**3.1.2 Factors affecting the quality in container rate**

High levels of contamination can lead to considerable variations in the real quantities of material collected separately, its quality and its market price. To improve the *QCR* in precollection, the design of educational and social awareness campaigns and initiatives may be helpful. The input of contaminating materials may be due to different causes, of which the most common are:


As with the *SR*, the *QCR* is also affected by numerous factors. The most important of these are:


High levels of contamination can lead to considerable variations in the real quantities of material collected separately, its quality and its market price. To improve the *QCR* in precollection, the design of educational and social awareness campaigns and initiatives may be helpful. The input of contaminating materials may be due to different causes, of which the

Deposit of the correct material but in the wrong format, such as depositing plastic toys

As with the *SR*, the *QCR* is also affected by numerous factors. The most important of these

 *The number of products separated together*. The fewer the different materials deposited in the same container, the higher the *QCR* achieved. The highest levels are reached in specific or single-material containers. Paper-cardboard containers in Spanish cities can achieve a *QCRp* of 99.5% (Gallardo *et al*., 2010). Kelleher (1996), in a study on the *QCR* in door to door collection with four fractions (organic, glass, paper-cardboard and packaging) found that the packaging fraction (plastic, metal and cardboard packaging)

 *Degree of complexity in separation.* Citizens are more sensitive to generic concepts than specific details, and as such the more specifications asked for in the separation, the lower the *QCR* obtained. This was confirmed in the Mancomunidad (Commonwealth of Municipalities) of Pamplona (Spain) (MCP 1997), which specified what type of plastic had to be put in the packaging container, and only 34% of the plastic was in fact the

 *The pre-collection characteristics*. When materials are presented in open bins, contamination levels are lower (5-8%) as the fact that the containers are open means that their contents can be inspected. When closed containers or bags are used, contamination levels rise to 27-36% (White *et al*., 1995). Ayerbe (2000) presented a study conducted in a Spanish city which compared the quality of packaging collected in 1100 liters containers with an open lid and a closed lid (a system in which the container has an opening the size of a rubbish bag) and showed that in the former, the amount of improper materials (*QCRlp*= 50%) was much higher than in the latter (*QCRlp*= 74%) *Degree of public information*. Information campaigns have a major effect on the *QCR*. Various experiences have shown that if clear guidance is given to citizens on how to make the selection, they separate the different categories of waste perfectly. In the case of the Commonwealth of Pamplona (MCP, 1997), when there is separate collection in two fractions (recyclable materials and mixed waste), in 1995 the rural area had a *QCR*  in recyclable material containers of 58%. A year later, after an information campaign

differences shown are unclear and require further investigation.

Deposit of dirty material, such as glass packaging with metal caps.

had 35% of improper materials while the paper fraction only had 2%.

**3.1.2 Factors affecting the quality in container rate** 

Deposit of waste in the wrong container*.* 

in a container for plastic packaging.

most common are:

type specified.

are:

population. The study found that nationality that anticipated most in the recycling programme was the Indian-British minority (95.2%), followed by the British (78%) and the category of "other ethnic groups" (56.3%). The authors note that the reasons for the designed specifically for them, this had increased to 64%. According to Kimrey (1996), the information-education programme must be targeted at the entire family as if not, it is possible that not all members will collaborate in separate collection.
