The quantity and composition of the waste has been analysed and thoroughly described. The analysis was performed last year, by Consultería Ingeniería Industrial y Ambiental ("Industrial and Environmental Engineering Consultancy" by Timon Skoddow: timonskoddow@yahoo.de) in Quetzaltenango.

Although the waste changes as the village grows and develops (population growth of more than 3% p.a. and considerable economic growth), these figures found an important base for our choice of strategy.

Composition
The by far dominant fraction in the waste is organic (80%), followed by plastics, paper and metals (see diagram right). The ratio of organic matter in Almolonga is about the inverse of the ratio in urban areas.

Quantity
The total annual waste generation is estimated to be close to 3.000 tons. This indicates an average of 0.55Kg waste pr inhabitant pr day. This is a relatively high number in a rural context, and nearly as high as for the capital.

The waste generation varies throughout the year, peaking in harvesting seasons at more than 72 tons weekly. During the religious celebration of "San Pedro Apóstol" in the end of June, the waste generation is extraorinary high, reaching around 20 tonns pr day, though this situation only lasts for a few days. In low season the average weekly waste generation is around 45 tons.