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18-Env-A6 Solid Waste Engineering and Management · December 2014

Question 6 of 29: Determining MSW Composition in the Field

Nivaar worked solution (AI-drafted; not reviewed by a licensed engineer)

Notes on this paper

National Examination, December 2014 — 04-Env-A6 / 18-Env-A6, Solid Waste Engineering and Management. 3 hours duration, closed book, one non-communicating calculator, one letter-sized aid sheet (both sides) permitted. All 29 questions constitute a complete paper (100 marks total).

Reference texts: Tchobanoglous, Theisen & Vigil, Integrated Solid Waste Management: Engineering Principles and Management Issues; Vesilind, Worrell & Reinhart, Solid Waste Engineering; Davis & Cornwell, Introduction to Environmental Engineering (6th ed.); CCME, Guidance Document on Landfill Gas Management; Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

Note on source parsing

This paper prints marks IN FRONT of the question number on every line (e.g. "5 1. What are the elements…", "4 16. All 29 questions are answered in full.

Question 6: Determining MSW Composition in the Field (3 marks)

Question text not reproduced: the examination questions are © Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Open the official past paper (linked at the top of this page) to read the question, then follow the worked solution below.

Composition is determined by a field sort/characterization study: representative loads are selected across collection routes, seasons and source types (residential, commercial, ICI), delivered to a sorting station, and a sample of approximately 90–135 kg is randomly quartered from each load (following a protocol such as ASTM D5231). The sample is then manually sorted by hand into standard material categories (paper, plastics, glass, metals, organics/food waste, yard waste, textiles, other), each category is weighed, and the mass fractions are tabulated as percent by weight. The process is repeated over multiple sampling events across at least one full year to capture seasonal variation (e.g., higher yard-waste fraction in summer/fall) before results are statistically averaged.