WASTE ANALYSES AND

CHARACTERIZATION STUDY

(WACS) FOR THE DEVELOPMENT

OF MATERIAL RESOURCE AND

ENERGY/ BIOMASS/ WASTE-TO-

ENERGY FACILITIES USING

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTES

RUTH P.BRIONES

Greenery Solutions Inc. www.greenergyph.comn

Philippine Waste-to-Energy Project

This presentation is prepared mainly for the purposeof development of Material Resource and EnergyFacility (MREF) and Waste-to-energy (WTE) facilityusing Municipal Solid Waste as feedstock. The resultof the WACS will be the basis for the conduct of thePreliminary Engineering Design Study (PEDS) todetermine the capacity of a proposed MREF or WTEfacility.

The accuracy of the WACS is very important in thedesign of the proposed facility.

Waste Analysis and Characterization Study

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Waste Analysis and Characterization Study

Data quality objectives.

Determination of a representative sample.

Statistical methods to be employed in the analyses.

Waste generation and handling processes.

Constituents/parameters to be sampled.

Physical and chemical properties of the waste.

Accessibility of the unit.

Sampling equipment, methods, and sample containers.

Quality assurance and quality control (e.g., sample preservation and handling requirements).

Chain-of-custody.

Health and safety of employees.

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Why do WACS?

Waste characterization is comprisedof a waste stream compositionprofile by material types (i.e. paper,plastic, etc.) and corresponding solidwaste weight estimates that can beused to evaluate the current solidwaste management system andassist in determining future programwaste diversion and conversionprocess.

It is necessary to recharacterizewaste in order to accurately makewaste management decisions andevaluate environmental risk.

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The WACS for the Waste-to-Energy Facility Project,

why it is necessary.

Knowing the physical and chemical properties of a waste using sampling and analysis techniques is the cornerstone upon which subsequent steps in the waste management are planned.

It is necessary for gauging what is the design capacity and a waste might pose to surface water, ground water, and air and drives waste management unit design and operating decisions.

Knowing the composition of the waste is also necessary when determining the constituents for which to test. Knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of the waste is crucial in identifying pollution prevention opportunities.

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The Waste

Stream

Households

Markets

Establishments (schools, hospitals, offices)

Business institutions

Agricultural areas (farms)

Industries, processing plants

Sources

of wastes

Covers the entire waste stream – from

source to final disposal and/or

conversion facility.

Final

disposal

Sanitary

landfill or

dumpsite

Biomass/waste-

to-energy facility

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Waste Source Categories

• Residentials in urban centers

• Residentials in rural areasHouseholds

• Main public market

• Medium public market

• small/SatellitePublic Market

•Major Food Establishment (fastfood Outlets, restaurants)

•Other food establishment (carinderias/eateries, food stalls, bakeries)

Food Establishment

• Major general stores (groceries,malls,department stores

• Other general stores (sari-sari stored

General Stores

• Major industries

• Other industriesIndustries

•Municipal Hall, other government offices

•Private offices, banks

•Church

•Schools, colleges/universities

Institutions

• Hotel/Inns

• Other service centers

Service centers

• Resorts/Hotels

• Small Resorts/Hotels

• Parks

• Gyms/Sports Centers

Recreation Centers

• Hospitals

• Clinics/Health Centers/Pharmacies/ Drug Stores

Health Related Sources

• Big plantation farms

• Animal farmsAgricultural

Farms

• Urban centers

• Rural centersSlaughterhouse

• Rice mills

• Corn mills

• Sugar mills

• Gold mines, coal mines, etc

Mill Industries and Mining

areas

Residual from MRFswww.greenergyph.com

Waste Characterization Activity

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Methodology

Total LGU Municipal Solid Waste

Landfilled/

dumped WasteDaily Fresh

Waste

Characterize daily fresh waste

Characterize total waste

Characterize landfilled/dumped

waste

Barangay

1

Barangay

2

Barangay

3

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Database required

Data are organized

for systematic and

easy access and

processing;

Excel template are

preferred as

database

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Data Recording

Data encoding: datagathered in actualWACS are enteredinto database forprocessing

Data consolidation/summarizing:Computing for unitwaste generation –by waste source, bycomposition – incollection area andwhole LGU

Data analysis: Whatdo WACS data meanin relation to wastediversion, SWMFacilities and SWMstrategies

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Sampling and Analysis Plan

The sampling plan is usually a written document thatdescribes the objectives and details of the individual tasksof a sampling effort and how they will be performed.

Background information on the processes that generate thewaste and the type and characteristics of the wastemanagement unit is essential for developing a soundsampling plan. Knowledge of the unit location andsituation (e.g., geology, exposure of the waste to theelements, local climatic conditions) will assist in determiningcorrect sample size and sampling method.

Sampling plan design will depend on whether the samplingof waste prior to disposal in a waste management unit orwhether the sampling of waste is from an existing unit.

When obtaining samples from an existing unit, care should betaken to avoid endangering the individuals collectingthe samples and to prevent damaging the unit

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Sampling Plan requirement

Location of the

sampling area

Total area of the

sampling size

Total population

of the sampling

size

LGU officials involve

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Methodology

Divide the areas intosectors /barangayswith similar wastecomposition (theseare referred to as‘Waste Sources’. Thenumber of sourceswill depend on thearea and populationof the localgovernment unit.

• For example, waste arising from a small barangay may be split into two waste areas: residential and farms;

• Each of these ‘waste sources’ has a different waste composition –office (mostly food waste and farm waste), mostly organic waste;

• For example, waste arising from residential areas will be similar in composition.

• Residentials are then chosen as a ‘waste source’ within towns and cities from which a specific character of waste arises.

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The Sampling Process

Select a central ‘wastecollection area’ where allwaste generation can becollected, sorted weighedand characterized for theduration of the wasteanalysis study.

This area should becovered, if possible toprovide shelter fromadverse weather conditions.

Ideally it should also beclose to the current wastemanagement facilities tominimize disruption to thedaily running of the site.

Identify all waste sources

within the local area

Households

Public market

General Stores

Industries

Institutions

Service centers

Recreation centers

Slaughterhouse

Health –related centers

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Characterization of daily fresh

waste collected from barangays

Bring mixed waste to the area assigned for

characterization, LGU shall identify an area for the waste characterization

if it collected thru trucks, unload the content of truck into the assigned

area and characterize the whole load of truck.

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Gather the necessary equipment to aid in thewaste sampling process.

Clear waste bags/boxes should be available at each ‘waste source’to allow wastes to be collected. Pens and labels should also bedistributed to each ‘waste source’.

The ‘waste characterization area’ should contain a weighing scale(with a range from 0 to 20kg, with accuracy to 0.1kgs)), severalcontainers for holding and sorting the waste, shovels, a brush, afirst aid kit, clipboard, labels, pens and worksheets. Severalcopies of the ‘Waste Collection Area Worksheets’ should be onhand for each day of the survey.

Health and safety issues should also be considered. All members ofthe waste analysis team should wear protective clothing (such asrubber gloves, heavy duty shoes, safety glasses and coveralls)and precautions should be taken to ensure that the waste doesnot come into contact with food or drink.

Sampling Process

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Once these tasks have been addressed, the wastecharacterization analysis survey may begin. At each‘waste source’, two categories of waste will begenerated:

(a) Segregated waste streams – These waste streamswill be homogenous and consist of material of a singletype, for example cardboard, paper, plastic, food wasteetc.

(b) Mixed waste streams – These waste streams will beheterogeneous in nature and consist of mixed waste ofvarious types. The characterization of this waste streamis more difficult.

Conducting the Survey

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SELECT SAMPLE FOR WASTE

CHARACTERIZATION

I. IDENTIFY

THE WASTE

COLLECTION

AREA

STEP

ONE

Towns/cities

Barangays

Landfills/dumpsites

Secure Materials and Equipment: a.Procure/secure the following: plasticpails (10,15,liter capacity) rake,garden forks, trowel,plastic plasticliners, garbage bags, weighingscales (10-100 kg capacity)

b. Calibrate the volume of

plastic pails; weigh and record

empty weigh of each pail.

Procure rubber globes and nose

masks for those who will do the

sampling; Provide first –aid kits

for emergencies and injuries.www.greenergyph.com

Methodology

DETERMINE THE

COLLECTION

ROUTES/TRIPS

AND CLUSTER THE

COLLECTION

ROUTE/TRIP;

LGU waste characterization

area

Barangay 1

barangay2

Barangay 3

Barangay 4

The site for the waste

characterization activity

should not be enclosed by

walls on all sides,

preferably roofed ( or a tent

can be set up) and can be

accessible to collection

vehicle.

The barangays,

residential and

establishments

should be

informed about

the activity.

The layout of

waste

characterization

The layout of

the area should

be based on

the number of

barangays in

every LGU

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Methodology

Every Barangay

must create a team

that will conduct

the WACS or

create Barangay

WACS Team

Train all members ofthe WACS team onhow to segregatewaste and the wholeWACS process. A dryrun is encourage.

Weighers must befamiliar with theuse of weighingscale

Prepare WACSdata form andorient assignedrecorders on theiruse.

The WACS Team

Identify who will

perform the following

tasks:

Team leader

Recorder

Weighers/scalers

Sorters

In-charge of logistic

support

Waste collectors

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Methodology

As the labelled mixed waste arrives at the ‘waste characterization area’ all waste bags/boxes should be weighed and the details recorded in the ‘Waste Characterization Worksheet.

Weigh the empty containers/plastics bags that the sorted waste will be placed into.

Record these weights on each container/plastic bag.

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MethodologyOnly representative samples of mixed wastemust be sorted and weighed.

• During the survey period randomly take samplesof mixed waste (>10kg) from each of the ‘wastesources’.

• The number of samples, which are sorted andcharacterized from each ‘waste source’, shouldbe representative of the total volume of wasteproduced from each ‘waste source’.

• For example, if ten bags of mixed waste arisefrom the offices of an organisation per day andonly two bags of mixed waste are producedfrom the canteen then the sampling regimeshould reflect this ratio.

• The greater the number of mixed waste sampleswhich are characterized, the more accurate theresults will be. Attempt to characterize as manysamples as time allows.

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Methodology

The waste characterization process is described for:

1.Waste generated in Barangays

2. Waste generated in Public market

3. Waste generated from dumpsites/landfills

4. Residuals

I. The over-all leader in the Municipal WACS team shall

distribute plastic bags to sample barangay waste one

day before the WACS;

II. The plastic bags must be properly labelled with

the following:

Name of Barangay where samples are collected;

The total volume of samples ;

Waste source categories : residential, mixed,

agricultural;

Date of sampling

III. Collect the bags from

every barangay at an

agreed time of the collection.

IV. Deliver to sorting area;

the proper location as

assigned for sorting area.

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MethodologyOnly representative samples of mixed waste must be sorted and weighed.

During the surveyperiod randomly takesamples of mixedwaste (>10kg) fromeach of the ‘wastesources’.

The number of samples, which are sorted and characterized from

each ‘waste source’, should be representative of the total volume

of waste produced from each ‘waste source’. For example, if ten bags of mixed waste arise from

the offices of an organisation per day and only two bags of mixed

waste are produced from the canteen then the sampling regime

should reflect this ratio.

The greater the number of mixed waste samples which are characterized,

the more accurate the results will be. Attempt to characterize as many samples as time allows.

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Methodology

Actual

Characterization

of waste

Weigh the waste samples from

each source;

Record the total weight and

volume on field data entry

Waste samples must be a one-day

waste generation

Open the bags. Segregate the

waste on sorting mats into the

following:

Biodegrable waste

Non-biodegrable /Residual waste

Special waste

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Step

Two

What are Biodegrable wastes:

These are materials readily compostable

Agricultural Waste

Manures

Plant stalks

Rice hulls and straws

Corn stovers

Coconut husks

Sugar cane trash and

bagasse

Yard waste

Wet paper and

cartoons

Food waste

Yard trimmings

(leaves, twigs)

Vegetable and fruits

Agricultural waste

Yard waste

Wet paper and cartons

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Non-biodegrable Materials, special wastes

Metals, steel, copper,

aluminum, iron, brass;

Bottles, vials, and broken

glass (including cullets and

bubug)

Plastics, PETS, PES thick PVCs

Rubber, used tires gloves, boots and mats and sheets,

Textile trimmings

Ashes and soots

Styrofoam

Tattered textile

Paper and other packaging materials

Laminates and composite materials

Disposable diapers

Broken ceramics

Glazed materials

Household toxic and hazardous waste

Spent fluorescent tubes and bulbs

Spent dry and wet cell batteries

Expired drugs and chemicals;

asbestos materials

Bulky waste, used furnitures, worn out appliances, consumer electronics

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Moisture content determination

After the sorting and weighing the

individual waste stream, secure the

samples in an area for the next ten (10)

for another weighing process to

determine the moisture content.

Moisture content formula:MC= weight (fresh waste)

weight (after drying for 10 days) x 100

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Waste Characterization FormName of LGU as waste source

Barangay

Date of Sampling/characterization

Total volume of waste samples

Waste stream Initial weight

after sorting

(fresh)

Percentage

Volume of the

samples

Weight after

ten (10) days

Moisture

content

Food waste

plastics

glass

metals

paper

Agricultural

/plant waste

Animal waste

Prepared by: www.greenergyph.com

RUTH P.BRIONES

Chairman/CEO

Greenergy Solutions Inc.

For more information, please contact

Rm. 401/411,Verde Oro Bldg. Commonwealth

Ave. Diliman, Quezon City. Phone Nos:+632

456 2293/ +6324979452 /+63915 300 7363

Email: gsiwte@gmail.com

Website: www.greenergyph.comwww.greenergyph.com