Characterization and quantification of household solid wastes in a Mexican city Sara Ojeda-Benitez *, Carolina Armijo de Vega, Ma Elizabeth Ramı ´rez-Barreto Instituto de Ingenierı ´a, Universidad Auto ´noma de Baja California, Blvd. Benı ´to Jua ´rez y Calle de la Normal S/N, Col. Insurgentes Este, C.P. 21280 Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico Received 1 June 2002; accepted 1 September 2002 Abstract This paper presents the results of a study carried out in a community of the city of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. The purpose of the study was to describe the household solid wastes (HSW) generated by the community in order to identify the potential of the wastes for recycling. The results obtained are used to make an evaluation of the recycling potential for other communities similar to the one studied. These communities are located in the area of greatest and most recent growth in the city. # 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Household solid wastes; Wastes management; Wastes composition 1. The management of household solid wastes Urban growth has caused an increase in the generation of wastes coming from activities carried on in homes, places of public and private service, buildings, and commercial and service establishments. According to Bernache et al. (1991) these are defined as municipal solid wastes, and their final deposition is the last stage in the sanitation system of any city. They are also related with the preservation of the environment, as well as with the health of the population. For this reason, their * Corresponding author. Tel./fax:  /52-686-566-4150. E-mail address: sara@iing.mxl.uabc.mx (S. Ojeda-Benitez). Resources, Conservation and Recycling 39 (2003) 211  /222 www.elsevier.com/locate/resconrec 0921-3449/03/$ - see front matter # 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0921-3449(03)00028-4