Waste generation and materials flow analysis

To effectively manage waste, we begin the waste generation

by analysing the materials flow as shown below :

Outflow
(emission, flyash)

Materials
Stored
Inflow outflow
materials
Outflow
(products)
Outflow
Solid waste/in
wastewater
Materials flow in Japan
Waste Characteristics/composition
MSW characteristics depend on :
1. Country/city/town
2. Weather/Climatic condition
3. Size of Population
4. Lifestyle
 Waste Composition
3.1 Composition study
A waste composition study or commonly known as waste sort is needed to
estimate the fraction of various waste materials or items present in a waste
stream. Thus composition, is the term used to describe the individual
components that make up a solid waste stream and their relative
distribution, usually based on percent by weight.
Information on solid waste composition is important in evaluating
equipment needs, systems, and management programs and plans. e.g. in
designing of recycling programs or finding out whether the waste is suitable
for the methods of treatment available.
A waste sort is usually not needed for industries because they are
composed for a single type of waste. Thus, waste sort is useful for waste
generated by households, commercial and institutions which make up the
municipal solid wastes. Hence to estimate the overall composition of
municipal waste, the ratio of waste from these sources must be established.
Nevertheless, prior to taking up any study, the following major issues must be resolved :
1. Purpose of study important for developing list of items that will be sort out
of the waste. e.g. if incineration is the technology opted than the targeted
items are based on heating value or pollution potential. On the other hand, if
for recycle purpose, then, the list of items will obviously be targeted on the
recyclable items.
2. Sorting location can be done at the point of generation or at the point of
processing. So household waste, the point of generation is at the rubbish bin
whereas at the point of processing include at the transfer station, incinerator
tipping floor, or landfill. A sorting location can help to identify further actions
needed when improper data collection is observed.
3. Number of samples the total number of samples that should be sorted
depends primarily on the allowable error and confidence level.
4. Waste sort design location of sorting and method for selecting samples
must be finalized before undertaking a field sorting operation i.e. at
household bins or at landfill sites. A randomly chosen geographical location is
the correct way of collecting representative samples. Full cooperation of the
house owners must be obtained to conduct the study otherwise it will affect
the data collection.
Sample sorting (see page )
sample sorting involves unloading and analyzing a quantity of
residential waste in a controlled area away from winds or other
operations. The procedure involves the waste is dumped from the
truck in the shape of a loaf of bread. Then the sample can either be
collected either using a cone-and-quarter method and grid-and-pull
method.

i) In the cone-and-quarter method, half of the waste is removed

longitudinally from entire side. The waste is then mixed, coned and
quartered using a back hoe. One quarter is chosen randomly for
sorting and additional quartering is performed until a sample size of
about 200 lb or 100 kg is obtained.

A B

C D
ii) In the grid-and-pull method, a 3 ft (1m) height
of loaf of waste is maintained while
dumping. The waste is divided into 1m x 1m
cells. Then one cell is pulled for sorting and
the waste used is between 200-300 lb (91
136 kg).

Nevertheless this method is less popular

as the result may not give the true
representation of the waste unless repeated
for reproducibility and reliability.
In each method, the waste to be sorted is spread over a 10 x
12 ft turf. Each listed item is then sorted and deposited into
cans. The cans are weighed before and after the sorting. To
minimize moisture loss, the weighing should be done as
sorting of a sample is finished.
Great precautions should be observed by all the sorting crew
to avoid injury of sharp objects and protection against
possible health risk due to infectious diseases.
Statistical analysis can be done using standard formula
obtainable from ASTM International for municipal waste
sampling e.g.
ASTM D5231 Waste Management Standards (92-2008)
(Unprocessed MSW)
ASTM E1109 86 (2009)
(Bulk Density of Solid Waste Fractions)
 Waste composition reporting
Bulk analysis
Usually expressed on dry basis; based on 100 kg of
waste for main composition such as : food waste,
plastics, paper, wood, etc
Ultimate analysis
Based on the elemental composition of C, H, O, N, S,
ash on dry basis. So sample size is < 10 g.
Proximate analysis
Based on VM, mositure content, Fixed C and ash
Heating Value/ Calorific Value
MSW formula
 Component Analysis of
Kyoto City (in 2001)
Glass:2.5% Others:5.3%
Metals: Biomass
1.9%
60-70% per DB

Paper:32.4%
Kitchen Waste: CO2 emission
38.9%
Plastics:15.7%
Fossil fuel
30-40% per DB
Fiber:3.3%
Water Content:41.8%
% per Wet Basis
Source: Kyoto city 11
 A Waste Composition in Malaysia
No Components Composition (wt %)

1 Food Waste 40.08

2 Paper 12.89

3 Plastics 24.04

4 Wood 1.54

5 Rubber 1.29

6 Textile 5.08

7 Yard 9.23

8 Glass 3.28

9 Ferrous 0.47

10 Aluminium 2.10

Moisture content and Ultimate analysis of selected components (Ref Table , pg )

Component Moisture % Ash % %C %H %O %N %S
Food Waste 81.76 4.06 37.97 8.41 47.34 1.78 0.44
Paper 8.21 6.72 41.44 8.19 43.2 0.11 0.34
Plastics 0.23 0.82 62.90 4.9 31.18 0.0 0.2
Wood 36.55 1.88 44.76 8.81 43.82 0.28 0.45
Rubber 0.73 23.08 52.77 9.44 13.52 0.78 0.41
Textile 2.86 1.81 55.57 6.02 36.27 0.08 0.25
Yard Waste 80.75 8.24 40.47 7.47 41.85 1.53 0.44