The Evaluation of Municipal Waste in Counties in Poland with the Use of the Theory of Phenomena Spatial Concentration

Abstract

In the era of increased consumption and with the development of new technologies, waste management and its constant monitoring are some of the greatest challenges for humanity. The aim of this article is to analyze and evaluate the condition of mixed municipal waste management and the selectively collected waste in all counties (LAU 1) in Poland. The authors chose six fractions of selectively collected waste. The theory of the concentration of spatial phenomena was selected for the evaluation. The analytical part was based on the concentration coefficient (CC) and the location quotient (LQ). The created maps of the correctness of waste management allow for formulating corrective actions for the analyzed counties. The fractions of selective waste, whose management is balanced to the greatest extent on the national scale, are those for which the value of LQs is on a similar level—glass, biodegradable waste and bulky waste. However, in the case of paper and cardboard, plastic and waste electrical and electronic equipment fractions, vast disproportions in waste management were noted. The proposed methodology can be an effective tool of constant monitoring and for planning the process of waste management on a local, regional and national scale.