Moisture Content
Moisture content of solid wastes is usually expressed as the weight of moisture per unit weight of wet material.
Moisture Content (%) = (Wet weight – dry weight)X 100/Wet weight
A typical range of moisture contents is 20 – 45% representing the extremes of wastes in an arid climate and in the wet season of a region having large precipitation. Values greater than 45% are however not uncommon. Moisture increases the weight of solid waste and therefore the cost of collection and transport. Consequently, waste should be insulated from rainfall or other
extraneous water.
Moisture content is a critical determinant in the economic feasibility of waste treatment and processing methods by incineration since energy (e.g. heat) must be supplied for evaporation of water and in raising the temperature of the
water vapour.
Climatic conditions apart, moisture content is generally higher in low income countries because of the higher proportion of food and yard waste.
