Rapid Method for Estimating Solid Wastes Generation Rate in Developing Countries

Abstract

A rapid method for estimating the solid waste generation rate was developed and evaluated by determining the number, sizes and volumes of solid waste collection systems. For the major types of containers, a total of 480 readings at 148 locations were taken to determine the average number of days required to fill a container. The product of the determined total number of containers, their volumes, and the average density of the solid waste, divided by the product of the determined average number of days required to fill a container and the population of the study area, gave the per capita generation rate. Using this method, the generation rate in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, was 0.22 kg per person per day while the traditional, time consuming, house-to-house, volume-weight analysis methods gave 0.19 kg per person per day.

Keywords

Rapid estimation solid waste per capita generation rate Port Harcourt Nigeria.

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