The optimisation of household waste recycling centres for increased recycling—a case study in Sussex, UK

Abstract

Sixteen percent of household waste in the UK is handled at Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC). These facilities will play an important role if the UK is to achieve the national target of recycling 25% of household waste by 2005, as most sites now provide containers for recyclables as well as a mixed waste pile. However, few published studies have been conducted regarding the activities of HWRC site users and the composition of waste that is delivered, especially to the mixed waste pile. This paper presents the results of a site survey in Sussex, UK and discusses the role of HWRC in handling household waste.During the week of sampling 969 site users were monitored. The target group was those depositing only on the mixed waste pile. Two main categories of waste dominated. The first, identified as garden waste, was deposited by 37% of the target group and represents approximately 20% of arisings by observed volume. The second was miscellaneous waste bagged, present in 34% of loads and equating to approximately 21% of arisings by observed volume. Despite the availability of containers for segregating recyclable and compostable materials, 29% of users deposited these onto the mixed waste pile. The site was clearly not able to operate at its optimum. The reasons for this and potential solutions are presented.

Sorting and disposing of waste at recycling centres – A users perspective

“…The results from this study regarding user characteristics, type of vehicle used, travel distances, number of stops, number of visited fractions, and amounts of wrongly sorted waste are in reasonable agreement with other studies from Civic Amenity sites or other Household Waste Recycling Centres (Williams and Taylor, 2004;Woodard et al, 2004;Belton et al, 1994). Most users did not experience difficulties with the distance they had to travel to the recycling centre.…”

“…Other studies have identified that a considerable amount of certain types of products discarded are potentially re-usable (Woodard et al, 2004). However, the present recycling centre concept does not support reuse of products well.…”

“…The Swedish system to some extent resembles systems in use in the UK, in particular ''Civic Amenity sites''. There are few studies that have focused the activities of users of recycling facilities, and potential improvements of the recycling centres from a user perspective (Woodard et al, 2004). It has been pointed out clearly that the function of recycling centres is strongly dependent on the attitudes of the public.…”

Improving the layout of recycling centres by use of lean production principles

“…A facility where the area is too confined leads to traffic problems and unnecessary irritation, also found by (Woodard et al, 2004). An efficient flow of visitors is good both for the visitors and the employees.…”

Economic potential of recycling business in Lahore, Pakistan

“…In Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, it resulted in a saving of US$500,000 in landWlling avoidance costs during the period between 1988 and 1991 (Agunwamba et al, 1998). In England household waste recycling centers handle 16% of household waste (Woodard et al, 2004).…”