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Seasonal and geographical characterizations of municipal solid waste (MSW) in

four Tunisian cities / Comparison to French data

Article  in  European Journal of Scientific Research · January 2013

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 Seasonal and geographical characterizations of municipal solid
waste (MSW) in four Tunisian cities / Comparison to French
data
T. Chantoua,b, G.Feuillade-Cathalifauda, J.Bouzidb, G.Matejkaa
a
Groupement de Recherche Eau Sol Environnement, Université de Limoges, ENSIL, 16 rue Atlantis,

Parc ESTER Technopôle, 87068 Limoges, Cedex, France

b
Laboratoire Eau Energie Environnement, Université de Sfax, ENIS, BP: W3038, Sfax, Tunisie

Abstract

Since the solid waste national campaign of 1996, no wide campaign of waste characterization
has been performed in Tunisia. Therefore, this study allowed the identification of the nature and the
composition of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in four cities (Kairouan, Menzel Bourguiba,
Medenine and Djerba) and during two seasons (winter, December 2009/ January 2010 and summer,
July 2010). Eight samples of 500 kg MSW were characterized by size and sorted into categories.
Moisture, volatile solids contents and oxidizable organic matter content allowed to evaluate the
characteristics of Tunisian waste. Unlike European MSW characteristics that have no significant
variability related to cities Tunisian MSW showed a great variability from one city to another, due to
the differences of the socio-economic context of the cities. Seasonal variability was also recorded
although less pronounced. When comparing findings from this study to MSW data from the national
campaign of MSW characterization of 1996, it was revalued that the solid waste generation rate had
increased in each studied city (from 0.5 to 0.8 kg capita-1 day-1) while the organic and the moisture
contents had decreased from 68% to 53% and from 65% to 50% respectively. Those results can be
explained by improvements in living standards in Tunisia which induced changes in the consumption
habits.

Keywords: Municipal Solid Waste, characterization, seasonal variation, developing countries,

Tunisia.

1. ..Introduction
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) represents all wastes generated in a municipal area. It includes
predominantly household wastes in addition to some commercial wastes collected by municipalities
within a given area. In Tunisia, MSW were commonly generated with a rate of 0.5 kg.capita-1.day-1
according to the last national campaign established performed in 1996 (Hafid et al., 2002). However,
this rate has changed because of the development of many factors such as the Tunisian population
growth, the rapid economic growth and improved living standards. These factors were expected to
affect the generation rate and the composition of municipal solid waste as many previous studies have
reported that MSW quality and quantity in cities in developing countries is highly dependent on the
population’s socio-economic level (Parizeau et al., 2006; Sujauddin et al., 2008; Yousuf and Rahman,
2007).
Determining the composition and generation rate of MSW is not an easy task and it is necessary
to have an optimized MSW Management (MSWM). Particularly in developing countries, where
changes in waste are significant, the characterization is essential to provide a useful basis for the
decision-makers to make rational choices at all levels of the MSWM: legislation, collection, recycling
and treatment technologies, etc.
 In fact, the lack of knowledge of the waste characteristics in developing countries, such as
Tunisia, appears to be the source of many failures. This is mainly caused by (Ben Ammar., 2006):
- The undeveloped consciousness of the need for an accurate MSW characterization as the basis
of MSWM,
- The absence of rigorous methods of characterization, adapted to the special conditions of the
developing countries,
- The administrative and financial difficulties,
- The lack of standardized norms, which allow for the implementation of appropriate methods
and analyses.
As the generation rates depend on the income levels, it is interesting to compare the rate of
solid waste generation in Tunisia to the one determined in other countries. From the data presented in
Table 1, it is clear that the Tunisian generation rate is lower than the one of industrialized countries
while it is more similar to the rate of developing countries. MSW generation rates of industrialized
countries do not vary a lot while the levels determined for developing countries show a great variability
and span from 0.21 kg capita-1 .day-1 in Nouakchott to 0.89 kg capita-1 day-1 in Casablanca. This
large variation is caused by the differences in living standards between developing countries. Similar
living standards in different industrialized countries, in this case the European ones, explain similar
consumption behaviors and, as a consequence, similar MSW generation rates and compositions (Chung
and Poon, 1998; Daskalopoulos et al., 1998, Gomez et al., 2009; Naresh, 2008).

Table 1: A MSW generation in industrialized and developing countries

Countries Cities Generation rate References

(Kg capita-1 day-1)
Algeria Mostaganem 0.62 Geurmoud et al, 2009
Developing

Alger 1 Kehila, 2010

countries

Jordan Amman 0.85 Abu Qudais and Abu-Qudais, 2000

Mauritania Nouakchott 0.21 Aloueimine, 2006
Morocco Casablanca 0.89 ONEM, 2001
Tunisia National campaign 0.80 Hafid et al, 2002
Belgium All the country 1.34
Industrialize
d countries

Germany All the country 1.54 Anonymous, 2007

Italy All the country 1.50
Spain All the country 1.61
France National campaign 1.07 ADEME, 2009
1.48 Anonymous, 2007

MSW management aims to provide sustainable solutions such as waste minimization, reusing,
recycling, energy recovering strategies and sanitary disposal. To ensure an adequate application of
these options, a good knowledge of the characteristics of the waste generated is imperative (Abu Qdais
et al., 1997). In Tunisia, 93% of the MSW is dumped in controlled sanitary landfills while the
uncontrolled dumping sites are closed for rehabilitation (MEDD, 2005). However, the use of outdated
data has caused problems related to the design and construction of landfills.
In order to assist municipalities in creating appropriate management plans for waste
management, National Agency for Waste Management (ANGED) asked for a new campaign of MSW
characterization. Four cities have been identified and characterization of waste was carried out in two
seasons.
Various methodologies have been employed for waste characterization. The method applied in
this study is based on the French standard method, MODECOM, (ADEME, 2009). It should be noted
that the waste collected in the residential areas predominantly originated from households, but
depending on the kind of surroundings it also includes waste from small businesses, services and
institutions.
 The present paper aims to describe results of the research including the quantification and
composition analyses of the characterized MSW.

2. Methodology
2.1. Selection of the neighborhoods for the MSW sampling
The purpose of this study was to characterize the MSW generated in households in four cities,
Kairouan, Medenine, Djerba and Menzel Bourguiba. The main characteristics of the neighborhood
chosen for MSW sampling in each city are listed in Table 2. Population statistics were based on the last
population census conducted in the year of 2004.

Table 2: Characteristics of the study area cities and neighberhoods

City Kairouan Menzel Bourguiba Medenine Djerba Houmt Souk

Localisation 35° 40′ N 37°°10'N 9°°40'E 33° 20′ 42″ N 33° 48′ N 10° 51′ E
10° 05′ E 10° 29′ 24″ E
Climate Semi-arid Mediterranean Arid Mediterranean to
semi-arid
Temperature (°C) 19.5 18 22 19.8
Annual rainfall (mm) 308 682 150 231
Municipalitie’s 117,903 47,742 61,705 64,892
populations
Activity Agriculture Industry and Agriculture Tourism
agriculture
Neighbourhoods Aghlabides Ennajeh Ennacer Taourit
Neighbourhoods’ 2,310 5,850 2,500 7,400
population

Industrial and clinical wastes were not considered in this study. However, it is often difficult to
keep MSW separated from waste from commercial activities collected with the household waste. In
order to minimize the amount of commercial waste in the waste collected for the characterization,
neighborhoods with a maximum of 20% of commercial activities were chosen. The study areas were
restricted to neighbourhoods that are considered as representative of the majority of the population to
ensure that they represent the major part of Tunisian citizens. However such a study does not allow the
identification of the waste generation and composition variations in relation with the socio-economic
levels.

2.2. MSW collection system in the selected cities

In Tunisia, MSW collection is under the governance of the municipality and most MSW is
stored in controlled landfills operated by the National Agency for Waste Management (ANGED). The
collection systems in all the studied cities are very similar. Curbside collection of urban solid waste is
performed by the municipality’s trucks along their designated itinerary. The only waste that is
collected separately from other MSW is hard plastic. According to the National Agency of
Environment Protection (ANPE, 2000), the Eco-Lef (Tunisian public system of recovery and recycling
of used packaging) has set at target that, in the whole country, 26 000 tons of plastic packaging should
be recycled per year (1000 tons per year of films, 19 000 tons per year of PET bottles and 6 000 tons
per year of HDPE bottles).
2.3. Sample size

The characterization of MSW in developing countries is often based on unreliable methods

regarding the representativity of samples, the precision of sorting and physicochemical analysis.
In developed countries and especially in the European countries, different sampling methods
have been developed. The main methods listed in the following (REMECOM, 1998):
- The German Method ARGUS: a method developed by the German Environmental Agency in
1979-80 and in 1983-85;
- The Belgian method IBGE: a method developed by the Brussels Institute for Environmental
Management (1997),
- The French method MODECOM: a method developed by the French Environmental Agency
(ADEME) in 1994;
- The Irish method EPA: a method developed by the Irish Environmental Agency
In order to harmonize all European methods, a method called REMECOM (Network of
European Measuring Household Waste) was developed in 1998 (REMECOM, 1998) in the framework
of a European program coordinated by ADEME, involving five European countries (Germany,
Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy).
The existing characterization methods generally suffer from a lack of statistical basis in terms
of representativity of the samples and the accuracy of results. The French method MODECOM,
applied in this study, is one of the few methods that consider the precision of sampling (ADEME,
2009). The MODECOM method recommends a sample size of 500 kg, in order to limit the
measurement errors. The sorting was performed on wet waste instead of the dry waste to allow
calculating percentage of each category per wet waste.

2.4. Particle size distribution and composition

Assessments of the particle size distribution and the composition of the waste were based
mainly on the AFNOR Norm, XP X 30-408. The following procedure was used:
- Waste size sorting: the particle size distribution was investigated by using a two meshes table
that allowed to obtain three circular size fractions: big > 100 mm; - middle: 20 < X < 100 mm and –
fine : < 20 mm.
- Waste composition: MSW was classified into thirteen categories: organic (food and yard
waste), paper, cardboard, composite, synthetic fiber, textile, plastic packaging, plastic, miscellaneous
combustible material (Misc.C), glass, metal, miscellaneous inerts (Misc.I), hazardous and fines (<20
mm).
At the end of the whole sorting process, the fractions were weighed separately without any
drying using an analogical balance.

2.5. Moisture and Organic Matter contents

Measurements of moisture content H% (overall, per size and per category), and the Organic
Matter content OM%, were performed on the sorted waste. The determination of those parameters
allowed the identification of the most appropriate treatment methods depending on the physico-
chemical characteristics of the waste. The analyses were determined by the methods described by
AFNOR: The moisture content (H%) was measured in triplicate by weighing the sample (100 g WM),
drying the sample at 80°C for 24 h and weighing it again (Norm NF- X30-408).
The OM content (also called ignition loss or VS content) was measured by weighing a dried
sample (50 g DM), calcining the sample at 550°C for 4 h and weighing it again. This standardised
method is described in the French gravimetric procedure AFNOR, NF U44-160, 1985. Measurements
were performed in triplicate.
 The Oxidizable Organic Matter (OOM %) analysis was applied on the fines fraction to
determine the percentage of the organic matter that is chemically oxidizable. The method is based on
AFNOR Norm XP U 44-164. It seeks to oxidize the nonsynthetic organic part with sodium
hydrochlorite. Inert materials are then sorted by densitometry which is followed by sieving and manual
sorting. This method is usually carried out to check the purity of compost by determining the content of
the nonsynthetic organic matter in the fine fraction. The other components of this fraction were
identified by sorting according to density and waste category. This analysis provides better knowledge
of this fraction which was very poorly identified in earlier studies. Fig. 1 summarizes the sampling and
the characterization operations after the MSW collections.

Fig.1. Schematic showing sample fractions and analyzed parameters

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Determination of the MSW generation rates and of the moisture contents
The percentage range of error is calculated according to the Bernoulli's distribution to verify the
representativity of the sample compared to the original volume (table 3). Winter and summer in this
MSW characterization campaign are represented by January and July.
Table 3: Sampling margin of error.

City/Neighborhood Kairouan/ Menzel Bourguiba/ Médenine/ Djerba/

Aghlabides 1 City Ennajeh City Ennaser City Touarit City
Month Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer
Kg (characterization 1,460 1,600 6,100 8,380 3,100 3,160 7,480 9,600
day)
Sample mass (Kg) 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500
Error margin (%) 4.00 3.75 2.90 2.86 3.08 3.08 2.88 2.85
Characterization Controlled Controlled Transfer Transfer Controlled Controlled Controlled Controlled
place landfill landfill Station Station landfill landfill landfill landfill

MSW generation rates were calculated with two types of data (table 4) : the quantities of the
collected waste the days of the characterization and the data of the received MSW in landfills
generated from the municipalities peryear (2010).

Table 4: A Sample of Companies Listed in Tehran Stock Exchange

City Rate (kg capita-1 day-1) Rate (kg capita-1 day-1) Moisture (%Wet Matter)
Data of 2010 (the characterization days) (this study)
Winter* Summer* Annual** Winter Summer Annual Winter Summer Annual
Kairouan 0.70 0.81 0.75 0.63 0.69 0.66 54 52 53
Menzel Bourguiba 0.89 0.96 0.91 1.04 1.43 1.23 65 62 63.5
Medenine 0.56 0.62 0.59 1.24 1.26 1.25 29 40 34.5
Djerba 0.66 0.99 0.82 1.04 1.33 1.18 52 42 47.0
Averages*** 0.69 0.69 0.75 1.01 1.27 1.14 51 48 49
* : winter and summer correspond respectively to December, January, February and June, July, August.
** : rates calculated on the base of data of the year 2010.
***: averages calculated on the base of the results by taking in account the cities’ populations.

MSW generation rates as calculated by dividing the quantities of waste collected in

municipalities by the numbre of inhabitants and by the number of days in a year are different in
comparison with the rates determined with data from the characterization days. This could be explained
by errors in estmating of the number of inhabitants in the municipalities served by the MSW
collections, errors in estimating of the number of inhabitants in general and by the variability of the
MSW quantities generated in one city.
The rates of waste generation in Kairouan, Menzel Bourguibe, Medenine and Djerba are,
respectively, 0.81, 0.96, 0.62 and 0.99 kg capita-1 day-1 (Table 4). Those averages are higher than the
Tunisian average determined in the 1996 MSW characterization national campaign which were about
0,5 kg capita-1 day-1 (Hafid et al., 2002). This increase of MSW generation is mainly attributed to
changes in living standards and consumption patterns noted/observed in countries having a rapid
economic growth (Abu Qdais et al., 1997; Buenrostro et al., 2001; Gomez et al., 2009 ).
Considering rates determined with data collected on the characterization day, no significant
differences between cities were recorded except for Kairouan where the MSW generation rates for both
seasons are less than 1 kg capita-1 day-1. This city is characterized by an average standard of living
and the existing economical activities are primarily agricultural.
MSW generation rates were higher in summer because of a higher consumption of products of
all categories in this season. Similar results have already been observed by Gomez et al., (2009) in the
city of Chihuahua (Mexico). A higher consumption of putrescibles is not probabale because of the
slight variability of moisture content with season except for Medenine where moisture have increased
from 29% in winter to 40% in summer.
 The average moisture content is about 51% in winter and 48% in summer. It is important to
notice that the MSW have lost water during storage and transport before the characterization
campaigns. The MSW moisture average (49%) is lower than the averages determined in the 1996
National campaign ranging from 65 to 70% (MEAT, 2001). The evolution of the MSW composition
could explain this decrease considering that several authors have established a relationship between
moisture content and putrescibles (Savage et al., 1998; Tchobanoglous et al., 1993; Zornberg et al.,
1999).
Although it does decrease, the moisture content is still far from the value measured in MSW in
developed countries ranging from 25 to 35% (EEA, 2000).
Municipal solid waste size and composition

3.2. Size distribution

The determination of the particle sizes of the wastes allows a better identification of their
physical characteristics.
The major fraction of the MSW is the middle fraction except for the waste from Medenine in
winter where the fine fraction is the most important (Fig. 3). This can be explained by the increase of
the consumption in summer and therefore the increase of the generation of putrescibles, plastics,
cardboard, etc., that are predominant in the middle fraction inducing a decrease of the fines (<20 mm)
part. Moreover, the sorting of fines (<20 mm) is depending on water content in the waste. Fines
separation is much easier when waste is dry as it was the case for Medenine where the moisture content
was around 29%.

Winter Summer

Djerba Djerba
Medenine Medenine

M.bourguiba M.bourguiba

Kairouan Kairouan

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

> 100 mm 100-20 mm <20 mm > 100 mm 100-20 mm <20 mm

Fig.2. Seasonal variations of the MSW size

3.3. MSW Composition
Many categories are commonly found in the solid waste stream. In this study, waste was
grouped into twelve (12) categories and two (2) sub-categories. These categories are organized in
accordance with the MODECOM (Table 5).
Table 1: MSW compositions: Tunisian and French data (%wet weight).

Categories Sub- Winter Summer Studied Tunisia France

categories area* (MEAT (ADEM
Tunis Kairouan Menz.B Medenine Djerba Tunisa Kairouanb M.Bb Medenine Djerbab
a b b b b b , 2001) E, 2009)
Putrescible 56.1 58.6 51.3 18.7 29.2 53.1 39.6 54.4 26.8 19.7 35.7 68.0 32.2
s

Paper 7.2 3.5 1.2 2.7 4.4 8.7 1.5 0.9 5.6 1.3 2.6 10.0 21.5
Cardboard 8.0 1.5 2.9 4.0 9.0 5.5 5.3 5.0 6.5 12.7 6.5

Composite 3.1 0.8 1.1 2.2 1.3 2.2 2.9 2.2 1.9 2.4 1.8
s

Textile a)Textile 4.0 2.9 6.9 1.4 5.5 3.5 14.1 4.2 4.2 7.1 6.3 2.0
b)Synthetic 6.0 12.7 7.2 7.6 3.7 6.0 6.0 8.3 6.0 4.4 6.6 10.6
fiber
Plastics a)bottle 3.9 7.8 8.5 6.8 12.3 4.2 10.6 7.7 10.8 12.6 10.0 11.0
b)film 1.1 0.9 1.6 3.9 2.3 2.5 3.2 6.2 3.0 11.2
Misc.C 1.68 0.7 2.6 1.4 1.9 3.3 3.2 2.0 1.7 1.5 1.8 2.0
Misc.I 4.00 1.0 1.1 3.4 1.0 8.5 1.8 3.1 4.3 3.9 2.3 3.0 8.9
Hazardous 1.21 0.6 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.6 0.2 1.0 0.3 2.3 0.8

Glass 2.05 0.4 1.4 0.6 1.6 1.7 1.2 1.0 1.2 2.5 3.5 12.7
Metals 2.8 1.5 3.3 2.9 3.4 2.6 2.1 2.7 2.2 5.5 3.0 4.0 3
Fines Nd 7.0 11.2 46.0 22.5 nd 9.4 5.0 25.3 18.0 17.1 Nd nd
Total 100.0 100.1 100.0 100.0 100.1 99.9 100.2 100.0 100.0 100.1 101.0 100.0 100.1
a: Ben Ammar, 2006; b: this study; *: this average was calculated according to the results found in the four cities of the study with taking into
account the part of each population.
 - MSW composition in Tunisian cities:
According to the results presented in Table 5, MSW composition in Tunisia vary from one city
to another contrary to developed countries, such as France, where the waste composition barely varies
between departments, cities and neighborhoods.
The content of putrescibles did not significantly increase or decrease from winter to summer.
However, this category makes up the largest amount in almost all cities for both periods except for
Medenine in winter time. In this rural city, putrescibles made by kitchen and garden waste are usually
used as animal food which explains the abundance of fines (<20 mm) mostly generated by animal
husbandry.
The relatively low amounts of plastic are due to the recovery system that was introduced in
Tunisia in 1998. Significant variations are determined between winter and summer (a higher plastic
containers amount of plastic containers in summer than in winter in all cities). This is probably because
of the higher consumption of beverages. Such a finding stresses the necessity of seasonal
characterization in countries having climate similar to the one of Tunisia.
Metals, glass and hazardous waste are a minority and they do not significantly differ between
cities. Textile is a category that has clearly changed in the MSW composition as it increased from
about 2% in 1996 to between 10 and 15% for the cities studied.
The highest amount of waste from the organic categories (putrescibles and fines) (65%) and the
lowest amount of recyclable (paper, cardboard, composite and plastics) (17%) are produced in
Kairouan while the lowest amount of organic categories (38%) and the highest amount of recyclable
(43%) correspond to Djerba MSW. These compositions are related to the socioeconomic conditions in
these cities. Djerba is a touristic island where consumption of packed food and drinks is very frequent
while Kairouan is an agricultural city with traditional nutritional habits. Such variability is
characteristic of developing countries where socioeconomic conditions and therefore consumption
habits could be very different from one city to another.

- Tunisian MSW composition versus European MSW (France):

To allow a comparison between MSW characteristics in Tunisia and in France, an average
MSW composition was calculated in the study area by taking into account the population in each city.
The average MSW composition confirms the hypothesis that waste in developing countries
contains more putrescibles than the one of developed countries. By counting fines as an organic
category, French waste contains 32% of putrescibles while Tunisian waste contains 53%. Tunisia and
France have similar amounts of plastics, metals and textile indicating that Tunisian consumption
patterns has begun to be influenced Europe. However, generation of waste cardboard, paper, composite
and glass are still higher in France than in Tunisia. Indeed, in France, many products which were
routinely packaged in plastics are now packed in glass, cardboard or composite thus replacing part of
the plastic waste by glass, cardboard and composite.

3.3. Organic matter and oxidizable organic matter content

The amounts of organic matter in MSW were determined for each category. Average amounts
are presented in Fig. 3 (a). Average Total Organic Matter (TOM) were calculated by taking into
account all the OM contained in all categories (putrescibles, fines, plastics, paper, cardboard,
composite and Misc.C). Biodegradable Organic Matter (BOM) averages were calculated by taking into
account only the categories that contain natural organic matter (putrescibles, paper, cardboard,
tetrapack and fines).
 (a) (b)
Fig.3. (a) Averages of TOM and BOM in MSW; (b) OOM content in fines (<20 mm)

Variations in TOM from one city to another and from winter to summer are small. The mean
values range between 56% and 69%. In spite of the larger organic content in Tunisian waste, its TOM
amounts are similar to TOM average determined for France (66%). This could be explained by the
presence of minerals in the fines (<20 mm) that constitute an important part of the MSW, due to the
sandy winds. Indeed, according to Fig. 3 (b), fines do not contain a large amount of OOM for three
cities among four. The only city where fines contain almost 46% of OOM is Medenine probably
because of the presence of animal husbandry waste. These wastes are very degradable and have a fine
particle size that allows to them to be included to the fine fraction which is sieved on 20 mm mesh.
The BOM average varies between 34 and 48%. The highest BOM amount is measured in
Medenine MSW because of the high amount of fines (<20 mm) in the waste composition (31%).
However, the OM average of the fines in Medenine MSW is about 48% which is low compared
to the content of OOM. This can be justified by the increase of the mineral fraction outcoming from
sandy winds in the south.
In the other cities and for both periods, the values of OOM in fines (<20 mm) vary between 8.5
and 14.5%. The rest of the fine fraction is composed of different categories: Misc.C, Misc.I,
paper/cardboard, glass, metal, plastic and wood with variable amounts.

4. Summary and Concluding Remarks

Based on the data collected, the average rate of MSW generation in the study area is
approximately 0.8 (±0.14) kg capita-1 day-1. The change in MSW generation rates in Tunisia is caused
by the changing consumption habits which are beginning to be similar to the European ones in some
cities (such as Djerba). The rates in the studied cities ranged from 0.6 (Medenine) to 0.9 kg.capita-
1.day-1 (Menzel Bourguiba). This variability is related to differences in the standard of living between
cities in Tunisia unlike developed countries where the average rate of MSW generation is
representative for all the country. Therefore it is not meaningful to give an average MSW generation
rate for all the cities. Averages should rather be given for categories of cities (touristic, rural,
industrial…). However, the seasons do not have a great impact on the MSW generation.
Regarding the detailed MSW composition, although putrescibles (without fines) were the most
abundant category (36 ± 15%) in almost all cities, their amounts in the MSW compositions were
variable, primarily from one city to another and secondly from winter to summer inducing a variation
of the physicochemical characteristics (moisture and OM contents) as Zeng et al., (2005) and Gomez et
al., (2009) have concluded in their own studies in developing countries. Indeed, in European countries,
France for instance, national campaigns of MSW characterization are not preceded by any prior
sectorization based on the standards of living, the geographic position or the economic, agricultural and
touristic activities. Such a characterization campaign could not be representative in Tunisia considering
the great variability in the MSW composition depending on seasons and locations.
In general, the part of recyclables and especially plastics in MSW compositions has not
increased since 1996 due to the efficiency of the recovery strategy. However, putrescibles (including
fines) have decreased from 68% in 1996 (MEAT, 2002) to 53%. This reflects the evolution of the
nutritional consumption. Thus, we can conclude that amongst all recovery options, composting would
be the most appropriate treatment for the Tunisian MSW as it would divert more than 50% of the
wastes from the landfilling and provide compost which can be used to enrich soils in fields and
gardens. However, composting plans should be adapted to the quantity and the characteristics of the
putrescibles in each city.

Acknowledgement

This study is supported by the German development cooperation (GIZ) and the National Agency for
Waste Management (ANGed) in Tunisia.

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