Week 1

Waste Characterization

1. Materials needed are hand gloves, boots, a garbage bag, a plastic sheet,
and a weighing scale.
2. Office Assignment as waste sources:
a. Admin building (all offices) =8
b. Extension Office =1
c. Climate Change Center =1
d. DBOA/DCOS/QA =2
e. Guard house =1
f. Guidance/Clinic =2
g. CANR =1
h. CTE = 3
i. HSMIT = 2
j. CAdS =1
k. Library and Computer Lab = 2
l. Research =1
m. SAO =1
=26 Offices

3. What is Waste Characterization?

a. What is the importance of waste characterization?
b. Main features of the Waste characterization process.
i. Preparation
1. Inventory of the office
a. Size
b. No. of personnel
c. Availability of trash bins (no. of trashbin, with
label, segregated)
ii. Collection of waste within 7 days.
1. Identify a suitable site for doing waste
characterization – not enclosed, preferably with a
roofed area, accessible to vehicles, and with sufficient
drying area.
2. Lay out waste characterization area (from entry path
to sorting & drying area) or collection plan or route of
collection.
iii. Seven-day characterization
1. Prepare forms for data
2. Prepare tags for garbage bags.

iv. Data collection and Analysis

Procedure for Data Collection:
Step 1:
a. Measure and record the weight of the sampling container Small ___kg
Medium __kg
Weight of Sampling Container. Large ___kg
b. Measure and record the volume of the sampling container
Small ___m3
(1cubic meter = 1000 liters) Medium__m 3
Volume of the Sampling Container Large ___ m3
Step 2:
a. Measure and record the gross weight of the sample materials
including the container. Weight
b. Calculate the net weight by deducting the weight of the Volume
container.

Total Weight of Solid Waste Sample: Weight

Step 3:
a. Sort the sample into compostable, recyclable/reusable,
special wastes, and residuals Weight
b. Weigh the sorted materials, record weight, kg and volume, m 3
- Biodegradables (Compostable) Sub-total
- Non-biodegradable Sub-total
- Recyclable/Reusable Sub-total
Plastics
Dry paper and cartons
Metals (Steel, copper, aluminum, brass)
Glass, Bottles, Vials (including “bubog”)
Rubber, leather and usable textile
Others
- Residuals (unusable textile, papers, cartons, composites Sub-total
- Special Wastes: Sub-total
Batteries, (wet and dry cell)
Fluorescent Tubes
Chemical containers
Spent Chemicals/Drugs
Appliances
Others
Step 4:
a. Air dry the sorted samples for at least 4-6 hours
b. Re-weigh each sorted sample after 4-6 hrs and record in 2nd
column as Dry Weight
Seven-day waste characterization:
1. Distributions of plastic bags to the assigned offices with the waste
characterization form. (paghatag sa mga plastic bags sa mga panimalay
kauban sa forms)
Note:1 ka plastic bag kada adlaw; ihalo lang
2. For seven consecutive days, collect the bags from the assigned offices.
3. Deliver to sorting area; place in proper location per lay-out of sorting area.
4. Weigh both bags (nabubulok at di nabubulok), record weight on field data
entry form.
5. Open bags and sort waste into biodegradables, recyclables, residual
waste, and special wastes.
a. Biodegradable (e.g.,food waste, garden wastes)
b. Recyclables (e.g., metals, glass, thick plastics, cartons, papers)
c. Residual waste (e.g., grits, dirt, dirty materials)
d. Special wastes (e.g., household chemical wastes, batteries,
fluorescent tubes, residual paints, and containers)
6. Place segregated wastes in containers (e.g., plastic pails) and weight and
volume.
7. Spread segregated wastes in a plastic sheet and dry under the sun 4-6
hours.
8. Place dried materials in containers and weigh; record weight and volume.
9. Dispose properly of all materials used in the characterization.

Expected output:
1. Technical Report with Action Plan per student.