ASTM D5231-92(2016)

Standard Test Method for Determination of the Composition of Unprocessed Municipal Solid Waste

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Waste composition information has widespread applications and can be used for activities such as solid waste planning, designing waste management facilities, and establishing a reference waste composition for use as a baseline standard in both facility contracts and acceptance test plans.  
4.2 The method can be used to define and report the composition of MSW through the selection and manual sorting of waste samples. Where applicable, care should be taken to consider the source and seasonal variation of waste.  
4.3 After performing a waste composition analysis, laboratory analyses may be performed on representative samples of waste components, or mixtures of waste components, for purposes related to the planning, management, design, testing, and operation of resource recovery facilities.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes procedures for measuring the composition of unprocessed municipal solid waste (MSW) by employing manual sorting. This test method applies to determination of the mean composition of MSW based on the collection and manual sorting of a number of samples of waste over a selected time period covering a minimum of one week.  
1.2 This test method includes procedures for the collection of a representative sorting sample of unprocessed waste, manual sorting of the waste into individual waste components, data reduction, and reporting of the results.  
1.3 This test method may be applied at landfill sites, waste processing and conversion facilities, and transfer stations.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 6.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2016
• ICS: 13.030.10 - Solid wastes
• Technical Committee: D34 - Waste Management
• Drafting Committee: D34.03 - Treatment, Recovery and Reuse

Relations

• Referred By: ASTM D5681-22e1 - Standard Terminology for Waste and Waste Management
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2016

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D5231 − 92 (Reapproved 2016)
Standard Test Method for
Determination of the Composition of Unprocessed
1
Municipal Solid Waste
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5231; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope disposable diapers, bi-metal beverage containers, electrical
conductors composed of metallic wire encased in plastic
1.1 This test method describes procedures for measuring the
insulation, etc.
composition of unprocessed municipal solid waste (MSW) by
2.1.2 solid waste composition or waste composition—the
employing manual sorting. This test method applies to deter-
characterization of solid waste as represented by a breakdown
mination of the mean composition of MSW based on the
of the mixture into specified waste components on the basis of
collection and manual sorting of a number of samples of waste
mass fraction or of weight percent.
over a selected time period covering a minimum of one week.
2.1.3 sorting sample—a 200 to 300-lb (91 to 136-kg)
1.2 This test method includes procedures for the collection
portion deemed to represent the characteristics of a vehicle
of a representative sorting sample of unprocessed waste,
load of MSW.
manual sorting of the waste into individual waste components,
2.1.4 unprocessed municipal solid waste—solid waste in its
data reduction, and reporting of the results.
discarded form, that is, waste that has not been size reduced or
1.3 This test method may be applied at landfill sites, waste
otherwise processed.
processing and conversion facilities, and transfer stations.
2.1.5 waste component—a category of solid waste, com-
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
posed of materials of similar physical properties and chemical
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
composition, which is used to define the composition of solid
information only.
waste, for example, ferrous, glass, newsprint, yard waste,
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the aluminum, etc.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3. Summary of Test Method
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1 The number of samples to be sorted is calculated based
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
on statistical criteria selected by the investigators.
For specific hazard statements, see Section 6.
3.2 Vehicle loads of waste are designated for sampling, and
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
a sorting sample is collected from the discharged vehicle load.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.3 The sample is sorted manually into waste components.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
The weight fraction of each component in the sorting sample is
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
calculated from the weights of the components.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.4 The mean waste composition is calculated using the
results of the composition of each of the sorting samples.
2. Terminology
4. Significance and Use
2.1 Definitions:
4.1 Waste composition information has widespread applica-
2.1.1 composite item—an object in the waste composed of
multiple waste components or dissimilar materials, such as tions and can be used for activities such as solid waste
planning, designing waste management facilities, and estab-
lishing a reference waste composition for use as a baseline
standard in both facility contracts and acceptance test plans.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.03 on Treatment,
4.2 The method can be used to define and report the
Recovery and Reuse.
composition of MSW through the selection and manual sorting
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2016. Published September 2016. Originally
of waste samples. Where applicable, care should be taken to
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D5231 – 92 (2008).
DOI: 10.1520/D5231-92R16. consider the source and seasonal variation of waste.
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