Due to rapid increase in the production and consumption

processes, societies generate as well as reject solid

materials regularly from various sectors– agricultural,
commercial, domestic, industrial and institutional. The
considerable volume of wastes thus generated and rejected
is called solid wastes. In other words, solid wastes are the
wastes arising from human and animal activities that are
normally solid and are discarded as useless or unwanted.
This inevitably places an enormous strain on natural
resources and seriously undermines efficient and
sustainable development
Solid waste management is the entire process involved in the recycling
process. Solid waste management starts with the trucks picking up
recyclables, delivering them to the recycling. 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, publically 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 capital income,etc.), degree of industrialisation,
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
 SWM SYSTEMS

A SWM system refers to a combination of various functional

elements associated with the management of solid wastes.
The system, when put in place, facilitates the collection and
disposal of solid wastes in the community at minimal costs,
while preserving public health and ensuring little or minimal
adverse impact on the environment. The functional elements
that constitute the system are:
 : Wastes are generated at the start of any process, and
thereafter, at every stage as raw materials are converted into goods for
consumption. 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.
 : 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.
: This functional element involves: 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
 : Processing is required to alter the physical and chemical characteristics of
wastes for energy and resource recovery and recycling. The important processing
techniques include compaction, thermal volume reduction, manual separation of waste
components, incineration and composting

: 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.
 : 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
Factors affecting SWM system
1. Quantities and characteristics of wastes: The quantities of wastes generated generally
depend on the income level of a family, as higher income category tends to generate larger
quantity of wastes, compared to low-income category. The quantity ranges from about 0.25 to
about 2.3 kg per person per day, indicating a strong correlation between waste production
and per capita income. One of the measures of waste composition (and characteristics) is
density, which ranges from 150 kg/m 3 to 600 kg/m 3. Proportion of paper and packaging
materials in the waste largely account for the differences. When this proportion is high, the
density is low and vice versa. The wastes of high density reflect a relatively high proportion of
organic matter and moisture and lower levels of recycling

2. Climate and seasonal variations: There are regions in extreme north (> 70 N Latitude) and
south (> 60 S Latitude), where temperatures are very low for much of the year. In cold climates,
drifting snow and frozen ground interfere with landfill operations, and therefore, trenches
must be dug in summer and cover material stockpiled for winter use. Tropical climates, on the
other hand, are subject to sharp seasonal variations from wet to dry season, which cause
significant changes in the moisture content of solid waste, varying from less than 50% in dry
season to greater than 65% in wet months. Collection and disposal of wastes in the wet
months are often problematic
3. Physical characteristics of an urban area: In urban areas (i.e., towns and cities), where
the layout of streets and houses is such that accessby vehicles is possible and
door-to-door collection of solid wastes is the accepted norm either by large compaction
vehicle or smaller vehicle. The picture is, however, quite different in the inner and older
city areas where narrow lanes make service by vehicles difficult and often impossible.
Added to this is the problem of urban sprawl in the outskirts (of the cities) where
population is growing at an alarming rate. Access ways are narrow, unpaved and
tortuous, and therefore, not accessible to collection vehicles. Problems of solid waste
storage and collection are most acute in such areas
4. Financial and foreign exchange constraints: Solid waste management accounts for
sizeable proportions of the budgets of municipal corporations. This is allocated for
capital resources, which go towards the purchase of equipments, vehicles, and fuel and
labour costs. Typically, 10% to 40% of the revenues of municipalities are allocated to
solid waste management. In regions where wage rates are low, the aim is to optimise
vehicle productivity. The unfavourable financial situation of some countries hinders
purchase of equipment and vehicles, and this situation is further worsened by the acute
shortage of foreign exchange. This means that the balance between the degree of
mechanisation and the size of the labour force becomes a critical issue in arriving at the
most cost-effective solution
 Solid Waste
Solid waste refers to non-soluble material such as
agricultural refuse, industrial waste, mining residues,
demolition waste, municipal garbage or even sewage
sludge. Most of these kind of wastes cannot be recycled
or rehabilitated for further use
Solid wastes are the organic and inorganic waste materials such as product packaging,
grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, kitchen refuse, paper, appliances, paint
cans, batteries, etc., produced in a society, which do not generally carry any value to
the first user(s). Solid wastes, thus, encompass both a heterogeneous mass of wastes
from the urban community as well as a more homogeneous accumulation of
agricultural, industrial and mineral wastes. While wastes have little or no value in one
setting or to the one who wants to dispose them, the discharged wastes may gain
significant value in another setting. Knowledge of the sources and types of solid wastes
as well as the information on composition and the rate at which wastes are generated/
disposed is, therefore, essential for the design and operation of the functional elements
associated with the management of solid wastes
 :
▶ Residential Wastes
▶ Commercial Wastes
▶ Institutional Wastes
▶ Municipal solid Wastes
▶ Industrial Solid Wastes
▶ Mining solid Wastes
▶ Agriculture Wastes
▶ Excretory products of humans and livestock Wastes
▶ Electronic wastes
▶ Hospital or Biomedical Wastes
▶ Construction and demolition Wastes
▶ Hazardous waste.
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTES:
• T h e s e a re s o lid w a s t e s fro m h o m e , o ffic e s , s to r e s , s c h o o ls , h o s p it a ls , h o te ls e tc .
• T h e s e d o m e s tic s o lid w a s te s o n e u s u a lly , t h ro w n in m u n ic ip a l g a rb a g e c o lle c tin g
c a n s o r o n ro a d s id e o p e n w a s te la n d s .
• T h e y a re c o lle c te d b y m u n ic ip a lit y v e h ic le s to c e rta in g a r b a g e d is p o s a l s ite .
• T h e y a re d u m p e d o v e r a la r g e a re a o f la n d w h ic h b e c o m e s t h e b re e d in g g ro u n d o f
flie s a n d ra ts .
• U s u a lly , th e y a r e n o t b u r n t to re d u c e th e v o lu m e b e c a u s e b u rn in g w o u ld c a u s e a ir
p o llu t io n w h ic h is s till m o r e d a n g e ro u s .
 INDUSTRIAL SOLID WASTES:
✓ Most of the toxic industrial wastes are dumped on waste lands for slow and gradual
decomposition.
✓ Some industries dump their effluents on barren land, road sides creating very unhygienic
environment for the local population.
✓ Some of the effluents have heavy metals which pollute the ground water through seepage
during the monsoon season.
✓ Some heavy metals have been found slowly accumulating on farmland soils.

✓ One such most toxic heavy metal is cadmium which is present in traces in some fertilizers.
 AGRICULTURAL WASTES:
✓ Chemical fertilizers increase soil fertility and gives better crop yield in lesser
time.
✓ Shortly, the land becomes saline, acidic or alkaline and loses fertility.
✓ These toxic chemicals used in crop field which are not ecofriendly.
✓ They enter into crop and then into primary and secondary consumers.
✓ Even human beings are affected due to bio-magnification.
 ELECTRONIC WASTES:
✓ The latest solid waste that has appeared in last twenty years commonly known as e-
wastes is no less harmful.
✓ Irreparable computer and electronic goods.
✓ Frequently, more efficient and user-friendly electronic items appear in the market
thus discarding the old generation equipment which simply become garbage or solid
wastes.
Over half of the e-wastes generated in developed countries are exported to developing
countries where they ultimately increase the e-garbage proportions
 HAZARDOUS WASTE:
✓ Industrial and hospital waste is considered hazardous as they may contain toxic substances.
Certain types of household waste are also hazardous. Hazardous wastes could be highly toxic to
humans, animals, and plants; are corrosive, highly inflammable, or explosive; and react when
exposed to certain things e.g., gases
✓ India generates around 7 million tons of hazardous wastes every year, most of which is
concentrated in four states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Household waste that can be categorized as hazardous waste include old batteries, shoe polish,
paint tins, old medicines, and medicine bottles.
✓ Hospital waste contaminated by chemicals used in hospitals is considered hazardous.

✓ These chemicals include formaldehyde and phenols, which are used as disinfectants, and
mercury, which is used in thermometers or equipment that measure blood pressure.
✓ Most hospitals in India do not have proper disposal facilities for these hazardous wastes.
✓ In the industrial sector, the major generators of hazardous waste are the metal, chemical, paper,
pesticide, dye, refining, and rubber goods industries.
Direct exposure to chemicals in hazardous waste such as mercury and cyanide can be fatal.
CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTES
Construction and demolition waste is generated whenever any construction/demolition
activity takes place, such as, building roads, bridges, fly over, subway, remodeling etc.
It consists mostly of inert and non-biodegradable material such as concrete, metal, wood,
plastics etc.

MAJOR COMPONENTS
Cement concrete
Bricks
Cement plaster
Steel (from RCC, door/window frames, roofing support, railings of staircase etc.)
Stone (marble, granite, sand stone)
Timber/wood (especially demolition of old buildings)
▶ MINOR COMPONENTS
✓ Conduits (iron, plastic)
✓ Pipes (GI, iron, plastic)

✓ Electrical fixtures (copper/aluminium wiring, wooden baton/plastic switches, wire insulation)

✓ Panels (wooden, laminated) & Others (glazed tiles)
 HOSPITAL OR BIOMEDICAL WASTES:

✓ Biomedical waste or hospital waste is any kind of waste containing infectious (or
potentially infectious) materials.
✓ Hospitals generate hazardous wastes that contain disinfectants, other harmful
chemicals and pathogenic microorganism.
Such wastes require careful treatment and disposal.
 MINING SOLID WASTES:
✓ They include mine dust, rock tailing, slack and slag. Open cast mining completely spoils the
surrounding soil.
Toxic chemicals and metals present in the mining wastes destroy vegetation and produce many
deformities in animals and human beings.
✓ EXCRETORY PRODUCTS OF HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK
✓ In underdeveloped and developing countries, the poor sanitary conditions aggravate soil
pollution.
✓ The excreta of man and animals, digested sewage sludge used as manure pollute the soil.
Several germs present in such wastes contaminate soil, vegetables, and water bodies causing
severe health hazards

GARBAGE:
It is unwanted materials and objects that people have thrown away. It is often also called trash,
garbage, rubbish, or junk.
Garbage is the waste we produce daily in our homes, including old or unwanted food, chemical
substances, paper, broken furniture, used containers, and other things
 ASHES AND RESIDUES:
✓ These are substances remaining from the burning of wood, coal, charcoal, coke and other
combustible materials for cooking and heating in houses, institutions and small industrial
establishments.
✓ Ashes consists of fine powdery residue, cinders and clinker often mixed with small pieces of
metal and glass.
Since ashes and residues are almost entirely inorganic, they are valuable in landfills
COMBUSTIBLE AND NON-COMBUSTIBLE WASTES:
These consists of wastes generated from households, institutions, commercial activities etc.
excluding food wastes and other highly putrescible material.
Combustible: paper, cardboard, textile, barrels, rubber, wood, excelsior, tree branches, yard
trimmings, wood furniture.
Non- combustible: metals, tin cans, metal furniture, dirt, glass, crockery, minerals. Source: Same as
garbage
 BULKY WASTES:
✓ Bulky waste items include discarded furniture (couches, recliners, tables), large appliances
(refrigerators, ovens, TVs), and plumbing fixtures (bathtubs, toilets, sinks).
A large amount (30-60%, depending on area) of bulky waste is picked up by scavengers before it is
collected.

STREET WASTES:
These include dust blown from unpaved areas, sometimes from within the city and sometimes from a
great distance, and decaying vegetation such as fallen leaves, blossoms and seeds which originate
from trees and plants in the city.

ABANDONED VEHICLES:
This category includes automobiles, trucks and trailers that are abandoned on streets and other public
places.
 DEAD ANIMALS:
✓ D e a d a n im a ls a re th o s e th a t d ie n a t u ra lly o r a re a c c id e n t a lly k ille d o n th e ro a d . E x a m p le: D e a d
d o g s, c a ts , ra ts e t c.

✓ If n o t c o lle c t ed p ro m p t ly, d e a d a n im a ls p o se a t h re a t t o p u b lic h e a lt h sin c e th e y a t tra c t flie s a n d

o t h e r v e rm in a s t h e y d e c a y.
T h e ir p re se n c e in p u b lic p la c es is p a rt ic u la rly o ffe n siv e from th e a e s th et ic p oin t o f vie w a s w e ll

BIODEGRADABLE AND NON-BIODEGRADABLE WASTES:

A b io d e g ra d a b le su b s ta n c e c a n b e d e fin e d a s a m a te ria l w h ich c a n b e de c o m p o se d b y
m ic ro o rg a n ism s o r d e c o m p o se rs a n d n o t b e a d d in g t o a n y typ e o f p o llu t io n .

W a s te t h a t ca n n o t be d e co m p o se d b y t h e b io lo g ic a l w a ys is c a lle d t h e N o n - bio d e g ra d a b le w a ste s .

B io d e g ra d a b le w a s te c a n b e fo u n d in m u n ic ip a l so lid w a st e (s o m et im e s c a lle d b io d e g ra d a b le
m u n ic ip a l w a st e , or as g re e n w a s te , fo o d w a ste , pa p e r w a st e a n d b io d e g ra d a b le p la stic s).
O t h e r b iod e g ra d a b le w a s te s in c lu d e h u m a n w a s te , m a n u re , se w a g e , s e w a g e slu d g e a n d
sla u g h t e rh ou se w a ste .
N o n -b io de g ra d a ble w a s te s a re th o se w h o c a n n o t b e d e c o m po s e d o r d iss o lv e d b y n a tu ra l a g en ts .
• Solid waste segregation is the process of separating
different types of waste at the point of generation (source)
to facilate proper handling.
• This involves dividing waste into categories like
biodegradable, non-biodegradable and domestic hazardous
waste.
• Effective segregation is crucial for efficient waste
management, enabling recycling, composting and reducing
landfill burden.
• Importance of Segregation :
• 1) Enables recycling : Segregation makes it easier to recover and
recycle valuable materials from the waste stream.
• 2) Reduces landfill burden : Diverting recyclable and compostable
materials away from landfills reduces their volume and associated
environmental impact
• 3) Improves waste management efficiency : Segregation simplifies
collection, transportation and processing of waste.
• 4) Reduces Environmental pollution : Proper segregation minimizes
the risk of soil and water contamination from hazardous waste.
 • ELEMENTS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
• T h e m a in e le m e n ts o f s o lid w a s te m a n a g e m e n t in c lu d e : w a s te
g e n e ra tio n , o n -s ite h a n d lin g a n d s to ra g e , c o lle c tio n , tra n s fe r a n d
tra n s p o rt, m a te ria l a n d re s o u rc e re c o ve r y, a n d d is p o s a l.
• T h e s e e le m e n t s re p re s e n t th e fu n c tio n a l s ta g e s o f m a n a g in g w a s te
fro m its o rig in to its fin a l d e s tin a tio n .
• H e re 's a b re a k d o w n o f e a c h e le m e n t:
• 1. Waste Generation: T h is is th e fir s t s te p , w h e re w a s te is c re a te d ,
w h e th e r it's fro m h o u s e h o ld s , b u s in e s s e s , o r
in d u s trie s . U n d e rs t a n d in g w h a t ty p e s o f w a s te a re g e n e ra te d a n d in
w h a t q u a n tit ie s is c ru c ia l fo r e ffe c tive m a n a g e m e n t.
• 2. On-Site Handling and Storage: T h is in v o lv e s th e in itia l m a n a g e m e n t
o f w a s te a t th e p o in t o f g e n e ra tio n , in c lu d in g s e g re g a tin g d iffe re n t
ty p e s o f w a s te (e .g ., re c y c la b le s , c o m p o s ta b le s , a n d g e n e ra l w a s te ),
p r o p e r s to ra g e in d e s ig n a t e d c o n ta in e rs , a n d c o m p a c tin g w a s te to
re d u c e vo lu m e .
• 3. Collection: This element focuses on the gathering of waste
from various sources and transporting it to processing or
disposal facilities. Efficient collection is vital for preventing litter
and ensuring that waste doesn't accumulate.
• 4. Transfer and Transport: This stage involves moving collected
waste from local collection points (like transfer stations) to more
suitable facilities for processing or disposal. This step often
involves using larger vehicles to transport the waste over longer
distances.
• 5. Material and Resource Recovery: This element aims to extract
valuable materials (like paper, plastic, glass, and metals) from
the waste stream for recycling and reuse. It can also involve
composting organic waste to create soil amendment
• 6. Disposal: This is the final stage, where any remaining waste
that cannot be recycled or recovered is disposed of, typically in
landfills. Safe and environmentally sound disposal methods are
essential.
 Integrated solid waste management (ISWM)

• In te g ra te d s o lid w a s te m a n a g e m e n t ( IS W M ) is a
c o m p re h e n s iv e a p p ro a c h to h a n d lin g w a s te th a t
p rio ritiz e s re d u c in g w a s te g e n e ra tio n , m a xim iz in g
re s o u rc e re c o v e ry, a n d m in im izin g e n v iro n m e n ta l
im p a c t. It in v o lv e s a c o o rd in a te d s ys te m o f v a rio u s
w a s te m a n a g e m e n t m e th o d s , in c lu d in g w a s te re d u c tio n ,
re u s e , re c y c lin g , c o m p o s tin g , a n d re s p o n s ib le d is p o s a l,
a im in g fo r a s u s ta in a b le a n d c o s t-e ffe c tiv e s o lu tio n
• Core Principles of ISWM:
• Source Reduction:
• M in im iz in g w a s te g e n e ra tio n a t its o rig in th ro u g h
p ra c tic e s lik e re d u c in g p a c k a g in g , u s in g d u ra b le
p ro d u c ts , a n d p ro m o tin g p ro d u c t lo n g e v ity.
• Reuse:
• F in d in g n e w u s e s fo r m a te ria ls th a t w o u ld o th e rw is e b e
d is c a rd e d , e x te n d in g th e ir life s p a n a n d re d u c in g th e n e e d
fo r n e w p ro d u c ts .
• Recycling:
• P ro c e s s in g d is c a rd e d m a te ria ls in to n e w p ro d u c ts ,
c o n s e rv in g re s o u rc e s a n d re d u c in g la n d fill b u rd e n .
• Composting:
• D e c o m p o s in g o rg a n ic w a s te in to a n u trie n t-ric h s o il
a m e n d m e n t, d iv e rtin g w a s te f ro m la n d f ills a n d c re a tin g a
v a lu a b le re s o u rc e .
• Responsible Disposal:
• U tiliz in g la n d fills a n d o th e r d is p o s a l m e th o d s in a w a y th a t
m in im iz e s e n v iro n m e n ta l h a rm , s u c h a s p ro p e r c o n ta in m e n t
a n d le a c h a te m a n a g e m e n t.
• K e y A s p e c ts o f IS W M :
• Holistic Approach:
• C o n s id e rin g th e e n tire w a s te m a n a g e m e n t s y s te m , f ro m
g e n e ra tio n to d is p o s a l, ra th e r th a n fo c u s in g o n is o la te d
a c tiv itie s .
• Prioritization:
• Following a hierarchy where waste reduction is prioritized over
reuse, reuse over recycling, and so on, minimizing overall waste.
• Local Context:
• Adapting ISWM strategies to the specific needs and conditions
of a community, considering available resources and
infrastructure.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
• Involving various parties, including residents, businesses, and
government agencies, in the planning and implementation of
ISWM.
• Technology Integration:
• Utilizing appropriate technologies for waste processing, such as
anaerobic digestion for composting and waste-to-energy
facilities for energy recovery.
• Benefits of ISWM:
• Environmental Protection:
• Reduces pollution, conserves natural resources, and minimizes
greenhouse gas emissions.
• Economic Efficiency:
• Optimizes resource utilization, reduces waste management
costs, and creates new economic opportunities.
• Public Health:
• Im p ro v e s s a n ita tio n , re d u c e s d is e a s e v e c to rs , a n d
m in im iz e s e xp o s u re to h a rm fu l s u b s ta n c e s .
• Social Acceptance:
• E n h a n c e s c o m m u n ity w e ll-b e in g th ro u g h im p ro v e d
c le a n lin e s s a n d a s e n s e o f e n v iro n m e n ta l re s p o n s ib ility
 C h a ra c te ris tic s o f S o lid W a s te

• PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
• Composition: S o lid w a s te in c lu d e s a w id e v a rie ty o f m a te ria ls
lik e o rg a n ic m a tte r ( fo o d s c ra p s , y a rd w a s te ) , p a p e r, p la s tic s ,
g la s s , m e ta ls , te x tile s , a n d m o re .
• Moisture Content: T h e a m o u n t o f w a te r in th e w a s te a f fe c ts
its w e ig h t, b io d e g ra d a b ility , a n d p o te n tia l fo r le a c h a te
p ro d u c tio n .
• Density: W a s te d e n s ity v a rie s d e p e n d in g o n m a te ria l
c o m p o s itio n , in flu e n c in g s to ra g e a n d tra n s p o rta tio n .
• Particle Size: T h e s iz e o f w a s te c o m p o n e n ts im p a c ts
tre a tm e n t p ro c e s s e s lik e c o m p o s tin g a n d in c in e ra tio n .
• CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
• pH: T h e a c id ity o r a lk a lin ity o f w a s te a ffe c ts its
p o te n tia l to p o llu te s o il a n d w a te r.
• Organic Content: T h e a m o u n t o f o rg a n ic m a te ria l in
w a s te a ffe c ts its b io d e g ra d a b ility a n d p o te n tia l fo r
m e th a n e p ro d u c tio n .
• Calorific Value: T h e e n e rg y c o n te n t o f w a s te is
im p o rta n t fo r in c in e ra tio n a n d o th e r e n e rg y re c o v e ry
p ro c e s s e s .
• Hazardous Content: S o m e w a s te c o n ta in s to xic o r
h a rm fu l s u b s ta n c e s , re q u irin g s p e c ia lize d h a n d lin g a n d
d is p o s a l
• BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
• Biodegradability: T h e a b ility o f w a s te to d e c o m p o s e
n a tu ra lly , im p a c tin g c o m p o s tin g a n d la n d fill
m a n a g e m e n t.
• Decomposition Rate: T h e s p e e d a t w h ic h w a s te
d e c o m p o s e s , a ffe c tin g la n d fill g a s p ro d u c tio n a n d
s ta b ility .
• Microbial Activity: T h e p re s e n c e a n d typ e s o f
m ic ro o rg a n is m s in w a s te in flu e n c e d e c o m p o s itio n
a n d p o te n tia l fo r o d o r a n d p a th o g e n re le a s e .
 PERSPECTIVES OF SOLID WASTE

• Perspectives on solid waste management range from

environmental and public health concerns to resource recovery
and economic considerations
a) ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE:
• Pollution: Improperly managed waste can pollute air, water, and soil,
harming ecosystems and human health.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Decomposition of waste in landfills releases
methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
• Resource Depletion: Waste represents a loss of valuable resources that
could be recycled or recovered.
b) PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE:
• Disease Vectors: W a s te c a n a ttra c t d is e a s e -c a rryin g
p e s ts , in c re a s in g th e ris k o f illn e s s .
• Contamination: L e a c h a te fro m la n d fills c a n
c o n ta m in a te d rin k in g w a te r s o u rc e s .
• Odor and Aesthetics: U n p le a s a n t o d o rs a n d u n s ig h tly
w a s te c a n n e g a tiv e ly im p a c t c o m m u n itie s .
c) RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE:
• Recycling and Reuse: W a s te is a p o te n t ia l
s o u rc e o f v a lu a b le m a te ria ls th a t c a n b e
re c y c le d o r re u s e d .
• Energy Recovery: W a s t e c a n b e u s e d to
g e n e ra te e n e rg y th ro u g h in c in e ra t io n o r o t h e r
p ro c e s s e s .
• Waste-to-Energy: C o n v e rtin g w a s te in to e n e rg y
c a n re d u c e re lia n c e o n fo s s il fu e ls a n d re d u c e
la n d f ill v o lu m e
d) ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE:
• Cost of Collection and Disposal: W a s te m a n a g e m e n t
c a n b e e xp e n s iv e , re q u irin g in v e s tm e n t in
in fra s tru c tu re a n d p e rs o n n e l.
• Potential for Revenue Generation: R e c yc lin g a n d
e n e rg y re c o v e ry c a n c re a te e c o n o m ic o p p o rtu n itie s .
• Economic Impacts of Pollution: P o llu tio n fro m w a s te
c a n h a v e s ig n ific a n t e c o n o m ic c o s ts re la te d to
h e a lth c a re , e n v iro n m e n ta l re m e d ia tio n , a n d d e c re a s e d
to u ris m .
• U n d e rs ta n d in g th e c h a ra c te ris tic s o f s o lid w a s te a n d
c o n s id e rin g th e s e d iff e re n t p e rs p e c tiv e s is c ru c ia l f o r d e v e lo p in g
e f f e c tiv e a n d s u s ta in a b le w a s te m a n a g e m e n t s tra te g ie s
 PROPERTIES OF SOLID WASTE

• Solid waste exhibits various properties that influence how it's

managed. These properties can be categorized as physical,
chemical, and biological. Understanding these characteristics is
crucial for effective waste management strategies, including
collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal
A) PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:
• Density:
• The mass per unit volume of solid waste, which varies based on
composition and compaction. High density can be beneficial for
landfilling, as it allows for more waste to be stored in a given
space
• Moisture Content:
• The amount of water present in the waste, which impacts
biodegradability and the potential for leachate formation.
• Particle Size and Distribution:
• The size range of waste components, affecting handling and
treatment processes.
• Field Capacity:
• The maximum amount of moisture that a material can hold against
gravity, influencing water drainage in landfills.
• Compressibility:
• The ability of solid waste to be compressed, which is relevant for
landfilling and waste volume reduction.
• Permeability:
• The ability of compacted waste to allow liquids to pass through,
affecting leachate movement.
B) CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:
• Chemical Composition:
• The types and proportions of different materials in the waste (e.g., organic
matter, plastics, metals).
• Biodegradability:
• The susceptibility of waste to breakdown by microorganisms, impacting
composting and landfill gas production.
• pH:
• The acidity or alkalinity of the waste, which can affect chemical reactions
and material stability.
• Calorific Value:
• The amount of energy released when the waste is burned, important for
incineration and energy recovery.
• Heavy Metal Content:
• The presence of heavy metals in waste, which can be a concern for
environmental pollution
C) BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES:
• Microbial Communities:
• The types and abundance of microorganisms present in the
waste, influencing biodegradation and pathogen activity.
• Biodegradation Processes:
• The biochemical reactions that break down organic matter in
the waste, leading to gas production and nutrient release.
• Methane Generation:
• The production of methane gas during anaerobic decomposition,
a significant greenhouse gas
• Pathogens:
• Disease-causing microorganisms present in the waste, posing
health risks.
• Other important characteristics:
• Hazardous Content: The presence of toxic or harmful substances
in the waste, requiring special handling and disposal procedures.
• Odor: The smell produced by decomposing waste, which can be
a nuisance factor.
• Understanding these properties is crucial for developing
effective and environmentally sound waste management
strategies. For example, knowledge of biodegradability
influences composting and landfill design, while knowing the
calorific value is important for incineration
 SAMPLING OF SOLID WASTE
Solid waste sampling is the process of collecting representative
portions of solid waste materials for analysis and characterization. This
is crucial for understanding waste composition, developing effective
management strategies, and ensuring proper disposal or
recycling. Different sampling methods are employed depending on the
waste type, location, and intended analysis
• Purpose:
• To obtain data on waste composition, quantity, and properties for
various applications, such as waste management planning,
environmental impact assessment, and regulatory compliance.
• Representative Samples:
• The goal is to collect samples that accurately reflect the overall
characteristics of the waste stream being sampled
• Methods:
• Various methods are used, including:
• Random Sampling: Selecting samples randomly from the waste stream.
• Stratified Sampling: Dividing the waste stream into strata based on specific
characteristics and then sampling from each stratum.
• Cluster Sampling: Dividing the waste into clusters and sampling from a few
representative clusters.
• Coning and Quartering: A method for reducing the size of a solid sample while
maintaining its representative nature.
• Grab Sampling: Collecting a single sample at a specific point in time or over a
short period.
• Composite Sampling: Combining multiple samples collected over time or from
different locations.
• Factors to Consider:
• The choice of sampling method depends on the type of waste, the
size of the waste stream, the heterogeneity of the waste, and the
objectives of the sampling process
• Documentation:
• Detailed records of sampling procedures, locations, and sample
characteristics are essential for data interpretation and quality
control.
• Equipment:
• Appropriate sampling equipment, such as shovels, trowels,
scoops, and containers, is used to collect samples without
altering their properties.
• Safety:
• Sampling should be conducted by trained personnel following
established safety protocols, considering potential hazards like
sharp objects, hazardous materials, and ergonomic risks