Waste Flow Diagram - A rapid assessment tool for mapping waste flows and quantifying plastic leakage - User Manual

Sep 12, 2026

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Waste Flow Diagram (WFD) provides a rapid assessment method for mapping waste flows and estimating plastic leakage in cities. The user manual supports practitioners by defining key concepts in municipal solid waste systems, including formal and informal management, uncollected and unmanaged waste, and the fates of waste streams. It is designed for users who need consistent inputs and outputs to improve waste-management decisions, strengthen quality assurance, and expand data availability for marine litter prevention.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages82

Reading Time29 min

AccessFree to download

Waste Flow Diagram overview

Introduction

Target audience

User requirements

Key concepts

Waste

Municipal solid waste (MSW)

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM)

Formal waste management

Informal waste management

MSWM system stages

Unmanaged waste

Uncollected waste

Fates

The Waste Flow Diagram model

Waste Flow Diagram A rapid assessment for mapping waste flows and quantifying plastic leakage User Manual IMPRINT Published by: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36 53113 Bonn Germany Tel. +49 61 96 79-0 Fax +49 61 96 79-11 15 E-Mail: [Info@giz.de](Info@giz.de)[ ](Info@giz.de)[www.giz.de](www.giz.de) The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the positions of participating authors, institutions or official policy positions of the governments involved during the application. S. Blume Dag-Hammarskjöld Weg 1-5 65760 Eschborn Germany Steffen. blume@giz Dr. C. Zurbrügg and I. Zabaleta Eawag-Sandec Überlandstrasse 133 8600 Dübendorf Dr. C. Velis and Dr. J. Cottom School of Civil Engineering University of Leeds Leeds LS2 9JT UK [c.velis@leeds.ac.uk](c.velis@leeds.ac.uk) J. Stretz Wasteaware Ltd. Wren House, 68 London Road, St Albans, Herts, AL11NG UK Published in September 2020 Citation: GIZ, University of Leeds, Eawag-Sandec, Wasteaware (2020) . User Manual: Waste Flow Diagram (WFD): A rapid assessment tool for mapping waste flows and quantifying plastic leakage. Version 1.0. February 2020. Principal Investigator: Velis C.A. Research team: Cottom J., Zabaleta I., Zurbruegg C., Stretz J. and Blume S. Eschborn, Germany. Obtain from: [http://plasticpollution.leeds.ac.uk](http://plasticpollution.leeds.ac.uk) [Copyright](Copyright:)[:](Copyright:) Waste Flow Diagram-A rapid assessment tool for mapping waste flows and quantifying plastic leakage potential in cities by GIZ is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-ND 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0) This license requires that (re-) users give credit to the creator. It allows them to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, even for commercial purposes. Cover Photo: Copyright © Vincent Kneefel / WWF-NL Acknowledgment: The development of the Waste Flow Diagram has been made possible partly by funding provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) . Experts from Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), University of Leeds, EawagSandec and Wasteaware Ltd. developed this methodology. External experts from public and private sector gave support and advice during the development. The developer team wishes to express sincere thanks to the collaborating experts: Ellen Gunsilius, Johannes Paul and Pascal Renaud (GIZ) and Anne Scheinberg (Springloop) . Great appreciation is expressed to external reviewers namely Prof. D.C. Wilson, Andy Whiteman and David Lerpiniere for feedback and shared valuable knowledge. Additionally, gratitude is expressed to the University of Leeds Digital Education Service and ETH Studios for their support in creating accompanying e-learning videos. Encouragement to share data and approach developer team: The development team encourages users of the WFD to share the results of their work with the developer team. This has a number of mutual benefits such as, supporting users in applying of the WFD, help to provide quality assurance, increase the availability of data for both waste management and marine litter, improve the robustness of the WFD and finally build a community of practice for data driven marine litter prevention. Feel warmly invited to contact the development team at [wfd.plasticpollution@leeds.ac.uk](wfd.plasticpollution@leeds.ac.uk or)[ or](wfd.plasticpollution@leeds.ac.uk or) find more information under STEP G. 1. WASTE FLOW DIAGRAM OVERVIEW........................................................................................................5 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Waste Flow Diagram (WFD)?

The WFD is a rapid assessment tool for mapping waste flows and quantifying plastic leakage in cities.

Which waste management contexts does the manual cover?

It covers municipal solid waste management, including formal and informal waste management, as well as system stages and waste that is uncollected or unmanaged.

What kinds of waste streams are discussed in the key concepts section?

The manual explains waste, municipal solid waste, uncollected/unmanaged waste, and the fates of waste streams within MSWM systems.

Sep 12, 2026

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