Municipal solid waste characteristics (incl. density)

[bekirk]

Does anyone have a suggestion on where I could find information on average municipal solid waste characteristics? I've downloaded the the USEPA 1960-2005 MSW Characteristics Report, but several key pages are corrupted, so I'm not sure if has what I'm looking for.

First and foremost, I'm looking for MSW density so that I can estimate the tonnage of waste in waste collection containers.

 

[PELS]

"The garbage that most people put in their trashcans is compacted in trash trucks with other garbage and then further compacted in a landfill. At the curbside, a cubic yard of trash will weigh between 100 and 200 pounds. Once it is compacted in a truck, it can weigh 350 to 400 pounds per cubic yard. Compaction at a landfill can increase the density considerably."

More info here:

http://wastec.isproductions.net/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=459

 

[bekirk]

I did find an unverified rule of thumb of 95 lbs / cubic yard for primary collection waste density.

These rules of thumb help, but it would be good for me to locate a "citeable" source.

Thanks for your help.

 

[PELS]

From what I've read about MSW, determining density is not an exact science. Too many variables involved. That's why data is expressed in generalities and why you are having trouble finding a universally accepted number.

I am surprised EPA has not already addressed this. You may end up having to have the municipality obtain real data from its own solid waste containers if they will not accept data from "un-citeable" sources.

 

[bekirk]

Yeah, I understand the variability. The EPA may have addressed it and I couldn't find it. Most recent EPA MSW Characterization Report has lots of great data on composition by weight, but not density at various points during collection.

 

[jgailla]

You may want to try "Solid Wastes Engineering Principles and Management Issues" by Tchobanoglous, Theisen, and Eliasen; McGraw-Hill 1977. This is quoted several times in my Intro to Envir. Eng. text. Specifically, it includes actual study data on uncompacted solid waste and typical compaction. This is way out of my area, but hope it helps.