Characterization of household and commercial BMW generation according to socio-economic and other factors for the Dublin Region

Both planning and design of integrated municipal solid waste management systems require accurate prediction of solid waste generation. This research predicted the quantity and distribution of Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) generation for the
Dublin (Ireland) region. Socio-economic variables, housing types, and the sizes and main activities of commercial establishments were hypothesized as the key determinants contributing to the spatial variability of BMW generation. A Geographical Information System (GIS) „model‟ of BMW generation was created using ArcMap, a component of ArcGIS 9. Statistical data including socio-economic status and household size were mapped on an electoral district basis. Historical research was used to assign BMW generation rates to residential and commercial establishments. These predictions were combined to give overall BMW estimates for the region. The GIS facilitates the visual and spatial distribution of BMW to be assessed within the region. BMW generation was predicted within a diverse „landscape‟ of residential areas, as well as from a variety of commercial establishments (restaurants, hotels, hospitals etc). By changing the input data, this estimation tool can be adapted for use in other Irish cities.