The waste is classified depending on its physical states:

- liquid wastes,
- gaseous wastes, and
- solid wastes.
Solid waste is the unwanted or useless solid materials generated from combined residential, industrial,
and commercial activities in each area.

Solid waste is classified based on its source of origin and physical nature.
Source of origin:
- Residential wastes,
- Commercial wastes,
- Institutional wastes,
- Municipal wastes,
- Industrial wastes, and
- Agricultural Wastes.
So, solid waste's physical nature is referring to the type of waste:
- garbage,
- ashes,
- combustible and noncombustible wastes,
- Demolition and construction wastes, and
- Hazardous wastes.
Here is a simple table to better understand the solid waste classification and its relation to one
another. As you can see on the table, the garbage comes from the houses, hotels, dairies, meat stalls etc.
They are putrescible and can decompose rapidly, especially in warm weather. So, to summarize the table,
we can say that we can determine the source of waste through its physical nature.

Table 1. Classification of Solid waste

No. Type Description Sources

1. Garbage Residual vegetable or animal wastes Houses, Hotels, Dairies, Meat
(Biodegradable resulting from the handling, stalls etc.
food wastes) preparation, cooking and eating of
foods.
2. Combustible and Combustible solid wastes, as Households, Offices, Hotels,
non-combustible paper, cardboard, plastics, textile, Markets etc.
solid waste rubber, leather, wood, furniture, and
garden trimmings. Non- combustible
solid wastes as glass, crockery, tin cans,
ferrous and nonferrous metals.
3. Ashes Residues remaining after the Fireplaces and Kitchens of houses,
burning of wood, coal, coke, and other hotels, hostels etc.
combustible wastes.
 4. Demolition and Inert wastes such as dirt, stones, Demolition and Construction
construction concrete, bricks, pieces of plumbing and of buildings
wastes heating and electrical parts
5. Industrial wastes They are specific for a specific Different types of Industries,
industry. Their characteristics vary Thermal power plants etc.
widely as inert, highly biodegradable,
toxic, reactive, odorous, corrosive, hot,
cold, colored, viscous, inflammable, and
dusty

Here are the methods in treating solid wastes.

Different treatment methods are applied with different types of wastes. These treatment processes
include Open Dumps, Landfills, Anaerobic Digestion, Composting, Vermicomposting, Encapsulation, and
Incineration.

Open dumps refer to uncovered areas that are used

to dump solid waste of all kinds. The waste is
untreated and not segregated. It is the breeding
ground for flies, rats, and other insects that spread
disease. The rainwater run-off from these dumps
contaminates nearby land and water, thereby
spreading disease. In some countries, open dumps
are being phased out. Here in the Philippines, we
have Republic Act 9003 or known as The Solid
Waste Management Act of 2000, which prohibits
the establishment and operation of open dumps for
Figure 1 Open Dump
waste disposal.

A landfill may also refer to the ground that has

been filled in with soil and rocks instead of
waste materials so that it can be used for a
specific purpose, such as for building houses.
A landfill, also known as a dump or tip, is a site
for the disposal of waste materials by burial.
The waste is usually buried, but it may first be
sorted to remove any recyclable materials.
Once the waste is crushed into tiny pieces, it
is buried, but without oxygen, a dangerous gas Figure 2 Main features of a modern landfill (Sanitary landfill)1
called methane is created. Sanitary Landfills 1. T. Srinivas, Environmental Biotechnology, www.britannica.org
are designed to significantly reduce or
eliminate the risks that waste disposal may pose to public health and environmental quality. Older, poorly
designed, or poorly managed landfills can create several adverse environmental impacts such as wind-
blown litter, the attraction of vermin, and the generation of liquid leachate. One of the main features of
a sanitary landfill is the treatment of leachate. Leachate is a liquid that occurs as waste decomposes in a
landfill and water filters through it. This liquid is extremely poisonous and can pollute soil, groundwater,
and waterways.

Composting is the biological decomposition of organic waste under controlled aerobic conditions.
Industries as paper, agriculture, and food processing give out wastes that are almost 100% organic. This
organic matter can be composted to yield good manure. The
product obtained after subjecting the organic fraction of solid
waste to aerobic or anaerobic decomposition is called compost.

There are different composting stages:

− solid waste segregation,

− processing the compostable matter,
− preparation for compost,
− digestion,
− curing, and
− screening. Figure 3 Compost Cycle

Anaerobic digestion is a regulated version of the

natural events of landfill. This treatment of solid
waste controlled the release of methane-rich
biogas, which offers the potential for a genuine
form of energy from waste. It is carried out in
large, fermented tanks. In these tanks, anaerobic
bacteria break down organic matter—such as
animal manure, wastewater biosolids, and food
wastes—in the absence of oxygen. The
anaerobic bacteria convert the large organic
molecules mainly into methane and carbon
dioxide. To sum up, anaerobic digestion.
Figure 4 Anaerobic Process

Vermicomposting is a simple biotechnological process of

composting. Certain species of earthworms are used to enhance
the process of waste conversion and produce a better product.
This method's product is vermicast, which is also called worm
castings, worm humus, worm manure, or worm feces.

Figure 5 Vermin Composting

Encapsulation is a waste disposal method that packs hazardous
materials in containers made of an impervious and non-reactive
material. The containers are sealed with concrete, plastic, or steel for
burial or storage. The solid particulate waste material is coated with
a thermosetting resin compressed and cured to form a rigid core. To
provide a sealed encapsulated waste agglomerate that can withstand
moderate compressive loads, the rigid core is coated with a flexible
thermoplastic resin. The objective of encapsulation is to prevent
contact between water and target substances.
Figure 6 Encapsulation

Incineration is the most common thermal

treatment process. It is the burning of the
waste at a temperature of 1000°C ± 100°C in
the presence of oxygen to eliminate all odors
and ensure good combustion. After
incineration, the wastes are converted to
carbon dioxide, water, and ash. It converts
hazardous organic substances into less
hazardous components.
Figure 7 Incineration Facility

1. Which method of solid waste treatment do you believe is the best?

2. How do you dispose of your own garbage?
3. Do you believe that the government should be more strict in enforcing waste management policies?
Why?
4. What can you do to help mitigate the solid waste problem?

Take an online QUIZ 1 on your google classroom.

1. Create a simple poster supporting a campaign for solid waste management. Depending on your knowledge of
solid waste, the message of your poster should be easily comprehended by any audience. You can design your
poster using any editing program, including PowerPoint, Publisher, etc. Save your layout as .png or .jpeg file and
paste it onto the second page of this document, along with a brief overview of your poster. The output of your
activity will be evaluated using the rubric provided below. Save your document as Section_Surname_CA2.docx
(ex. Y12_Camba_CA2.docx). Send your document via the URL provided below once everything is ready.
Additionally, please review the provided rubric before to completing this activity so that you understand how it
will be graded.
Note: Visit your google classroom and download the template for this activity.