Waste Characterization

Service Sector: Estimated Solid Waste Generation and Disposal Rates

NOTE: More recent estimates for waste disposal, diversion, and generation rates are available for a limited number of business groups. These can be found in Table 2 of CalRecycle's 2006 Waste Disposal and Diversion Findings for Selected Industry Groups.

The data on this page is not official CalRecycle data; please read our disclaimer and background information.

Also see listings for Commercial / Industrial / Institutional / Residential establishments.

Waste Generation Source	Gen. Rate	Units of Measure	Source Date	Source	Notes
Golf course	0.5	lb/golfer/day	Apr. 1992	Stevenson Ranch Draft Enviromental Impact Report (EIR) (Phase IV) , LA County	EIR cites source as Ultrasystems
Hotel	2	lb/room/day	Apr. 1992	Stevenson Ranch Draft EIR (Phase IV) , LA County	EIR cites source as Ultrasystems
Hotel/motel	4	lb/room/day	Dec. 1991	Draft EIR for North Hills Development (Santa Clarita)	EIR cites City of LA Bureau of Solid Waste, 1989, as source; assumes 750 SF/room
Hotel/motel	2	lb/room/day	May 1997	Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)	Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste"
Motel	3.6	lb/unit/day	Apr. 1993	Draft EIR for South Gate Commercial Corridors Redevelopment Project	Cites City of LA Dept. of City Planning document "EIR Manual for Private Projects" as source
Other services*	3.12	lb/100 sq ft /day	May 1997	Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)	Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste
Restaurant	1	lb/seat/day	Apr. 1992	Stevenson Ranch DEIR (Phase IV), LA County	EIR cites source as Ultrasystems; assumes 50% of restaurant is seating and 16 SF/seat
Restaurant	0.005	lb/sq ft/day	Dec. 1991	Draft EIR for North Hills Development (Santa Clarita)	EIR cites City of LA Bureau of Solid Waste, 1989, as source
Restaurant (fast food)	17	lb/employee /day	May 1997	Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)	Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste"

* Includes museums, art galleries, theaters, recreational services, health clubs, repair services.

CalRecycle does not officially endorse any of the waste generation rates in the preceding table, and cannot validate their accuracy. However, they may be useful in providing a general level of information for planning purposes.

The table contains information extracted from various sources, which are cited. Please note that several of the documents listed were developed by city or county planning or environmental departments. Your city or county planning or environmental agency may be a source of information for a local project.

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