Evaluation of the Potential use of Municipal Solid Waste for Recovery Options: A Case of Ma’an City, Jordan

Ma’an city faces serious administrative challenges in managing their municipal solid waste (MSW) due to the lack of adequate information of the composition and quantities of generated solid waste. The overall objective of this research is to gain more reliable information about quantities and composition of MSW stream in Ma’an city. In this work, field survey along with a separation study at waste generation source was conducted to quantify and determine the waste composition of Ma’an MSW stream. Main physical and chemical parameters were determined experimentally in order to assess the suitability of using the organic fraction of Ma’an MSW for recovery options. The results of this study reveal that the total waste generated daily are 72.5 tons per day with food waste compromising the largest component of Ma’an MSW stream (65%) followed by paper products (15.5 %), plastic (11 %), metals (3.4 %), glass (2.8 %), and others (2.3 %). In general, MSW in Ma’an city is characterized by high organic content compromising some 90% of the total waste stream. The estimated calorific value of collected SW (2661 Kcal/Kg) indicates that it can’t be incinerated without providing additional fuel. Additionally, high moisture content (44 %) and low quantities of SW generated revealed the unsuitability of Ma’an MSW as an energy recovery option. High biodegradable organic fraction (~80 %) and good nutrient contents suggest that composting under natural conditions can be carried out efficiently if biodegradable organic waste is separated from the remaining waste stream. © 2013 Jordan Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences. All rights reserved