ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It is with immense gratitude and humility that I express my heartfelt thanks to

everyone who played a pivotal role in the successful completion of my project
titled “WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING TECHN/OLOGY".
First and foremost, I am profoundly grateful to St. Joseph's College for Women
for providing me with this golden opportunity to work on such a meaningful
and impactful project. It has been an honor to be a part of this esteemed
institution, which constantly inspires its students to pursue excellence.
I extend my deepest appreciation to our respected Principal, Fr. Roger
Augustine, for his unwavering guidance, encouragement, and belief in my
abilities. His vision and support created an environment conducive to learning
and innovation.
I am sincerely thankful to Dr. K.K. Singh, whose expert supervision, valuable
insights, and guidance were instrumental in shaping this project and ensuring
its successful execution.
I am also deeply indebted to Miss Kopal Kashaudhan for her invaluable
assistance and meticulous analysis, which greatly enriched the quality of my
work.
My special thanks go to Mr. Gopal, our dedicated Lab Attendant, for his
constant support and cooperation throughout this endeavor.
Last but not least, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my dear friends for their
unwavering support, motivation, and encouragement, which kept me focused
and determined throughout this journey.
This project is a testament to the collaborative efforts of everyone involved,
and I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to learn and grow under
their guidance and support.
 PREFACE

Waste management and recycling technology are pivotal in addressing the

growing environmental challenges posed by waste accumulation. In today’s
rapidly developing world, industries, households, and municipalities generate
vast amounts of waste, much of which is not disposed of properly or efficiently.
The need for sustainable waste management practices has never been more
pressing, as the mismanagement of waste contributes to pollution, resource
depletion, and climate change.
The role of chemistry in waste management and recycling is crucial, as it
provides innovative solutions to convert waste materials into valuable
resources. Through chemical processes, various forms of waste can be
transformed into reusable materials, helping to close the loop of production
and consumption. Recycling technologies harness the power of chemical
reactions to break down waste, refine it, and convert it into new products,
thereby reducing the need for virgin raw materials and minimizing
environmental harm.
This project explores the principles and advancements in waste management
and recycling technology, with a focus on the chemical methods employed to
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these processes. By understanding
and developing chemical processes for waste treatment, we can mitigate the
environmental impact of waste and create a more sustainable future. This
study will delve into various aspects of recycling, including material recovery,
waste-to-energy technologies, and the latest innovations in waste processing,
all of which are driven by advancements in chemistry.
The integration of waste management practices with innovative chemical
technologies will not only improve environmental sustainability but also
contribute to the development of a circular economy, where waste is
minimized, resources are conserved, and products are continually repurposed
for new uses. Through this project, we aim to emphasize the importance of
chemistry in advancing waste management and highlight its potential in
shaping a cleaner, more sustainable world.
 Introduction

Waste management encompasses a multidisciplinary approach that integrates

engineering principles, economics, urban and regional planning, management
techniques, and social sciences. Its objective is to minimize the overall wastage
within the system under consideration. A systematic waste management
approach should address all types of resources at every stage. Notably,
material constitutes a significant portion of the total production cost, making
the management of wasted materials critically important .

According to the Environmental Protection Act of 1990, waste is defined as any

undesirable material. This includes scrap material, effluents, or any surplus
substance or item requiring disposal due to being damaged, worn out,
contaminated, or otherwise polluted. Wastes are essentially those substances
or objects that no longer serve a purpose within the business cycle or chain of
utility. For instance, glass bottles that are returned or reused in their original
form are not considered waste, whereas glass bottles collected by the public
and sent for remoulding are classified as waste until they have been recovered.
The Department of the Environment identifies four broad categories of
potential waste:

Items that are worn but still functional and can be used for their intended
purpose (potentially after repair).
Substances or items that can be immediately utilized for purposes other than
by specialized waste recovery entities. For example, ash from a power station
used in building materials.
Degraded substances or items that can only be utilized by specialized waste
recovery establishments. These remain classified as waste, even if sent for
recovery for value, such as contaminated solvents or scrap. They are only
considered recovered when the process is complete.
Substances that the possessor no longer wants and for which they must pay for
proper disposal.

Types of Waste
The rapid pace of economic development has led to an improved standard of
living worldwide. This, in turn, has resulted in increased material consumption
and subsequently, higher waste generation. Solid waste materials generated,
particularly in urban areas, include:

1. Organic waste
2. Plastic waste
3. Metal waste materials
4. Glass waste materials
5. Paper waste materials
6. Electronic waste
7. Other materials like ash, sand, grit, etc.

Waste Management Process

Ensuring Environmental Health and Resource Recovery. Waste management
encompasses the collection, transportation, processing, recycling, or disposal
of materials generated through human activity. This process is primarily aimed
at mitigating their impact on both human health and the environment.
Additionally, waste management strives to extract valuable resources from
these materials. It covers a wide range of substances, including solid, liquid,
gaseous, and radioactive, each requiring specialized methods and expertise for
proper handling.

Studies have shown that waste management practices vary depending on

factors like a nation’s level of development, urban or rural settings, and
whether the waste is generated by residential or industrial sources. Typically,
local government authorities oversee the management of non-hazardous
waste from homes and institutions in metropolitan areas, while generators of
non-hazardous commercial and industrial waste usually handle its
management.

An efficient waste management system plays a crucial role in ensuring the

smooth operation of various interconnected systems. These systems are vital
for tasks such as waste containment and leachate management. Without
regular examination, maintenance, improvement, and assessment of the
components of a waste management system, even the most well-designed unit
may not function optimally.

Effective implementation of a waste management system can lead to reduced

costs in both the short and long term, provide protection for workers and local
communities, and foster positive community relations. Furthermore, a
successful waste management system necessitates the establishment of
procedures for monitoring performance and tracking progress towards clearly
defined environmental objectives.
Objective of Waste Management

The primary aim of waste management is to reduce waste generation,

ultimately striving for an ideal system. Conversely, resource management seeks
to maximize the efficient use of available resources. Both waste and resource
management share a common objective: the optimal utilization of resources to
enhance system efficiency and growth. However, their approaches differ.

To accomplish this objective, it is crucial to:

1. Prevent the generation of waste.

2. Encourage the reuse of waste.
3. Support the biological recovery and material recycling of waste.
4. Promote the energy utilization of waste that isn’t suitable for recycling.
 5. Ensure that the treatment and disposal of waste do not result in any
harmful impacts.
Management literature has established that resource and waste management
are interdependent and complement each other in achieving these goals.

Different Methods of waste disposal

The different methods of waste disposal have been mentioned below:

1. Landfill

In the age-old ritual of waste management, the Landfill emerges as a solemn

guardian. It cradles our refuse in vacant urban spaces, a sacred resting place for
our discarded tales. Covered in a quilt of soil, it guards against the specter of
contamination. And trees, nature’s sentinels, are called upon, their roots
tenderly embracing the soil, fortifying this sanctuary.
The Landfill, if choreographed with care, waltzes as an economical and hygienic
custodian of our waste. Yet, in the chaos of urban life, unplanned landfills
sprout like wildflowers in forgotten corners, birthing environmental and health
specters. Poisonous gases escape, toxic secrets seep, and the once vibrant
vegetation bows in sorrow. The Landfill, a testament to our stewardship, a tale
of caution, a dance of contradictions.

2. Incineration

Spittelau incineration plant in Vienna

Incineration is a disposal method in which solid organic wastes are subjected to
combustion so as to convert them into residue and gaseous products. This
method is useful for the disposal of both municipal solid waste and solid
residue from wastewater treatment. This process reduces the volume of solid
waste by 80 to 95 percent. Incineration and other high-temperature waste
treatment systems are sometimes described as "thermal treatment".
Incinerators convert waste materials into heat, gas, steam, and ash.
Incineration is carried out both on a small scale by individuals and on a large
scale by industry. It is used to dispose of solid, liquid, and gaseous waste. It is
recognized as a practical method of disposing of certain hazardous
waste materials (such as biological medical waste). Incineration is a
controversial method of waste disposal, due to issues such as the emission of
gaseous pollutants including substantial quantities of carbon dioxide.
Incineration is common in countries such as Japan where land is more scarce,
as the facilities generally do not require as much area as landfills. Waste-to-
energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) are broad terms for facilities that
burn waste in a furnace or boiler to generate heat, steam, or electricity.
Combustion in an incinerator is not always perfect and there have been
concerns about pollutants in gaseous emissions from incinerator stacks.
Particular concern has focused on some very persistent organic
compounds such as dioxins, furans, and PAHs, which may be created and which
may have serious environmental consequences and some heavy metals such
as mercury and lead which can be volatilised in the combustion process..
Tarastejärvi Incineration Plant in Tampere, Finland

3. Pyrolysis
This process changes the condition of the solid into a liquid, and the liquid into
a gas. The creation of energy can then be done using these treatment
byproducts.

4. Gasification
The substance to be treated is immediately transformed into SynGas (synthetic
gas), which is made up of carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
 5. Bioremediation
Utilizing living creatures, primarily microbes, to transform environmental
pollutants into less hazardous forms is known as bioremediation. For instance,
a pseudonymous microbe may break down artificial pesticide.

The use of bioremediation techniques reduces exposure hazards for workers

because they are more affordable than conventional approaches and allow for
the on-site treatment of contaminants.
Waste Management Expamples

A specialized trash collection truck providing regular municipal trash collection

in a neighborhood in Stockholm, Sweden
Waste pickers burning e-waste in Agbogbloshie, a site near Accra in Ghana that
processes large volumes of international electronic waste. The pickers burn the
plastics off of materials and collect the metals for recycling, However, this
process exposes pickers and their local communities to toxic fumes.
Containers for consumer waste collection at the Gdańsk University of
Technology
A recycling and waste-to-energy plant for waste that is not exported
Waste management or waste disposal includes the processes and actions
required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes
the collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste, together with
monitoring and regulation of the waste management process and waste-
related laws, technologies, and economic mechanisms.
Waste can either be solid, liquid, or gases and each type has different methods
of disposal and management. Waste management deals with all types of
waste, including industrial, biological, household, municipal,
organic, biomedical, radioactive wastes. In some cases, waste can pose a threat
to human health. Health issues are associated with the entire process of waste
management. Health issues can also arise indirectly or directly: directly through
the handling of solid waste, and indirectly through the consumption of water,
soil, and food. Waste is produced by human activity, for example, the
extraction and processing of raw materials. Waste management is intended to
reduce the adverse effects of waste on human health, the environment,
planetary resources, and aesthetics.
The aim of waste management is to reduce the dangerous effects of such
waste on the environment and human health. A big part of waste management
deals with municipal solid waste, which is created by industrial, commercial,
and household activity.
Waste management practices are not the same across countries
(developed and developing nations); regions (urban and rural areas),
and residential and industrial sectors can all take different approaches.
Proper management of waste is important for building sustainable and liveable
cities, but it remains a challenge for many developing countries and cities. A
report found that effective waste management is relatively expensive, usually
comprising 20%–50% of municipal budgets. Operating this essential municipal
service requires integrated systems that are efficient, sustainable, and socially
supported. A large portion of waste management practices deal with municipal
solid waste (MSW) which is the bulk of the waste that is created by household,
industrial, and commercial activity. According to the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC), municipal solid waste is expected to reach
approximately 3.4 Gt by 2050; however, policies and lawmaking can reduce the
amount of waste produced in different areas and cities of the world. Measures
of waste management include measures for integrated techno-economic
mechanisms of a circular economy, effective disposal facilities, export and
import control and optimal sustainable design of products that are produced.
In the first systematic review of the scientific evidence around global waste, its
management, and its impact on human health and life, authors concluded that
about a fourth of all the municipal solid terrestrial waste is not collected and an
additional fourth is mismanaged after collection, often being burned in open
and uncontrolled fires – or close to one billion tons per year when combined.
They also found that broad priority areas each lack a "high-
quality research base", partly due to the absence of "substantial research
funding", which motivated scientists often require.[12][13] Electronic waste
(ewaste) includes discarded computer monitors, motherboards, mobile phones
and chargers, compact discs (CDs), headphones, television sets, air
conditioners and refrigerators. According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2017,
India generates ~ 2 million tonnes (Mte) of e-waste annually and ranks fifth
among the e-waste producing countries, after the United States, the People's
Republic of China, Japan and Germany.
Effective 'Waste Management' involves the practice of '7R' - 'R'efuse, 'R'educe',
'R'euse, 'R'epair, 'R'epurpose, 'R'ecycle and 'R'ecover. Amongst these '7R's, the
first two ('Refuse' and 'Reduce') relate to the non-creation of waste - by
refusing to buy non-essential products and by reducing consumption. The next
two ('Reuse' and 'Repair') refer to increasing the usage of the existing product,
with or without the substitution of certain parts of the product. 'Repurpose'
and 'Recycle' involve maximum usage of the materials used in the product, and
'Recover' is the least preferred and least efficient waste management practice
involving the recovery of embedded energy in the waste material. For example,
burning the waste to produce heat (and electricity from heat). Certain non-
biodegradable products are also dumped away as 'Disposal', and this is not a
"waste-'management'" practice.
Principles of waste management

Diagram of the waste hierarchy

Waste hierarchy
The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, which
classifies waste management strategies according to their desirability in terms
of waste minimisation. The waste hierarchy is the bedrock of most waste
minimization strategies. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the
maximum practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum
amount of end waste; see: resource recovery. The waste hierarchy is
represented as a pyramid because the basic premise is that policies should
promote measures to prevent the generation of waste. The next step or
preferred action is to seek alternative uses for the waste that has been
generated, i.e., by re-use. The next is recycling which includes composting.
Following this step is material recovery and waste-to-energy. The final action is
disposal, in landfills or through incineration without energy recovery. This last
step is the final resort for waste that has not been prevented, diverted, or
recovered. The waste hierarchy represents the progression of a product or
material through the sequential stages of the pyramid of waste management.
The hierarchy represents the latter parts of the life-cycle for each product.
Life-cycle of a product
The life-cycle of a product, often referred to as the product lifecycle,
encompasses several key stages that begin with the design phase and proceed
through manufacture, distribution, and primary use. After these initial stages,
the product moves through the waste hierarchy's stages of reduce, reuse, and
recycle. Each phase in this lifecycle presents unique opportunities for policy
intervention, allowing stakeholders to rethink the necessity of the product,
redesign it to minimize its waste potential, and extend its useful life.
During the design phase, considerations can be made to ensure that products
are created with fewer resources, are more durable, and are easier to repair or
recycle. This stage is critical for embedding sustainability into the product from
the outset. Designers can select materials that have lower environmental
impacts and create products that require less energy and resources to produce.
Manufacturing offers another crucial point for reducing waste and conserving
resources. Innovations in production processes can lead to more efficient use
of materials and energy, while also minimizing the generation of by-products
and emissions. Adopting cleaner production techniques and improving
manufacturing efficiency can significantly reduce the environmental footprint
of a product.
Distribution involves the logistics of getting the product from the manufacturer
to the consumer. Optimizing this stage can involve reducing packaging,
choosing more sustainable transportation methods, and improving supply
chain efficiencies to lower the overall environmental impact. Efficient logistics
planning can also help in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas
emissions associated with the transport of goods.
The primary use phase of a product's lifecycle is where consumers interact with
the product. Policies and practices that encourage responsible use, regular
maintenance, and the proper functioning of products can extend their lifespan,
thus reducing the need for frequent replacements and decreasing overall
waste.
Once the product reaches the end of its primary use, it enters the waste
hierarchy's stages. The first stage, reduction, involves efforts to decrease the
volume and toxicity of waste generated. This can be achieved by encouraging
consumers to buy less, use products more efficiently, and choose items with
minimal packaging.
The reuse stage encourages finding alternative uses for products, whether
through donation, resale, or repurposing. Reuse extends the life of products
and delays their entry into the waste stream.
Recycling, the final preferred stage, involves processing materials to create new
products, thus closing the loop in the material lifecycle. Effective recycling
programs can significantly reduce the need for virgin materials and the
environmental impacts associated with extracting and processing those
materials.
Product life-cycle analysis (LCA) is a comprehensive method for evaluating the
environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life. By
systematically assessing these impacts, LCA helps identify opportunities to
improve environmental performance and resource efficiency. Through
optimizing product designs, manufacturing processes, and end-of-life
management, LCA aims to maximize the use of the world's limited resources
and minimize the unnecessary generation of waste.
In summary, the product lifecycle framework underscores the importance of a
holistic approach to product design, use, and disposal. By considering each
stage of the lifecycle and implementing policies and practices that promote
sustainability, it is possible to significantly reduce the environmental impact of
products and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Resource efficiency
Resource efficiency reflects the understanding that global economic growth
and development can not be sustained at current production and consumption
patterns. Globally, humanity extracts more resources to produce goods than
the planet can replenish. Resource efficiency is the reduction of the
environmental impact from the production and consumption of these goods,
from final raw material extraction to the last use and disposal.
Polluter-pays principle
The polluter-pays principle mandates that the polluting parties pay for the
impact on the environment. With respect to waste management, this generally
refers to the requirement for a waste generator to pay for appropriate disposal
of the unrecoverable materials.
History
Throughout most of history, the amount of waste generated by humans was
insignificant due to low levels of population density and exploitation of natural
resources. Common waste produced during pre-modern times was mainly
ashes and human biodegradable waste, and these were released back into the
ground locally, with minimum environmental impact. Tools made out
of wood or metal were generally reused or passed down through the
generations.
However, some civilizations have been more profligate in their waste output
than others. In particular, the Maya of Central America had a fixed monthly
ritual, in which the people of the village would gather together and burn their
rubbish in large dumps.
Modern era
Edwin Chadwick's 1842 report The Sanitary Condition of the Labouring
Population was influential in securing the passage of the first legislation aimed
at waste clearance and disposal.
Following the onset of the Industrial Revolution, industrialisation, and the
sustained urban growth of large population centres in England, the buildup of
waste in the cities caused a rapid deterioration in levels of sanitation and the
general quality of urban life. The streets became choked with filth due to the
lack of waste clearance regulations.[22] Calls for the establishment of municipal
authority with waste removal powers occurred as early as 1751, when Corbyn
Morris in London proposed that "... as the preservation of the health of the
people is of great importance, it is proposed that the cleaning of this city,
should be put under one uniform public management, and all the filth
be...conveyed by the Thames to proper distance in the country".
However, it was not until the mid-19th century, spurred by increasingly
devastating cholera outbreaks and the emergence of a public health debate
that the first legislation on the issue emerged. Highly influential in this new
focus was the report The Sanitary Condition of the Labouring Population in
1842 of the social reformer, Edwin Chadwick, in which he argued for the
importance of adequate waste removal and management facilities to improve
the health and wellbeing of the city's population.
In the UK, the Nuisance Removal and Disease Prevention Act of 1846 began
what was to be a steadily evolving process of the provision of regulated waste
management in London. The Metropolitan Board of Works was the first
citywide authority that centralized sanitation regulation for the rapidly
expanding city, and the Public Health Act 1875 made it compulsory for every
household to deposit their weekly waste in "moveable receptacles" for
disposal—the first concept for a dustbin. In the Ashanti Empire by the 19th
century, there existed a Public Works Department that was responsible for
sanitation in Kumasi and its suburbs. They kept the streets clean daily and
commanded civilians to keep their compounds clean and weeded.
Manlove, Alliott & Co. Ltd. 1894 destructor furnace. The use of incinerators for
waste disposal became popular in the late 19th century.
The dramatic increase in waste for disposal led to the creation of the
first incineration plants, or, as they were then called, "destructors". In 1874, the
first incinerator was built in Nottingham by Manlove, Alliott & Co. Ltd. to the
design of Alfred Fryer. However, these were met with opposition on account of
the large amounts of ash they produced and which wafted over the
neighbouring areas.
Similar municipal systems of waste disposal sprung up at the turn of the 20th
century in other large cities of Europe and North America. In 1895, New York
City became the first U.S. city with public-sector garbage management.
Early garbage removal trucks were simply open-bodied dump trucks pulled by a
team of horses. They became motorized in the early part of the 20th century
and the first closed-body trucks to eliminate odours with a dumping lever
mechanism were introduced in the 1920s in Britain. These were soon equipped
with 'hopper mechanisms' where the scooper was loaded at floor level and
then hoisted mechanically to deposit the waste in the truck. The Garwood Load
Packer was the first truck in 1938, to incorporate a hydraulic compactor.
Waste handling and transport
Moulded plastic, wheeled waste bin in Berkshire, England
Waste collection methods vary widely among different countries and regions.
Domestic waste collection services are often provided by local government
authorities, or by private companies for industrial and commercial waste. Some
areas, especially those in less developed countries, do not have formal waste-
collection systems.
Waste handling and transport
Curbside collection is the most common method of disposal in most European
countries, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and many other parts of
the developed world in which waste is collected at regular intervals by
specialised trucks. This is often associated with curb-side waste segregation. In
rural areas, waste may need to be taken to a transfer station. Waste collected is
then transported to an appropriate disposal facility. In some areas, vacuum
collection is used in which waste is transported from the home or commercial
premises by vacuum along small bore tubes. Systems are in use in Europe and
North America.
In some jurisdictions, unsegregated waste is collected at the curb-side or from
waste transfer stations and then sorted into recyclables and unusable waste.
Such systems are capable of sorting large volumes of solid waste, salvaging
recyclables, and turning the rest into bio-gas and soil conditioners. In San
Francisco, the local government established its Mandatory Recycling and
Composting Ordinance in support of its goal of "Zero waste by 2020", requiring
everyone in the city to keep recyclables and compostables out of the landfill.
The three streams are collected with the curbside "Fantastic 3" bin system –
blue for recyclables, green for compostables, and black for landfill-bound
materials – provided to residents and businesses and serviced by San
Francisco's sole refuse hauler, Recology. The city's "Pay-As-You-Throw" system
charges customers by the volume of landfill-bound materials, which provides a
financial incentive to separate recyclables and compostables from other
discards. The city's Department of the Environment's Zero Waste Program has
led the city to achieve 80% diversion, the highest diversion rate in North
America. Other businesses such as Waste Industries use a variety of colors to
distinguish between trash and recycling cans. In addition, in some areas of the
world the disposal of municipal solid waste can cause environmental strain due
to official not having benchmarks that help measure the environmental
sustainability of certain practices.

Waste segregation
Recycling point at the Gdańsk University of Technology
This is the separation of wet waste and dry waste. The purpose is to recycle dry
waste easily and to use wet waste as compost. When segregating waste, the
amount of waste that gets landfilled reduces considerably, resulting in lower
levels of air and water pollution. Importantly, waste segregation should be
based on the type of waste and the most appropriate treatment and disposal.
This also makes it easier to apply different processes to the waste, like
composting, recycling, and incineration. It is important to practice waste
management and segregation as a community. One way to practice waste
management is to ensure there is awareness. The process of waste segregation
should be explained to the community.
Segregated waste is also often cheaper to dispose of because it does not
require as much manual sorting as mixed waste. There are a number of
important reasons why waste segregation is important such as legal
obligations, cost savings, and protection of human health and the environment.
Institutions should make it as easy as possible for their staff to correctly
segregate their waste. This can include labelling, making sure there are enough
accessible bins, and clearly indicating why segregation is so important. Labeling
is especially important when dealing with nuclear waste due to how much
harm to human health the excess products of the nuclear cycle can cause.

Hazards of waste management

There are multiple facets of waste management that all come with hazards,
both for those around the disposal site and those who work within waste
management. Exposure to waste of any kind can be detrimental to the health
of the individual, primary conditions that worsen with exposure to waste
are asthma and tuberculosis. The exposure to waste on an average individual is
highly dependent on the conditions around them, those in less developed or
lower income areas are more susceptible to the effects of waste product,
especially though chemical waste. The range of hazards due to waste is
extremely large and covers every type of waste, not only chemical. There are
many different guidelines to follow for disposing different types of waste.
The hazards of incineration are a large risk to many variable communities,
including underdeveloped countries and countries or cities with little space for
landfills or alternatives. Burning waste is an easily accessible option for many
people around the globe, it has even been encouraged by the World Health
Organization when there is no other option.[38] Because burning waste is rarely
paid attention to, its effects go unnoticed. The release of hazardous materials
and CO2 when waste is burned is the largest hazard with incineration.[39]
Financial models
In most developed countries, domestic waste disposal is funded from a
national or local tax which may be related to income, or property values.
Commercial and industrial waste disposal is typically charged for as a
commercial service, often as an integrated charge which includes disposal
costs. This practice may encourage disposal contractors to opt for the cheapest
disposal option such as landfill rather than the environmentally best solution
such as re-use and recycling.
Financing solid waste management projects can be overwhelming for the city
government, especially if the government see it as an important service they
should render to the citizen. Donors and grants are a funding mechanism that
is dependent on the interest of the donor organization. As much as it is a good
way to develop a city's waste management infrastructure, attracting and
utilizing grants is solely reliant on what the donor considers important.
Therefore, it may be a challenge for a city government to dictate how the funds
should be distributed among the various aspect of waste management.
An example of a country that enforces a waste tax is Italy. The tax is based on
two rates: fixed and variable. The fixed rate is based on the size of the house
while the variable is determined by the number of people living in the house.
The World Bank finances and advises on solid waste management projects
using a diverse suite of products and services, including traditional loans,
results-based financing, development policy financing, and technical advisory.
World Bank-financed waste management projects usually address the entire
lifecycle of waste right from the point of generation to collection and
transportation, and finally treatment and disposal.[6]

Liquid waste-management
Liquid waste is an important category of waste management because it is so
difficult to deal with. Unlike solid wastes, liquid wastes cannot be easily picked
up and removed from an environment. Liquid wastes spread out, and easily
pollute other sources of liquid if brought into contact. This type of waste also
soaks into objects like soil and groundwater. This in turn carries over to pollute
the plants, the animals in the ecosystem, as well as the humans within the area
of the pollution.
Industrial wastewater
Wastewater from an industrial process can be converted at a treatment plant
to solids and treated water for reuse.
Industrial wastewater treatment describes the processes used for treating
wastewater that is produced by industries as an undesirable by-product. After
treatment, the treated industrial wastewater (or effluent) may be reused or
released to a sanitary sewer or to a surface water in the environment. Some
industrial facilities generate wastewater that can be treated in sewage
treatment plants. Most industrial processes, such as petroleum refineries,
chemical and petrochemical plants have their own specialized facilities to treat
their wastewaters so that the pollutant concentrations in the treated
wastewater comply with the regulations regarding disposal of wastewaters
into sewers or into rivers, lakes or oceans. This applies to industries that
generate wastewater with high concentrations of organic matter (e.g. oil and
grease), toxic pollutants (e.g. heavy metals, volatile organic compounds) or
nutrients such as ammonia. Some industries install a pre-treatment system to
remove some pollutants (e.g., toxic compounds), and then discharge the
partially treated wastewater to the municipal sewer system.
Most industries produce some wastewater. Recent trends have been to
minimize such production or to recycle treated wastewater within the
production process. Some industries have been successful at redesigning their
manufacturing processes to reduce or eliminate pollutants. Sources of
industrial wastewater include battery manufacturing, chemical manufacturing,
electric power plants, food industry, iron and steel industry, metal working,
mines and quarries, nuclear industry, oil and gas extraction, petroleum
refining and petrochemicals, pharmaceutical manufacturing, pulp and paper
industry, smelters, textile mills, industrial oil contamination, water treatment
and wood preserving. Treatment processes include brine treatment, solids
removal (e.g. chemical precipitation, filtration), oils and grease removal,
removal of biodegradable organics, removal of other organics, removal of acids
and alkalis, and removal of toxic materials.
Sewage sludge treatment
Sludge treatment in anaerobic digesters at a sewage treatment
plant in Cottbus, Germany
Sewage sludge treatment describes the processes used to manage and dispose
of sewage sludge produced during sewage treatment. Sludge treatment is
focused on reducing sludge weight and volume to reduce transportation and
disposal costs, and on reducing potential health risks of disposal options. Water
removal is the primary means of weight and volume reduction,
while pathogen destruction is frequently accomplished through heating during
thermophilic digestion, composting, or incineration. The choice of a sludge
treatment method depends on the volume of sludge generated, and
comparison of treatment costs required for available disposal options. Air-
drying and composting may be attractive to rural communities, while limited
land availability may make aerobic digestion and mechanical dewatering
preferable for cities, and economies of scale may encourage energy
recovery alternatives in metropolitan areas.
Sludge is mostly water with some amounts of solid material removed from
liquid sewage. Primary sludge includes settleable solids removed during
primary treatment in primary clarifiers. Secondary sludge is sludge separated in
secondary clarifiers that are used in secondary treatment bioreactors or
processes using inorganic oxidizing agents. In intensive sewage treatment
processes, the sludge produced needs to be removed from the liquid line on a
continuous basis because the volumes of the tanks in the liquid line have
insufficient volume to store sludge.[72] This is done in order to keep the
treatment processes compact and in balance (production of sludge
approximately equal to the removal of sludge). The sludge removed from the
liquid line goes to the sludge treatment line. Aerobic processes (such as
the activated sludge process) tend to produce more sludge compared with
anaerobic processes. On the other hand, in extensive (natural) treatment
processes, such as ponds and constructed wetlands, the produced sludge
remains accumulated in the treatment units (liquid line) and is only removed
after several years of operation.
Sludge treatment options depend on the amount of solids generated and other
site-specific conditions. Composting is most often applied to small-scale plants
with aerobic digestion for mid-sized operations, and anaerobic digestion for the
larger-scale operations. The sludge is sometimes passed through a so-called
pre-thickener which de-waters the sludge. Types of pre-thickeners include
centrifugal sludge thickeners, rotary drum sludge thickeners and belt filter
presses. Dewatered sludge may be incinerated or transported offsite for
disposal in a landfill or use as an agricultural soil amendment.
Energy may be recovered from sludge through methane gas production during
anaerobic digestion or through incineration of dried sludge, but energy yield is
often insufficient to evaporate sludge water content or to power blowers,
pumps, or centrifuges required for dewatering. Coarse primary solids and
secondary sewage sludge may include toxic chemicals removed from liquid
sewage by sorption onto solid particles in clarifier sludge. Reducing sludge
volume may increase the concentration of some of these toxic chemicals in the
sludge.
Avoidance and reduction methods
An important method of waste management is the prevention of waste
material being created, also known as waste reduction. Waste Minimization is
reducing the quantity of hazardous wastes achieved through a thorough
application of innovative or alternative procedures. Methods of avoidance
include reuse of second-hand products, repairing broken items instead of
buying new ones, designing products to be refillable or reusable (such as
cotton instead of plastic shopping bags), encouraging consumers to avoid
using disposable products (such as disposable cutlery), removing any
food/liquid remains from cans and packaging, and designing products that use
less material to achieve the same purpose (for example, lightweighting of
beverage cans).

What's the difference between informal and formal waste

management?

Formal waste management refers to both public service providers and private
companies that handle waste from the time it is discarded (for example, when
a household leaves its waste out on collection night) to the time it is
“managed” – whether that be in a landfill, a recovery facility, and so on.
Formal waste management organizations are registered, regulated bodies that
comply with the laws and rules created to govern the sector in their region.
Informal waste management, on the other hand, refers to individuals, such as
waste pickers, who work for often unregistered organizations that aren’t fully
compliant with their region’s regulations.
These workers are often at a disadvantage – if their employers aren’t doing
things by the book, then it can mean they’re not receiving state-mandated
minimum wages or the proper occupational health standards for hazardous
working conditions.
This poor treatment impacts a lot of people – in fact, approximately 15 million
people around the world are involved in informal waste recycling, mainly for
plastics, metals, glass, and paper.
Informal waste management can sometimes negatively impact the
environment, because it lacks the required technology for proper waste
segregation – for example, between recyclable and non-recyclable materials.
It’s also been found that informal waste management exacerbates air, soil, and
water pollution due to the improper management of secondary pollutants that
are formed by chemical reactions.

The importance of waste management

As long as we are producing waste, it will need to be managed. And we

produce a lot of it: over two billion metric tons of MSW are generated globally
every year, a figure that’s expected to grow by about 70% by 2050.
It’s clear that waste must be managed. But the way in which we manage the
waste matters, too – when it’s managed properly, it can do a lot of great things
for the environment. We’ll explain some of these benefits below.
Reduces plastic pollution
By reducing the amount of waste that gets disposed of in landfills or littered in
the environment, and instead repurposing or recycling existing materials, we
can reduce plastic pollution across the board.
This, in turn, would help keep toxins out of soil and groundwater, as well as
make the oceans safer for wildlife.

1. Avoids landfill buildup

The less waste we need to dispose of, the less it builds up in landfills – which is
important since the US alone sends nearly 150 million tons of garbage into
landfills each year instead of recycling it.
And when that reduced amount of waste does need to be managed, we can
instead handle it in ways that produce electricity or steam power.
2. Improves living conditions
Proper waste management means less contamination of our air, groundwater,
and soil – which means higher quality food products and healthier wildlife.
Well-organized, formal waste management also means that the workers
handling the waste will have better pay and better protection from hazardous
materials.
3. Encourages a circular economy
Because waste management is all about reducing the amount of waste we
produce and minimizing the impact of existing waste, it fits neatly into the
structure of a circular economy in which products and materials are
repurposed at the end of their lifecycle.

Global problems with waste management

The World Bank estimates that at least 33% of today’s waste is mismanaged
around the world through open dumping or burning.
These practices can have big consequences: residue from burning
contaminates soil and groundwater, and can even enter our food chain via
crops and livestock. Open burning also releases pollutants like CO2 into the
atmosphere.
It doesn’t have to be burning, either – landfill mismanagement on its
own causes toxic metal pollution in water, soil, and crops.
Often, low-income countries are unable to build the proper infrastructure for
waste management, because it’s such an expensive process – the market was
valued at $1.3 trillion in 2022, with a projected growth rate of 5.4% from
2023 to 2030.

Which countries lack efficient waste management?

One survey of 38 countries found that Turkey, Latvia, and Chile have the worst
waste management, owing to factors like the amount of waste that’s recycled
vs the amount that’s disposed of in landfills.
Turkey recycled 47 kg per capita in 2022, while almost 347 kg was left in
landfills. In Latvia, 155 kg was recycled and 253 kg dumped into landfills, while
Chile recycled only 2 kg of its waste and left 417 kg in landfills.
However, this study didn’t take most Asian countries into account, and this
region’s stats are also worth noting. In fact, the World Bank estimates that
the urban areas of Asia produce about 760,000 tons of MSW per day, and
open waste dumping has become the most common method in Asia’s low and
middle-income countries.
Of course, prevention is the best medicine, and by that logic, the best waste
management approach is to produce less waste. This means that the countries
generating the most municipal waste – namely, the United States, China, and
Germany – have a lot to answer for, regardless of how they manage it.

What are the five Rs of waste management?

The “five Rs” are an ordered list of the actions that should ideally be taken
prior to recycling: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and then recycle.
By treating recycling almost as a last resort, the five Rs help to minimize waste
and ensure that nothing is disposed of unless it truly can’t serve any other
purpose first.
Here’s a closer look at what each of these “Rs” actually means:
• Refuse: Refusing waste means not acquiring it in the first place, so by
default, it’s the best way to minimize your output. For example, if you’re
running a small business, you could tell your vendors that you won’t buy
products with unnecessary packaging.
• Reduce: The next-best thing you can do is reduce the amount of waste
that you generate. For example, if you can’t refuse to print a document,
you can reduce the resulting waste by printing it on double-sided paper.
• Reuse: Single-use plastics do major harm to the environment: at least 14
million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year. By replacing these
types of items with reusable counterparts – like metal cutlery, for
example – you can play a role in reducing that damage.
• Repurpose: If an item can’t be reused, you might be able to find a
different purpose for it instead. Some people call this upcycling, and it’s a
fun chance to get creative with what you already have!
• Recycle: And last comes recycling. If you’ve gone through the first four
“Rs” and can’t find a way to make use of the item, then this is finally your
best option.
Want to reduce your business’s plastic footprint? We can help. All you have to
do is get in touch with our in-house team. Once we’ve received your details,
we can arrange a call to discuss which plastic recovery plan will best suit your
business needs.

Waste management services

The different services used to manage waste will depend on plenty of factors,
including the type and amount of waste produced. There are plenty of ways to
get started handling waste more efficiently:
• Audit: In order to create an effective waste management plan,
businesses can conduct an audit to figure out the type, quantity, and
frequency of the waste they produce
• Plan: Using the information from such an audit, the business can have a
formal waste management service draw up a plan for disposing of its
waste. This will usually include a cost estimate
 • Equipment: Depending on the plan, businesses may receive equipment
from the waste management company. This could be as simple as
designated recycling bins
• Collection: Waste managers collect the waste as needed
• Tracking: By organizing their waste management efforts, businesses can
track their progress against predetermined goals

How will waste management work in a circular economy?

Once waste is collected in a circular economy, it would then be sorted and
either prepared for reuse, or recycled efficiently.
Natural materials, like glass, paper, and some plastics, can be more easily
recycled than other materials. However, recent developments such as ultra-fast
pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion are showing that new possibilities for
managing plastic waste are always on the horizon.

Principles of waste management

Waste hierarchy
The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, which
classifies waste management strategies according to their desirability in terms
of waste minimisation. The waste hierarchy is the bedrock of most waste
minimization strategies. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the
maximum practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum
amount of end waste; see: resource recovery. The waste hierarchy is
represented as a pyramid because the basic premise is that policies should
promote measures to prevent the generation of waste. The next step or
preferred action is to seek alternative uses for the waste that has been
generated, i.e., by re-use. The next is recycling which includes composting.
Following this step is material recovery and waste-to-energy. The final action is
disposal, in landfills or through incineration without energy recovery. This last
step is the final resort for waste that has not been prevented, diverted, or
recovered. The waste hierarchy represents the progression of a product or
material through the sequential stages of the pyramid of waste management.
The hierarchy represents the latter parts of the life-cycle for each product.
Life-cycle of a product
The life-cycle of a product, often referred to as the product lifecycle,
encompasses several key stages that begin with the design phase and proceed
through manufacture, distribution, and primary use. After these initial stages,
the product moves through the waste hierarchy's stages of reduce, reuse, and
recycle. Each phase in this lifecycle presents unique opportunities for policy
intervention, allowing stakeholders to rethink the necessity of the product,
redesign it to minimize its waste potential, and extend its useful life.
During the design phase, considerations can be made to ensure that products
are created with fewer resources, are more durable, and are easier to repair or
recycle. This stage is critical for embedding sustainability into the product from
the outset. Designers can select materials that have lower environmental
impacts and create products that require less energy and resources to produce.
Manufacturing offers another crucial point for reducing waste and conserving
resources. Innovations in production processes can lead to more efficient use
of materials and energy, while also minimizing the generation of by-products
and emissions. Adopting cleaner production techniques and improving
manufacturing efficiency can significantly reduce the environmental footprint
of a product.
Distribution involves the logistics of getting the product from the manufacturer
to the consumer. Optimizing this stage can involve reducing packaging,
choosing more sustainable transportation methods, and improving supply
chain efficiencies to lower the overall environmental impact. Efficient logistics
planning can also help in reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas
emissions associated with the transport of goods.
The primary use phase of a product's lifecycle is where consumers interact with
the product. Policies and practices that encourage responsible use, regular
maintenance, and the proper functioning of products can extend their lifespan,
thus reducing the need for frequent replacements and decreasing overall
waste.
Once the product reaches the end of its primary use, it enters the waste
hierarchy's stages. The first stage, reduction, involves efforts to decrease the
volume and toxicity of waste generated. This can be achieved by encouraging
consumers to buy less, use products more efficiently, and choose items with
minimal packaging.
The reuse stage encourages finding alternative uses for products, whether
through donation, resale, or repurposing. Reuse extends the life of products
and delays their entry into the waste stream.
Recycling, the final preferred stage, involves processing materials to create new
products, thus closing the loop in the material lifecycle. Effective recycling
programs can significantly reduce the need for virgin materials and the
environmental impacts associated with extracting and processing those
materials.
Product life-cycle analysis (LCA) is a comprehensive method for evaluating the
environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life. By
systematically assessing these impacts, LCA helps identify opportunities to
improve environmental performance and resource efficiency. Through
optimizing product designs, manufacturing processes, and end-of-life
management, LCA aims to maximize the use of the world's limited resources
and minimize the unnecessary generation of waste.
In summary, the product lifecycle framework underscores the importance of a
holistic approach to product design, use, and disposal. By considering each
stage of the lifecycle and implementing policies and practices that promote
sustainability, it is possible to significantly reduce the environmental impact of
products and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Resource efficiency
Resource efficiency reflects the understanding that global economic growth
and development can not be sustained at current production and consumption
patterns. Globally, humanity extracts more resources to produce goods than
the planet can replenish. Resource efficiency is the reduction of the
environmental impact from the production and consumption of these goods,
from final raw material extraction to the last use and disposal.
Polluter-pays principle
The polluter-pays principle mandates that the polluting parties pay for the
impact on the environment. With respect to waste management, this generally
refers to the requirement for a waste generator to pay for appropriate disposal
of the unrecoverable materials.
 Conclusion

A lot of garbage is generated daily by businesses of all sizes. It’s critical to treat
waste management responsibly to protect the environment. Waste and
recycling services can become expensive, but there are ways to save on these
expenses. Before discussing the various perspectives, it’s essential to answer
the question, what are the main objectives of waste management? The
primary goals are as follows.
Minimize the Production of Waste
Proper management practices help minimize the garbage and scraps that need
handling. Reducing, recycling, and reusing as much as possible can reduce
disposal costs. The answer to the question, “What are the main objectives
of waste management” starts with minimizing the amount of waste produced.
Proper waste segregation and recycling programs can significantly reduce the
amount of garbage in landfills or incinerators. Minimizing waste production is
critical in promoting a circular economy, where products and materials are
reused and recycled in a closed-loop system. By embracing the principles of a
circular economy, we can minimize waste generation and create a sustainable,
regenerative society for future generations.
Reduce Pollution Effects
Secondly, it’s vital to lower the impact garbage has on pollution. Food residue
can emit toxic methane as it rots. On a global level, methane gas adds to the
greenhouse effect and warms the planet. A significant portion of garbage is
food waste. Handling food scraps properly can reduce pollution and its ill
effects on the earth. For example, composting organic waste can divert
substantial trash from landfills and create nutrient-rich soil for agriculture and
gardening.
Protect Groundwater Sources
Poorly handled waste can end up in rivers, oceans, and other water sources,
polluting the water and contaminating the soil below it. Marine animals
become endangered. The appropriate waste management system helps
safeguard limited water sources and preserve rare marine species.
Ensure Sustainability
There are ways to save money by reducing waste, but it’s essential to use
natural resources to do so. Engaging in practices that help protect nature
creates an outstanding balance between the environment and businesses. This
balance helps create economic benefits while protecting the environment.
Furthermore, waste management aims to foster innovation and the
development of advanced technologies for waste treatment and resource
recovery. Investing in research and technological advancements can lead to
more efficient waste-to-energy conversion, improved recycling processes, and
the creation of valuable products from waste materials, reducing our
dependence on finite resources.
PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS
Another crucial objective of waste management is to promote public
awareness and education about responsible waste disposal and recycling
practices. Community engagement and educational campaigns encourage
people to adopt sustainable habits and participate actively in waste separation
and recycling programs.
FOSTER SOCIAL EQUALITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
It is also essential to ensure waste management practices are socially equitable
and inclusive, benefiting all communities regardless of socioeconomic status.
Implementing fair and accessible waste collection systems ensures everyone
can participate in waste reduction efforts and enjoy a cleaner, healthier
environment.
What are the main objectives of waste management? The answer includes
many ways to protect natural resources and the earth while saving money.
Embracing these objectives can lead to a cleaner, more sustainable world. Visit
the Waste Control, Inc. website to learn more about reducing waste and costs.
 References

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Page Numbers.
Example: Hopewell, J., Dvorak, R., & Kosior, E. (2009). Plastics
recycling: Challenges and opportunities. Philosophical Transactions
of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1526), 2115–2126.
2. Books
o Author(s). (Year). Title of the Book. Publisher.
Example: Tchobanoglous, G., Theisen, H., & Vigil, S. (1993).
Integrated Solid Waste Management: Engineering Principles and
Management Issues. McGraw-Hill.
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https://www.epa.gov/smm.
o Waste Management World. (2023). Innovations in Waste
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o Wikipedia
o StudyIQ
4. Industry Reports and Guidelines
o World Bank Group. (2018). What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of
Solid Waste Management to 2050. Retrieved from
https://datatopics.worldbank.org/what-a-waste/.
o International Solid Waste Association (ISWA). Global Waste
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https://www.iswa.org.