Density
Example 1
During a sampling event at tipping floor of a MRF , MSW is found to contain the following
components:
Component Density(kg/m3) Amount in sampled
waste (% by Wt)
Food waste 290 22
Mixed plastics 60 12
Glass 200 8
Ferrous and aluminium 200 12
Textiles 60 5
Dust, dirt 500 28
What is the average density of this solid waste mixture?
Average density = (0.22) (290) + (0.12)(60) +(0.08)(200)+(0.12)(200)+(0.05)(60)+(0.28)(500)
= 254 kg/m3 #
Comment: Efficient landfill volume is important in landfill management. With the knowledge of the
compacted density, the volume of land required at a landfill can be calculated.
The density can be calculated as-compacted or as-discarded basis. The compaction ratio r is defined
as the ratio of the as-compacted density, ρc to the as-discarded density ρd
r = ρc / ρd
Density and moisture content of MSW
Waste source Waste composition Density(kg/m3) Moisture
content(%byWt)
Domestic Food 290 70
Paper products 70 5
Plastic 60 2
Glass 200 2
Metals 200 2
Clothing and textiles 60 10
Ashes, dust 500 8
Municipal Uncompacted 60-120 20
Baled waste 470-900 -
Compacted in 300-400 20
collection truck
Compacted in landfill 300-890 25
Source: Vesilind(1998).Environmental [Link], Boston, Elsevier Publishing
A final disposal compaction ratio is calculated for landfills, and a compactor machine ratio is used for
equipment such as a baler, which is used to increase MSW density prior to disposal. A common
compaction ration for a compactor machine may range from 2 to 4.
If materials having different densities are expressed in terms of their weight fraction, the equation
for calculating the overall bulk density is:
(𝑀𝑎 + 𝑀𝑏 )
= 𝜌(𝑎+𝑏)
𝑀𝑎 ⁄𝑃𝑎 + 𝑀𝑏 ⁄𝑃𝑏
Ma – mass of A, Mb – mass of B, ρa – bulk density of A , ρb– bulk density of B. When more than 2
materials to be considered, the above equation is extended.
The degree of volume reduction that occurs as a result of waste compaction, whether in a baler or
landfill, is an important design variable. Waste volume reduction is calculated by the equation
(Vesilind et al.,2002).
𝑉𝑐 ⁄𝑉𝑜 = 𝐹
F is the fraction remaining of initial volume as a result of compaction, Vo the initial volume and Vc
the compacted volume.
Example 2:
For the following waste mixture
Component % by Wt Uncompacted bulk density
(kg/m3)
Corrugated cardboard 25 30
Paper products 15 61
Aluminium 9 38
Food waste 29 368
Yard waste 22 7.1
a) What is the bulk density for the waste mixture prior to compaction? Assume that the
compaction in the landfill cell is 500kg/m3.
(25 + 15 + 9 + 29 + 22)
= 22.2 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
35⁄30 + 15⁄61 + 9⁄38 + 29⁄368 + 22⁄7.1
b) Estimate the volume reduction (expressed as %), during compaction in the landfill.
Percent volume reduction resulting from compaction:
22.2⁄500 = 0.04 𝑜𝑟 4%
In other words, the landfill volume required is 4% of that required without compaction.
c) If the food and yard waste is diverted for composting, what is the uncompacted bulk density
of the remaining waste?
When food waste and yard waste is removed, uncompacted bulk density is
(9 + 29 + 22) 𝑘𝑔
= 29.2 ⁄𝑚 3
9⁄38 + 29⁄368 + 22⁄7.1
MOISTURE CONTENT
Example 3
Using data for a MSW sample provided below, determine the average moisture content of the
sample. Base on your calculations on a 100 kg sample size.
Composition Moisture content (%) Wt(%) Discarded Weight(kg)
Paper waste 7 25 25
Yard waste 55 18 18
Food waste 65 20 20
Plastic 2 5 5
Wood 20 8 8
Glass 3 7 7
Metals 3 9 9
Textiles 12 8 8
Total 100
Moisture content of MSW:
(𝑤 − 𝑑)
𝑀= 𝑥 100
𝑤
M- moisture content ,%
w- initial weight of sample as delivered, kg
d – dry weight of sample , kg
The dry weight of each MSW composition is calculated using the equation
𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = [(𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)(100 − %𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 ) ]/100
Composition Moisture content (%) Wt(%) Moist Weight(kg) Dry weight(kg)
Paper waste 7 25 25 (1.0-0.07)(25)=23.25
Yard waste 55 18 18 (1.0-0.55)(18)=8.10
Food waste 65 20 20 (1.0-0.65)(20)=7.00
Plastic 2 5 5 (1.0-0.02)(5)=4.9
Wood 20 8 8 (1.0-0.2)(8)=6.4
Glass 3 7 7 (1.0-0.03)(7)=6.79
Metals 3 9 9 (1.0-0.03)(9)=8.73
Textiles 12 8 8 (1.0-0.12)(8)=7.04
Total 100 72.21
Totalling the values in the final column, the average percent moisture content of the MSW is equal
to [(100-72)/100](100%)=28%#
PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION
The size of a waste component may be calculated by any of the following equation:
𝐷=𝑙
𝐷 = (𝑙 + 𝑤 + ℎ )⁄3
𝐷 = (𝑙 + 𝑤)⁄2
1⁄
𝐷 = (𝑙𝑤) 2
𝐷 = (𝑙𝑤ℎ )1/3
D is the diameter, l is the length, w is the width, h is the height
Component Size Range(mm) Typical(mm)
Food 0-200 100
Paper and cardboard 100-500 350
Plastics 0-400 200
Glass 0-200 100
Metals 0-200 100
Clothing and textiles 0-300 150
Ashes, dust 0-100 25
Sources: Kiely,G.(1997). Environmental Engineering, Mg Graw Hill, New York
Example
A mixture of nonspherical waste particles are uniformly sized as follows:
l = 4 units, w= 1.2 units, h=1.5units
Using the five equations provided above, calculate the particle diameter D. What is the range of
variation in the calculated values?
𝐷=𝑙=4
𝐷 = (𝑙 + 𝑤 + ℎ )⁄3=2.23
𝐷 = (𝑙 + 𝑤)⁄2=2.6
1⁄
𝐷 = (𝑙𝑤) 2 =2.19
𝐷 = (𝑙𝑤ℎ)1/3 =1.93
Particle diameters range from 1.93 to 4 units, [Link] a factor of 2.1
MSW will contain particles having a wide range of individual sizes. A number of calculations are
possible:
𝐷1 +𝐷2+𝐷3 +⋯..+𝐷𝑛
Arithmetic mean = D =
𝑛
1⁄𝑛
Geometric mean = D = (𝐷1 + 𝐷2 + 𝐷3 + ⋯ + 𝐷𝑛 )
𝑊1 𝐷1+𝑊2 𝐷2+𝑊3 𝐷3+………+𝑊𝑛 𝐷𝑛
Weighted mean = D = 𝑤1 +𝑤2 +𝑤3 +⋯…+𝑤𝑛
Example
Given the data for the following waste sizes,
Sieve size (mm)
Particle diameter (mm) 100 75 50 25 5
Weight of fraction(kg) 2 6 12 4 4
Number of particles 225 310 500 2000 5750
Calculate the arithmetic mean, the geometric mean, the weighted mean
FIELD CAPACITY
Equation for field capacity
FC = 0.6 – 0.55(W/[4500+W])
