The dataset represents the waste management activity of “municipal solid waste” in a sanitary landfill. The recommended use of this dataset: for average municipal/public waste mixtures. It is not suitable to represent any single specific waste, such as plastics, paper, or cardboard. The characteristics of municipal solid waste in Maoming City, Guangdong Province are as follows: food waste 55.6%, paper 4.81%, rubber 11.6%, textile (fiber) 13.9%, wood/bamboo 5.54%, ash and soil 0%, brick, tile, and ceramic 0.58%, glass 5.23%, metal 2.75%, and other 0%. Moisture content 53. 98%, higher heating value 6411.08 kJ/kg, lower heating value 4528.36 kJ/kg. The carbon share of the initial waste, i.e., 60.4% of biogenic origin. The proportion of unoxidized and largely recoverable metals in the waste (excluding very small or very thin components): Iron: 60.03%; Aluminum: 17.81%; Copper: 72.83%. The overall degradation rate of waste over 100 years: 18.73%. The degradability of the waste fraction: Paper: 27%; Mixed cardboard: 32%. 4% plastics: 1%; laminated materials: 18%; laminated packaging, such as drink cartons: 18%; composite goods, like diapers: 18%; glass: 0%; textiles: 12%; minerals: 0%; natural products: 27%; compostable materials: 27%; inert metals: 10%; volatile metals: 0%; batteries: 0%; electronics: 0%; landfill gas capture and utilization generate 2.52E-04 kWh of electricity and 9.06E-01 MJ of useful heat.