Methods Of Solid Waste Management

•    Solid waste refers to unwanted or useless solid materials produced by human activities in residential, industrial, or commercial settings.

 

•    It can be classified in three different ways. It claims that 

 

1.    Contents (domestic, industrial, commercial, construction, or institutional) 

 

2.    Origin (domestic, industrial, commercial, construction, or institutional) (organic material, glass, metal, plastic paper etc.) 

 

3.    Potential for danger (toxic, non-toxin, flammable, radioactive, infectious etc.)

1.    Municipal solid waste: Household waste, construction and demolition debris (CnD), sanitation residue, and waste from streets, primarily from residential and commercial complexes, make up municipal solid waste (MSW). According to the MoEF, it includes solid or semi-solid commercial and residential waste generated in municipal or notifiable areas, excluding industrial hazardous wastes but including treated bio-medical wastes;

 

2.    Industrial Solid Waste (ISW) is classified as hazardous waste in the majority of cases because it may contain toxic substances, be corrosive, highly flammable, or react when exposed to certain substances, such as gases.

 

•    Sharps, soiled waste, disposables, anatomical waste, cultures, discarded medicines, chemical wastes, and other infectious waste are commonly found in the form of disposable syringes, swabs, bandages, body fluids, human excreta, and other biomedical waste. If not managed in a scientific and discriminate manner, these can pose a serious threat to human health.

 

•    The term "solid waste management" refers to the process of collecting and treating solid wastes. 

 

•    It also provides recycling options for items that do not belong in the garbage or trash. 

 

•    Garbage or solid waste has been a problem for as long as people have lived in settlements and residential areas. 

 

•    Waste management is concerned with how solid waste can be transformed and turned into a useful resource. Every household, as well as business owners around the world, should embrace solid waste management.

 

•    Industrialization has brought many benefits as well as drawbacks. The production of solid waste is one of the negative effects of industrialization.

 

•    Tons of solid waste are disposed of every day at various landfill sites.

 

•    This waste is generated by households, offices, industries, and a variety of agricultural activities. 

 

•    If waste is not properly stored and treated, these landfill sites emit a foul odor. It has the potential to pollute the surrounding air, posing a serious threat to human, wildlife, and environmental health. 

 

•    People's homes and residences are some of the most significant sources of solid waste. 

 

•    Food wastes, plastics, paper, glass, leather, cardboard, metals, yard wastes, ashes, and special wastes such as bulky household items like electronics, tyres, batteries, old mattresses, and used oil come from these locations.

 

•    Most households have garbage bins where they can dispose of their solid wastes, which are later emptied by a garbage collection company or individual for treatment.

 

•    Industries are well-known for being one of the most significant sources of solid waste. 

 

•    Light and heavy manufacturing industries, construction sites, fabrication plants, canning plants, power plants, and chemical plants are all examples.

 

•    Household wastes, food wastes, packaging wastes, ashes, construction and demolition materials, special wastes, medical wastes, and other hazardous wastes are all produced by these industries.

 

•    Today, commercial buildings and facilities are another source of solid waste. 

 

•    Hotels, markets, restaurants, godowns, stores, and office buildings are examples of commercial buildings and facilities. 

 

•    Plastics, food wastes, metals, paper, glass, wood, cardboard materials, special wastes, and other hazardous wastes are among the solid wastes generated by these locations.

 

•    Solid waste is generated in institutional settings such as schools, colleges, prisons, military barracks, and other government facilities.

 

•    Glass, rubble, plastics, food wastes, wood, paper, metals, cardboard materials, electronics, and various hazardous wastes are some of the common solid wastes collected from these locations.

 

•    Construction and demolition sites contribute to the problem of solid waste. 

 

•    New construction sites for buildings and roads, road repair sites, building renovation sites, and building demolition sites are all examples of construction sites. 

 

•    Steel, concrete, wood, plastics, rubber, copper wires, dirt, and glass are some of the solid wastes produced in these locations.

 

•    In most countries today, urban centers also play a significant role in the solid waste crisis.

 

•    Street cleaning, waste from parks and beaches, wastewater treatment plants, landscaping wastes, and waste from recreational areas, including sludge, are all examples of solid waste generated by municipal services.

 

•    Solid waste is produced by both heavy and light manufacturing plants. 

 

•    Refineries, power plants, processing plants, mineral extraction plants, and chemical plants are just a few examples.

 

•    Industrial process wastes, unwanted specification products, plastics, and metal parts are just a few of the wastes produced by these plants.

 

•    Solid waste is also generated by crop farms, orchards, dairies, vineyards, and feedlots. 

 

•    Agricultural wastes, spoiled food, pesticide containers, and other hazardous materials are among the wastes they generate.

 

•    Hospitals, biomedical equipment, and chemical manufacturing companies are all included in this category.

 

•    Different types of solid wastes are generated in hospitals. 

 

•    Syringes, bandages, used gloves, drugs, paper, plastics, food wastes, and chemicals are among the solid wastes.

 

•    All of these items must be properly disposed of, or they will pose a significant threat to the environment and the people who work in these facilities.

 

•    Garbage is spread out in thin layers, compacted, and covered with clay or plastic foam in a sanitary landfill. 

 

•    The bottom of modern landfills is lined with an impermeable liner, which is usually made up of several layers of clay, thick plastic, and sand. The liner prevents leachate from percolating into the groundwater, contaminating it.

 

•    The bottom leachate is pumped and sent for treatment.

 

•    To prevent water seepage, the landfill is covered with clay, sand, gravel, and top soil once it is full. Several wells near the landfill site are being drilled to see if any leakage is contaminating ground water. 

 

•    Anaerobic decomposition produces methane, which is collected and burned to generate electricity or heat.

 

•    Site Selection for Sanitary Landfills

 

a.    Should be above the water table to avoid groundwater interaction.

 

b.    It's best if it's in clay or silt.

 

c.    Do not place in a rock quarry because water can leak into a water fracture system through the cracks in rocks.

 

d.    Avoid sand and gravel pits because they have a lot of leeching. Unfortunately, the majority of Long Island is made up of sand or gravel, and many landfills are located in abandoned gravel pits. 

 

e.    You don't want to be near a flood plain. Because most garbage is less dense than water, if the landfill area floods, the garbage will float to the top and wash away downstream.

 

Landfill operations may have a wide range of negative consequences. 

 

a.    Accidents that result in death (e.g., scavengers buried under waste piles).

 

b.    Damage to infrastructure (e.g., damage to access roads by heavy vehicles).

 

c.    Pollution of the local environment (e.g., contamination of groundwater and/or aquifers due to leakage, as well as residual soil contamination during and after landfill closure).

 

d.    Off-gassing of methane produced by the decomposition of organic wastes (methane is a greenhouse gas many times more potent than carbon dioxide, and can itself be a danger to inhabitants of an area).

 

e.    The presence of disease vectors such as rats and flies, especially in poorly managed landfills.

 

•    The term incinerates refers to the act of burning something until it is reduced to ashes. 

 

•    An incinerator is a device or facility that burns trash and other waste until it turns to ash. An incinerator is made of heavy, well-insulated materials to avoid releasing excessive amounts of heat into the environment.

 

•    The waste is burned quickly and efficiently thanks to the high levels of heat maintained inside the furnace or unit.

 

•    The waste would not burn as completely or as quickly if the heat was allowed to escape. 

 

•    Incineration is a method of waste disposal in which solid organic wastes are combusted to produce residue and gaseous products. This method can be used to dispose of solid waste management residue as well as solid waste management residue from waste water management. This process reduces solid waste volumes to 20 to 30% of their original volume.

 

•    The term "thermal treatment" is used to describe incinerators and other high-temperature waste treatment systems.

 

•    Waste is converted into heat, gas, steam, and ash in incinerators. 

 

•    Individuals and industry carry out incineration on a small and large scale, respectively. Solid, liquid, and gaseous waste are all disposed of in it. 

 

•    It is widely acknowledged as a viable method of disposing of certain hazardous waste materials. Due to issues such as the emission of gaseous pollutants, incineration is a contentious waste disposal method.

 

•    Biodegradable yard waste (kept separate from municipal waste) is allowed to degrade or decompose in a medium due to a lack of landfill space in larger cities. 

 

•    The result is a high-quality, nutrient-rich, and environmentally friendly manure that improves soil conditions and fertility.

 

•    Organic matter accounts for 35 percent to 40 percent of India's municipal solid waste.

 

•    Composting, one of the oldest methods of waste disposal, can be used to recycle this waste. The natural decomposition of organic waste results in manure or compost, which is extremely nutrient-dense.

 

•    Composting is a biological process in which degradable organic waste is converted into a humus-like substance by microorganisms, primarily fungi and bacteria. This finished product, which resembles soil, is high in carbon and nitrogen, making it an ideal growing medium for plants.

 

•    Composting ensures that waste generated in kitchens is not thrown away carelessly and allowed to rot. 

 

•    It recycles nutrients and returns them as nutrients to the soil. Composting can significantly reduce the amount of disposable garbage, in addition to being clean, inexpensive, and safe.

 

•    Organic fertilizer can be used in place of chemical fertilizers and is preferable for vegetable crops. It improves the soil's ability to retain water while also making it easier to cultivate. It allowed the soil to hold on to more plant nutrients.

 

•    Vermi-composting has exploded in popularity in recent years. Worms are added to the compost in this method. These aid in the breakdown of waste, and the addition of worm excreta enriches the compost with nutrients. 

 

•    To make a compost pit, find a cool, shady spot in the garden or on the school grounds and dig a 3 foot deep pit. This depth is ideal for aerobic composting, which requires the compost to be turned at regular intervals.

 

•    To prevent nitrite pollution of the subsoil water, which is known to be highly toxic, the pit should ideally be lined with granite or brick. When organic matter is added to the pit, it should be covered with a layer of dried leaves or a thin layer of soil to allow air to enter and prevent bad odors. The rich pure organic matter is ready to use at the end of 45 days.

 

1.    Compost allows the soil to hold on to more plant nutrients for longer periods of time.

 

2.    It provides a portion of the 16 essential elements that plants require.

 

3.    It aids in the reduction of the negative effects of excessive alkalinity, acidity, or chemical fertilizer use.

 

4.    It makes cultivating soil easier.

 

5.    In the summer, it keeps the soil cool, and in the winter, it keeps the soil warm.

 

6.    By keeping the soil covered, it helps to prevent soil erosion.

 

7.    It aids in the control of weed growth in the garden.

 

•    Pyrolysis is a type of incineration in which organic materials are chemically decomposed by heat in the absence of oxygen. 

 

•    Pyrolysis occurs most commonly under pressure and at temperatures above 430°C (800°F).

 

•    It is impossible to achieve a completely oxygen-free environment in practice. 

 

•    A small amount of oxidation occurs in any pyrolysis system because oxygen is present. Thermal desorption will occur if volatile or semi-volatile materials are present in the waste.

 

•    Organic materials decompose into gases, small amounts of liquid, and a carbon and ash-rich solid residue. A secondary thermal oxidation unit can also be used to treat the off-gases.

 

•    Equipment for removing particulates is also required. 

 

•    The rotary kiln, rotary hearth furnace, and fluidized bed furnace are among the pyrolysis units available. These units work in a similar way to incinerators, but at lower temperatures and with less air supply.

 

1.    The technology necessitates soil drying prior to treatment.

 

2.    Systems treating hazardous wastes containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and other organics have limited performance data. There is concern that systems that use heat to destroy chlorinated organic molecules could produce incomplete combustion products such as dioxins and furans. In the parts per trillion range, these compounds are extremely toxic. According to reports, the MSO process does not produce dioxins or furans.

 

3.    Most of the time, the molten salt is recycled in the reactor chamber. However, depending on the type of waste treated (especially inorganics) and the amount of ash present, spent molten salt can be hazardous and must be handled with caution.

 

4.    Pyrolysis fails to destroy or physically separate organics from a contaminated medium. Because of the higher temperatures involved in the process, volatile metals may be removed, but they are not destroyed. Heavy metal-containing by-products may require stabilization prior to final disposal.

 

5.    Liquids condense as the off-gases cool, leaving an oil/tar residue and contaminated water. These oils and tars could be hazardous wastes that need to be treated, stored, and disposed of properly.