study aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding the physicochemical properties of combustible municipal solid waste (CMSW) from Lomé under its wet and dry seasons. Over both seasons, waste characterisation campaigns were conducted followed by the proximate and ultimate analyses of CMSW samples composed of putrescible, miscellaneous combustible (MC), plastic, textile, and paper & cardboard fractions. In addition, the energy and oxide contents from CMSW were measured with a calorimeter and X-Ray Fluorescence analyser respectively. The results showed that putrescible had the highest weight proportion with significant differences among waste fractions over wet and dry seasons (p-value 1.90E–07 < 0.05). On average, textile and plastic achieved the highest volatile and lowest fixed carbon contents respectively, while plastic achieved the highest ash content. The highest carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen content was from textile, while the highest nitrogen-sulphur content was from plastic. The estimated energy potential was in the order of plastic (2.88 MJ/kg) > putrescible (2.73 MJ/kg) > textile (0.86 MJ/kg) > MC (0.67 MJ/kg) > paper & cardboard (0.18 MJ/kg). The content of silicon dioxide (75.88 wt%) and manganese oxide (0.02 wt%) were the highest and lowest from plastic, respectively. Therefore, CMSW showed important energy value though highly contaminated by fines.

Composition of New York State (United States) Disposed Waste and Recyclables in 2021: An Advanced Analysis of Waste Sort Data

Understanding the composition of disposed municipal solid waste (MSW) and recyclables can lead to better waste management. New York State (United States) has never had a state-wide waste characterization sorting program. In 2021, sampling was conducted at 11 locations, representing 25% of the state population outside of New York City. Twenty-three tonnes from 173 discrete samples were sorted into 41 categories. The resulting data were analyzed by single constituent approaches and more novel multivariate distance techniques. The analyses found that disposed MSW was 22.8% paper, 20.5% food, and 16.8% plastics. Recyclable paper and glass–metal–plastic containers were 18.2% (11.7% paper, 6.5% containers) and yard waste was 6.5%, meaning about 25% of the disposed MSW could have been recovered. Multivariate analysis determined that the disposed MSW was similar to that from other United States jurisdictions such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York City, and Syracuse (NY), and different from California and United States Environmental Protection Agency model data. Recyclables composition was different from disposed MSW composition. Dual-stream recyclables were sorted better than single-stream recyclables. Corrugated cardboard was the most common paper recyclable and plastics were the most common container recyclable. The data are being used to help guide planning for an expected packaging extended producer responsibility law for the State.

Comprehensive Utilization of Industry By-Products in Precast Concrete: A Critical Review from the Perspective of Physicochemical Characteristics of Solid Waste and Steam Curing Conditions

Solid wastes have been widely used as a cement substitute in precast concrete. On the one hand, solid waste can effectively ameliorate a series of problems caused by steam curing. On the other hand, the use of solid waste can reduce the amount of cement used in the construction industry and reduce carbon emissions. However, due to the complexity of the steam curing system, the performance of precast concrete prepared under different steam curing conditions varies greatly. Moreover, there are a wide variety of solid wastes, and the differences in the physicochemical properties of different solid wastes are significant. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically determine the mechanism of action of commonly used solid wastes. In this paper, the steam curing system is introduced in detail, and the mechanism of action of solid waste in precast concrete is systematically summarized. It was found that an appropriate increase in the temperature and duration of steam curing facilitates the strength development of precast concrete. In addition, there is a difference in the effect of the addition of solid wastes on the early and late strength of precast concrete, which usually leads to a decrease in the demolding strength of precast concrete, but increases the late strength of precast concrete. This study provides a reference for rationally regulating steam curing systems and realizing the comprehensive utilization of solid wastes in precast concrete.

Potential Utilization of Defective Fruit Juice Products for Black Soldier Fly Cultivation to Reduce Waste Generation in the Beverage Industry

The waste of fruit juice and tea defective products has organic content that conventionally has the potential to be utilized as a medium or place for maggot growth, but until now it has not been equipped with supporting scientific studies. Therefore, the objectives of the study are: 1) Assessing the characteristics of fruit juice and tea product waste, 2) Assessing the effectiveness of maggot in reducing fruit juice and tea product waste. This research is experimental in nature using variations in the composition of fruit juice and tea product waste as a source of nutrition for maggot which is carried out for 12 days. This variation uses the Complete Randomized Design method with 3 (three) treatments, namely variations in the composition of 60% tea + 40% fruit juice waste (S1), 50% tea + 50% fruit juice waste (S2), and 40% tea + 60% fruit juice waste (S3) in duplo. In addition, this study was completed with a control treatment. The results showed that the characteristics of fruit juice and tea waste containing protein (3.78-4.59%), fat (0.90-1.31%), carbohydrates (28.15-29.15%), crude fiber (2.42-3.12%) can be used as maggot cultivation media. The highest protein and crude fiber contents were found in the S3 composition waste at 4.59% and 3.12%. Maggot cultivation results that showed the highest fat and carbohydrate content were found in S1 composition waste at 1.31% and 29.15%. The recommended composition variation is S1 composition with the highest substrate consumption value and waste reduction index of 57.47% and 20.06%.

Evaluation of the biodegradability of hazardous industrial solid waste: Study of key parameters.

The biological stability of solid waste is one of the main problems related to the environmental impact of landfills and their long-term emission potential. Current European legislation (European Landfill Directive, EC/99/31) introduced the need to reduce biodegradable organic compounds deposited in landfills; however, it set neither official parameters nor methods to define the stability of such a waste. In Spain, biodegradability is generally evaluated using the biological oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand (BOD5/COD) ratio, measuring it on the leachate, thus not considering the non-soluble fraction and therefore creating false negatives. To solve this problem, the biodegradability of hazardous industrial waste has been determined by measuring its respirometric activity (AT4). Our results show that the measure of the AT4 is independent of the enrichment with a microbial inoculum, and a sample size no higher than 20g could be a reasonable value for a sensitive biodegradability determination. The highest respirometric index is obtained in waste with pH values between 6.5 and 10.5. Furthermore, respirometric biodegradability values are independent of traditional parameters of organic matter characterization such as BOD5/COD ratio, volatile content, and total and dissolved organic carbon. Consequently, the AT4 parameter provides new information on the composition and stability of organic matter in hazardous industrial waste. Its incorporation into pre-disposal waste characterization protocols allows to identify waste that exceeds recommended biodegradability thresholds. This approach ensures that only waste meeting specified biodegradability standards is deposited, avoiding landfill emissions and related environmental impacts, and thereby improving the overall effectiveness and sustainability of waste management practices.

Characterization of Marble and Granite Processing Waste and its Utilization in Brick Production: Case of Saba and Semayata Dimensional Stone Companies, Tigray, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, the marble and granite dimension stone industries have been growing significantly in the last decade and have become a part of the flourishing construction industry. Accordingly, the amount of quarrying and processing has increased significantly. This has contributed to increased waste of time. Semayata and Saba Dimensional Stone plc are the leading dimension stone-based companies located in the Wukro and Adwa areas, respectively in the Tigray region are involved in producing tiles and slabs of marble and granite. Due to its processing techniques and its highly alkaline nature, marble, and granite wastes in the Adwa and Wukro areas have become causes for environmental problems. Consequently, the demand for the recycling of waste has come to the forefront due to both environmental and financial considerations. Keeping this in view, a study was conducted on the waste generated by the Saba and Semayata processing units. The study aims to characterize wastes; and discuss the possibilities of using marble and granite wastes as an alternative raw material in the production of bricks. Based on the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties, the waste can be used to produce bricks without modifying and adding other contents.

Physical and mechanical characterization of solid waste collected from rural areas of China: Experimental study

To support the landfill design and waste management in rural areas of China, solid waste covering eight provisional regions was collected and tested in the laboratory to characterize its physical properties (composition, moisture content, specific gravity, dry unit weight) and mechanical properties (compressibility and shear strength). The results show that, compared with solid wastes from urban areas (MSW), solid waste from rural areas (RSW) comprised a much lower content of soil-like, gravel, and inert waste and a significantly higher content of combustible waste, thereby yielding a much lower specific gravity and dry unit weight. Similar to MSW, the compression index of RSW correlated well with its physical properties. However, its strength properties displayed divergence. Notably, the friction angle φ' of RSW remained relatively consistent, ranging from 28.4° to 30.9°. This narrow range is attributed to RSW's higher combustible-to-inert (CI) ratio compared to MSW. The cohesion intercept c' of RSW ranged from 13.5 to 24.9 kPa, showing a positive correlation with the fiber content without considering contribution from paper waste. This finding combined with data from the literature further revealed that the trend of increasing cohesion intercept with increasing fiber content became weakened over time. Relationships between φ' and c' versus C/I for RSW observed in this study will serve as an extension to the existing finding reported for MSW in the literature, i.e., for predominately combustible waste with C/I exceeding 10, constant values of strength parameters (i.e., moderate values φ' = 30°, c' = 20 kPa) are recommended. The results of this study are useful for the capacity design and slope stability analysis of landfills as well as waste recycle and reuse, ensuring a sustainable development of environment in China.

Assessment of household solid waste characteristics, quantity, and management practices in Dangila Town, Ethiopia.

Solid waste refers to the material that is discarded because of human activity. In developing countries like Ethiopia, rapid urbanization leads to the production of large amounts of solid waste in towns. As a consequence, it causes severe problems to human health, aesthetics, and the environment, particularly in Dangila Town. Therefore, this study aimed to assess household solid waste characteristics, quantity, and management practices. Data was collected for seven days in January 2020 from 73 households, which were divided into three income groups. Observations, interviews, field measurements, sorting, and open-ended questionnaires were used as data collection tools. The research showed that food waste and ash and dust were the most dominant fractions, comprising 41.04% and 26.18%, respectively. It was also revealed that 77.88%, 12.74%, and 9.38% of household solid waste was decomposable, recyclable, and disposable waste, respectively. Furthermore, the waste components showed a significant statistical difference among income groups, except for the metal and miscellaneous groups. The quantification result indicated that the per capita household generation rate was 0.26kg/day. The management practice assessment found that most households did not practice integrated solid waste management options. They disposed of waste indiscriminately, leading to environmental pollution. The results of this study suggest that the municipality needs to create awareness among households regarding proper solid waste management practices. It is crucial to apply appropriate solid waste management mechanisms and establish a well-organized institution that will collect solid waste in the town and achieve a circular economy.

Flotation Tailings from Cu-Au Mining (Bor, Serbia) as a Potential Secondary Raw Material for Valuable Metals Recovery

The increased exploitation of ores leads to the generation of mining waste, which has a negative impact on the environment and human health. For this reason, it is necessary to take care of it in an adequate way by applying some of the possible treatments. In addition to protecting the environment by applying appropriate treatment, there is also the possibility of making a profit by valorizing useful elements from mining waste. In order to choose the most adequate treatment, it is necessary to perform the characterization of mining waste. This paper contains a detailed characterization of the flotation tailings deposited at the Old Flotation Tailings in eastern Serbia, originating from copper ore processing. Characterization includes physico-chemical analysis, polarizing microscope analysis, X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis analysis. The obtained results indicate that the investigated flotation tailings can be used as a secondary raw material for metal recovery, in this case primarily copper (whose content is about 0.24%), gold (with a content of about 0.43 ppm) and silver (with a content of about 1.7 ppm). Considering that the content of valuable elements is quite low, it is suggested to apply hydrometallurgical treatment for their recovery.

Insight into high-temperature fast pyrolysis characterization, product distribution and interaction effect of municipal solid waste and its components under steam-containing hydrogen-rich syngas atmosphere

This research delves into the field of fast hydropyrolysis of mixed municipal solid waste (MSW), with the goal of understanding product distribution and interactions in a hydrogen-rich condition. Through experimental investigations on MSW and its components, this study thoroughly examines the impact of pyrolysis temperature and gasification atmosphere (30 % H2+30 % CO+20 % CO2+20 % H2O) on the yields and distribution of the three-phase products. As the temperature increases, the gas yield gradually increases, while the yields of tar and char gradually decrease. The introduction of a hydrogen source increases the methane content in the combustible gas, which generally reaches its maximum at 850 °C, and promotes aromatic formation in tar, making aromatics the main component of pyrolysis oil. Notably, aromatics have the highest-octane number in gasoline. This study highlights gasification as a promising technology for converting organic waste into valuable fuel, advancing waste management and energy recovery.

Karakteristik limbah pertanian dan dampaknya: Mengapa pengelolaan ramah lingkungan penting?

Background: Agricultural waste is a significant by-product of the agrarian sector, with the potential for substantial environmental and economic impacts. This study aims to examine the characteristics of organic agricultural waste and analyze its effects on the environment, both in terms of threats and its potential utilization. Method: This study employs a systematic literature review method. The literature search focuses on articles discussing agricultural waste, its characteristics, and its environmental impacts. Findings: The results show that agricultural waste has diverse characteristics based on fiber composition, physical form, and protein content. The main threats from agricultural waste include water pollution due to nutrient runoff and greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane. However, this waste also holds significant potential as a source of organic mulch, animal feed, and raw material for bioenergy. Utilizing agricultural waste as mulch can improve soil quality and crop yields, while its use as animal feed supports the integration of agricultural and livestock systems. In the context of energy, converting waste into biogas and biofuel offers an effective solution. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of integrated and sustainable agricultural waste management to minimize negative impacts and optimize its economic potential. Novelty/Originality of this article: By providing a comprehensive analysis of the characteristics and impacts of agricultural waste, this study offers insights into the importance of a holistic approach to agricultural waste management to support sustainable agriculture.

An innovative approach to municipal solid waste characterization for waste-to-energy processes in Egypt

This study enhances municipal solid waste (MSW) characterization methodologies by introducing an innovative sampling approach that prioritizes organic content over traditional components like paper and cartons, particularly suited to developing countries like Egypt. This innovative method adapts the ASTM D5231 − 92 standard to capture the actual MSW profile in the Giza governorate, where this research was carried out. Focusing on organic waste, this approach ensures more relevant and accurate data for waste-to-energy (WtE) conversion processes. This research documents significant seasonal variability in waste composition, with organic content averaging 66 % in winter compared to 59 % in fall. The energy-rich fraction shows similar variability, with winter having an average of 28 % compared to fall's 30 %. Moreover, the calorific value is notably higher in winter at 10.3 MJ/kg, compared to 8.4 MJ/kg in fall. These variations are critical for optimizing energy recovery processes in WtE projects. The results from this case study contribute to the limited but growing body of knowledge on waste management in Egypt, demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of adapting standard characterization methods to local conditions. The insights gained from this research fill a notable gap in the regional waste management literature and enhance the scientific understanding of how seasonal factors affect MSW properties, providing a robust framework for improving waste management practices in similar settings globally.

An in-depth Analysis of Soil Quality and Heavy Metal Contamination in the vicinity of the Visakhapatnam Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite

The study conducts a comprehensive analysis of soil quality and heavy metal contamination in the vicinity of the Visakhapatnam Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite, with a focus on the Gajuwaka municipality. The research addresses the escalating global concerns arising from improper waste disposal practices and their environmental repercussions. The Gajuwaka dumpsite, receiving diverse waste types, poses significant threats due to the leaching of heavy metals into the soil, impacting environmental components and human health. The study employs a robust experimental methodology involving soil sampling, metal extraction and Atomic absorption spectroscopy for elemental analysis. Waste characterization reveals the predominant presence of organic fractions and inert materials in the dumpsite. Seasonal physicochemical analysis of soil samples indicates variations in pH, moisture content, soil texture, organic matter and nutrient availability. Metal content generally decreases during the post-monsoon period. Phytotoxicity analysis of selected plant species demonstrates their capacity to accumulate heavy metals, particularly lead. The study emphasizes the urgent need for effective waste management practices, continuous soil monitoring and community engagement to mitigate environmental and health risks associated with waste dumping sites. The findings underscore the critical importance of sustainable waste management and environmental health. The study contributes valuable insights into the complex challenges posed by improper waste disposal practices and provides a foundation for the development of comprehensive strategies aimed at addressing environmental concerns.

Food waste: analysis of the complex and variable composition of a promising feedstock for valorisation

There are global concerns about the environmental, social, and economic consequences associated with the generation of food waste. To effectively address this challenge, and particularly to develop food waste valorisation approaches, it is necessary to acquire understanding of the physicochemical and biochemical characteristics of food waste. This study comprises a systematic overview and quantitative assessment of the characteristics of food waste biomass, and this was achieved through a comprehensive literature review. The resulting database encompasses the physicochemical, biochemical, and elemental composition of food waste. The study evaluates food waste variability, analyses correlations between components, and highlights patterns in composition. Overall, food waste is a rather variable material. Typology, collection source and geographical origin of food waste streams are the main contributing factors to variation in physicochemical, biochemical and elemental compositions of food waste, while collection season and storage temperature appear not to be contributing substantially to variation. A clear distinction between plant-based and animal-based food waste biomass can be observed with animal-matter enriched food waste having high contents of protein, lipid and ash, but a low starch content. On the other hand, plant-based food waste can be either high in lignin and low in starch or high in carbohydrates, starch and higher heating value. Fibre content appears an indicative parameter, distinguishing plant from animal enriched food waste, and correlating strongly with lignin-rich, starch-poor plant biomass. The heterogeneity of food waste biomass composition will create challenges in developing and scaling up appropriate food waste management. The current study shows that the analysis of specific food waste parameters, such as fibre content, can be used, to inform the choice of the most appropriate valorisation route.

Multi-Level Characterization of Lignite Mine Waste by the Integration of Wide Wavelength Range Infrared Spectroscopy

Both the mineralogy and geochemistry of coal mine waste presents environmental and social challenges while simultaneously offering the potential source for recovery of metals, including critical raw materials (CRMs). Assessing these challenges and opportunities requires effective waste management strategies and comprehensive material characterization. This study deals with the integration of analytical data obtained from various portable sensor technologies. Infrared reflection spectroscopy (covering a wide wavelength range of 0.4 to 15 µm), and geochemical x-ray fluorescence (XRF) were utilized to differentiate between samples belonging to various geological lithologies and quantify elements of interest. Therefore, we developed a methodological framework that encompasses data integration and machine learning techniques. The model developed using the infrared data predicts the Sr concentration with a model accuracy of R2 = 0.77 for the testing dataset; however, the model performances decreased for predicting other elements such as Pb, Zn, Y, and Th. Despite these limitations, the approach demonstrates better performance in discriminating materials based on both mineralogical and geochemical compositions. Overall, the developed methodology, enables rapid and in-situ determination of coal mine waste composition, providing insights into waste composition that are directly linked to potential environmental impact, and the possible recovery of economically valuable metals.

Effectiveness of Apuwood Plants (Pistia Stratiotes) Using the Phytoremediation Method in Reducing Bod Levels in Ciprat Langitan Magetan Batik Waste

The batik industry generally consists of residue, residual dye water, residual wax and batik pelorodan water. The characteristics of batik liquid waste include high levels of Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, and Total Suspended Solids. Batik industry waste is considered dangerous, because its characteristics can pollute waters such as turbidity in river water. The aim of this research is todetermine the effectiveness of using apu wood plants (Pistia Stratiotes) in reducing the BOD value in Ciprat Langitan Simbatan Magetan batik waste.The method used in this research is experimental, with analysis using Quasi Experimental and using a Pretest-posttest Control Group Design.The results of measuring BOD levels with phytoremediation treatment of apu wood plants on the 3rd day were 114 mg/l, on the 6th day it was 71 mg/l and on the 9th day it was 53 mg/l. The percentage of effectiveness in reducing BOD levels on day 3 was 9.78%, on day 6 it was 45.31% and on the last day it was 58.20%. There was a reduction in BOD levels with phytoremediation using apu wood plants. The effectiveness of the apu wood plant in reducing BOD levels was found with an exposure time of 9 days. Apart from that, a long-standing treatment of more than 9 days can be used to measure the effectiveness of apu wood plants in reducing the BOD levels of batik liquid waste.

Review on solid wastes incorporated cementitious material using 3D concrete printing technology

The substitution of cement, natural sand, and synthetic fibers in concrete with solid wastes substantially reduces CO2 emissions. Incorporating solid wastes into 3D printed concrete, which reduces CO2 emissions from labor and formwork, can achieve innovative low-carbon construction materials. However, the previous studies lack a comprehensive review on the inherent characteristics of various solid wastes and their impacts on the printability, mechanical performance, and functionality of 3D printed concrete. This paper reviews the present state of research and introduces feasible methods for the sustainable use of solid wastes in 3D printed concrete. Numerous types of solid wastes are investigated comprising their benefits, shortages, and fit dose to guide in selecting the optimal solid waste to enhance the performance of printed concrete. Additionally, the printability, functionality, and mechanical strength of printed concrete with solid waste addition are quantified and summarized. The preliminary exploration to achieve a balance between multi-functionality and mechanical properties using mixed solid wastes is conducted for 3D concrete printing. Finally, machine learning, broadening raw material sources, automated monitoring systems, multi-functionalized composite, and BIM are proposed to address current challenges.

Dietary starch, non-starch polysaccharides and their interactions affect nutrient digestibility, faecal waste production and characteristics differentially in three salmonids: Rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon and Arctic charr

Waste management has emerged as a critical issue in aquaculture. In this study, we examined the impact of dietary starch and non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) content on nutrient digestibility, faecal waste production, faecal removal efficiency and the faecal characteristics in three salmonid species, namely rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). Four diets were formulated according to a 2 × 2 factorial design. The first factor, starch, was tested by including 0% gelatinised wheat flour (low starch) or 20% gelatinised wheat flour (high starch) in a plant-based basal diet. The second factor, NSP, was tested by adding 0% NSP source (low NSP) or 10% NSP source (high NSP). High NSP level was achieved by adding an equal mixture of soya hull (5%) and wheat bran (5%). Diets were tested in triplicates for each species and feeding was done restrictively. Experimental duration was 42 days for rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon and 49 days for Arctic charr. Among the three species investigated, Arctic charr had the lowest digestibility values for most nutrients, whereas rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon values were comparable. High starch level in the diet reduced the macronutrient (protein, fat and ash) digestibility in all three species. High starch and high NSP levels in the diet increased faecal waste production, with the effect being more pronounced for the NSP content of the diet. High dietary starch levels increased the proportion of smaller-sized particles, while high NSP content increased the ability of faecal particles to withstand mechanical stress. The high starch level in the diet lowered faecal removal efficiency but increased by high NSP content. The highest and lowest faecal removal efficiency was recorded for Atlantic salmon and Arctic charr, respectively. The amount of non-removed faeces accumulating in the system was increased by the high starch levels in rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon but remained unaffected by the NSP content of the diet across the species. No interaction effect between starch and NSP content of diets was observed for faecal removal efficiency and non-removed faeces. Among the three species investigated, Arctic charr had the maximum amount of non-removed faeces per kilogram of dry matter feed.

Evaluation of municipal solid waste characterization and landfill gas power plant electrical energy production efficiency during COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount and types of municipal solid waste (MSW) have dramatically changed. This study focuses on characterizing the MSWs in the regular waste storage facility (RWSF) in Izmir, Turkey, and determining the electrical energy that can be produced by the landfill gas power plant (LFGPP) established to convert the waste to energy (WtE). Therefore, firstly the MSWs were characterized. After, the amount of produced methane (CH4) gas was determined using Landfill Gas Emissions Modeling (LandGEM). The amount of generated electricity, the dependent variable in the LandGEM model, was most influenced by the quantity of MSW, garbage disposal processes, and maintenance times of gas generators, while other factors remained relatively weak. This situation has also been confirmed in the field. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in MSW was 9.8% in 2020 and 10.3% in 2021. Kitchen waste containing the highest CH4, accounted for 38% of the MSW characterization. The amount of generated electricity in the LandGEM model was 237 GWh in 2020 and 245 GWh in 2021. While these values could be achieved by 11.25% in 2020 due to various system and field failures, they reached 79.73% in 2021 due to system and field improvements.