SOLID WASTE

MANAGEMENT
Nandini S Shirbhate
([Link] Env. Eng.)
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
◦ Solid waste management (SWM) is associated with the control of waste generation, its
storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing and disposal in a manner that is in
accordance with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering, conservation,
aesthetics, public attitude and other environmental considerations.
◦ Put differently, the SWM processes differ depending on factors such as economic status (e.g.,
the ratio of wealth created by the production of primary products to that derived from
manufactured goods, per capita income, etc.), degree of industrialization, social development
(e.g., education, literacy, healthcare, etc.) and quality of life of a location.
◦ In addition, regional, seasonal and economic differences influence the SWM processes.
◦ This, therefore, warrants management strategies that are economically viable, technically
feasible and socially acceptable to carry out such of the functions
◦ Protection of environmental health.
◦ Promotion of environmental quality.
◦ Supporting the efficiency and productivity of the economy.
◦ Generation of employment and income.
◦ SWM has socio-economic and environmental dimensions. In the socio-economic
dimension, for example, it includes various phases such as waste storage, collection,
transport and disposal, and the management of these phases has to be integrated.
◦ In other words, wastes have to be properly stored, collected and disposed of by co-
operative management. In addition, poor management of wastes on the user side such as
disposing of wastes in the streets, storm water drains, rivers and lakes has to be avoided
to preserve the environment, control vector-born diseases and ensure water
quality/resource.
Waste generation
◦ Wastes are generated at the start of any process, and thereafter, at every stage as raw materials are
converted into goods for consumption. The source of waste generation, determines quantity, composition
and waste characteristics.
◦ For example, wastes are generated from households, commercial areas, industries, institutions, street
cleaning and other municipal services.
◦ The most important aspect of this part of the SWM system is the identification of waste.
◦ Storage is a key functional element because collection of wastes never takes place at the source or at the
time of their generation.
◦ The heterogeneous wastes generated in residential areas must be removed within 8 days due to shortage of
storage space and presence of biodegradable material.
◦ Onsite storage is of primary importance due to aesthetic consideration, public health and economics
involved. Some of the options for storage are plastic containers, conventional dustbins (of households),
used oil drums, large storage bins (for institutions and commercial areas or servicing depots), etc.
Obviously, these vary greatly in size, form and material.
Waste collection
◦ This includes gathering of wastes and hauling them to the location, where
the collection vehicle is emptied, which may be a transfer station (i.e.,
intermediate station where wastes from smaller vehicles are transferred to
larger ones and also segregated), a processing plant or a disposal site.
◦ Collection depends on the number of containers, frequency of collection,
types of collection services and routes.
◦ Typically, collection is provided under various management arrangements,
ranging from municipal services to franchised services, and under various
forms of contracts.
Transfer and transport
◦ The transfer of wastes from smaller collection vehicles, where necessary to overcome
the problem of narrow access lanes, to larger ones at transfer stations; the subsequent
transport of the wastes, usually over long distances, to disposal sites.
◦ The factors that contribute to the designing of a transfer station include the type of
transfer operation, capacity, equipment, accessories and environmental requirements.
Recovery and recycling
◦ This includes various techniques, equipment and facilities used to improve both the
efficiency of disposal system and recovery of usable material and energy.
◦ Recovery involves the separation of valuable resources from the mixed solid wastes,
delivered at transfer stations or processing plants.
◦ It also involves size reduction and density separation by air classifier, magnetic device
for iron and screens for glass.
◦ The selection of any recovery process is a function of economics, i.e., costs of
separation versus the recovered- material products. Certain recovered materials like
glass, plastics, paper, etc., can be recycled as they have economic value.
Waste disposal
◦ Disposal is the ultimate fate of all solid wastes, be they residential wastes, semi-solid
wastes from municipal and industrial treatment plants, incinerator residues, composts
or other substances that have no further use to the society.
◦ Thus, land use planning becomes a primary determinant in the selection, design and
operation of landfill operations. A modern sanitary landfill is a method of disposing
solid waste without creating a nuisance and hazard to public health.
◦ Generally, engineering principles are followed to confine the wastes to the smallest
possible area, reduce them to the lowest particle volume by compaction at the site and
cover them after each day’s operation to reduce exposure to vermin. One of the most
important functional elements of SWM, therefore, relates to the final use of the
reclaimed land.
On site handling of solid waste
◦ Domestic solid waste
◦ Commercial and industrial solid waste

On site storage
◦ Type of container
◦ Container location
◦ Public health and aesthetics
◦ Collection method used

Collection services
◦ Municipal collection services
◦ Commercial and industrial collection services
Collections systems
◦ Hauled Container systems
An empty storage container (known as drop-off box) is hauled to the storage site to replace the
container that is full of waste, which is then hauled to the processing point, transfer station or disposal
site.
◦ Stationary container systems
In this system, container used for the storage of waste remain at te point of collection. The
collection vehicles generally stop alongside the storage containers and collection crews load the waste
from the storage containers into the collection vehicles and then transport the waste to the processing,
transfer or disposal site.
Treatment and Disposal of Solid waste
1. On Site Disposal

2. Off Site Disposal