A.
Wastetown is situated in an agricultural area where the annual rainfall is 900 to 1000
mm and is distributed between rainy and dry season. This affects the amount of moisture in
the waste. The moisture content is normally 40% during the dry season and increases by 10
to 50% during the rainy season. The density of the waste produced during the dry season is
0.25 ton/cu.m. when it is collected.
Waste is collected from the town and its suburbs. The population of the built-up area is
151,635. The town expands and new housing estates are built. In 2005, about a quarter of
the population lived in houses. In all, 45,167 people live in suburbs, all in their own houses.
The estimated increase in population is 2.5% per year.
The amount of waste generated per year in 2005:
- Wastetown
Apartments = 299kg/person
Houses = 482 kg/person
Suburbs = 218 kg/person
- Industry and commerce = 16,450 kg/business (average)
Refuse is collected from the apartments and houses. Wastes from commercial centers and
shopping malls (5,234 centers and malls), markets (16 markets) and industries (1,630
industries) are collected daily. The generation of household waste is estimated to increase
by 0.7% per person per year. The generation of commercial and industrial wastes is
estimated to increase by 1.5% per year.