Household solid waste generation and composition in different family size and socio-economic groups: A case study

The household waste (HW) constitutes an important fraction in municipal solid waste (MSW). The composition of HW is an important factor in designing an effective solid waste management plan for a city. The aim of this study was to estimate the quantity and quality of HW in terms of socio-economic groups and family size in the Dehradun city, India. A total of 144 households were selected from 11 major blocks of the city and HW quantification and characterization were analysed for different blocks/colonies. The HW generation rates in the city ranged from 24.5 to 4147.1 g/day. The average HW quantity in households was estimated: 267.17 g/day (SD = 38.13, n = 144). The food/kitchen waste was the major constituent (≥80% of total weight) of HW in city the followed by polythene and plastic (≈7%), paper (≈6%), cardboard (≈2%), glass/ceramic scrap (≈1%) and other miscellaneous items (e.g. cloths, silt, dirt, rubber; all ≈4%). The HW quantity and composition varied significantly among different socio-economic groups in the city. The maximum HW generation rate was in higher- followed by middle- and lower-income group. The HW generation showed positive correlation with family size (rxy = 0.348, p < 0.01). On the basis of obtained data sets, it is concluded that HW can be a potential resource for energy and manure production if proper waste management system is designed for the city.