to read the full report - Ecolateral by Peter Jones

Evaluation of Opportunities for Converting Indigenous UK Wastes to Wastes and Energy
AEA/ED45551/Issue 1
4.1.2 Composition
As MSW comprises largely of household wastes, a considerable range of materials are included, for
example food waste, garden waste, plastics, metals and paper are commonly present. In addition
domestic hazardous and toxic waste may also be present, such as medication, paints, fluorescent tubes,
spray cans, and batteries to name only a few. Table 4 shows a detailed breakdown of constituent
materials, taken from a survey conducted in Wales, which could be considered typical of the UK. 19
Table 4 Composition of MSW
Waste Category Weight Weight
Suitable for thermal processes
(‘000 tonnes) (%)
Newspapers and magazines 147.3 9.0
Recyclable paper 34.0 2.1
Cardboard boxes/containers 84.4 5.1
Other paper and card 79.2 4.8
Refuse sacks and carrier bags 20.5 1.3
Packaging film 22.1 1.3
Other plastic film 3.0 0.2
Dense plastic bottles 27.1 1.7
Other packaging 24.3 1.5
Other dense plastic 22.2 1.3
Textiles 30.3 1.8
Shoes 5.9 0.4
Disposable nappies 37.7 2.3
Wood 46.3 2.8
Carpet and underlay 23.9 1.5
Furniture 24.3 1.5
Other miscellaneous combustibles 59.8 3.6
Total
Suitable for composting or thermal
692.3 42.2
Garden waste
Suitable for AD or composting
208.7 12.7
Kitchen waste 257.1 15.7
Other organics 34.3 2.1
Total
Not suitable for energy recovery
291.4 17.8
Packaging glass 87.0 5.3
Non-packaging glass 8.1 0.5
Ferrous food and beverage cans 27.8 1.7
Other ferrous metal 51.6 3.1
Non-ferrous food and beverage cans 5.6 0.3
Other non ferrous metal 7.7 0.5
White goods 13.9 0.8
Large electronic goods 3.1 0.2
TVs and monitors 4.8 0.3
Other WEEE 10.9 0.7
Lead/acid batteries 3.7 0.2
Oil 1.0 0.1
Identifiable clinical waste 2.7 0.2
Other potentially hazardous items 5.0 0.3
Construction and demolition waste 85.9 5.2
Other MNC 45.3 2.8
Fines 86.0 5.1
Total 450.1 27.3
As can be seen there are substantial quantities of material that are suitable for energy use either by
thermal processes or anaerobic digestion.
19 The composition of municipal solid waste in Wales. Report by AEA for the Welsh Assembly Government, December 2003.
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