A Critical Look at Waste Composition Analyses: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

This paper presents regression analysis results on time series data of waste composition analyses from a municipal waste company in Norway, with a discussion on methodological challenges. The aim is to investigate what affects municipal solid waste (MSW) source-sorting results, to facilitate achieving circular economy targets. The share of four MSW fractions in the mixed waste bin are studied considering five independent variables: Collection/sorting systems for food waste, glass and metal packaging waste, and mixed waste; year of analysis, and pre/post covid-19. We find that only the source sorting systems have significant impacts on the waste composition, and that user-friendliness matters. We recommend more in-depth studies to increase data quality to better utilise the potential of waste composition analyses for a more circular waste system. © 2023 Elsevier B.V. Author keywords circular economy; Municipal solid waste; regression analysis; sorting behaviour; waste management