Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste Based on Seasonal Diversity as Energy Potential Materials

Interrelated problems related to resource availability and population growth rates, such as energy demand and waste generation, have become pressing global concerns. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) poses a significant challenge due to its impact on society and the environment, including the associated hazards and threats. This study was conducted at the Piyungan Integrated Santary Landfill (TPST Piyungan) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from June to November 2022. The annual waste generation in the city is 586,267.37 tons per year in 2021, with a daily per capita waste generation rate of 0.43 kg/person. Two types of MSW samples were collected during the dry and rainy season to assess their composition. The collected samples were sorted, sun-dried, quartered, and reduced to 1mm particles for proximate analysis. The results of MSW characterization revealed that non-organic combustible materials accounted for a higher percentage during the dry season (62.7) compared to the rainy season (53.1). Conversely, organic matter constituted a higher proportion during the rainy season (36.7) compared to the dry season (30.4). The moisture content ranged from 4 to 11, volatile matter content varied between 60 and 66, and fixed carbon content ranged from 19 to 31. The energy content of MSW during the dry season was measured at 20.67 MJ/kg, while in the rainy season, it yielded 14.99 MJ/kg. These findings indicate that due to the substantial energy content and waste generation rates, waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies can be effectively applied to manage MSW in Yogyakarta, simultaneously reducing waste volumes and recovering energy. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.