Waste

generation
What is waste?
• Waste (also known as rubbish, trash, refuse, garbage,
junk, litter) is unwanted or useless material that is
discarded because it is no longer in use.
• Waste can also be any material that remains at the end
of the process and has no further use and so it is thrown
away.

Waste is a matter
that
• Occupies space
• Produces smell
• Has weight
Definition
“Substances or objects which are disposed of or are intended to
be disposed of or are required to be disposed of by the provisions
of international law”

According to Environmental Protection Act, 1990 waste is defined

as “Any substance which constitutes a scrap material, or an

effluent, or other unwanted surplus substance arising from the

application of any process and any substance or article which

requires to be disposed of as being broken or otherwise spoiled.

 Types of waste
Solid Liquid Gaseous
wastes wastes wastes
Domestic garbage Liquid in nature and
drained into water Mainly gaseous
and other waste in
bodies pollutants
solid state

Food left-over, decaying Sewage from toilets of Gases like CO2, CO, SO2,
fruits and vegetables and houses, hospitals, NO2, CH4, Hydrocarbons,
articles like cans, bottles, restaurants, offices, etc CFC, etc
plastic wrappers.

Effluents from
industries, runoff from Released from
Originated from
agricultural fields and automobiles, chimney of
industries, hospitals,
oil spills, Sewage from factories, brick kilns,
restaurants, office,
toilets of houses, burning of garbage,
malls, etc
hospitals, restaurants, thermal power plants
offices, etc
Bio-degradable wastes
• Wastes that can be degraded or broke down through microbes
(fungi and bacteria)
• Household wastes and agricultural wastes which from plants and
animals are included
• These wastes do not cause any harm to the environment
• They decompose and mix with natural ecosystem (land, water)
• They can be converted into manures after decomposition
Non biodegradable wastes
• Wastes that cannot be degraded or broke down through microbes
(fungi and bacteria)
• Wastes like petroleum, plastic, synthetic pesticides, thermocol,
etc
• They persists in the environment for a long time
• It gets magnified and become toxic causing health problems
Classification of waste
Depending on the source of origin, wastes can be classified into

1. Domestic waste
2. Industrial waste
3. Agricultural waste
4. Construction waste
5. Mining waste
6. Hazardous/toxic waste
7. Bio-medical waste
8. E-waste
9. Radioactive waste
Domestic waste
• Waste generated day-to-day
household or domestic wastes
• Everyday items discarded by
public
• Commonly called garbage
• Food and kitchen waste
• Paper, glass, bottles, cans,
metals and plastic
• Clothing, leather goods,
batteries, old medicines,
light bulbs
• Some wastes are organic and
biodegradable in nature.
industrial waste
• Waste generated from small
and large scale industries
• Include chemicals, paints, sand
paper, fly ash and metal
• Sources may be
• Food processing industries
• Paper industries
• Textile industries
• Petroleum industries
• Chemical industries
• Metal industries
• Cement industries
• Nuclear reactors
agricultural waste
• Waste generated from farming
activities
• Includes crop residue, husks, straw,
wood waste, sand, dust, molasses,
coconut waste, nut shells, fruit and
vegetable peels, manures,
pesticides and insecticides
• Some waste are organic, it can be
composted into manure
• Chemical fertilizers and manure
leave harmful residue in soil and
have harmful consequences in
environment
construction waste
• Waste generated in construction site
• Mainly due to demolition and
construction activities
• Digging of earth for foundation for
high rise building generate large
amount of soil and rocks which are
piles up called over dumps.
• Over dumps spoil ecology and take
a long time for regeneration of any
type of vegetation
• Bricks, pipes, marble, tiles and wood
are some examples
mining waste
• Waste generated during
mining operations,
executions
• Include waste rock tailings,
slag heaps, debris
• Spoil the ecology of the
place by denuding the
vegetation of the place
• The ore or minerals may
reach minerals reach water
bodies and contaminate
ground water
• Contain dangerous heavy
Hazardous/toxic
waste
• Waste possess serious threat to human
health and environment
• Waste may be liquid, solid or sludge and
contains chemicals, heavy metals,
radiation, dangerous pathogens and
other toxins,
• Batteries, used computer equipment,
leftover paints
• Pollutants like mercury, lead,
halogenated hydrocarbons and vinyl
chloride
• These wastes should be disposed
properly and cause biomagnification.
They are carcinogenic, cause organ
failure and death
Bio-medical waste
• Wastes generated from
hospitals and diagnostic
centers.
• Include syringes, needles,
plastic bottles, bandages,
cotton gloves, platers, blood,
body parts and tissues, body
fluids
• These waste should be
properly disposed as they
may carry disease causing
pathogens and have potential
to cause disease again
E - waste
• Any unwanted or broken
electrical and electronic
appliances
• These wastes cannot be recycled,
they are dumped at isolated
place
• Many components are toxic and
non-biodegradable
• IT companies are the main
source for E waste
• Rapid development in science
and Technology and increased
consumerism has lead to
Radioactive waste
• Most hazardous waste and should be
handled carefully
• They remain dangerous for 1000 years
• Generated from X-ray machines in hospitals
and airports, nuclear power stations and
treatment of certain diseases in hospitals
and diagnostic centers
• Testing of nuclear weapons and atomic
research centers are the sources
• They cause somatic and genetic variations
in humans
• Elements like Uranium, Plutonium,
polonium, Caesium and Trontium are some
of the radioactive elements