COMPOSITION AND CARBON FOOTPRINT ASSESSMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE: A CASE STUDY OF SCIENCE CENTER, VALAYA ALONGKORN RAJABHAT UNIVERSITY UNDER THE ROYAL PATRONAGE, PATHUM THANI PROVINCE COMPOSITION AND CARBON EMISSION FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE: A CASE STUDY OF SCIENCE CENTER, VALAYA ALONGKORN RAJABHAT UNIVERSITY UNDER THE ROYAL PATRONAGE, PATHUM THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

This study examines the composition and assesses the carbon footprint of municipal solid waste generated at the Science Center of Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage, Pathum Thani Province. Data collection was conducted from August 2023 to July 2024, with greenhouse gas emissions quantified using emission factors expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO_2eq), following the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization). The findings indicate that food waste constitutes the largest proportion of total waste at 51.21%, followed by paper (20.70%) and plastic (20.13%), whereas foam waste represents the smallest fraction at 0.35% and others at 7.61%. The total carbon dioxide emissions from municipal solid waste disposal amount to 2.118 kgCO_2eq per year. Food waste generates the highest carbon dioxide emissions at 1.106 kgCO_2eq per year, followed by paper at 0.518 kgCO_2eq per year and plastic at 0.323 kgCO_2eq per year. Metal and aluminum waste have the lowest carbon dioxide emissions, at only 0.004 kgCO_2eq per year.