Waste Composition - An Integral Requirement for Monitoring Changes to Waste Management Practices

摘要

This paper presents the results of a waste composition study carried out in a rural local authority in Wales, UK. Principal areas under investigation were 1) a study of household set out rates, 2) analyses of recyclate, compostable and residual waste, 3) impact of seasonality and 4) urban versus rural effects. The study found that the average household waste arisings within the study area was 14.9 kg/hh/wk. The results also highlight that these arisings varied from 13.4 kg/hh/wk in the winter to 16.5 kg/hh/wk in the summer. The average biodegradable fraction in the household waste stream was 72%, which was significantly greater than the equivalent Welsh biodegradable municipal waste average of 61%. Based on the findings of the waste composition analysis, recommendations on improvements to the study area's recycling performance are to expand the kerbside recycling scheme, with emphasis placed on the segregation of biodegradable elements of the household waste stream, namely garden waste, kitchen waste and paper and card fractions. These fractions are to be concentrated upon to minimise the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill, thus allowing the study area to meet their Landfill Allowance Scheme targets.