This book is the first volume in the series of training manuals on developing integrated solid waste management (ISWM) plans. It aims to build the capacity of practitioners and policy makers in waste characterization and quantification with projections for the future for all waste generating sectors viz.: residential, commercial, construction and demolition, healthcare and industrial sectors. The objective of the manual is to facilitate characterization of different types of wastes from each sector and quantification of the level of waste generation. The manual provides a methodology to conduct studies leading to collection and analysis of the data from different sectors. An example has been worked out to make this manual user friendly.