Municipal waste WASTE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY Martin Kubal Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague

municipal waste - terminology Municipal solid waste, commonly known as trash or garbage (US), refuse or rubbish (UK) is a waste type consisting of everyday items we consume and discard. Municipal waste is made up of residual waste, bulky waste, secondary materials from separate collection (e.g., paper and glass), household hazardous waste, street sweepings and litter collections. It is made up of materials such as paper, cardboard, metals, textiles, organics (food and garden waste) and wood.

municipal waste - definitions The EU defines Municipal Solid Waste as waste from households, as well as other waste, which, because of its nature or composition, is similar to waste from households (EU Landfill Directive 99/31/EC). Czech Republic (Act No. 185/2001 Coll.): municipal waste means all waste generated in the territory of a municipality in connection with the activities of natural persons and which is stated to be municipal waste in an implementing legal regulation, with the exception of waste produced by legal entities or natural persons authorised to conduct business. The definition of municipal waste varies across the EU member states. Different countries include different elements. France, for example, includes sewage sludge in the definition. For all municipalities in Denmark (which does not specifically define municipal waste), all wastes are the responsibility of the municipality. Elsewhere, such as in Austria and Ireland, relatively large quantities of non-household waste are collected in the municipal fraction. The one thing common to all countries. definition of municipal waste is household waste. Concentrating on this fraction facilitates cross-country comparisons.

history of municipal waste production The amounts of municipal waste produced by human population were very small through most of the history. The production was kept low till 19. century. The composition of municipal waste was significantly changed within the last decades showing decreasing participation of ash. dustbin, garbage can, whellie can  in Czech = popelnice (ash container)

history of municipal waste production 520 kg Municipal waste generation and treatment in Europe (kg per capita), about 520 kg per capita since 2002 http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/

There have been significant changes in the composition of household waste over the last 100 years which can be traced back to fundamental social and economic shifts affecting the way we live our everyday lives, as is traced in the above chronology. Waste and Recycling: an exploration of contemporary environmental policy. Sources:Atkinson, W. and New, R. (1993) 

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/

Municipal waste treated in 2009 by country and treatment category, sorted by percentage http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/

municipal waste composition average within EU The average composition can widely vary from one country to another. http://www.eoearth.org

(Mixed) Municipal Solid Waste separable domestic hazardous waste residual fraction biodegradable recyclable glass (green – clear) plastics paper composite materials metals – aluminium

municipal waste – residual fraction landfill http://waterconsult.org

municipal waste – residual fraction landfill http://depos.cz/sekce-skladka

municipal waste – residual fraction incinerator http://www.mssch.cz/node/275

municipal waste domestic hazardous waste Safe disposal at the local waste and recycling center http://web.svitavy.cz

municipal waste separable fraction three separation systems Separation at the source and transport by municipal collection vehicles to the processing facility Drop off system Buy back system

secondary uses for separated glass - new glass production - special materials (foam glass) - sanitary ceramics - flux agent in bricks manufacture - water filtration media - abrasive difficult to consume all of the recycled glass today

secondary uses for separ. plastics - production of fibers and fabrics - containers - injection moulded components -building materials - packing materials - household products difficult to consume all of the recycled plastics today

secondary uses for separ. paper - production of new paper - packing materials - household products

metals recycling

Relative representation of municipal waste all the waste types generated in Europe agricultural waste 30 – 80% electrical and electronic waste 0.4 % mining waste 28 – 30 % construction and demolition waste 25 % hazardous waste 1 % industrial waste 2 % municipal waste 10 – 15 %

Important for exam Unit amounts (per person) of municipal waste produced in EU Typical composition of municipal waste in EU Main treatment processes for municipal waste in EU