| Waste | Density, kg/m3 | Density, lb/ft3 |
| Human anatomical | 800–1200 | 49 - 75 |
| Plastics | 80–2300 | 5 - 144 |
| Swabs, absorbents | 80–1000 | 5 - 62 |
| Alcohol, disinfectants | 800–1000 | 50 - 62 |
| Paper/cardboard | 65 | 4 |
| Glass | 2800–3600 | 175 - 225 |
| Waste | Density, kg/m3 | Density, lb/ft3 |
| Human anatomical | 800–1200 | 49 - 75 |
| Plastics | 80–2300 | 5 - 144 |
| Swabs, absorbents | 80–1000 | 5 - 62 |
| Alcohol, disinfectants | 800–1000 | 50 - 62 |
| Paper/cardboard | 65 | 4 |
| Glass | 2800–3600 | 175 - 225 |
| Textiles | 120 | 8 |
| Food waste | 600 | 47 |
| Yard waste | 125 | 8 |
| Sharps | 400 | 25 |
These values are important in incineration and pyrolysis. If your waste is wet, you need extra fuel and air compared to when you have dry waste. The combustion value of the waste (inherent physical characteristic) is an important design parameter. The rule of thumb is that the heating value should be at least 4000 BTU/lb, but really lower heating value materials are OK, so long as you are willing to spend the fuel to get to the target temperature. There is a difference between the Lower Heating Value of a material, which is also called the Net Calorific Value, and the Higher Heating Value. The Lower Heating Value is the actual heating value with the moisture inside in. The Higher Heating Value is what the material’s heating value would be if it were dry.
The EPA reports that MSW in the US has an average LWV of about 5000 BTU/lb.
| Waste | Heat of Combusion, kcal/kg | Heat of Combusion, BTU/lb |
| Human anatomical | 400 – 2000 | 720 - 3600 |
| Plastics | 7700 – 11000 | 13800 - 19800 |
| Swabs, absorbents | 3100 – 6700 | 5600 - 12000 |
| Alcohol, disinfectant | 6100 – 7800 | 11000 - 14000 |
| Glass | 0 | 0 |
| Bedding | 2200–4500 | 4000 - 8100 |
| Sharps | 0 | 0 |
| Gauze, pads, swabs, garments, | 3100–6700 | 5600 - 12100 |
Blood is 10 to 14 percent nitrogen. C/N ratio is about 0.8. The pH of blood in the body is 7.4. The specific gravity of bulk blood is 1.06 and of plasma is 1.025. Of course, blood waste is usually mixed with other stuff.
