Efficient and statistically sound sampling protocols for estimating the quantity and composition of solid waste over a stated period of time in a given location, such as a landfill site or at a specific point in an industrial or commercial process, are essential to the design of resource recovery systems and waste minimization programs, and to the estimation of the life of landfills and the pollution burden on the land posed by the generation of solid waste. the theory developed in the study takes a significantly different approach over the more traditional sampling plans, resulting in lower costs and more accurate and precise estimates of these critical entities. A desktop computer program, called PROTOCOL, has also been developed to do the calculations required. (Copyright (c) 1993, ASCE.)