Solid waste generation

This chapter starts the construction of the LCI model for solid waste. It attempts to assess the amount and composition of solid waste likely to be generated in a given area. The lack of comprehensive and standardised data collection is one of the limiting factors in this process, and in the development of effective solid waste management in general. This chapter presents the data currently available on the generation and composition of solid waste in general, and of municipal solid waste (MSW) in particular, for Europe. These data are limited; they are incomplete and are based on different definitions of waste categories. Definitions are given for the type of waste that will be dealt with in this book, namely MSW comprising of household (collected and delivered), commercial and institutional waste. The limitations of present classification schemes are discussed and new developments in waste analysis outlined. The first module of the computer LCI spreadsheet (IWM-1), which defines the waste entering a solid waste management system, is described.