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Waste characterization as an element of waste management planning: Lessons learned from a study in Siem Reap, Cambodia

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  • Parizeau, Kate
  • Maclaren, Virginia
  • Chanthy, Lay

Abstract

Community-based waste management (CBWM) is an alternative waste management strategy for communities where municipal governments are not providing waste collection services. In order to assess the feasibility of introducing CBWM to an unserviced community in Siem Reap, Cambodia, we undertook a waste characterization study and household survey in the summer of 2004. In the waste characterization study, we found that waste generation per capita was low (0.34kg per capita per day, on average) compared to communities in other developing countries. We did not find a statistically significant relationship between household waste production and either income or expenditures. We observed that the waste stream in the study area was mostly organic in nature (66% by weight) and contained few recyclable materials (5% by weight). Our results illustrate the importance of a waste characterization study for assessing how many collection vehicles will be needed for a CBWM program, whether composting is a feasible option, whether recovery of recyclables will be a significant income source for the program, and whether social programming is needed to change household awareness and waste behaviours. We found that the household survey results on household attitudes and membership were a valuable complement to the waste characterization study, as they provided us with information about household size (and therefore allowed us to calculate per capita waste generation), the local residents’ willingness to separate waste streams at the source, and residents’ willingness to participate in and pay for CBWM services. We conclude that the waste characterization study and the household survey together are important tools for planning a CBWM program.

Suggested Citation

  • Parizeau, Kate & Maclaren, Virginia & Chanthy, Lay, 2006. "Waste characterization as an element of waste management planning: Lessons learned from a study in Siem Reap, Cambodia," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 49(2), pages 110-128.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:49:y:2006:i:2:p:110-128
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2006.03.006
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Smyth, Danielle P. & Fredeen, Arthur L. & Booth, Annie L., 2010. "Reducing solid waste in higher education: The first step towards ‘greening’ a university campus," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(11), pages 1007-1016.
    2. Benele K. Magagula & Isaac T. Rampedi & Kowiyou Yessoufou, 2022. "Household Pharmaceutical Waste Management Practices in the Johannesburg Area, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Chaojie Yu & Junqing Xu & Aihua Zhao & Peiyuan Xiao & Jun Tai & Zhujie Bi & Guangming Li, 2022. "The Generation and Effects for Recyclable Waste from Households in a Megapolis: A Case Study in Shanghai," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-14, June.
    4. Sekito, T. & Prayogo, T.B. & Dote, Y. & Yoshitake, T. & Bagus, I., 2013. "Influence of a community-based waste management system on people's behavior and waste reduction," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 84-90.
    5. Ojeda-Benítez, Sara & Vega, Carolina Armijo-de & Marquez-Montenegro, Ma Ysabel, 2008. "Household solid waste characterization by family socioeconomic profile as unit of analysis," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(7), pages 992-999.
    6. Ngonidzashe Chirinda & Mohamed Louay Metougui & Mohamed El Gharous, 2023. "Insights on Harnessing Domestic Biowaste for Greening the Green City of Benguerir in Morocco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-5, January.
    7. Philippe, Féniel & Culot, Marc, 2009. "Household solid waste generation and characteristics in Cape Haitian city, Republic of Haiti," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 73-78.

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