SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION

• Solid waste management may be defined as the control of generation, storage,

collection, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a
manner that is accord with the best principles of public health, economics,
engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations, and
that is also responsive to public attitudes.
The principal of sustainable waste management strategies are to:
• - Minimize waste generation.
• - Maximize waste recycling and reuse.
• - Ensure the safe and environmentally sound disposal of waste.
Integrated Solid Waste Management
• ISWM is the application of suitable techniques, technologies and management programs
covering all types of solid wastes from all sources to achieve the twin objectives of
• (a) waste reduction and
• (b) effective management of waste still produced after waste reduction
An economically and environmentally sustainable solid waste management system is effective
if it follows an integrated approach i.e. it deals with all types of solid waste materials and all
sources of solid wastes.
Source Minimisation/ Reduction at the source
• The highest rank of the ISWM hierarchy is waste minimisation or reduction at source,
which involves reducing the amount (and/or toxicity) of the wastes produced.
• Source reduction, also known as waste prevention or pollution prevention, is the
elimination of waste before it is created.
• Source reduction is decreasing the amount of materials or energy used during the
manufacturing or distribution of products and packages.
• It basically involves the design, manufacture, purchase or use of materials and products
to reduce the amount or toxicity of what is thrown away.
• Source reduction means stopping waste before it happens.
Reuse
• Reusable packaging systems can eliminate the need for disposable packaging, and
also provide better product protection, thus reducing product damage and losses
associated with it.
Recycling
• The next preferred approach involves recycling of products, or the composting of
organic matter.
• Recycling involves the collection, sorting, and processing of products into raw
materials that can be used as inputs for the production of new products.
• Recycling is collecting already used materials and making them into another
product. Recycling begins at the end of a product’s life, while source reduction first
takes place when the product and its packaging are being designed.
• The final stage is the use of recycled raw materials to create new products.
Waste-to-Energy
• The process of waste-to-energy (WTE) involves the capture of energy from trash.
• This is accomplished through a variety of approaches, including waste incineration, pyrolization,
anaerobic, digestion, gasification and landfill gas recovery.
• Types of energy recovery:
• Mass burn: Waste is burned in large facilities at very high temperatures. The energy that is created is
used for the mass burn process, as well as for electricity or heat.
• Refuse-derived fuel (RDF): High-quality, high-calorie, pre-sorted waste is incinerated and used to
produce fuel in industrial facilities (mostly cement factories and power stations).
• Gasification: The conversion of organic materials into a synthetic gas without combustion.
• Pyrolysis: The decomposition of organic material at high temperatures.
Disposal
• It is the final option in the waste hierarchy, however, a key component of integrated waste management.
• Landfills are the most common approach to disposal, with the design, operation and end-of-life
requirements strictly controlled.
• Even at landfills, there is attention to recovery. Methane gas, which is generated by decaying organic
matter, may be captured for energy.
 RESOURCE RECOVERY THROUGH
MATERIAL RECYCLING

Material recycling can occur through sorting of waste into different streams at the
source or at a centralized facility. Sorting at source is more economical than
sorting at a centralized facility.
• Sorting at Source
Sorting at source (home sorting) is driven by the existing markets for recyclable
materials and the link between the house holder and the waste collector.
• Centralised Sorting
Centralized sorting is needed wherever recyclable materials are collected in a
commingled (mixed) state
 RESOURCE RECOVERY THROUGH
WASTE PROCESSING

Biological Processes
• Biological treatment involves using micro-organisms to decompose the biodegradable components
of waste.
• In the aerobic process the utilizable product is compost. In the anaerobic process the utilizable
product is methane gas (for energy recovery).
Thermal process
Thermal treatment involves conversion of waste into gaseous, liquid and solid conversion products
with concurrent or subsequent release of heat energy. Three types of systems can be adopted,
• Combustion systems (Incinerators): Thermal processing with excess amounts of air.
• (b) Pyrolysis systems: Thermal processing in complete absence of oxygen (low temperature).
• (c) Gasification systems: Thermal processing with less amount of air (high temperature).
To be viable for energy recovery through thermal processing, the municipal solid waste must possess
a relatively high calorific value.
MATERIAL FLOW AND WASTE GENERATION
INITIAL STEPS IN SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT
 FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT

• The activities involved with the management of solid wastes from

the point of generation to final disposal have been grouped into
six functional elements:
• 1. Waste generation
• 2. On-site handling, storage, and processing
• 3. Collection
• 4.Transfer and transport
• 5. Processing and recovery and
• 6.Disposal.
• By considering each functional element separately it is possible
to identify the fundamental aspects and relationships involved in
each element and to develop where possible, quantifiable
relationships for the purposes of making engineering
comparisons analyses, and evaluations.
 FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT

Interrelationship of functional elements comprising a solid waste management System

 FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT

• Waste generation: Those activities in which materials are

identified as no longer being of value and are either thrown
away or gathered together for disposal.
• On- site handling, Storage, and processing: Those
activities associated with the handling, storage, and processing
of solid wastes at or near the point of generation.
• Collection: Those activities associated with the gathering of
solid wastes and the hauling of wastes after collection to the
location where the collection vehicle is emptied.
• Transfer and transport: Those activates associated with the
transfer of wastes from the smaller collection vehicle to the
larger transport equipment and the subsequent transport of
the wastes, usually over long distance to the disposal site.
• Processing and recovery: Those techniques, equipment and facilities used
both to improve the efficiency of the other functional elements and to recover
usable materials, conversion products, or energy from solid wastes.
• Disposal: Those activities associated with ultimate disposal of solid wastes
including those wastes collected and transported directly to a landfill site,
semisolid wastes (sludge) from wastewater treatment plants incinerator
residue compost, or other substances from the wires solid waste processing
plants that are of no further use.
SOLID WASTE GENERATION
 INTRODUCTION

• The characteristics, quantities, volume and composition of solid waste

generated may differ from one country to another and between urban
and rural areas.
• It depends mainly upon the customs, climate, living conditions and
economic standard of the area.
• As a consequence, if solid waste management is to be accomplished in
an efficient and orderly manner, the fundamental aspects and
relationships involved must be identified, adjusted for uniformity of data,
and understood clearly.
• Aesthetic, land use, health, water pollution, air pollution, and economic
considerations make proper storage, collection and disposal of solid
wastes municipal and individual functions that must be taken seriously.
•  Indiscriminate dumping of solid waste and failure of the collection
system in a populated community would soon cause many health
problems.
 GENERATION RATE OF MUNICIPAL
SOLID WASTE

Solid waste generation rates estimate the amount of waste created by residences or
businesses over a certain amount of time (day, year, etc.). Waste generation includes
all materials discarded, whether or not they are later recycled or disposed in a landfill.
Waste generation rates for residential and commercial activities can be used to
estimate the impact of new developments on the local waste stream. They may be
useful in providing a general level of information for planning purposes
Variation in Generation Rates
• The quantities of solid waste generated vary daily, weekly, monthly and
seasonally. Information on the variations to be expected in the peak Residential waste
generation rate usually peak during Christmas holiday season and during spring
house cleaning days. In many communities, unlimited collection service is provided
on designated clean-up days. In general, as the size of the waste source increases
(e.g. from individual residences to a community) the variation in the peak day, week
and month decreases.
 EXPRESSION OF UNIT GENERATION

• Determination of the generation rate of solid waste is important to obtain data

in order to determine waste volume and for subsequent solid waste
management.
• In addition to knowing the source and composition of solid waste, it is equally
important to have uniform units of expression.
• Household waste (kg/capita/day)
• Commercial waste (kg/x/day where x can be m2 of floor area of commercial
establishment, unit volume or dollar in sales, the number of employees, etc.)
• Institutional waste (kg/x/day where x can be the number of students, m2 of the
area of park or public place, number of visitors, etc.)
• • Industrial waste (kg/x/day where x can be unit volume or dollar of production
output, m2 of floor area, the number of employees, etc.)
ESTIMATION OF SOLID WASTE QUANTITIES
FACTORS AFFECTING WASTE
GENERATION RATES
Effect of Geographic and physical factors on waste Generation

• Geographic location:. Different climates influence both the amount of certain type of
solid wastes generated and the time period over which the wastes are generated.
• Season of the year. The quantities of certain types of solid wastes are also affected
by the season of the year. For example, the quantities of food waste related to the
growing season for vegetables and fruits, seasonal sampling also will be required to
assess changes in the percentage distribution of the waste materials comprising
municipal solid waste , especially in areas of the country with extensive vegetation.
• Frequency of collection. In general, where unlimited collection service is provided,
more wastes are collected. This observation should not be used to infer that more
wastes are generated. For example, if a homeowner is limited to one or two containers
per week, he or she may, because of limited container capacity, store newspapers or
other materials; with unlimited service, the homeowner would tend to throw them
away. In this situation the quantity of wastes generated may actually be the same, but
the quantity collected is considerably different.
• Characteristics of Service Area. Peculiarities of the service area can influence the
quantity of solid wastes generated. For example, the quantities of yard wastes
generated on a per capita basis are considerably greater in many of the wealthier
neighborhoods than in other parts of town. Other factors that will affect the amount of
 Review Questions
• What is the importance of knowing solid waste quantities?
• Explain the Functional elements of solid waste management system with
diagram.
• What are methods used to quantify solid waste quantities?
• How can you determine waste generation rates?
• One of the first steps in conducting a solid waste management study is
the identification of factors contributing to the generation of solid wastes
now and in the future. List the factors that affect the generation of
municipal, industrial, and agricultural solid wastes in your community.
Explain those that may affect generation in the future.