Types of solids, Factors affecting the solid waste
generation,
Impact of solids, Recycling and reuse
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Since the beginning, humankind has been generating
waste, be it the bones and other parts of animals they slaughter for their food
or the wood they cut to make their carts and the ash by burning wood etc.,.
With the progress of civilization, the waste generated became of a more complex
nature. At the end of the 19th century the industrial revolution saw
the rise of the world of consumers. Not only did the air get more and more
polluted but the earth itself became more polluted with the generation of
non-biodegradable solid waste. The increase in population and urbanization was
also largely responsible for the increase in solid waste.
“Solid Waste means any garbage, refuse, discarded materials
including solid, semi-solid, sludge from industrial, commercial, agricultural
and mining operations, waste water treatment plant, and from community
activities”.
Solid waste that is not properly managed, especially
excreta and other liquid and solid waste from households and the community are
a serious health hazard and lead to the spread of infectious diseases.
Unattended waste lying around attracts flies, rats, and other creatures that in
turn spread disease. Normally it is the wet solid waste that decomposes and
releases a bad odor. This leads to unhygienic conditions and thereby to a rise
in the health problems. Plastic waste is another cause for ill health. Thus
excessive solid waste that is generated should be controlled by taking certain
preventive measures.
SEGREGATION OF SOLID WASTE:
Solid waste is of two types
1.
Biodegradable solid waste:
Waste which can be broken down into its base compounds by micro-organisms and
other living things, in a reasonable amount of time, is a Biodegradable waste. These include
organic waste, e.g. kitchen waste, vegetables, fruits, flowers, leaves from the
garden, human waste, manure, slaughter waste and paper.
2.
Non-biodegradable solid waste: Waste which cannot be broken down into its base compounds
by micro-organisms and other living things is a non-biodegradable waste.
Non-biodegradable waste can
be further segregated into:
a) Recyclable waste – plastics, paper, glass, metal, etc.
b) Toxic waste – old medicines, paints, chemicals, bulbs, spray cans, fertilizer and pesticide containers, batteries, shoe polish.
c) Soiled – hospital waste such as cloth soiled with blood and other body fluids. Toxic and soiled waste must be disposed of with utmost care.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOLID
WASTES
i.
Corrosive: these are wastes that
include acids or bases that are capable of corroding mental containers, e.g.
tanks
ii.
Ignitability: this is waste that can
create fires under certain condition, e.g. waste oils and solvents
iii.
Reactive: these are unstable in nature;
they cause explosions, toxic fumes when heated.
iv.
Toxicity: waste which are harmful or
fatal when ingested or absorb.
TYPES OF SOLID WASTE:
Solid waste
can be basically divided in to three types
1) House hold waste or Municipal
2) Solid Waste Industrial waste or Hazardous waste
3) Hospital waste or Biomedical waste
4) E-waste
1. Municipal Solid waste
/ House hold waste: Mostly consists of household waste, sanitation waste, waste
from streets, demolition debris that arises during the construction and
demolition of buildings and other construction activities.
2. Industrial waste / Hazardous
Waste: Consist of toxic chemical substances that are highly
dangerous to human, plants, animals and the overall environment. These include
old batteries, shoe polish, paint tins, medicines, and medicine bottles from
household. Metals chemicals, papers, pesticides, dyes, fertilizers,
hydrocarbons from oil refineries, rubber, plastic &polymer wastes from
industries.
3.
Biomedical Waste Hospital waste / Biomedical waste: Hospital waste is generated during the diagnosis, treatment,,
immunization of human beings and animals, and research activities. The hospital
waste includes solid waste in the form of disposable syringes, bandages, cotton
swabs, body fluids, human excreta, anatomical waste, bandages, expired
medicines, and other types of chemical and biological waste.
4.
E-waste: Discarded
electronic devices like computer, TV, music systems etc. today the e-waste is
the vastly growing solid waste in the word
SOLID WASTES COMPOSITION:
|
Type of waste
|
Percentage %
|
|
Organic
|
67
|
|
Paper
|
13
|
|
Plastic
|
12
|
|
Textile
|
3
|
|
Glass
|
2
|
|
Ferrous
|
1
|
|
Other
Metals
|
1
|
|
Hazardous
Waste
|
1
|
|
Total
|
100
|
DEGENERATION OF WASTE:
There are different categories of waste generated, each take
their own time to degenerate:
|
Type
of litter
|
Approximate
time it takes to degenerate the litter
|
|
Organic waste such as vegetable and fruit peels, leftover
foodstuff, etc
|
a week or two
|
|
Paper
|
10–30 days
|
|
Cotton cloth
|
2–5 months
|
|
Wood
|
10–15 years
|
|
Woolen items
|
1 year
|
|
Tin, aluminum, and other metal items such as cans 100–500
years
|
100–500 years
|
|
Plastic bags
|
One million years?
|
|
Glass bottles
|
undetermined
|
IMPACTS OF SOLID WASTES:
Health risks related
to the inadequate management of solid wastes includes
1.
Waste is a
serious health hazard and lead to the spread of infectious diseases. Unattended
waste lying around attracts flies, rats, and other that in turn spread disease.
2.
Air
pollution is another factor to be considered. Bad odor released from the solid
wastes causes headache, irritation, etc., in humans.
3.
Sharp
items such as needles and broken glass present a further hazard to people
walking through the area.
4.
Wastes
dumped along roads, riverbanks, abandoned quarries, seas, and lakes results in
the inevitable effect of contaminating water supplies as well as the whole
aquatic chain.
5.
Normally
it is the wet waste that decomposes and releases a bad odor & harmful gases.
6.
Other than
this, co-disposal of industrial/ residential hazardous waste with municipal
waste can expose people to chemical and radioactive hazards.
7.
Uncollected
solid waste can also obstruct storm water runoff, resulting in the forming of
stagnant water bodies that become the breeding ground for disease causing
agents.
8.
Heaps of
garbage presents a fire risk and smoke can also be a health hazard if the
burning waste contains items such as plastics or chemicals.
Impacts on human
health
Low birth weight, Cancer Congenital malformations,
Neurological, nausea and vomiting Increase in hospitalization of diabetic
residents living near hazard waste sites. Mercury toxicity from eating fish
with high levels of mercury.
Impacts Animals and
Aquatics life
Increase in mercury level in fish due to disposal of mercury
in the rivers. Plastic found in oceans ingested by birds, resulted in high
algal population in rivers and sea.
Impacts of solid waste
on Environment
Waste breaks down in landfills to form methane, a potent
greenhouse gas. Change in climate and destruction of ozone layer due to waste
biodegradable. Littering, due to waste pollutions, illegal dumping, Leaching:
is a process by which solid waste enter soil and ground water and contaminating
them.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
§ Proper and systemic management of solid waste.
§ Involving public in plans for waste treatment and disposal.
§ Provide the public accurate, useful information about the whole projects, including the risks and maintain formal communication with public.
§ Educate people on different ways of handling waste.
§ Waste Minimization is a process of reducing waste produce by individuals, communities and companies, which reduces the impact of chemical wastes on the environment to the greatest extent.
§ Household level of proper segregation of waste, recycling and reuse.
§ Process and product substitution e.g. use paper bag instead of plastic bags.
WASTE GENERATION
Waste generation include activities in which
material identified as no longer being of value and are either thrown away or
gathered together for disposal.
Collection
of waste
Elements of collection, includes not only the
gathering of solid waste and recyclable material, but also the transport of
these materials after collection, to the location where the collection vehicle
is emptied.
Factor
Influence Generation of MSW
1) Socio-economic background:
b) Income level
2) Cultural background
3) Locality:
a) Urban
b) Rural setting
Handling
and Separating Municipal Solid Waste
Waste handling and separation involves
activities associated with waste management until the waste is placed in
storage containers for collection. Handling also includes the movement of
loaded containers to the point of collection. Separating different types of
waste components is an important step in the handling and storage of solid
waste at the source.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE SOLID
WASTE GENERATION
Ø Lack of planning for waste
management while planning townships
Ø Lack of proper institutional set
up for waste management, planning and designing in urban local
bodies
Ø Lack of technically trained
manpower
Ø Lack of community involvement
Ø Lack of expertise and exposure to
city waste management using modern techniques
/ best practices
Ø Lack of awareness creation
mechanism
Ø Lack of Management Information
Systems
Ø Lack of funds with ULBs
Ø Indifferent attitude of ULBs to
levy user charges and sustainability
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid waste management
includes all activities that seek to minimize the health,
environmental and aesthetic impacts of solid wastes.
Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) Is much more than a
technological issue - it always also involves institutional, social, legal, and
financial aspects and involves coordinating and managing a large workforce and
collaborating with many involved stakeholders as well as the general public.
Challenges in Solid Waste Management
§ Inadequate service coverage and operational inefficiencies of services,
§ Limited utilization of recycling activities,
§ Inadequate landfill disposal, and
§ Inadequate management of hazardous and healthcare waste.
Factors Influencing Solid Waste Management
1. Waste amount and composition
2. Awareness and attitudes
3. Institutions and legislation
Four Rs (Refuse, Reuse, Recycle, Reduce) to be followed for
waste management
Refuse: Instead of buying new containers from the market, use the
ones that are in the house. Refuse to buy new items though you may think they
are prettier than the ones you already have.
Reuse: Do not throw away the soft drink cans or the bottles; cover
them with homemade paper or paint on them and use them as pencil stands or
small vases.
Recycle: Use shopping bags made of cloth or jute, which can be used
over and over again. Segregate your waste to make sure that it is collected and
taken for recycling.
Reduce: Reduce the generation of unnecessary waste, e.g. carry your
own shopping bag when you go to the market and put all your purchases directly
into it.
Recycling and Reuse: involves the collection of used and discarded materials
processing these materials and making them into new products.
TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
As cities are growing in size with a rise in the
population, the amount of waste generated is increasing becoming unmanageable.
The local corporations have adapted different methods for the disposal of waste
– open dumps, landfills, sanitary landfills, and incineration plants. One of
the important methods of waste treatment is composting.
1. Composting
2. Open dumps
3. Landfills
4. Sanitary landfills
5. Incineration plants
Composting:
One of the oldest forms of disposal of waste. It is the
natural process of decomposition of organic waste that yields manure or compost
organic matter constitutes 35%–40% of the municipal solid waste generated. This
waste can be recycled by the method of composting,, which is very rich in
nutrients. Composting is a biological process in which micro-organisms, mainly
fungi and bacteria, convert degradable organic waste into humus like substance.
This finished product, which looks like soil, is high in carbon and nitrogen
and is an excellent medium for growing plants. The process of composting
ensures the waste that is produced in the kitchens is not carelessly thrown and
left to rot. It recycles the nutrients and returns them to the soil as
nutrients.
Benefits:
a) Compost allows the soil to retain more plant nutrients over a longer period.
b) It supplies part of the 16 essential elements needed by the plants.
c) It helps reduce the adverse effects of excessive alkalinity, acidity, or the excessive use of chemical fertilizer.
d) It makes soil easier to cultivate.
e) It helps keep the soil cool in summer and warm in winter.
f) It aids in preventing soil erosion by keeping the soil covered.
g) It helps in controlling the growth of weeds in the garden.
Open dumps:
Open dumps refer to uncovered areas that are used to dump solid waste of
all kinds. The waste is untreated, uncovered, and not segregated. It is the
breeding ground for flies, rats, and other insects that spread disease. The
rainwater run-off from these dumps contaminates nearby land and water thereby
spreading disease. In some countries, open dumps are being phased out.
Landfills:
Landfills are generally located in
urban areas where a large amount of waste is generated and has to be dumped in
a common place. Unlike an open dump, it is a pit that is dug in the ground. The
garbage is dumped and the pit is covered thus preventing the breeding of flies
and rats. At the end of each day, a layer of soil is scattered on top of it and
some mechanism, usually an earth-moving equipment is used to compress the
garbage, which now forms a cell. Thus, every day, garbage is dumped and becomes
a cell. After the landfill is full, the area is covered with a thick layer of
mud and the site can thereafter be developed as a parking lot or a park.
Advantages:
a) Landfills are generally located in urban areas where a large
amount of waste is generated and has to be dumped in a common place.
b) Unlike an open dump, it is a pit that is dug in the groun.
c) At the end of each day, a layer of soil is scattered on top of it thus preventing the breeding of flies and rats and some mechanism, is used to compress the garbage, which now forms a cell.
d) After the landfill is full, the area is covered with a thick layer of mud and the site can thereafter be developed as a parking lot or a park.
b) Unlike an open dump, it is a pit that is dug in the groun.
c) At the end of each day, a layer of soil is scattered on top of it thus preventing the breeding of flies and rats and some mechanism, is used to compress the garbage, which now forms a cell.
d) After the landfill is full, the area is covered with a thick layer of mud and the site can thereafter be developed as a parking lot or a park.
Disadvantages:
a) All types of waste is dumped in landfills.
b) When water seeps through them it gets contaminated and in turn pollutes the surrounding area.
c) This contamination of groundwater and soil through landfills is known as leaching.
b) When water seeps through them it gets contaminated and in turn pollutes the surrounding area.
c) This contamination of groundwater and soil through landfills is known as leaching.
Sanitary landfills:
An alternative to landfills which will
solve the problem of leaching to some extent is a sanitary landfill which is
more hygienic and built in a methodical manner. These are lined with materials
that are impermeable such as plastics and clay, and are also built over
impermeable soil. Constructing sanitary landfills is very costly and they are having
their own problems. Some authorities claim that often the plastic liner
develops cracks as it reacts with various chemical solvents present in the
waste.
The rate of decomposition in sanitary
landfills is also extremely variable. This can be due to the fact that less
oxygen is available as the garbage is compressed very tightly. It has also been
observed that some biodegradable materials do not decompose in a landfill.
Another major problem is the development of methane gas, which occurs when little
oxygen is present, i.e. during anaerobic decomposition. In some countries, the
methane being produced from sanitary landfills is tapped and sold as fuel.
Advantages:
a) An to landfills which will solve the problem of leaching to
some extent,
b) It is more hygienic and built in a methodical manner.
c) These are lined with materials that are impermeable such as plastics and clay, and are also built over impermeable soil.
d) In some countries, the methane being produced from sanitary landfills is tapped and sold as fuel.
b) It is more hygienic and built in a methodical manner.
c) These are lined with materials that are impermeable such as plastics and clay, and are also built over impermeable soil.
d) In some countries, the methane being produced from sanitary landfills is tapped and sold as fuel.
Disadvantages:
a) Constructing sanitary landfills is very costly.
b) Some authorities claim that often the plastic liner develops cracks as it reacts with various chemical solvents present in the waste.
c) The rate of decomposition in sanitary landfills is also extremely variable, because less oxygen is available as the garbage is compressed very tightly
d) It has also been observed that some biodegradable materials do not decompose in a landfill.
e) Another major problem is the development of methane gas, which occurs when little oxygen is present.
b) Some authorities claim that often the plastic liner develops cracks as it reacts with various chemical solvents present in the waste.
c) The rate of decomposition in sanitary landfills is also extremely variable, because less oxygen is available as the garbage is compressed very tightly
d) It has also been observed that some biodegradable materials do not decompose in a landfill.
e) Another major problem is the development of methane gas, which occurs when little oxygen is present.
Incineration plants
This process of burning waste in large furnaces is known as
incineration. In these plants the recyclable material is segregated and the
rest of the material is burnt. At the end of the process all that is left
behind is ash. During the process some of the ash floats out with the hot air.
This is called fly ash. Both the fly ash and the ash that is left in the
furnace after burning have high concentrations of dangerous toxins such as
dioxins and heavy metals. Disposing of this ash is a problem. The ash that is
buried at the landfills leaches the area and cause severe contamination.
Burning garbage is
not a clean process as it produces tons of toxic ash and pollutes the air and
water. A large amount of the waste that is burnt here can be recovered and
recycled. In fact, at present, incineration is kept as the last resort and is
used mainly for treating the infectious waste.
What you can do to reduce solid waste
1.
Say no to all plastic bags
as far as possible. Reduce the use of paper bags also.
2. Reuse the soft drinks polybottles for storing water.
3. Segregate the waste in the house –keep two garbage bins and see to it that the biodegradable and the nonbiodegradable is put into separate bins and dispose of separately.
4. Dig a compost pit in your garden and put all the biodegradables into it.
5. See to it that all garbage is thrown into the municipal bin as the collection is generally done from there.
6. Carry your own cloth or jute bag when you go shopping.
7. When you go out do not throw paper and other wrappings or even leftover food here and there, make sure that it is put in the correct place that is into a dustbin.
8. As far as possible try to sell all the recyclable items that are not required to the Kabariwala (person who trades in waste).
2. Reuse the soft drinks polybottles for storing water.
3. Segregate the waste in the house –keep two garbage bins and see to it that the biodegradable and the nonbiodegradable is put into separate bins and dispose of separately.
4. Dig a compost pit in your garden and put all the biodegradables into it.
5. See to it that all garbage is thrown into the municipal bin as the collection is generally done from there.
6. Carry your own cloth or jute bag when you go shopping.
7. When you go out do not throw paper and other wrappings or even leftover food here and there, make sure that it is put in the correct place that is into a dustbin.
8. As far as possible try to sell all the recyclable items that are not required to the Kabariwala (person who trades in waste).
RECYCLING AND REUSE
Recycling involves the collection of used and discarded
materials, processing these materials and making them into new products. It
reduces the amount of waste that is thrown into the community dustbins thereby
making the environment cleaner and the air fresher to breathe.
Surveys carried out by Government and non-government agencies
in the country have all recognized the importance of recycling wastes. However,
the methodology for safe recycling of waste has not been standardized. Studies
have revealed that 7 %-15% of the waste is recycled. If recycling is done in a
proper manner, it will solve the problems of waste or garbage. At the community
level, a large number of NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and private
sector enterprises have taken an initiative in segregation and recycling of
waste (EXNORA International in Chennai recycles a large part of the waste that
is collected). It is being used for composting, making pellets to be used in
gasifiers, etc. Plastics are sold to the factories that reuse them.
The steps involved in the process prior to recycling include
a) Collection of waste from doorsteps, commercial places, etc.
b) Collection of waste from community dumps.
c) Collection/picking up of waste from final disposal sites.
a) Collection of waste from doorsteps, commercial places, etc.
b) Collection of waste from community dumps.
c) Collection/picking up of waste from final disposal sites.
The
schematic diagram below depicts recycling of wastes
|
Some items that can
be recycled or reused
|
|
|
Paper
|
Old copies
Old books Paper bags Newspapers Old greeting cards Cardboard box |
|
Plastic
|
Containers
Bottles Bags Sheets |
|
Glass and ceramics
|
Bottles
Plates Cup Bowls |
|
Miscellaneous
|
Old cans
Utensils Clothes Furniture |
Most of the garbage generated in the household can be
recycled and reused. Organic kitchen waste such as leftover foodstuff,
vegetable peels, and spoilt or dried fruits and vegetables can be recycled by
putting them in the compost pits that have been dug in the garden. Old
newspapers, magazines and bottles can be sold to the kabadiwala the man
who buys these items from homes.
In your own homes you can contribute to waste reduction and
the recycling and reuse of certain items. To cover you books you can use old
calendars; old greeting cards can also be reused. Paper can also be made at
home through a very simple process and you can paint on them.
Benefits / significant advantages
of Waste recycling: It
- · Leads to less utilization of raw materials.
- · Reduces environmental impacts arising from waste treatment and disposal.
- · Makes the surroundings cleaner and healthier.
- · Saves on landfill space.
- · Saves money.
- · Supplies valuable raw materials to industry
- · Stimulates the development of greener technologies
- · Reduces the amount of energy required to manufacture new products.
In fact recycling can prevent the creation of waste at the
source.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA
India’s population is 1210 million per 2011census. India
produces 42.0 million tons of municipal solid waste annually at present. Per
capita generation of waste varies from 200 gm. to 600 gm. per day. Per capita
waste generation is increasing by 1.3% per annum with urban population increasing
between3 - 3.5% per annum; and yearly increase in waste generation is around 5%
annually.
In India 1.15 lakh tone waste is generated in urban areas per
day. out of this 21,100 tone’s (18.35%) of waste generated in 6 mega cities,
19,643 tone’s (17.08%) of waste generated in metro cities waste generated in
other 42,635.28 tone’s (37.07%) of waste generated in other class-i. If waste
produced in all cities and towns
(83,378.28 tpd - 72.50%) is tackled, percentage of waste scientifically managed
would be 72.5% of total waste.
Urban local bodies spend around rs.500/- to rs.1500/- per ton
on solid waste management of which, 60-70% of the amount is on collection
alone, 20% - 30% on transportation. Hardly some fund spent on treatment and
disposal of waste and crude dumping of waste occurs in most of the cities.
REASONS FOR IMPROPER
MANAGEMENT OF WASTE
Ø Lack of planning for waste
management while planning townships
Ø Lack of proper institutional set up for waste management, planning and designing in urban local bodies
Ø Lack of technically trained manpower
Ø Lack of community involvement
Ø Lack of expertise and exposure to city waste management using modern techniques / best practices
Ø Lack of awareness creation mechanism
Ø Lack of Management Information Systems
Ø Lack of funds with ULBs
Ø Indifferent attitude of ULBs to levy user charges and sustainability.
Ø Lack of proper institutional set up for waste management, planning and designing in urban local bodies
Ø Lack of technically trained manpower
Ø Lack of community involvement
Ø Lack of expertise and exposure to city waste management using modern techniques / best practices
Ø Lack of awareness creation mechanism
Ø Lack of Management Information Systems
Ø Lack of funds with ULBs
Ø Indifferent attitude of ULBs to levy user charges and sustainability.
RECOMMENDED
APPROACHES TO WASTE MANAGEMENT
1) Possible Waste Management Options :
i.
Waste Minimization
ii.
Material Recycling
iii.
Waste Processing (Resource Recovery)
iv.
Waste Transformation
v.
Sanitary Landfilling – Limited land
availability is a constraint in Metro cities.
2) Processing / Treatment should be :
i.
Technically sound
ii.
Financially viable
iii.
Eco-friendly / Environmental friendly
iv.
Easy to operate & maintain by local
community
v.
Long term sustainability
RECOMMENDED
APPROACHES TO WASTE PROCESSING & DISPOSAL
1. Wealth from waste (processing of organic
waste)
i.
Waste to compost
a) Aerobic / anaerobic composting
b) Vermi-composting
ii.
Waste to energy
a) Refuse derived fuel (rdf) / pelletization
b) Bio-methanation
2. Recycling of waste
3. Sanitary landfilling
4. Treatment of bio-medical waste separately
INITIATIVES
BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
The GOI notified Bio-medical waste handling
rules in 1998 as well as Municipal solid waste management rules, 2000. Technical
manual on municipal solid waste management released as well as Technology
advisory group on municipal solid waste management and Inter-ministerial task
force on integrated plant nutrient management from city compost also
established. The GOI is providing Income tax relief to waste management
agencies and Public-private partnership in solid waste management & Capacity
building is promoted. The guidelines for setting up of regulatory authority on
solid waste management are issued. 12th finance commission
recommended the financial assistance for the solid waste management in India.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EFFECTIVE SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT
1. 12th finance
commission has recommended outsourcing of all activities under solid waste
management services.
2. The Urban Local Bodies
should concentrate on segregation of waste at source itself.
3. Waste processing like
composting, bio-methanation should be done through public Private partnerships
/ private sector
4. Final disposal viz. sanitary
landfilling to be done under public private partnerships / private sector
5. A central Bio-Medical Waste
Management Authority should be constituted for the effective management of
Bio-medical waste.
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