With the increase in urbanization, continuous growth in the population and a changing consumption structure, solid waste is growing rapidly in Beijing (Liu et al., 2009). In particular, the increase in solid waste generated by urban households is prominent (Gu et al., 2015). Large amounts of solid waste can be recycled (Cheng, 2006, Wang et al., 2014). With the prominence of resource shortage and environmental pollution, the Chinese government is paying greater attention to the recycling of solid waste (Wang, 2006, Feng and Zhang, 2009). Recycling solid waste helps to both conserve resources and reduce pollution (Li, 2000, Yu and Wang, 2001). To recycle solid waste successfully, one must have knowledge on generation and collection, including the categories, quantities, participants and channels for disposal. The success of waste management planning lies in the related knowledge and data on waste generation and collection profiles (Chen and Chang, 2000, Zaman and Lehmann, 2013, Oribe-Garcia et al., 2015).

Several studies have been carried out to estimate waste generation in different countries and areas around the world. Most previous studies use statistical models such as factor models or regression models to identify the interrelationships between different socio-economic factors and urban waste generation (Afon and Okewole, 2007, Ojeda-Benítez et al., 2008, Lebersorger and Beigl, 2011). However, these models have two main drawbacks, data collection and identifying relevant explanatory variables within a heterogeneous group (Oribe-Garcia et al., 2015). Although many studies have been undertaken, due to the widespread distribution and diverse categories of urban household solid waste it is still difficult to obtain detailed information on waste generation and collection. In particular, information on participants, disposal methods, collection channels, and collecting proportions of different types of waste is still lacking. In China, some scholars have employed models to explore waste generation by different households or organizations in some provinces or cities of China (Li et al., 2011, Fu et al., 2015). However, there are no detailed data on recyclable household solid waste collection in Beijing. The Beijing city government needs this information to make appropriate policies and plans for waste management. To address this need for information, we undertook the first comprehensive study of recyclable household solid waste for Beijing. Due to our research goal, we did not use conventional household audits as our research method. Our method provides a new convenient and feasible way for the city government, which has no historical data or sufficient information on waste generation and collection, to gain data on waste management. The results of our research will be able to support decision-making processes for the Beijing government’s short-term planning for urban recyclable waste management.