The document outlines a Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS) for developing Material Resource and Energy facilities utilizing municipal solid waste in the Philippines. It discusses essential methodologies for waste characterization, including sampling techniques, data organization, and the importance of understanding waste composition for effective waste management decisions. The study emphasizes the significance of accurate waste data to guide the design and operational aspects of waste-to-energy projects.

1. WASTE ANALYSES AND
CHARACTERIZATION STUDY
(WACS) FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF MATERIAL RESOURCE AND
ENERGY/ BIOMASS/ WASTE-TO-
ENERGY FACILITIES USING
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTES
Philippine Waste-to-Energy Project
RUTH P.BRIONES
Greenery Solutions Inc. www.greenergyph.comn

2. Waste Analysis and Characterization Study
This presentation is prepared mainly for the purpose
of development of Material Resource and Energy
Facility (MREF) and Waste-to-energy (WTE) facility
using Municipal Solid Waste as feedstock. The result
of the WACS will be the basis for the conduct of the
Preliminary Engineering Design Study (PEDS) to
determine the capacity of a proposed MREF or WTE
facility.
The accuracy of the WACS is very important in the
design of the proposed facility.
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3. 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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4. Why do WACS?
Waste characterization is comprised
of a waste stream composition
profile by material types (i.e. paper,
plastic, etc.) and corresponding solid
waste weight estimates that can be
used to evaluate the current solid
waste management system and
assist in determining future program
waste diversion and conversion
process.
It is necessary to recharacterize
waste in order to accurately make
waste management decisions and
evaluate environmental risk.
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5. 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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6. The Waste Covers the entire waste stream – from
source to final disposal and/or
Stream conversion facility.
Sanitary
landfill or
Households dumpsite
Markets
Establishments (schools,
hospitals, offices)
Final
disposal
Sources Business institutions
of wastes
Agricultural areas
(farms)
Industries, processing
plants Biomass/waste-
to-energy facility
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7. Waste Source Categories
Households
• Residentials in urban centers Service • Hotel/Inns
• Residentials in rural areas
centers • Other service centers
• Resorts/Hotels
• Main public market Recreation • Small Resorts/Hotels
Public Market • Medium public market • Parks
• small/Satellite
Centers • Gyms/Sports Centers
•Major Food Establishment
Health • Hospitals
(fastfood Outlets, restaurants) Related • Clinics/Health Centers/Pharmacies/
Food •Other food establishment Sources Drug Stores
Establishment (carinderias/eateries, food
stalls, bakeries)
Agricultural • Big plantation farms
Farms • Animal farms
• Major general stores
General (groceries,malls,department
stores
Stores • Other general stores (sari-
Slaughterhouse
• Urban centers
sari stored • Rural centers
• Major industries • Rice mills
Industries • Other industries Mill Industries • Corn mills
and Mining • Sugar mills
areas • Gold mines, coal mines, etc
•Municipal Hall, other
government offices
Institutions •Private offices, banks
•Church
•Schools, colleges/universities Residual from MRFs
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8. Waste Characterization Activity
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9. Methodology
Total LGU Municipal Solid Waste
Daily Fresh Landfilled/
dumped Waste
Waste
Barangay Barangay Barangay
1 2 3
Characterize landfilled/dumped
Characterize daily fresh waste waste
Characterize total waste
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10. Database required
 Data are organized
for systematic and
easy access and
processing;
 Excel template are
preferred as
database
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11. Data Recording
Data consolidation/
Data encoding: data summarizing: Data analysis: What
gathered in actual Computing for unit do WACS data mean
WACS are entered waste generation – in relation to waste
into database for by waste source, by diversion, SWM
processing composition – in Facilities and SWM
collection area and strategies
whole LGU
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12. Sampling and Analysis Plan
The sampling plan is usually a written document that
describes the objectives and details of the individual tasks
of a sampling effort and how they will be performed.
Background information on the processes that generate the
waste and the type and characteristics of the waste
management unit is essential for developing a sound
sampling plan. Knowledge of the unit location and
situation (e.g., geology, exposure of the waste to the
elements, local climatic conditions) will assist in determining
correct sample size and sampling method.
Sampling plan design will depend on whether the sampling
of waste prior to disposal in a waste management unit or
whether the sampling of waste is from an existing unit.
When obtaining samples from an existing unit, care should be
taken to avoid endangering the individuals collecting
the samples and to prevent damaging the unit
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13. Sampling Plan requirement
Location of Total area
the of the
sampling sampling
area size
Total
population LGU
of the officials
sampling involve
size
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14. Methodology
• 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
Divide the areas into farm waste), mostly organic
sectors /barangays waste;
with similar waste • For example, waste arising from
composition (these residential areas will be similar in
are referred to as composition.
‘Waste Sources’. The • Residentials are then chosen as a
‘waste source’ within towns and
number of sources cities from which a specific
will depend on the character of waste arises.
area and population
of the local
government unit.
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15. The Sampling Process
 Identify all waste sources
Select a central ‘waste
collection area’ where all within the local area
waste generation can be  Households
collected, sorted weighed
and characterized for the  Public market
duration of the waste
analysis study.  General Stores
This area should be  Industries
covered, if possible to  Institutions
provide shelter from
adverse weather conditions.  Service centers
Ideally it should also be  Recreation centers
close to the current waste  Slaughterhouse
management facilities to
minimize disruption to the  Health –related centers
daily running of the site.
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16. Characterization of daily fresh
waste collected from barangays
Bring mixed waste to the if it collected thru trucks,
area assigned for unload the content of
characterization, LGU truck into the assigned
shall identify an area for area and characterize the
the waste characterization whole load of truck.
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17. Sampling Process
Gather the necessary equipment to aid in the
waste sampling process.
Clear waste bags/boxes should be available at each ‘waste source’
to allow wastes to be collected. Pens and labels should also be
distributed 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)), several
containers for holding and sorting the waste, shovels, a brush, a
first aid kit, clipboard, labels, pens and worksheets. Several
copies of the ‘Waste Collection Area Worksheets’ should be on
hand for each day of the survey.
Health and safety issues should also be considered. All members of
the waste analysis team should wear protective clothing (such as
rubber gloves, heavy duty shoes, safety glasses and coveralls)
and precautions should be taken to ensure that the waste does
not come into contact with food or drink.
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18. Conducting the Survey
Once these tasks have been addressed, the waste
characterization analysis survey may begin. At each
‘waste source’, two categories of waste will be
generated:
(a) Segregated waste streams – These waste streams
will be homogenous and consist of material of a single
type, for example cardboard, paper, plastic, food waste
etc.
(b) Mixed waste streams – These waste streams will be
heterogeneous in nature and consist of mixed waste of
various types. The characterization of this waste stream
is more difficult. www.greenergyph.com

19. STEP SELECT SAMPLE FOR WASTE
ONE CHARACTERIZATION
Secure Materials and Equipment: a. b. Calibrate the volume of
Procure/secure the following: plastic
I. IDENTIFY pails (10,15,liter capacity) rake,
plastic pails; weigh and record
THE WASTE garden forks, trowel,plastic plastic empty weigh of each pail.
COLLECTION liners, garbage bags, weighing
AREA scales (10-100 kg capacity)
Landfills/dumpsites
Barangays
Towns/cities
Procure rubber globes and nose
masks for those who will do the
sampling; Provide first –aid kits
for emergencies and injuries.
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20. The layout of
Methodology waste
The layout of
the area should
characterization Barangay 1 be based on
the number of
barangays in
every LGU
DETERMINE THE
COLLECTION
ROUTES/TRIPS
AND CLUSTER THE
COLLECTION Barangay LGU waste
characterization barangay2
ROUTE/TRIP; 4 area
The site for the waste
characterization activity
The barangays,
should not be enclosed by residential and
walls on all sides, Barangay establishments
preferably roofed ( or a tent 3 should be
can be set up) and can be
accessible to collection informed about
vehicle. the activity.
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21. Methodology The WACS Team
Every Barangay
must create a team
that will conduct
the WACS or Train all members of
Weighers must be Prepare WACS
the WACS team on data form and
create Barangay how to segregate familiar with the orient assigned
waste and the whole use of weighing
WACS Team WACS process. A dry scale recorders on their
run is encourage. use.
Identify who will
perform the following
tasks:
Team leader
Recorder
Weighers/scalers
Sorters
In-charge of logistic
support
Waste collectors
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22. Methodology
As the labelled mixed
waste arrives at the
Weigh the
‘waste empty
characterization area’ containers/plas Record these
all waste bags/boxes weights on each
should be weighed tics bags that container/plastic
and the details the sorted bag.
recorded in the ‘Waste waste will be
Characterization
Worksheet. placed into.
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23. Only representative samples of mixed waste
Methodology must be sorted and weighed.
• During the survey period randomly take samples
of mixed waste (>10kg) from each of the ‘waste
sources’.
• 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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24. I. The over-all leader in the Municipal WACS team shall
Methodology 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 waste The total volume of samples ;
characterization Waste source categories : residential, mixed,
process is agricultural;
described for: Date of sampling
1.Waste III. Collect the bags from
generated in every barangay at an
Barangays
agreed time of the collection.
2. Waste
generated in
Public market IV. Deliver to sorting area;
the proper location as
3. Waste assigned for sorting area.
generated from
dumpsites/landf
ills
4. Residuals
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25. Methodology Only representative samples of mixed waste must be
sorted and weighed.
The number of samples, which
are sorted and characterized from
During the survey each ‘waste source’, should be The greater the number
period randomly take representative of the total volume of mixed waste samples
samples of mixed
of waste produced from each which are characterized,
‘waste source’. For example, if ten
the more accurate the
waste (>10kg) from bags of mixed waste arise from
the offices of an organisation per results will be. Attempt
each of the ‘waste day and only two bags of mixed to characterize as many
sources’. waste are produced from the
canteen then the sampling regime samples as time allows.
should reflect this ratio.
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26. Step Methodology
Two
Actual Weigh the waste samples from
Characterization each source;
of waste 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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27. What are Biodegrable wastes:
These are materials readily compostable
Agricultural Waste
Manures
Food
Plant stalks waste
Yard
Rice hulls and straws Wet paper
trimmings
and cartons
(leaves, twigs)
Corn stovers
Coconut husks
Sugar cane trash and Yard waste Vegetable
bagasse and fruits
Yard waste Agricultural
waste
Wet paper and
cartoons
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28. Non-biodegrable Materials, special wastes
Bottles, vials, Rubber, used
Metals, steel, and broken
copper, Plastics, tires gloves, Textile
glass PETS, PES boots and
aluminum, (including trimmings
iron, brass; thick PVCs mats and
cullets and sheets,
bubug)
Ashes and soots Household toxic and hazardous waste
Styrofoam
Spent fluorescent tubes and bulbs
Tattered textile
Spent dry and wet cell batteries
Paper and other packaging materials
Laminates and composite materials Expired drugs and chemicals;
Disposable diapers asbestos materials
Broken ceramics
Bulky waste, used furnitures, worn out appliances,
Glazed materials consumer electronics
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29. 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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30. Waste Characterization Form
Name of LGU as waste source
Barangay
Date of Sampling/characterization
Total volume of waste samples
Waste stream Initial weight Percentage Weight after Moisture
after sorting Volume of the ten (10) days content
(fresh) samples
Food waste
plastics
glass
metals
paper
Agricultural
/plant waste
Animal waste
Prepared by:
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31. For more information, please contact
RUTH P.BRIONES Rm. 401/411,Verde Oro Bldg. Commonwealth
Ave. Diliman, Quezon City. Phone Nos:+632
Chairman/CEO 456 2293/ +6324979452 /+63915 300 7363
Email: gsiwte@gmail.com
Greenergy Solutions Inc.
Website: www.greenergyph.com
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