Solid waste management

1. What is solid waste?
Solid waste is the unwanted or useless solid materials
generated from human activities in residential,
industrial or commercial areas. It may be categorized
in three ways. According to its,,
i. Origin (domestic, industrial, commercial, construction
or institutional)
ii. Contents (organic material, glass, metal, plastic paper
etc. )
iii. Hazard potential(toxic, non-toxin, flammable,
radioactive, infectious etc.)

2. Types of Solid Waste
It can be classified into different types depending on their source:
I. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): It consists of household waste, construction and demolition debris
(CnD), sanitation residue, and waste from streets, generated mainly from residential and commercial
complexes. As per the MoEF it includes commercial and residential waste generated in municipal or
notified areas in either solid or semi-solid form excluding industrial hazardous wastes but including
treated bio-medical wastes.
II. Industrial Solid Waste (ISW): In a majority of cases it is termed as hazardous waste as they may
contain toxic substances, are corrosive, highly inflammable, or react when exposed to certain things
e.g. gases.
III. Biomedical waste or hospital waste: It is usually infectious waste that may include waste like sharps,
soiled waste, disposables, anatomical waste, cultures, discarded medicines, chemical wastes, etc.,
usually in the form of disposable syringes, swabs, bandages, body fluids, human excreta, etc. These
can be a serious threat to human health if not managed in a scientific and discriminate manner.

3. Solid waste management
(SWM) is the systematic
process of controlling the
generation, storage,
collection, transportation,
treatment, and disposal of
solid waste in a manner that is
environmentally sound,
socially acceptable, and
economically feasible. It
encompasses a range of
activities aimed at minimizing
the adverse impacts of waste
on public health,
environmental quality, and
overall well-being
Components of solid waste management

4. 2.Storage
Storage is a system for keeping the materials after they have been discarded and prior to collection and final disposal.
Some storage facilities include:
•At first, small containers like dustbin for household waste.
•Secondly, large containers like communal bins, oil drums, etc. for commercial of industrial waste.
•In addition, shallow pits.
In determining the size, quantity and distribution of storage facilities things need to be considered are:
•Firstly, the number of users
•Secondly, the type of waste
•Further, maximum walking distance and
•The frequency of emptying.
1.Generation
Firstly, generation of solid waste means the stage at which people wish to get rid of the materials they possess which becomes
useless for them by throwing them in the dustbin.
Items which may be valueless to one individual may not be necessarily be useless to another.
Solid waste typically consists of various components, which can vary depending on the source,
location, and composition of the waste. Here are the main components of solid waste:

5. 3.Collection
Waste collection is a crucial phase of waste management system as if this phases is not done
properly then it will become difficult to manage the waste.
In other words, it simply refers to the process of collecting waste for transporting it to the final
disposal site.
Certainly, collection systems should be carefully planned to ensure that storage facilities do not
become overload.
4.Transportation
Transportation means moving the solid waste collected to the final disposal site through various
modes of transportation for e.g. open hand-cart, donkey- drawn cart, tractor and trailer, tipper truck
etc.
5.Treatment and processing :
Waste treatment includes various processes aimed at reducing the volume and harmful effects of
solid waste. This can include composting organic waste, recycling materials, or converting waste
into energy through methods such as incineration or anaerobic digestion.

6. 5.Disposal
Safe disposal is the final step of solid waste
management.
It includes for instance, burning, burial at landfill sites or
at sea of the unwanted solid waste.
The four main methods of solid waste disposal are:
•Land burial or land filling
•Incineration
•Composting
•Recycling/ Resource recovery.

7. Solid Waste Disposal Methods and
Management
Solid waste disposal and management involve a
variety of methods to handle and dispose of waste
materials generated by human activities. These
methods aim to minimize the environmental impact of
solid waste and promote sustainable waste
management practices.
1.Landfilling
Landfills are engineered sites where solid waste is
deposited and compacted. The waste is then covered
with soil to reduce odors, prevent the spread of
disease, and minimize environmental contamination.
Landfills should meet certain design and regulatory
requirements to prevent pollution of soil, groundwater,
and air.
2.Incineration
Incineration, or combustion, involves the controlled
burning of solid waste at high temperatures. This
method reduces the volume of waste and generates
energy through combustion. Proper air pollution
control systems are crucial to minimizing harmful
emissions into the atmosphere.

8. 3.Recycling
Recycling involves separating, processing, and
reusing materials from solid waste. Paper,
plastics, glass, metals, and some types of
organic waste are typical recyclable materials.
This methods lessens the need for raw
materials, mitigates energy usage, and lessens
greenhouse gas emissions.
4.Waste-to-Energy
Waste-to-energy methods include turning solid
waste into energy, frequently by means of
anaerobic digestion or incineration. These
methods generate heat or electricity from the
combustion or breakdown of waste materials.
Waste-to-energy facilities can help reduce
reliance on fossil fuel and minimize waste
volume.

9. 5.Composting
Compost connotes the biological decomposition of
organic waste. This method is environmentally
friendly and results in a valuable soil amendment that
can be used in agriculture and landscaping.
Composting reduces the volume of waste going to
landfills and helps divert organic waste from the
waste stream.
6.Hazardous waste treatment
Hazardous waste can be treated by chemical,
thermal, biological, and physical methods.
Chemical methods include ion exchange
, precipitation, oxidation and reduction, and
neutralization. Among thermal methods is high-
temperature incineration, which not only can
detoxify certain organic wastes but also can
destroy them

10. 1.Anaerobic Digestion
2.Aerobic Digestion
3.Pyrolysis
4.Gasification
5.Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT)
6.Mechanical Sorting
7.Material Recovery Facility (MRF)
8.Plasma Arc Gasification
9.Waste-to-Energy (WtE)
10.Source Reduction
11.Vermicomposting
12.Biological Oxidation
13.Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC)
14.Anaerobic Bioreactor
15.Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Production
16.Co-Combustion
Other solid waste management methods:

11. As a good citizen, there are several actions we can take to contribute to solid waste
management:
1.Reduce Waste: Minimize waste generation by practicing conscious consumption.
Buy only what you need, avoid single-use items, and choose products with
minimal packaging.
2.Reuse: opt for reusable items instead of disposable ones whenever possible. Use
refillable water bottles, bring your own shopping bags, and repair items instead of
replacing them.
3.Recycle: Sort your waste and recycle materials like paper, glass, plastic, and
metal according to local recycling guidelines. Make sure to rinse containers and
remove any contaminants before recycling.
4.Compost: Composting organic waste such as food scraps, yard trimmings, and
coffee grounds can divert a significant amount of waste from landfills while
producing nutrient-rich soil for gardening.
5.Proper Disposal: Dispose of hazardous waste, such as batteries, electronics, and
chemicals, at designated drop-off locations to prevent environmental
contamination.
6.Support Recycling Initiatives: Advocate for improved recycling infrastructure and
policies in your community. Encourage local businesses and institutions to
implement recycling programs.
7.Educate Others: Spread awareness about the importance of solid waste
management and teach others about responsible waste disposal practices.