18-Env-A6 Solid Waste Engineering and Management · December 2017
Nivaar worked solution (AI-drafted; not reviewed by a licensed engineer)
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.); Freeze & Cherry, Groundwater; CCME, Guidance Document on Landfill Gas Management; Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
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.
The moisture content of municipal solid waste depends primarily on waste composition — the proportion of inherently high-moisture components (food waste, yard/garden waste) versus low-moisture components (paper, plastics, dry recyclables) sets the baseline; climate and season — precipitation, ambient humidity and temperature affect both the as-generated moisture of organic fractions and how much external moisture (rain) is absorbed before collection; and collection and storage practices — the length of time waste sits exposed at the curb or in an uncovered container, and whether storage containers are covered, determines how much additional moisture is absorbed beyond the waste's inherent content. Geographic/regional differences in diet and yard-waste generation also shift the underlying composition and, with it, the moisture content.
