Selective collection of absorbent hygienic products: The results of a pilot test and waste characterization

•The separate collection of used absorbent hygiene products (AHP) has been studied.•The percentage of impurities in the AHP collected separately was very low.•The AHP in the mixed waste bin decreased 40 % after selective collection.•The best collection system for AHP from large producers is DtD.•Selectively collected and dried AHP can be valorize as recovered fuel, 3:1:1 class. Absorbent hygiene products (AHP) are single-use materials that are discarded after use. These products include diapers for babies and adults, menstrual pads, absorbent pads, and other personal hygiene items that represent a significant proportion of municipal solid waste (MSW). In this research, the impact of a pilot campaign for the separation of these AHP in a neighborhood of a city in eastern Spain has been studied. To this end, firstly, the percentages of AHP existing in the mixed waste bin (MWB) before and after the campaign were determined. A significant decrease in these materials was observed in the MWB (from 5 % to 3 % before–after the campaign). Secondly, the composition of AHP in the two types of selective collection bins (small red bins [SRB] located at the curbside and big red bins [BRB] for door-to-door collection in high–generation establishments such as nursing homes, kindergartens, etc.) was verified. Adults’ diapers were the most abundant fraction (46 %-63 %), especially in door-to-door collection. The generation rate of this type of waste (17 kg/inhab-year) and the efficiency of each type of collection were also determined. Finally, the chemical properties (humidity, heating value, volatile solids, ashes, chlorides, bromides, metals, carbon, sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen) of the AHP collected in the three types of containers (MWB, SRB, and BRB) were determined with the aim of proposing the possible recycling of this waste or energy recovery from it. It was observed that AHP from selective collection had better properties for recovery.