Model of municipal solid waste source separation activity: a case study of Beijing

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Waste Management
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Beijing faces significant challenges managing municipal solid waste (MSW), characterized by a high proportion of food waste.
• Source separation is a recognized strategy for waste reduction and recycling enhancement.
• Quantifying the mechanisms driving source separation activity remains under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mathematical model of source separation activity (MSSA) for municipal solid waste.
• To correlate the source separation ratio with key influencing parameters.
• To analyze the dynamics of source separation behavior in different settings.

Main Methods:

• Development of a two-equation MSSA, addressing behavior generation and stability stages.
• Data collection through a one-year investigation and questionnaire across 128 MSW clusters in Beijing.
• Calculation of source separation ratios for residential communities, office buildings, and schools.

Main Results:

• Office buildings demonstrated an initial separation ratio of 80% and a stable ratio of 65.86%.
• Residential communities and primary/middle schools did not achieve a stable separation ratio.
• The MSSA model exhibited two distinct curve shapes, with internal motivations and transportation ratio identified as critical factors.

Conclusions:

• The developed MSSA provides a quantifiable framework for understanding source separation dynamics.
• Internal motivations and efficient separation transportation are crucial for sustained waste separation.
• The model is adaptable for application in other urban environments globally.