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Development of sociodemographic indicators for modeling the household solid waste generation in guayaquil (Ecuador): Quantification, characterization and energy valorization

Abstract:

Like several other developing countries, Ecuador faces a significant challenge in managing the increasing quantity of Household Solid Waste due to its population growth, lifestyle improvement and many other factors. Nowadays, it is recognized that information on both quantity and composition is important for the effective managing of Household Solid Waste (HSW). Furthermore, the development of indicators may help identify influential parameters to better understand residents´ behaviors and possibly model future waste generation, which would help improve HSW’s planning and handling with better infrastructures. Modern municipal HSW facilities should target a circular economy model; therefore, it is necessary to privilege the number of valuable resources coming from the HSW then returning to the manufacturing processes. As part of the methodology applied to solve the presented problematic, it has been carried out a 14-day field exploration in 680 households from different neighborhoods in response to this situation. Waste was measured according to each neighborhood garbage truck schedule in four different zones of the city. Household waste consisted of organic waste, plastic, glass, metal, paper/cardboard, fabrics, dust/ashes, and other miscellaneous waste. The proportion of each waste was approximately 70%, 9%, 3%, 2%, 7%, 2%, 4%, and 2%, respectively. The relationship between daily per capita generation of household waste and socioeconomic factors, indicate that household size, income, social stratification and level of education show a positive relationship with household waste generation (kg/capita/day).