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Composition of public waste - a case study from Austria
Veronika Kladnik1, Sabine Dworak1, Therese Schwarzböck1
1Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien), Karlsplatz 13/226, 1040 Vienna, Austria.
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|February 26, 2024
Summary
Public waste from streets and parks is an unexploited resource. This study found 52% recyclables in public waste, highlighting potential for improved waste management and recycling programs.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Waste Management
- Urban Planning
Background:
- Public spaces generate a significant, yet understudied, waste stream.
- Limited data exists on the quantity and composition of waste from public areas like parks and sidewalks.
- Effective waste management planning requires detailed characterization of this waste flow.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the quality and quantity of public waste in a medium-sized Austrian town.
- To conduct a detailed waste characterization campaign for public waste.
- To provide a data foundation for resource potential evaluation and waste management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a comprehensive sampling campaign across an entire town (25,000 inhabitants).
- Sorted nearly 1000 kg of waste into up to 88 distinct fractions.
- Analyzed the composition, focusing on packaging waste and single-use plastics.
Main Results:
- Public waste constitutes approximately 2.6% of total municipal solid waste, averaging 4.1 kg per inhabitant annually.
- A substantial 52% of public waste comprises recyclable materials (glass, metal, paper, lightweight packaging).
- Packaging waste forms 44% of the total, with dog feces (18%) and biogenic waste (17%) also being significant components.
Conclusions:
- Public waste contains a high proportion of valuable recyclable materials, indicating significant untapped resource potential.
- Current collection methods, primarily as mixed waste, result in the loss of recyclables.
- The findings provide crucial data for policymakers and local authorities to develop targeted strategies for public space waste management and recycling.
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