title: Seasonal analysis of the generation and composition of solid waste: potential use--a case study.
abstract: Ensenada health officials lack pertinent information on the sustainable management of solid waste, as do health officials from other developing countries. The aims of this research are: (a) to quantify and analyze the household solid wastes generated in the city of Ensenada, Mexico, and (b) to project biogas production and estimate generation of electrical energy. The characterization study was conducted by socioeconomic stratification in two seasonal periods, and the biogas and electrical energy projections were performed using the version 2.0 Mexico Biogas Model. Per capita solid waste generation was 0.779 ± 0.019 kg per person per day within a 98 % confidence interval. Waste composition is composed mainly of food scraps at 36.25 %, followed by paper and cardboard at 21.85 %, plastic at 12.30 %, disposable diapers at 6.26 %, and textiles at 6.28 %. The maximum capacity for power generation is projected to be 1.90 MW in 2019. Waste generated could be used as an intermediate in different processes such as recycling (41.04 %) and energy recovery (46.63 %). The electrical energy that could be obtained using the biogas generated at the Ensenada sanitary landfill would provide roughly 60 % of the energy needed for street lighting.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Calzada Universitaria S/N Delegación Mesa de Otay, CP 22390 Tijuana, BC, Mexico. qaguilarv@gmail.com
authors.forename: Quetzalli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Virgen
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taboada-González
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ojeda-Benítez
mesh_terms: D008800:Mexico; D011210:Power Plants; D059027:Recycling; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012621:Seasons; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D062611:Solid Waste