Skip to main content

The effects of socioeconomic parameters on household solid-waste generation and composition in developing countries (a case study: Ahvaz, Iran)

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 184, pages 1841–1846 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Environment problems associated with the generation of waste are part of societal changes where households play an important role. These societal changes influence the size, structure and characteristic of given households. For the effective planning of solid-waste handling infrastructure, it is essential to know the quantity of waste generation and its composition. This paper presents the findings of a study carried out in an urban municipal area in Iran to determine the household solid-waste generation rate and waste composition based on field surveys and to determine the related socioeconomic parameters. The dependent variables were waste generation and composition, and independent variables were family size, family employment, age, number of room and education. Over 400 sample households were selected for the study using a stratified random sampling methodology and from five different socioeconomic groups. Waste collected from all groups of households were segregated and weighted. Waste generation rate was 5.4 kg/household/day. Household solid waste comprised of ten categories of wastes and with the largest component (76.9%). The generation and composition of household solid waste were correlated with family size, education level and households income. This paper adequately suggests new insights concerning the role of socioeconomic parameters in affecting the generation of household waste.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Al-Khatib, I. A., Monou, M., Abu Zahra, A. S. F., Shaheen, H. Q., & Kassinos, D. (2010). Solid waste characterization, quantification and management practices in developing countries. A case study: Nablus district e Palestine. Journal of Environmental Management, 91, 1131–1138.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Badruddin, M., Othman, F., Hashim, N., & Ali, N. C. (2002). The role of socio-economic and cultural factors in municipal solid waste generation: A case study in Taman Perling Johor Bahru. Journal of Technology, 37, 55–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandara, N. J., Hettiaratchi, J. P., Wirasinghe, S. C., & Pilapiiya, S. (2007). Relation of waste generation and composition to socio-economic factors: A case study. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 135, 31–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruvoll, A. (2001). Factors influent a solid waste generation and management. Journal of Solid Waste Technology and Management, 27, 156–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buenrostro, O., & Bocco, G. (2003). Solid waste management in municipalities. In Mexico: Goals and perspectives. Resources Conservation and Recycling, 39, 251–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burnley, S. J. (2007). A review of municipal solid waste composition in the United Kingdom. Waste Management, 27, 1274–1285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Congress of the United States (1989). Office of technology Assessment.

  • Dennison, G. J., Dodd V. A., & Whelan, B. A. (1996). Socioeconomic based survey of household waste characteristics in the city of Dublin Ireland. I. Waste composition. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 17, 227–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gidarakos, E., Havas, G., & Ntzamilis, P. (2006). Municipal solid waste composition determination supporting the integrated solid waste management system in the island of Crete. Waste management, 26, 668–679.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez, G., Menesesa, M., Ballinas, L., & Castells, F. (2008). Characterization of urban solid waste in Chihuahua, Mexico. Waste Management, 28, 2465–2471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marquez, M. Y., Ojeda, S., & Hidalgo, H. (2008). Identification of behavior patterns in household solid-waste generation in Mexicali’s city: Study case. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 52, 1299–1306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nas, S. S., & Bayram, A. (2008). Municipal solid waste characteristics and management in Gümüşhane, Turkey. Waste management, 28, 2435–2442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ojeda-Benitez, S., Vega, C. A., & Marquez-Montenegro, M. Y. (2008). Household solid waste characterization by family socioeconomic profile as unit of analysis. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 52, 992–999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Philippe, F., & Culot, M. (2009). Household solid-waste generation and characteristics in Cape Haitian city, Republic of Haiti. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 54, 73–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pokhrel, D., & Viraraghavan, T. (2005). Municipal solid waste management in Nepal: practices and challenges. Waste Management, 25, 555–562.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qu, X., Li, Z., Xie, X., Sui, Y., Yang, L., & Chen, Y. (2009). Survey of composition and generation rate of household wastes in Beijing, China. Waste Management, 29, 2618–2624.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saeed, M. O., Hassan, M. N., & Mujeebu, M. A. (2009). Assessment of municipal solid-waste generation and recyclable materials potential in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Waste Management, 29, 2209–2213.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sujauddin, M., Huda, S. M. S., & Rafiqul Hoque, A. T. M. (2008). Household solid waste characteristics and management in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Waste Management, 28, 1688–1695.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tchobanoglous, G., Theisen, H., & Vigil, S. (1993). Integrated solid waste management. New York:McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thanh, N. P., Matsui Y., & Fujiwara T. (2010). Household solid-waste generation and characteristic in a Mekong Delta city Vietnam. Journal of Environmental Management, 91, 2307–2321.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vesilind, P. A., Worrell, W., & Reinhart, D. (2002). Solid Waste Engineering. USA: Books/Cole Thomson Learning, Pacific Grove.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, W., & Wu, Y. (2001). Succession of contemporary city waste policy and necessity of greeting the waste industry. Ecological Economy, 10, 34–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yousuf, T. B., & Rahman, M. (2007). Monitoring quantity and characteristics of municipal solid waste in Dhaka City. Environmental Monitoring Assessment, 135, 3–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Masoud Monavari, Ghasem Ali Omrani & Farzaneh Fakheri Raof

  2. Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Abdolreza Karbassi

  3. Dummy, Unit 2, No. 149.1, 3rd faz, 11th West Kianpars Avenue, 6156653111, Ahvaz, Iran

    Farzaneh Fakheri Raof

Authors
  1. Seyed Masoud Monavari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ghasem Ali Omrani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abdolreza Karbassi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Farzaneh Fakheri Raof
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Farzaneh Fakheri Raof.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Monavari, S.M., Omrani, G.A., Karbassi, A. et al. The effects of socioeconomic parameters on household solid-waste generation and composition in developing countries (a case study: Ahvaz, Iran). Environ Monit Assess 184, 1841–1846 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2082-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2082-y

Keywords

  • Household solid waste
  • Socioeconomic parameters
  • Household waste generation
  • Solid-waste Composition