Abstract

CASTILLO-GONZALEZ, Eduardo  and  DE MEDINA-SALAS, Lorena. The generation and composition of domestic solid waste in small urban localities in the State of Veracruz, Mexico. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2014, vol.30, n.1, pp.81-90. ISSN 0188-4999.

In Mexico, there have been studies about the generation and composition of household solid waste (HSW), however they have not been specific for small urban localities. For proper management of HSW that enable municipalities to develop strategic planning is important to have reliable data. This study was aimed at determining per capita generation and composition of HSW generated in a small urban locality in the state of Veracruz during the winter season. In order to do this, houses were selected and stratified into three socio economical levels: residential, average and popular. Direct sampling was done for a seven day period, during which per capita generation and composition of HSW was monitored. The results revealed a significant statistical difference, with a confidence of 95 %, between the average per capita generation found in the location of study, compared to values set by the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) for small urban localities. However, the values for the composition of HSW were very similar to those reported as nationwide averages for organic matter, potentially recyclable products and unusable waste. In terms of potentially recyclable products, the study found that there was a greater generation of plastics than of glass.

Keywords : household solid waste; generation; composition; per capita generation; small urban localities.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )