title: Comparison of different collection systems for sorted household waste in Spain.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the different selective collection systems implemented in Spanish cities and to analyse the efficiency and extent to which the targets proposed by current law are met in each case. After defining the indicators to be used to quantify the efficiency of a selective collection system, a survey was designed to gather the information needed to calculate them. This survey was sent out to all Spanish cities with a population of over 50,000 inhabitants. Four different selective collection systems were also identified. For each of the four cases the indicators were calculated and analyzed to determine which one was the best system. The best values were obtained from the system with separation in five fractions: paper/cardboard, glass and lightweight packaging at drop-off points, organic waste and mixed waste in kerbside bins. Two regression models (linear and exponential) were developed in systems with enough data to explain and predict the variation in the amounts of materials that were separated correctly into containers, depending on the distance between containers and citizens. Nevertheless, the percentages of separation at source of paper/cardboard and lightweight packaging are still far from reaching the targets set by law.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universidad Jaume I, Av. Sos Baynat s/n, E-12071 Castellón, Spain. gallardo@emc.uji.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallardo
authors.forename: María D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bovea
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Colomer
authors.forename: Míriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prades
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carlos
mesh_terms: D006798:Housing; D016014:Linear Models; D059027:Recycling; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D014866:Waste Products