WASTE ANALYSIS AND

CHARACTERIZATION STUDY
(WACS)
• The process of gathering information on the
quantity, composition, and type /kind of solid
wastes generated from various sources.
• Quantity- tons per day, cubic meters per day,
cubic meters per day, kilograms per
household;
• Composition – biodegradable, recyclable,
residual waste, & special waste;
• Type/Kind- kitchen waste, yard waste, paper,
bottles, inert, etc.
• An ISWM plan should be based on good information.
Waste characterization data will be useful in:
- Defining how much the LGU will have to allocate

for its ESWM Program;

- Setting targets (e.g., by how much should the LGU

reduce its waste disposed?)

- Developing SWM strategies (e.g., what IEC

strategy will be effective?)

- Designing SWM facilities (e.g., what should be the

capacity of the MRF or disposal facility?)

 It will provide baseline information for LGUs to monitor
and evaluate its SWM performance in:

- Reducing waste generation

- Waste Diversion requirements of the Law (recyclables/
compostable from waste disposal facility)
STAGES IN WASTE ANALYSIS
& CHARACTERIZATION
STUDY (WACS)
a. Preparation and training

b. 3-day waste characterization

c. Data consolidation and analysis

 1
ID of waste sources
 Residential
 Public markets
 Food establishments
 Institutions
 General merchandise/
Stores
 Malls
 Industrial establishments
 Slaughterhouse
2  Inventory of all
establishments/
institutions located in the
municipality/ city (Non
Households sources?;
 stratify by type and size;
choose sample from list
Inventory of Solid Waste Sources

Refer to work sheet 1 and 2

3
FOR HOUSEHOLD SAMPLE
IDENTIFICATION
 Determine total population of LGU using NSO

4
Census 2007
Secure number and list of households in all
barangays, classified into rural and urban
• Determine Total HHs Sample Size for the whole
LGU by Urban and Rural Brgys using Slovins’
Formula;
• Determine or Distribute LGU samples by Brgy;
• Randomly select sample from list of households
(systematic random sampling)
• OR group households by income level
• (High,Medium, Low)
4
•Procure the required materials
(material for 1 cubic meter box,
plastic pails, rake, garden forks,
garden trowel, plastic liners,
garbage bags, weighing scales,
gloves and nose masks, first aid
kit)

•Be familiar with the use of

weighing scale

•Calibrate the volume of plastic

pails, and get their empty weights
5 Identify suitable site
for doing waste
characterization – not
enclosed, preferably
with roofed area;
accessible to
vehicles; with
sufficient drying area
 ●Train TWG on waste characterization

6 ●Assign tasks to TWG members (overall supervision,

recording, collection of sample, weighing, disposal, data
quality control & management, first aide, logistics)
●Hire and orient sorters
 7
●Prepare the
sampling collection
plan (route of
collection)

●Provide for drinking water

and food for those who will
be involved
●Provide for
emergencies and
injuries
 ●Secure letter from Mayor

8 ●Prepare worksheets sheets

for sample establishment/ and
household data entry

●Prepare forms

● Prepare tags for garbage bags

1
● Distribute plastic bags to sample establishments/ households, with letter and
instructions (survey questionnaires for SW practices are also distributed at this
time).

– 2 bags per sample

unit; clearly marked
(nabubulok at di
nabubulok)
– Survey
questionnaire for
practices
2
For three
consecutive days,
collect the bags
from
establishments/
institutions/
households.
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,
special wastes

 Biodegradables (e.g., food

waste, garden wastes)
 Recyclables (e.g., metals, glass,
thick plastics, cartons, papers)
 Residual waste (e.g., grits, dirt,
dirty material)
 Special wastes (e.g., household
chemical wastes, batteries,
flourescent tubes, residual
paints, and containers )
6
Place segregated
wastes in containers
(e.g., plastic pails)
and weigh; record
weight and volume
7 Before disposal, mixed
thoroughly all
characterized waste by
source or randomly
collect 1 cu.m. sample
out of the
characterized waste by
source then weigh and
record volume then
characterized again by
type to have baseline
data if measurement is
to be done by volume.
8
Dispose properly
all materials used
in the
characterization.
● Quality control of data

● Data entry into the computer program using

Microsoft Office Excel

● Data analysis. Information to be generated:

 Estimate of total waste generation for the

different samples by source;

 Estimate of total waste generation for the

whole LGU
 Average waste generation per day by source;

 Derive average weight and volume of all

segregated waste by source and composition

Data analysis. Information to be generated:
(Continued)
• Average weight and volume of waste generated
per day per household
• Average weight and volume of total and
segregated waste brought to disposal facility per
day
• Estimated % of waste diverted from disposal
facility, total and segregated
• Estimate of baseline information on waste
generation, diversion, and disposal
 CALCULATION OF SAMPLE
Residential Source:
SIZE
Slovin’s Formula:
n = N/1 + N e (square)
 Where: n = Sample population
 N = True population = 31,000 HH
 e = Allowable error (%)= 5%
Example: n= 31,000
1 + 31,000(.05)2
= 31,000
78.5
n= 395
Distribute n by Barangay
Barangay n = Total HHs by Brgy x n
Total HHs in the LGU
Distribute the sample among various strata

PRESENT SAMPLE TABLE

 Calculation of Sample Size
Institutions and Commercial Establishments

 After completion of the Inventory of all non-

household sources within the LGU, stratify according to
size like Small, Medium & Large (S,M,L) then get 10% of
each as your sample source for WACS;
Data analysis and Computation
 To estimate waste generation of all commercial
establishments and institutions from the sample, Expansion
Factors (EF) will be used for groups of establishments and
institutions of the same size.
Formula: EF=No.of Estab. in group (store, schools,
offices,etc) per brgy /(divided) No. of samples
representing the group. Each sample waste generation is
then multiplied by the EF, the sum of the products is the
estimated waste generation of the establishments or
institutions.
NON-HOUSEHOLDS
EF =15 / 2 = 7.5
Sample 1 : 5 x 7.5 = 37.5 kilos
Sample 2 : 7 x 7.5 = 52.5 kilos
90 kilos(Total Waste Gen.of estab.
Schools/institutions in a group)
RESIDENTIAL- TOTAL 396
1 brgy-35/15=2.3
Sampl;e 1 to 15 : 2 kls each x 2.3=4.6 x 15= 69 kls.