All selectively collected waste fractions present a percentage of waste that has been thrown away in that fraction despite not belonging to the typology of materials it groups together. These waste are called improper and determine the quality of the selective collection. This aspect is especially relevant for the organic fraction.
Evolution of the amount per inhabitant of selective collection in Catalonia for each raw fraction (gross selective collection - GSC) and resting the amount of impropers (net selective collection - NSC)
Source:Catalan Waste Agency
Note: This includes the ordinary selective collection fractions: paper and cardboard, light packaging, glass and organic waste. All waste that is thrown away in a fraction that does not contemplate its management for recycling (for example, a clothes hanger thrown away in the light packaging fraction) is considered improper waste.
The high percentage of improper materials in the municipal organic fraction stands out. In the organic fraction, the level of impropers during the last 10 years has been above 10%, reaching its maximum in 2012 with levels of almost 15%. Currently, it is 10.2%.
To move towards a society model that effectively uses resources and allows their recirculation into the system, it is essential to promote measures that guarantee an increase in the quality of selective collection, placing emphasis on the fraction of organic matter.