California Integrated Waste Management Board

 

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Solid Waste Characterization Database

  
California established the ambitious goal of diverting 50 percent of its waste from landfills by the year 2000. Local governments continue to play the integral role in meeting and exceeding that goal. This database is designed to provide local governments with a tool to look at what's being disposed in their waste streams to help them plan how to divert materials from disposal and conserve resources. It looks at disposed waste only, so materials that are typically recycled are not included in this data.

The commercial part of the database combines information on the numbers and types of businesses in a jurisdiction with information on the amounts and types of waste typically disposed for different business types (see Data Development). You can use the database to:

  • Find out which business(es) dispose the most waste in a city
  • For a type of business, find out what materials are disposed the most
  • Find out which materials are disposed the most by the entire commercial sector
  • For a type of material, find out which businesses dispose the most

The California Integrated Waste Management Board also has other tools to assist with business waste reduction.

Waste characterization data consists of information on the types and amounts of materials (paper, glass, yard waste, etc.) in the waste stream. A waste stream is impacted by the generators in the area--the types of businesses and residents generating waste (many restaurants in an area means more food waste; many offices means more paper waste). This database looks at the waste stream of a jurisdiction based on what types of generators are located there.

Please use the database--see what information it contains, see if it is useful to you, see whether you like how the data is presented, and let us know what you think. Please do not assume the data contained is absolutely accurate and correct--it's not. There are many waste characterization data limitations. This tool is a starting point to help with integrated waste management, not the end point. We hope it helps you reach your waste management goals.

 

Last updated: October 26, 2007

Solid Waste Characterization http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WasteChar/
Nancy Carr:  ncarr@ciwmb.ca.gov  (916) 341-6216