Prediction of Residential BMW Generation According to Socio-Economic And Household Characteristics For The Dublin Region

Despite the fact that biodegradable wastes account for 72% of the total municipal waste stream in Ireland, less than 6% of collected biodegradable wastes were recovered in 2004. Both planning and design of integrated municipal solid waste management systems require accurate prediction of solid waste generation. This paper discusses the potential household biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) generation for the Dublin Region, Ireland, using statistical data on socio-demographics, particularly household size and social class as the main variables. Historical research was used to assign BMW generation rates. A Geographical Information System (GIS) "model" of BMW generation was created using ArcMap, a component of ArcGIS 9. BMW generation was predicted within a diverse "landscape" of residential areas. The results highlight the importance of tailoring waste management strategies to small management areas.