1.1. SOLID 1.2. SOLID 1.3.

SOLID
WASTE WASTE WASTE
MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT

1.1.1. Introduction 1.2.1. Introduction 1.3.1. Introduction

Waste is the by-product of
household, industrial and
environmental resources. The term
solid waste means, material such
as household garbage (includes
recycling), food wastes, yard
wastes, and demolition or
construction debris. It also
includes discarded items like
household appliances, furniture,
scrap metal, machinery, car parts
and abandoned or junk vehicles.
We refer to waste items from The by-product of household,
domestic, environmental and industrial and environmental
industrial, operations as solid resources is defined as waste. The
waste. Household garbage, food household garbage, including
scraps, bio waste, and demolition discarded items such as
debris or building materials are all appliances, furniture, scrap metals,
examples of solid waste. Along abandoned or junk vehicles, food
with unwanted home appliances wastes, yard wastes, and
and furniture, scrap metal, demolition or construction debris
machinery, car components, and are all known as solid waste.
abandoned vehicles are included.

Solid waste is characterised by the Solid waste microbiology is An abundance of degradable

presence of an abundance of influenced by the type of carbon and the type of this carbon
degradable carbon, and solid degradable carbon present in the has an impact on solid waste
waste microbiology is influenced garbage. As a result, it's critical to microbiology characterises the
by the nature of this carbon. Thus, comprehend the factors that solid waste. As a result, it is
it is important to understand the influence trash biodegradability. critical to comprehend the makeup
composition of the waste which Waste is collected, processed, of trash that may biodegrade. The
may undergo biodegradation. recycled, transported, and process of collecting, processing,
Waste Management is the term monitored as part of waste recycling, transportation, and
that refers to the collection, management. There are a number monitoring of waste is defined as
processing, recycling, transport, of goods that humans generate and waste management. And the
and monitoring of waste products. dispose of in order to limit their varieties of items created by
The waste products means the negative influence on health, the human activities that are disposed
various materials produced by environment, or aesthetics in the of in order to reduce their impact
human activity and is undertaken context of waste products. Among on human health, the environment,
for reducing their effect on health, the uses of waste management is or aesthetics are known as waste
environment or aesthetics. recycling materials from garbage, products. The recovery of various
Another application of the waste which can include solid, liquid, materials from garbage is another
management is to recover the and gaseous waste. Different use of waste management. It
various resources from it. It processes and techniques are comprises solid, liquid, and
involves the management of solid, necessary for different types of gaseous waste management.
liquid, and gaseous wastes. Each waste. Different procedures and
type of waste requires a different disciplines of knowledge are
methods and fields of expertise. required for different types of
trash.
1.1.2. Causes of Solid
Waste 1.2.2. Causes of Solid 1.3.2. Causes of Solid
Main Causes of Solid waste are: Waste Waste
1) Paper Mills: A significant Following are the causes of solid Following are the causes of solid
cause of solid waste is paper waste: waste:
mills. Paper mills are built 1) Paper Mills: Paper mills are a 1) Paper Mills: Paper mills are
next to rivers so. Though they substantial source of solid one of the significant reasons
don’t pollute the rivers as waste. As a result, paper mills for the generation of solid
much as they used to, they still are located adjacent to wastes. These are constructed
 are a small part of water
pollution. But not all of this
pollution goes into the river--
they also have a chimney so
they can let some of the
chemicals from their factory
pollute our air.
2) Fishermen: Solid waste
damages many different aspects
of the environment. When
people are out in fishing boats,
they carelessly dump trash into
the ocean. Though this is
illegal, no one can stop them.
Sea turtles like to eat jelly fish,
and when they see a clear
plastic bag floating in the water
they may mistake it for a jelly
fish (and eat it).
3) Batteries: People depend on a
lot of battery power. They use
batteries a lot more than they
need to. Though people
probably don’t think about
this, when these batteries are
dumped into a landfill, the
chemicals inside them leak
and pollute the land, water and
air.
4) Farm Waste: The solid waste
that comes from these farms
can cause great damage to the
environment. Runoff from the
farms can contain harmful
pollutants that may run into the
river. When the manure
decomposes, the oxygen level
in the water is decreased. Fish
and other aquatic animals can
suffocate without the necessary
oxygen.
5) Population: Regular citizens
create a large solid waste
problem. For most people, it
just seems easier to throw
their trash on the ground
instead of walking an extra
foot to the trash can.
Population growth will
increase the amount of trash.
Pollution naturally increases
with the growing number of
persons, produce more waste.
6) Mining: In mining areas,
there are mountains of waste
waterways. Despite the fact
that they no longer pollute
rivers as much as they
formerly did, they
nevertheless contribute to
water pollution. They also
have a chimney where some 2) Fishermen:
of the chemicals from their
plant may be released into the
air. Not all of this pollution is
discharged into the river;
some may also cause damage
to the air in our
neighbourhoods.
2) Fishermen: There are many
ways that solid waste damages
the environment. When
fishermen are out on the
ocean, they carelessly dump
trash into the ocean. Although
this is unlawful, no one can
block their path. A clear
plastic bag floating in the
water might look like a 3) Batteries: People utilises
jellyfish to a sea turtle, which
means they will eat it.
3) Batteries: Every year,
humans utilise thousands of
batteries. The toxins inside
discarded batteries leak out
and harm land, water, and air,
which most people are
unaware of.
4) Farm Waste: As manure
decomposes, it releases toxins
into the water system. Farm
runoff is dangerous, as it
contains dangerous toxins that
end up in rivers. The oxygen
levels in the water decrease as
the waste decomposes.
Without sufficient oxygen,
fish and other aquatic animals
can die.
5) Population: There are a lot of
solid wastes produced by
ordinary people. It is easier for
most people to throw their
trash on the ground rather than
walking to the trash bin. With
an increasing population, there
will be a greater amount of
rubbish produced. With
increased population and
across the rivers and results in
the cause of water pollution.
In addition, these mills also
have chimneys from where
chemicals of the factory let
out and pollute air.
Many
environmental aspects are
destructed or damaged as a
result of solid wastes. People
carelessly throw garbage into
the oceans and rivers when they
are out in fishing boats. And
one stops these people despite
the fact that this is illegal. These
trashes in the oceans may cause
harm to the aquatic plants and
animals. For example, sea
turtles may mistake plastic bags
floating in the water with jelly
fish and eat it which results in
the death or sickness of these
turtles.
battery power more than their
required and rely heavily on
battery power. Though most
people are not aware of it,
when these batteries are
thrown away, the chemicals
within leak and cause the land,
water, and air pollution.
4) Farm Garbage: Environment
is severely affected by the
solid waste that comes from
the farms. Farm runoff can
include dangerous toxins that
can end up in the river. The
oxygen level in the water
decreases as the manure
decomposes. Fish and other
aquatic creatures can die if
they do not get enough
oxygen.
5) Population: Ordinary people
are responsible for a
significant amount of solid
trash. Most individuals find it
easier to put their garbage on
the ground rather than go the
extra step to the trash bin. The
amount of rubbish produced
will rise as the population
grows. Pollution inevitably
rises as the population grows
 generated in digging an open
pit mine. Two types of waste
are generated.
i) The over burden of rocks
need to be relocated into
large piles of waste rock.
ii) Slag and tailings left over
after the extraction of
metals from the ore is
another source of waste.
1.1.3. Types of Solid
Waste
There is heavy increase in the
quantity of solid waste is due to
overpopulation, affluence, and
technological advancement. There
are following basic sources of
solid wastes:
1) Municipal Solid Waste: It is
made up of discarded solid
materials from residences,
businesses, and city buildings.
The most common waste
product is paper. Municipal
solid waste contains a wide
variety of materials. It can
contain food waste such as
vegetable and meat material,
leftover food, egg shells, etc.,
which is classified as wet
garbage as well as paper,
plastic, tetrapacks, plastic
cans, newspaper, glass bottles,
cardboard boxes, aluminium
foil, metal items, wood pieces,
etc., which is classified as dry
garbage.
2) Non-Municipal Solid Waste:
It is the discarded solid
material from industry,
agriculture, mining, and oil
and gas production. Some
common items that are
classified as non-municipal
waste include construction
materials (roofing shingles,
electrical fixtures, bricks);
waste-water sludge;
incinerator residues; ash;
scrubber sludge;
oil/gas/mining waste; railroad
ties, and pesticide containers.
increased waste generation,
pollution rises naturally.
6) Mining: Mining zones
produce two types of waste
when an open pit mine is dug.
i) There must be a large
waste rock pile for the
excess rock load.
ii) Wastes that are left behind
when ore is processed into
metals include slags and
tailings.
1.2.3. Types of Solid 1.3.3. Types of Solid
Waste Waste
Following are the types of solid
waste:
1) Municipal Solid Waste:
Municipal solid waste is
composed of waste material
from homes, businesses, and
city structures. Paper is the
most prevalent waste product.
A wide range of materials is
found in municipal solid
waste. Both wet and dry
waste, including food scraps,
leftovers, eggshells, and so on,
can be disposed of in this
container. Paper, plastic, tetra
packs, plastic cans,
newspapers, cardboard boxes,
aluminium foil, metal goods,
and wooden pieces can also be
disposed of in this container.
2) Non-Municipal Solid Waste:
Among the non-municipal
wastes are shingles, electrical
fixtures, bricks, and sludge
from sewage treatment plants,
incinerator leftovers, ash,
scrubber sludge,
oil/gas/mining trash, railway
ties and pesticide containers.
Among its sources are
industrial waste, agricultural
waste, mining waste, and oil
and gas extraction waste.
and produces more garbage.
6) Mining: There are mountains
of solid waste created when an
open pit mine is dug in mining
sites. There are two sorts of
waste produced.
i) The overburden of rocks
must be transported to big
waste rock piles.
ii) Slag and tailings, which
are left behind after metals
are extracted from the ore,
are another type of waste.
Following are the types of solid
wastes:
1) Municipal Solid Waste:
Municipal solid waste
includes discarded or junked
solid materials from
businesses, residences and city
buildings. A vast range of
materials may be found in
municipal solid trash. It may
hold both wet and dry solid
waste, such as vegetable and
meat waste, leftover food, egg
shells, and so on. It can also
contain paper, plastic,
tetrapacks, plastic cans,
newspaper, glass bottles,
cardboard boxes, aluminium
foil, metal goods, wood
pieces, and so on.
2) Non-Municipal Solid Waste:
Non-municipal solid waste
includes discarded solid
materials from factories,
agriculture, mining and oil and
gas refineries. Construction
materials (roofing shingles,
electrical fixtures, bricks);
waste-water sludge;
incinerator leftovers; ash;
scrubber sludge;
oil/gas/mining trash; railroad
ties; and pesticide containers
are all examples of non-
municipal garbage.
1.1.4. Effects of Solid
Waste
The main impacts of solid waste
accumulation are:
1) Spoilage of Landscape: 1.2.4. Effects of Solid
Municipal wastes heap up on Waste
roads due to improper disposal Following are the effects of solid 1) Spoilage of Landscape: Due
system. People clean their waste:
own houses and litter their 1) Spoilage of Landscape: A
immediate surroundings, waste disposal system that is
which affects the community inefficient leads to
including themselves. Every accumulation of municipal
year, several tons of solid wastes on roads. Residents
waste is dumped along the clean their own homes and
highways and other places, trash their surroundings,
thereby spoiling the affecting their local
landscape. community. The degrading
2) Pollution: Dumping of waste effect of solid waste is
on the land may pollute evident along highways and 2) Pollution: Dumping garbage
ground water and also the other areas every year.
water bodies present in the
vicinity. Toxic chemicals 2) Pollution: The illegal
present in the wastes may practice of dumping garbage
percolate in the ground and on land can adversely affect
contaminate the ground water. nearby water bodies,
3) Health Hazards: Heaps of including ground water. The 3) Health Hazards: Domestic
domestic and industrial wastes toxic chemicals in the
are dumped on vacant and garbage may seep into the
unused land in residential soil and damage the ground
areas which causes unhygienic water supply.
conditions and ultimately
results into outbreak of 3) Health Hazards: Waste from
diseases like cholera, both residential and industrial
gastroenteritis, malaria, sources is thrown into
dengue, etc. unused, unoccupied, and
4) Effect on Soil: Many wastes unmaintained areas of 4) Soil Effects: Many wastes can
may spread on the soil and residential neighbourhoods,
changes physico-chemical and leaving unhygienic conditions
biological characteristics of and causing diseases such as
the soil. It adversely affects cholera, gastroenteritis,
the fertility of the soil. malaria, and dengue fever to
5) Effect on Terrestrial and thrive.
Aquatic Life: Urban and 4) Effect on Soil: The spreading
industrial wastes often contain a of wastes can alter the soil's
variety of toxic chemicals. Such physicochemical or biological
chemicals may enter into the properties, negatively
food chain and affect both affecting soil fertility.
terrestrial and aquatic 5) Effect on Terrestrial and
organisms. Aquatic Life: Trash
containing toxic substances,
which may penetrate the food
chain and affect both land and
aquatic creatures, is
commonly found in urban
1.3.4. Effects of Solid
Waste
Following are the effects of solid
waste:
to an inefficient trash disposal
system, municipal rubbish
accumulates on highways.
People clean their own homes
and trash their local surrounds,
which has an impact on the
community as a whole.
Several tonnes of solid trash
are thrown along highways
and other locations every year,
degrading the landscape.
on land has the potential to
harm ground water as well as
nearby water bodies. Toxic
chemicals in the garbage
might seep into the earth and
damage the water supply.
and industrial wastes are
dumped on unoccupied and
underutilised land in
residential neighbourhoods,
resulting in unsanitary
circumstances and the spread
of illnesses such as cholera,
gastroenteritis, malaria, and
dengue fever.
travel through the soil,
changing its physico-chemical
and biological features. It has
a negative impact on soil
fertility.
5) Impact on Terrestrial and
Aquatic Life: Toxic
substances are commonly
found in urban and industrial
waste. These compounds have
the potential to penetrate the
food chain and have an impact
on both land and aquatic
creatures.

1.1.5. Steps Involved in
Solid Waste Management 1.2.5. Steps Involved in 1.3.5. Steps Involved in
For effective waste management Solid Waste Management Solid Waste Management
stress is given on three ‘R’s, i.e.,
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle before
storage and safe disposal of
wastes.
1) Reduction in Use of Raw
Materials: Reduction in the
use of raw materials will
correspondingly decrease the
production of waste. Reduced
demand for any metallic
product will decrease the
mining of their metal and
cause less production of
waste.
2) Re-use of Waste Materials:
The refillable containers (such
as glass bottles, plastic
containers) which are
discarded after use can be
reused. Villagers make
casseroles and silos from
waste paper and other waste
materials.
3) Recycling of Materials: In
recycling used and discarded
items are collected, melted
and reprocessed into new
products. For example, iron
scraps, aluminium cans, etc.,
can be melted and recorded
into new products.
1.1.6. Control Measures
of Urban & Industrial
Wastes/Control Measures
of Municipal Solid
Wastes
An integrated waste management
strategy includes following main
components:
1) Source Reduction: It is one
of the fundamental ways to
reduce waste. This can be
done by using less material
when making a product, re-use
of products on site, designing
products or packaging to
reduce their quantity.
and industrial areas.
Following are the steps involved Following are the steps involved
in solid waste management: in the process of solid waste
management:
1) Reduction in Use of Raw 1) Reduction in Use of Raw
Materials: Reducing the Materials: Reduction in raw
utilisation of raw resources material use will result in a
will reduce the production of reduction in waste output.
waste as the demand for any Reduced demand for any
metallic product will be metallic product will result in
reduced. On the one hand, the less metal being mined and
need to mine metal will less trash being produced.
decrease, on the other, the 2) Reuse of Waste Materials:
amount of waste produced. After usage, refillable
2) Re-use of Waste Materials: containers (such as glass
Rather than throwing away bottles and plastic containers)
unused refillable containers can be reused. Villagers use
(like glass bottles and plastic scrap paper and other
containers), villages use scrap materials to construct
materials to build casseroles casseroles and silos.
and storage silos. 3) Material Recycling:
3) Recycling of Waste Recycling collects worn and
Materials: Metal scraps, abandoned things, melts them
aluminium cans, and other down, and reprocesses them
materials, for example, can be into new products. Iron scraps,
melted down into new aluminium cans, and other
products as part of recycling. materials, for example, can be
Used and abandoned objects melted down and turned into
are collected, melted, and new goods.
turned into new items as part
of recycling.
1.2.6. Control 1.3.6. Control Measures
Measures of Urban & of Urban & Industrial
Industrial Wastes/Control Measures
Wastes/Control of Municipal Solid
Measures of Municipal Wastes
Solid Wastes Following are the control
Following are the control measures of urban and industrial
measures of urban and industrial wastes:
wastes: 1) Source Reduction: One of
1) Source Reduction: A simple primary methods of reducing
way to reduce waste is to the solid waste is to reduce the
create products that use less usage of source. This may be
material, repurpose items on- accomplished by utilising less
site, and reduce quantities of material while creating a
products or packaging. product, reusing items on-site,
2) Land-fill: Waste is dumped and reducing the amount of
products or packaging.
2) Land-fill: The most common
and cheapest method of waste
disposal is dumping in
sanitary land-fills which are
invariably employed in Indian
cities. Land-fill structure is
built either into the ground or
on the ground into which the
waste is dumped. 3)
3) Composting: Separation of
compostable matter such as
vegetative residues, egg-
shells, tea bags, paper, cotton
rags, grass, etc., manually is
tedious, and expensive if
mechanised. But it is essential
because only organic matter is
compostable. 4)
4) Vermiculture: This technique
is popularly known as
earthworm farming. It is an
important bio technique for
converting solid wastes such
as sewage sludge and
domestic wastes into compost
with the help of earthworms. 5)
5) Recycling: It is an eco-
friendly technique. In
recycling, a product at the end
of its service life, i.e., waste is
converted into another useful
product. It involves
separating, collecting,
processing, marketing and
ultimately using the material
that could have been thrown
away. A sheet of paper can be
recycled to other paper
products, cans, bottles and
pouches can be recycled for
other uses.
6) Incineration: It is a hygienic
way of disposing solid waste
and is more suitable if the
waste contains more
hazardous material and
organic content. It is a thermal
process and is very effective
for detoxification of all
combustible pathogens. It is
an expensive technology
compared to land-fill and
composting because
into sanitary land-fills, which
are ubiquitous in Indian cities,
as this is the most popular and
cheapest form of waste
disposal. These structures are
dug directly into the ground or
built on top of the ground to
store the waste.
Composting: Manually
separating compostable waste
such as vegetative residues,
eggshells, tea bags, paper,
cotton rags, grass, etc., is
tedious, and also expensive if
a machine is used. But it is
important because only
organic waste can be
composted.
Vermiculture: This method is
called earthworm farming. By
using earthworms as its
medium, solid wastes such as
sewage sludge and household
wastes can be transformed
into compost using this
method.
Recycling: The process of
recycling consists of turning a
waste product into something
else that is useful. It is an
environmentally friendly
method. In the recycling
process, material that would
otherwise be discarded is
collected, processed,
marketed, and eventually
repurposed. For example,
cans, bottles, and pouches are
processed into paper products
and cans, bottles, and pouches
are repurposed into other
items.
6) Incineration: The thermal
procedure of composting is
fairly effective at getting rid of
all combustible pathogens. It
is a sanitary method for
dealing with solid waste,
especially if the waste
contains hazardous and
organic components. It is
more expensive to incinerate
hazardous waste and medical
waste rather than landfill or
compost. This method is better
2) Land-fill: Dumping rubbish
in sanitary land-fills, which
are ubiquitous in Indian cities,
is the most popular and
cheapest method of waste
disposal. The garbage is
thrown into a land-fill
structure that is either dug into
the earth or erected on the
ground.
3) Composting: Manually
separating compostable items
such as vegetal residues,
eggshells, tea bags, paper,
cotton rags, grass, and so on is
time-consuming and costly.
However, it is necessary since
only organic materials may be
composted.
4) Vermiculture: Earthworm
farming is another name of
vermiculture. With the aid of
earthworms, it is a significant
bio method for transforming
solid wastes such as sewage
sludge and residential wastes
into compost.
5) Recycling: It is an
environmentally beneficial
method. Recycling is the
process of converting a
product that has reached the
end of its usable life, i.e.
garbage, into another valuable
product. It entails sorting,
collecting, processing, selling,
and eventually repurposing
material that would otherwise
be discarded. Cans, bottles,
and pouches can all be
recycled to make other paper
goods, and cans, bottles, and
pouches can all be recycled to
make other items.
6) Incineration: This is a
sanitary method of disposing
of solid waste, and it is more
appropriate when the trash
contains dangerous materials
and organic components. It is
a thermal procedure that's
quite good at getting rid of all
combustible pathogens.
Because incinerators are
expensive, it is a more
incinerators are costly. This
technology is more suited to
treat hazardous wastes and
hospital wastes.
for dealing with medical
wastes and hazardous waste.
expensive method than
landfilling or composting.
Hazardous wastes and medical
wastes are better treated with
this technique.