California Waste Management Board Waste Characterization Survey

Business waste compositions show the materials different types of businesses typically dispose, by percent. This data was collected by sorting garbage samples from individual businesses throughout California. We used federal SIC codes to develop the 39 business groups. Only waste disposed in dumpsters was sorted, so material recycled at the businesses that were sampled is not included in this data. We assume businesses of a certain type (say restaurants) dispose similar wastes, regardless of location or size of the business. However, this average data may not reflect the composition at a particular business or in a particular area. This data is a starting point to look at waste management options.

The link address is: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WasteChar/BizGrpCp.asp