Standardization of Sampling Method for Physical Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste

Abstract

The physical characterization of the municipal solid waste (MSW) was carried out by hand sorting and the individual components were identified as food wastes, paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, metals, rags, rubber, leather, plant residues, wood wastes, miscellaneous organics, construction wastes, ash and dirt. The procedure for standardization of the minimum sampling size of the MSW was carried out by the reducing square method. Only the 6 $^{th}$ level of gradation, i.e., approximately 40.625 kg of MSW, contained all the representative components. Based on the mean deviation percentage of all the physical components between two squares, minimum acceptable sample size was standardized as 81.25 kg of well mixed municipal solid waste for physical characterization.