Abstract
Waste statistics is a broad term describing multiple categories of refusals and waste. These can include: liquid sewage, wet organic waste, dry municipal waste, hazardous material, pesticides, toxic chemicals, medical waste, nuclear waste, sludge containing heavy metals, metals, iron, car scrapes and more. In many countries, especially developing countries (with new industrial centres), no organised reporting system of waste quantities is available.
The aim of this review is to show how quantifying waste material might be attempted even when data from well-planned data collections is not available. In such cases, information can be collected by Indirect Methods. This system, even though it is not a perfect data collection system, utilizes waste indicators that reflect waste production.
Examples of using recycling data, lawsuit information, data on municipal and hazardous waste and others as indirect data are described. We suggest indicators for various waste categories even though the source of information is indirect.
Advantages and disadvantages of utilizing this method are discussed. The manner in which “Indirect Data” (imperfect data) is currently obtained is an inexpensive way to roughly assess the situation. The estimates may lack reliability and should be evaluated critically: If available data on the indicator variables is inaccurate, indicators will be poor predictors of waste quantity and trends. Furthermore, indirect data does not make it possible to calculate an error term.
The conclusion from this report is that governments should attempt to ensure sampling surveys for the different waste sectors. If such information is lacking, indirect data can be used for statistical analysis, providing estimates. Such information is important for efficient waste management. This knowledge will further assist in attempts to protect the environment from the destruction of natural resources by waste material.
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