This study was undertaken to evaluate the characteristics of household solid waste (HSW) generation
and to identify opportunities and benefits for waste recycling in a typical developed city of Suzhou in
East China. A four-stage systematic tracking survey of 240 households was conducted for one week in
each season starting from the summer of 2011 to the spring of 2012. And the driving forces behind HSW
generation were analyzed using a multiple linear regression model. Results show that Suzhou’s HSW
generation rate was 280.5 g/cap/day, and the annual generation of HSW reached 568 thousand tons,
among which, 89.3% were compostable and recyclable waste. Education level of the household daily
manager has a major impact on HSWgeneration rate. And other factors, such as local customs and culture,
consumption patterns and residential lifestyles could also influence HSW generation. It could achieve
annual economic benefit of 15.9 million RMB, reduce 32.6 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions, and
supply nearly 3500 job opportunities in Suzhou if source separation practice well. Implications of our
results for HSW management in Suzhou and other Chinese cities were also discussed.