Page 350 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

328 AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY, AND FISHING APPLICATIONS

The establishments in this sector are often described as farms, ranches, dairies, green-
houses, nurseries, orchards, or hatcheries. A farm may consist of a single tract of land or
a number of separate tracts which may be held under different tenures. For example, one
tract may be owned by the farm operator and another rented. It may be operated by the
operator alone or with the assistance of members of the household or hired employees,
or it may be operated by a partnership, corporation, or other type of organization.
The sector distinguishes two basic activities: agricultural-production and
agricultural-support activities. Agricultural-production activities includes establishments
performing the complete farm or ranch operation, such as farm owner-operators, tenant
farm operators, and sharecroppers. Agricultural-support activities include establish-
ments that perform one or more activities associated with farm operation, such as soil
preparation, planting, harvesting, and management, on a contract or fee basis.

22.2 Waste Management Goals

and Opportunities

The majority of solid waste generated by this sector is organic in nature, such as crop
residue, manure, and animal carcasses. Table 22.1 displays the composition break-
down based on survey results.

TABLE 22.1 AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY SOLID WASTE COMPOSITION
(SURVEY RESULTS)

MATERIAL COMPOSITION (%) RECYCLING (%)

Organic 20 ± 5.8 74 ± 13.3
Crop residue 8 ± 2.3 67 ± 12.1
Manure 6 ± 1.7 82 ± 14.8
Other organic wastes 6 ± N/A 75 ± 13.5
Paper 13 ± 3.8 5 ± 0.9
Mixed office paper 10 ± 2.9 5 ± 0.9
Newspaper 3 ± 0.9 4 ± 0.7
Food waste 13 ± 3.8 0 ± 0.0

OCC (cardboard) 9 ± 2.6 26 ± 4.7
Metals 9 ± 2.6 61 ± 11.0
Tin/steel cans 4 ± 1.2 62 ± 11.2
Other 5 ± N/A 60 ± 10.8
Wood 9 ± 2.6 3 ± 0.5

Mixed plastics 8 ± 2.3 2 ± 0.4
Yard waste 4 ± 1.2 6 ± 1.2

Other 15 ± N/A 0 ± 0.0
Overall recycling rate 23.9