A Quantitative Study on the Benefit of Various Waste Classifications

Table 2

Classification schemes in Germany, the US, the UK, Sweden, and Japan.

Country	Schemes	Composition
Germany [19, 20] (four groups)	(1) Disposable packaging waste	Aluminium thin packaging waste, plastic packaging waste, metal containers, and composite packaging
	(2) Organic waste	Vegetables, peels, biological waste collection bags, grassy, hair, eggshells, coffee residues and filter bags, nut peels, tropical and subtropical fruit peels, untreated sawdust and wood fibres, leftovers, disposable paper cups, etc.
	(3) Nonrecyclables	Cinders, stockings, incandescent light bulbs, erasers, sweepings, candles, carbon paper, wax paper, ballpoint pens, leather, plastic buckets without “green dot” logo, carpet, contaminated polycarbonate plastic (foam), cigarette butts, etc.
	(4) Recyclables	(1) Glass stored separately according to colour; (2) Envelopes, brochures, prints, cartons, magazines, and large paper bags; (3) Clothes, shoes, bedding, tablecloths, curtains, etc.
The US [21] (four groups)	(1) Recyclables	Paper, glass, plastic, metal boxes (bottles), and wood
	(2) Organic waste	(1) Yard waste (not including floral home plants, branches shorter than 4 ft, festive trees, cut grass, and leaves); (2) Kitchen waste (food, fruit and vegetable residues, bread, hollow flour, cereals, eggshells, etc.)
	(3) Special waste	Bulky furniture, household appliances, hazardous waste, etc.
	(4) Other waste	All wastes other than the above three types, such as ceramics, paper towels, rubber, leather, wooden tables, chairs, stools, etc.
The UK [22] (five groups)	(1) Recyclables	Paper (cardboard, cartons, etc.), metal tin cans, plastic (beverage and seasoning bottles, etc.), paper, glass, clothes, textiles, and small electronics
	(2) Kitchen waste	Food residues, vegetables, peels, etc.
	(3) Yard waste	Weeds, branches, and garden waste
	(4) Landfill waste	Tissue, sweeping waste, brick ceramics, rubber, etc.
	(5) Hazardous waste	Dry batteries, fluorescent tubes, etc.
Sweden [23] (four groups)	(1) Recyclables	Newspaper, cardboard, metal, glass (coloured and colourless), rigid plastic buckets, mineral water bottles, and cans
	(2) Organic waste	Food waste, yard waste, wood, etc.
	(3) Incineration	Combustible waste that cannot be directly recycled, such as nonrecyclable paper (napkins, paper diapers, etc.), sawdust, and other high-heat waste
	(4) Nonrecyclable	Ceramic products, bricks, rubbish removal, etc.
Japan [24] (seven groups)	(1) Incineration	Nonrecyclable paper (napkins, paper diapers, etc.), kitchen waste (leaf leaves, leftovers, etc.), wood dust, and other waste (wood sticks, cigarette butts, desiccants, pet faeces, etc.)
	(2) Plastic bottles	Plastic containers and packaging marked with a special logo (e.g., plastic bottles for edible oil, soy sauce, beverages, wine bottles, etc.)
	(3) Other plastics	Plastics other than containers and packaging, such as video tapes, compact discs, laundry pockets, toothbrushes, ballpoint pens, plastic toys, sponges, footwear, etc.
	(4) Nonincineration	Ceramics (bowls, casserole dishes, etc.), small appliances (irons, hair dryers, etc.), and certain necessities (heat-resistant glass, cosmetic bottles, electric bulbs, disposable heating stoves, disposable lighters, metal bottles, etc.)
	(5) Recyclables	Paper (newspapers, leaflets, magazines, advertising paper, cartons, etc.), cloth (old clothes, old curtains, etc.), metal, and glass (wine, vinegar, soy sauce bottles, beer bottles, etc.)
	(6) Hazardous waste	Light sticks, dry batteries, mercury thermometers, etc.
	(7) Bulky waste	Electrical appliances (refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, televisions, etc.), furniture (waste furniture, household appliance cabinets, bedding, induction cookers, electric heaters, etc.), and other (bicycles, suitcases, etc.)