Generation rates and current management of municipal, construction and demolition wastes in Tehran

Lack of reliable data is one of the most important constraints of solid waste management. We investigated generation rates of solid waste in Tehran and the factors affecting generation rates. Data were collected from the statistical center of Tehran Waste Management Organization (TWMO). The data analysis showed that the municipal solid waste (MSW) generation was increased from 2006 to 2012; however, because of a decline in gross domestic production (GDP) per capita, a decline of the MSW generation was observed between 2012 and 2014. The correlation coefficient between the total MSW and GDP was 0.91. Thus, the MSW generation rate in Tehran was highly correlated with the GDP per capita and the rate was predictable with a high confidence. The MSW per capita per day in Tehran was 0.96 kg and 76% of the MSW was landfilled. Construction and demolition (C&D) wastes per capita per day was 5.2 kg and 81% of them were landfilled. A low recycling rate indicated that the education programs and/or public participation for waste reduction and recycling in recent years have not been efficient and a revision should be made to the current program.