Quantity and Material Composition of Foreign Bodies in Bio-Waste Collected in Towns from Single- and Multi-Family Housing and in Rural Areas

Abstract

There is a general consensus that bio-waste is a suitable material for valorization by means of the fermentation process with the production of biogas. The success of a bio-waste closed-loop economy will ultimately be determined by the demand for the products made from it. Poor-quality composts and fermentation products will not be allowed on the market in the long term. This means that not only final products but also bio-waste from separate collections must also meet the quality requirements. The aim of this 12-month study was a monthly analysis determining the level of contaminants in bio-waste collected from rural communities, single-family neighborhoods in urban areas, and multi-family neighborhoods in urban areas. The share of contaminants in bio-waste from rural areas and single-family urban housing averaged 8.2% and 7.2%, respectively, while multi-family urban housing had a significantly higher average of 16.6%. The primary contaminants identified were treated wood, plastics, mineral wastes, paper, and glass in rural areas and plastics, paper, treated wood, glass, and textiles in urban areas. The close positive correlation found between the total content of pollutants and, in particular, with plastics and kitchen waste in bio-waste collected in rural communities and from multi-family housing in cities indicates that they are likely the main source of the origin of these pollutants.