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Potential use of existing materials in domestic solid waste. Case study: Chacao municipality - Miranda State, Venezuela

Abstract:

The residues in the Chacao municipality of Miranda state (Venezuela) were quantified and characterized, in order to reduce the lack of information to support decision making in tenus of recovery and recycling of materials in domestic solid waste. The sample size used for the study consisted of 52 households grouped by social strata: high (A), middle (B) and low (C), defined taking into account the characteristics of the material of construction of the house. The results indicate that the average rate of generation of solid waste in the sector under study is 605 g/person.d, varying with the social status of population. The values obtained for each status considered (A, B and C) were 855, 485 and 318 g/person.d, respectively. The potential recovery of wastes varies with socioeconomic status of the population obtaining. The contributions were 5.2, 6.4 and 0.6 t/d for A, B and C strata, respectively. At municipal level, these waste represent circa 12 t/d of which approximately 6.8 t/d are formed by dry recyclables with ample opportunities for reuse. The materials in the dry fraction, with greater potential for recovery, in descending order are: glass, newspapers, polyethylene terephthalate - PET, polyvinyl chloride - PVC, tinplate, tetrabrik, boxes, low density polyethylene - LDPE - high density polyethylene -HDPE, magazines, bond paper, cardboard duplex and aluminum.