CHAPTER 4: WASTEWATER TREATMENT DISPOSAL

Lesson 23: Wastewater Sources, Classification and Composition

Learning Objectives:
-Define wastewater
-Enumerate the three types of wastewater
- Determine the different sources of wastewater
-Identify the classification and composition of wastewater
WHAT IS WASTEWATER?
Wastewater is the water which is disposed from homes, offices and industry. It comes from toilets, sinks, showers,
washing machines and industrial processes and was historically called sewage.
-is a term that is used to describe waste material that includes industrial liquid waste and sewage waste that is
collected in towns and urban areas and treated at urban wastewater treatment plants.
-Optimal water quality is vital for maintaining human health and a healthy ecosystem. It plays an equally essential
role in socio-economic development. But in the wake of ever-increasing population and degrading natural
resources, maintaining a safe water supply is getting highly challenging. Herein comes the pressing issue of
wastewater.
THREE TYPES OF WASTEWATER
Domestic sewage is the used water from houses and apartments, mostly coming from the kitchen, bathroom, and
laundry sources. Things like dishwashing, the garbage disposal, and of course baths and showers are included in
the mix.
Industrial sewage means a combination of liquid and water carried wastes, discharged from any industrial
establishment, and resulting from any trade or process carried on in that establishment.
Storm sewage are drains that carry surface water runoff from rain, melting snow, and overflow from lawn water.
These sewers convey this runoff to water bodies such as catch basins, rivers and lakes. A storm sewer's
components include the above-ground drain that is usually found at street-level, just below the sidewalk line, and
the reservoir piping/tunneling beneath it that carries the water elsewhere.
Different Sources of Wastewater
Commercial- is the aqueous discard that results from substances having been dissolved or suspended in water,
typically during the use of water in an industrial manufacturing process or the cleaning activities that take place
along with that process.
Agricultural activities- is primarily the excess water that runs off the field at the low end of furrows, border
strips, basins, and flooded areas during surface irrigation.
Surface runoff or storm water- is the flow of water occurring on the ground surface when excess rainwater,
stormwater, meltwater, or other sources, can no longer sufficiently rapidly infiltrate in the soil.
Any sewer inflow or sewer infiltration- is excess water that flows into sewer pipes from groundwater and
stormwater. Groundwater (infiltration) seeps into sewer pipes through holes, cracks, joint failures, and faulty
connections
Horticultural- is a farm management agenda for controlling pollution from confined animal operations and from
surface runoff that may be contaminated by chemicals in fertilizer, pesticides, animal slurry, crop residues or
irrigation water.
Aquaculture effluent- is an activity that requires a high volume of water and therefore a considerable amount of
wastewater is discharged. The accumulation of excreta and food waste during fish culture often causes a
deterioration of water quality, with negative effects on the fish and on the environment.
Classification of wastewater
Gaseous- are oxides of carbon, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons, aerosols, carbon monoxide,
methane, Green house gases like chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) etc. Due to the increase of factories, industrial areas
and the number of vehicles, a large amount of gaseous wastes are coming to the atmosphere
Liquid - can be defined as such Liquids as wastewater, fats, oils or grease (FOG), used oil, liquids, solids, gases,
or sludges and hazardous household liquids. These liquids that are hazardous or potentially harmful to human
health or the environment.
Solid- Other than gases, all contaminants of water contribute to the solids content. Solids typically include
inorganic matter such as silt, sand, gravel, and clay, and organic matter such as plant fibres and microorganisms
from natural and man made sources.
Slurry- is the solid, semisolid, or slurry residual material that is produced as a by-product of wastewater treatment
processes. This residue is commonly classified as primary and secondary sludge
Sludge- is the residual slurry that is produced during sewage treatment of industrial or municipal wastewater.
According to the Water Environment Association, wastewater typically averages 99.94 percent water by weight;
only a small 0.06 percent is actually waste material, from which sludge is derived.
Containerized waste- are standard containers that have STPs installed inside. It is an effective method for
transporting the entire waste water treatment system from one location to another, which is particularly useful for
temporary camps and construction sites.

Lesson 24: Cause and Effect of Wastewater

What is Wastewater?
• Wastewater is generated after the use of fresh water in a variety of applications, and usually involves leaching,
flushing, or washing away waste products and nutrients added to the water during these applications.
• A more detailed definition for wastewater is "Used water”.
Composition of wastewater
The most common organic components of wastewater include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, oils, resins, dyes,
phenols, petroleum products, detergents, pesticides, etc. Inorganic components are bases, inorganic acids, heavy
metals (lead, copper, mercury, zinc, cadmium, chromium) as well as arsenic, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, sulfate,
chloride, nitrate, phosphate, carbonate, ammonium ions, etc.
 CAUSES OF WASTE WATER
DOMESTIC WASTEWATER
Wastewater derived from human activities in households such as bath, laundry, dish washing, garbage disposal,
toilets etc is called as Domestic Wastewater which usually contains relatively small amounts of contaminants but
even small amount of pollutants can make a big impact on environment. Hence, a properly installed and
maintained residential sewage treatment system for treating and disposing of household wastewater will
minimize the impact on ground water and surface water.
INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER
Industrial wastewater is not just a by-product of oil and gas or mining and chemical manufacturing companies,
but also a by-product of food and beverage processing industries, essential in the making of the clothes on your
back, the shoes on your feet, the computer at your fingertips, and the car your drive.
AGRICULTURAL WASTEWATER
Agricultural wastewater is primarily the excess water that runs off the field at the low end of furrows, border
strips, basins, and flooded areas during surface irrigation. This wastewater is also referred to as irrigation
tailwater. A certain amount of tailwater runoff is necessary to ensure adequate penetration of water along the
length of the furrow or border strip being irrigated and to achieve a modicum of irrigation efficiency.
EFFECTS OF WASTEWATER
• Water pollution:
Freshwater bodies and marine waters into which wastewater is discharged may be polluted and rendered unsafe
for human use. Depending on what is discharged aquatic life may be harmed, too.
• Water scarcity:
There is water scarcity in many places in the world. Wastewater discharged on lands can leach into underground
water tables and potentially contaminate aquifers and underground water. If discharged in freshwater bodies, it
may render water sources unsuitable for use.
• Ecosystem services:
All ecosystems are connected, and they all ultimately depend on water. Similarly, all water (surface and
underground) is connected. This means careless wastewater discharge can have some serious ripple effect. One
common effect of wastewater is the eutrophication of freshwater bodies and oceans. If one
part of the ecosystem chain is destroyed, it can upset its entire food chain.
• Agriculture / Fisheries / Tourism:
Wastewater for irrigation may contain unsuitable chemicals and higher concentrations of nutrients needed for
crops. This can result in delayed and under yielding. Wastewater used for animal farming may also contain
harmful things and chemicals dissolved in them. Animals may die, and there is a chance that humans that eat
such animals may be harmed too. In some places, fecal sewage is discharged directly into the sea. The discharge
contains pathogens and harmful dissolved chemicals which can affect fishing in that area. The smell and such
behavior do not encourage tourism to that area.
• Health of urban and rural populations:
Wastewater is a significant health issue, as it carries and transports a myriad of diseases and illnesses. It is
believed that about 2.2 million people die each year (globally) from diarrheal disease. (WHO) At least 1.8 million
children under five years die every year due to water-related disease, or one every 20 seconds (WHO, 2008).
Lesson 25: Wastewater Collection Process
WHAT IS A WASTEWATER COLLECTION?
Wastewater collection is the system of underground pipes and maintenance structures used to convey wastewater
to a water treatment plant. Gravity pipes, manholes, tanks, lift stations, control structures, and force mains are all
part of the wastewater collection system, which collects used water from residential and nonresidential users and
transports it to the wastewater treatment facility. Thousands of miles of pipeline are required to collect this
wastewater and purify it before releasing it to the environment.
TYPES OF WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
Wastewater collection systems fall into three categories namely, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, and combined
sewers.
Sanitary sewer is to transport waste from residences and businesses to wastewater treatment plants.
On the other hand, storm sewers also known as surface or runoff sewers, collect and transport rainwater,
snowmelt, and irrigation runoff into storm drains in parking lots, streets, and gutters.
Combined sewer system is the combination of the two mentioned sewer systems. However, due to potential
hazard and damage of this system returning back to the environment is the main reason why it is not typically
used anymore.
METHODS OF CONVEYANCE
The method of conveyance of the wastewater is through forces and these forces are the gravity, low pressure,
and vacuum. For instance in gravity, it allows the flow of wastewater towards the treatment plan with the help
of a lift station. A wastewater lift station is a pumping station that moves wastewater from a lower elevation to a
higher elevation. Moreover, a common system that uses low pressure as means of transporting wastewater is the
effluent sewer system. Whereas, instead of using a lift station as stated in the first example, this system uses a
trench with constant depth below the surface level and uses pumps to pressurize the system so flow continues. In
vacuum, it requires a vacuum station, which provides the low pressure, and the vacuum interface unit that is used
when gravity based appliances, such as wash basins, sinks and urinals, are connected to a vacuum sewage system.
SUMMARY
Wastewater collection refers to the network of underground pipes and maintenance buildings that transfer
wastewater to a water treatment plant. Three types of wastewater collecting systems exist: sanitary sewers, storm
sewers, and combined sewers. Gravitational, low-pressure, and vacuum forces are used to convey the effluent.
Having the type of wastewater collection system and a method of conveyance altogether will allow wastewater
to flow continuously and uninterruptedly to the treatment facility.

Lesson 26: Wastewater Treatment (Processes, Philippine Setting)

Lesson 27: Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (RA 9275) on Wastewater
What is Republic Act 9275?
R.A. 9275 have a long title which is “An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Water Quality Management and for
Other Purposes” also known as The Philippine Clean Water act of 2004. This act intends to protect the country's
water bodies from pollution caused by land-based sources. It is signed by Former President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo on March 22, 2004, took effect on May 6, 2004.
This act also covered the restoration and maintaining the chemical and, physical and biological integrity of the
nation’s water.
According to the article 1 section 3 of the R.A 9275, the Act shall apply to water quality management in all water
bodies;fresh water, brackish, marine water.
• Fresh Water such as streams, rivers, reservoirs and etc.
 • Brackish Water is the water that is somewhat salty but not as salty as the seawater. It is formed when
freshwater mixed with seawater. Example of this is Bays.
• Marine water or the sea water
Why do we need the Clean Water Act?
As of 1996 only 51% classified rivers that met the standards for its beneficial use, the rest is polluted.
Most studies says that 48% of water bodies are polluted because of organic pollution.
31% of the illnesses in the country are connected to polluted waters.
How will water quality be managed?
Governing Board are the one one who’ll create a policy implementing the Act.It should be consist of
representatives of mayors and governors, as well as local government units, members of relevant national
government agencies, authorized non-governmental organizations, the involved water utility sector, and the
business sector. The governing boards are going to establish multi-sectoral group that will monitor or manage the
water quality.
Water quality management will be focused on a watershed, river basin, or water resources area.
Water Quality Management Areas in the Philippines
All owners or operators of facilities must obtain a permit from the DENR or the Laguna Lake Development
Authority. Without permit have 12 months to get a permission to discharge. LGUs are to provide the land
including road right of the way for the construction of sewage and/or septage treatment facilities. All sources of
sewage and septage are required to comply with the law.
Who should implement the Clean Water Act?
Based on R.A 9275 section 22: Linkage Mechanism, these are the government agencies involved in this act.
DENR - It is the key government agency in charge of implementing out and regulating this Act.
Philippine Coast Guard - It enforce water quality regulations in marine waters, particularly from offshore sources
DPWH - It provides sewerage and sewage facilities, as well as effective and safe sewage collection, treatment,
and disposal within their area
Department of Agriculture - It develop rules for reusing wastewater for irrigation and other agricultural
purposes
DOH - Involved establishing, revising, and enforcing drinking water quality standards
DOST - It assess, validate, create, and promote pollution control and cleaner production methods.
DepED, CHED, Philippine Information Agency - They repair and execute a comprehensive and consistent
public education and information program.
(Some) Prohibited acts under R.A. 9275
According to Civil Liability/Penal Provisions section 27 of Philippine water act of 2004, these are the prohibited
act under R.A 9275.
• Discharging or depositing any water pollutant to the water body, or such which will impede natural flow
in the water body
• Discharging, injecting or allowing to enter into the soil, anything that would pollute groundwater
• Operating facilities that discharge regulated water pollutants without the valid required permits
• Disposal of potentially infectious medical waste into sea by vessels
• Unauthorized transport or dumping into waters of sewage sludge or solid waste.
• Transport, dumping or discharge of prohibited chemicals, substances or pollutants listed under Toxic
Chemicals, Hazardous and Nuclear
• Wastes Control Act (Republic.Act No. 6969)
• Discharging regulated water pollutants without the valid required discharge permit pursuant to this Act
 • Noncompliance of the LGU with the Water Quality Framework and Management Area Action Plan
• Refusal to allow entry, inspection and monitoring as well as access to reports and records by the DENR
in accordance with this Act.
Fines and penalties imposed on polluters (stated in section 28 of R.A 9275)
Anyone who violates illegal activities like discharging untreated wastewater into any water body will be fined
not less than Php 10,000 but not more than Php 200,000 for each day of violation. Failure to conduct clean-
up activities on intent is punishable with imprisonment for not less than 2 years but not more than 4 years. In
instances of gross violation, a fine of not less than Php 500,000 but not more than Php 3,000,000 would be charged
for each day of violation. Criminal charges may also be filed.

Lesson 28: Wastewater Disposal (Method)

What is Wastewater?
Wastewater is the polluted form of water generated from rainwater runoff and human activities. It is also called
sewage. It is typically categorized by the manner in which it is generated—specifically, as domestic sewage,
industrial sewage, or storm sewage (storm water).
Sewage disposal
There are different ways to dispose of sewage. Whichever method is used, it is important to make sure that it does
not: Cause dangerous conditions which allow people to come into contact with disease-causing germs. Cause
pollution of a water supply. Allow the breeding of insects such as mosquitoes or cockroaches which can carry
disease-causing germs inside or on their bodies as a result of eating or walking in sewage and produce bad smells
Methods of Sewage Disposal
Treatment plants
Sewage lagoons
On-site systems
Off-site systems
Full sewage systems

Treatment plants
Municipal sewage systems feed directly into sewage treatment plants. The plants remove the bacteria from the
sewage in multiple treatment sessions, removing harmful microbes from the substance.
Sewage lagoons
Sewage lagoons are exactly what they sound like. Wastewater flows from the home into a lagoon of standing
water. Wind and sunlight allow the right bacteria to grow and subject the sewage to a natural treatment.
On-site systems
In an on-site disposal system, wastewater empties into a septic tank, which keeps the sludge and sends the water
through a drain. The septic tank must be pumped regularly to ensure the sludge does not accumulate.
Off-site systems
An off-site sewage system receives sewage from surrounding homes and buildings and treats the water for
bacteria. It then redirects all wastewater to a community “water collection” before dumping extra water into a
nearby water source (river, creek, etc.).
Full sewage systems
Full sewage systems use blades inside of pipes to separate solid waste from water. Once everything has been
reduced, the pipes redirect it to a lagoon or a treatment plant.
Disposal Options for Large Quantities of Wastewater
Types of methods for disposing of wastewater effluent
Surface water disposal
Subsurface discharge
Water reuse

Surface water disposal, such as discharge of water into local ponds, rivers, or lakes, is strictly prohibited by
federal, state, and local regulations. However, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
provides permits that allow for surface water disposal of treated wastewater. The NPDES has specific guidelines
for wastewater discharge, including reporting requirements and other regulations that prevent contaminating
water quality.
Subsurface discharge is exactly how it sounds – wastewater is disposed of underground. This method involves
discharging septic tank effluent through leach field pipes that lead wastewater from the tank to the soil. Once the
wastewater exits the leach field pipes, it will be absorbed by the soil and broken down by natural bacteria.
Water reuse is the process of reclaiming or recycling wastewater to be used in other beneficial applications, such
as agricultural and landscape irrigation or replenishing ground water. Recycled water used for these purposes
often requires less treatment than water that is recycled for drinking water, and the small amount of leftover
pollutants in the wastewater are harmlessly assimilated into the soil structure. Water reuse is a cost effective and
environmentally conscious way to repurpose treated wastewater.
 CHAPTER 5: SOLID WASTE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL

Lesson 29: Definition and Terminologies

Solid Waste
- A "solid waste" is defined as any discarded material that is abandoned by being disposed of, burned or
incinerated, recycled or considered "waste-like." A solid waste can physically be a solid, liquid, semi-solid, or
container of gaseous material.
Examples of solid wastes include the following materials when discarded:
• waste tires
• scrap metal
• furniture and toys
• garbage
• appliances and vehicles
• construction and demolition debris
Types of Solid Waste
Municipal solid waste (MSW) includes all items from homes and businesses that people no longer have any use
for. These wastes are commonly called trash or garbage and include items such as food, paper, plastics, textiles,
leather, wood, glass, metals, sanitary waste in septic tanks, and other wastes. MSW is usually left on the curbside
weekly and picked up by a dump truck and taken to be buried in a landfill or burned in an incinerator. MSW may
be taken to a transfer station for consolidation before it is taken to a landfill or an incinerator.
Non-Municipal Solid Waste, Wastes that is not created by community activities or residential/commercial
establishments are non-municipal solid waste. This could also include solid waste generated by industries.
• Construction/Demolition Waste - waste or debris are solid waste resulting from demolition of structures.
• Industrial Solid Waste - include industrial process wastes and pollution control wastes generated by
manufacturing or industrial processes that are not hazardous wastes, such as coal ash and foundry wastes.
• Infectious Waste - waste capable of transmitting a dangerous communicable disease.
• CCR Waste - means fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, and flue gas desulfurization materials generated from
burning coal for the purpose of generating electricity by electric utilities and independent power producers.
Waste generation has become a global challenge these days. According to a World Bank report, a 70%
spike in waste generation is observed each year. Today, 2.01 billion metric tons of waste are being produced
worldwide, and by 2050 it is expected to reach 3.5 billion metric tons. The management and disposal of this
tremendous amount of waste is a challenging task for all nations. An average of 40% of the produced waste is
landfilled, 33% openly discarded, 19% recycled, 11% incinerated and the rest is handled by one or the other
conventional methods.
Solid Waste Treatment and Disposal
- Solid waste disposal management is usually referred to the process of collecting and treating solid wastes. It
provides solutions for recycling items that do not belong to garbage or trash. Solid waste management can be
described as how solid waste can be changed and used as a valuable resource.

Lesson 30: Sources of Solid Waste

What is Solid Waste?
⮚ Solid waste is defined as the useless and undesirable solid products resulting from society’s activities and
dumped by society. It is created as a by-product of manufacturing processes or as a result of things or materials
being thrown after use in the home or commercial sectors.
Sources of Solid Waste
Residential
⮚ Residences and homes where people live are some of the major sources of solid waste. The garbage from these
places includes food wastes, plastics, paper, glass, leather, cardboard, metals, yard wastes, ashes and special
wastes like bulky household items such as electronics, tires, batteries, old mattresses and used oil.
⮚ Most homes have garbage bins where they can throw
away their solid wastes in and later, the bin is emptied by a
garbage collecting firm or person for treatment.
Industrial
⮚ Industries are known to be one of the biggest contributors to solid waste. They include light and heavy
manufacturing industries, construction sites, fabrication plants, canning plants, power and chemical plants.
These industries produce solid waste in the form of housekeeping wastes, food wastes, packaging wastes, ashes,
construction and demolition materials, special wastes, medical wastes as well as other hazardous wastes.
Commercial
⮚ Commercial facilities and buildings are yet another source of solid waste today. Commercial buildings and
facilities, in this case, refer to hotels, markets, restaurants, godowns, stores and office buildings.
⮚ Some of the solid wastes generated from these places include plastics, food wastes, metals, paper, glass, wood,
cardboard materials, special wastes and other hazardous wastes.
Institutional
⮚ The institutional centers like schools, colleges, prisons, military barracks and other government centers also
produce solid waste. Some of the common solid wastes obtained from these places include glass, rubber waste,
plastics, food wastes, wood, paper, metals, cardboard materials, electronics as well as various hazardous wastes.
Construction and Demolition Areas
⮚ Construction and demolition sites also contribute to the solid waste problem. Construction sites include new
construction sites for buildings and roads, road repair sites, building renovation sites and building demolition
sites.
⮚ Some of the solid wastes produced in these places include steel materials, concrete, wood, plastics, rubber,
copper wires, dirt and glass.
Municipal Services
⮚ The urban centers also contribute immensely to the solid waste crisis in most countries today. Some of the
solid waste brought about by the municipal services include street cleaning, wastes from parks and beaches,
wastewater treatment plants, landscaping wastes and wastes from recreational areas, including sludge.
Treatment Plants and Sites
⮚ Heavy and light manufacturing plants also produce solid waste. They include refineries, power plants,
processing plants, mineral extraction plants and chemical plants.
⮚ Among the wastes produced by these plants, there are industrial process wastes, unwanted specification
products, plastics, metal parts, just to mention a few.
Agriculture
⮚ Crop farms, orchards, dairies, vineyards and feedlots are also sources of solid wastes. Among the wastes they
produce are agricultural wastes, spoiled food, pesticide containers and other hazardous materials.
Biomedical
⮚ This refers to hospitals and biomedical equipment and chemical manufacturing firms. In hospitals, there are
different types of solid wastes produced.
⮚ Some of these solid wastes include syringes, bandages, used gloves, drugs, paper, plastics, food wastes and
chemicals. All these require proper disposal or else they will cause a huge problem for the environment and the
people in these facilities.

Lesson 31: Classification and Composition of Solid Waste

SOLID WASTE
A "solid waste" is defined as any discarded material that is abandoned by being disposed of, burned or
incinerated, recycled or considered "waste-like."
A solid waste can physically be a solid, liquid, semi-solid, or container of gaseous material. Solid waste
includes garbage, construction debris, commercial refuse, sludge from water supply or waste treatment plants, or
air pollution control facilities, and other discarded materials. Solid waste can come from industrial, commercial,
mining, or agricultural operations, and from household and community activities.
Solid waste is the material generated from various human activities and which is normally disposed as useless
and unwanted.
WHERE SOLID WASTE COME?
Industrial Commertial - such as paper, cardboard, plastics, packaging materials, wood, and scrap metal.
Mining – waste generated during the extraction, beneficiation, and processing of minerals.
Household and community activities - toxic materials such as paint, batteries, plastic diapers (nappies), motor
oil, and old pesticides and cleaning product containers
CLASSIFICATION OF SOLID WASTE
MAJOR CLASSIFICATION
ORGANIC WASTE
This waste is subjected to decay with time and evolve highly offensive odor and gases which are highly
detrimental to health.
INORGANIC WASTE
This waste is subjected to decay with time and evolve highly offensive odour and gases which are highly
detrimental to health.
OTHER CLASSIFICATION
1. Municipal Waste:
Municipal waste includes waste resulting from municipal activities and services such as street wastes, dead
animals, market wastes and abandoned vehicles. However, the term is commonly applied in a wider sense to
incorporate domestic wastes and commercial wastes.
2. Commercial Waste:
Included in this category are solid wastes that originate in offices, wholesale and retail stores, restaurants, hotels,
markets, warehouses and other commercial establishments. Some of these wastes are further classified as garbage
and others as rubbish.
3. Garbage:
Garbage is the term applied to animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, storage, sale, cooking and
serving food. Such wastes contain putrescible organic matter, which produces strong odours and therefore attracts
rats, flies and other vermin. It requires immediate attention in its storage, handling and disposal.
4.Construction and Demolition Wastes:
Construction and demolition wastes are the waste materials generated by the construction, refurbishment, repair
and demolition of houses, commercial buildings and other structures. It mainly consists of earth, stones, concrete,
bricks, lumber, roofing materials, plumbing materials, heating systems and electrical wires and parts of general
municipal waste stream, but when generated in large amounts at building and demolition sites, it is generally
removed by contractors for filling low lying areas and by urban local bodies for disposal at landfills.
5. Industrial Wastes:
In this category are the discarded solid material of manufacturing processes and industrial operations. They cover
a vast range of substances which are unique to each industry. For this reason they are considered separately from
municipal wastes. However, solid wastes from small industrial plants and ash from power plants are frequently
disposed of at municipal landfills.
6. Hazardous Wastes:
Hazardous wastes may be defined as wastes of industrial, institutional or consumer origin which because of their
physical, chemical or biological characteristics are potentially dangerous to human and the environment. In some
cases although the active agents may be liquid or gaseous, they are classified as solid waste because they are
confined in solid containers.
7. Agricultural Waste:
Includes both natural and non-natural waste, is a general term used to describe waste produce from farm through
various farming activities.
8. Biomedical/Hospital Waste:
Hospital waste is generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals or in
research activities in these fields or in the production or testing of biological. It may include wastes like sharps,
soiled waste, disposables, anatomical waste, cultures, discarded medicines, chemical wastes, etc.
9. Plastics:
Plastics, due to their versatility in use and impact on environment can be grouped under a different category of
solid waste. Plastic with its exclusive qualities of being light yet strong and economical, has invaded every aspect
of our day-to-day life.
It has many advantages viz., durable, light, easy to mould, and can be adapted to different user requirements.
Once hailed as a ‘wonder material’, plastic is now a serious worldwide environmental and health concern,
essentially due to its non-biodegradable nature.
COMPOSITION OF SOLID WASTE
The composition of waste varies greatly from municipality to
municipality (country to country) and changes significantly with time. Different waste paper materials including
newspaper, office paper, foolscap paper, brown envelope, Woolworths and Pick n Pay advertising paper, filter
paper as well as cardboard have been identified as potential resources for bio product development
Composition of municipal solid waste in the Philippines, 2008-2013.
Chemical Composition of Solid Waste
moisture content – the percentage of water in the waste
ash content – the amount of material remaining after burning the waste
heat content – also known as calorific value, which is the amount of heat energy produced when the waste is
burned.

Lesson 32: Effects of Poor Solid Waste Management

What is Solid Waste?
Solid waste is defined as any discarded material that is abandoned by being disposed of, burned or incinerated,
recycled or considered "waste-like." A solid waste can physically be a solid, liquid, semi solid, or container of
gaseous material. Solid waste includes garbage, construction debris, commercial refuse, sludge from water supply
or waste treatment plants, or air pollution control facilities, and other discarded materials
What is Solid Waste Management?
Solid-waste management, the collecting, treating, and disposing of solid material that is discarded because it has
served its purpose or is no longer useful. Improper disposal of municipal solid waste can create unsanitary
conditions, and these conditions in turn can lead to pollution of the environment and to outbreaks of vector borne
disease—that is, diseases spread by rodents and insects.
Effects of Poor Solid Waste Management
• Soil Contamination or Soil Pollution
➢ Soil pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals (pollutants or contaminants) in soil, in high enough
concentrations to pose a risk to human health and/or the ecosystem. In the case of contaminants which occur
naturally in soil, even when their levels are not high enough to pose a risk, soil pollution is still said to occur if
the levels of the contaminants in soil exceed the levels that should naturally be present.
➢ Since the waste was disposed directly onto surface of soil, a number of contaminants including heavy metals
readily penetrate and eventually they contaminate the soil and affect vegetation abundance of the area.
• Water Contamination or Water Pollution
➢ Water is an excellent solvent; it can contain numerous dissolved chemicals. As a result, while moving through,
water picks up pollution along the way. It often has dissolved substances like various chemicals and gases.
➢ Rainfall easily mixes to toxic liquid substances and seeps into the water streams to end up in nearby water
bodies. Thus, the neighborhood fountain, pond, lake or even drinking water taps are susceptible to the dangers
of contamination.
➢ Solid waste impacts water quality through the release of leachate from landfills into water sources. As water
comes in contact with decomposing solid waste, it will dissolve together with soluble inorganic and organic
wastes producing polluted liquid known as leachate or waste juice
• Air Contamination or Air Pollution
➢ air pollution, release into the atmosphere of various gases, finely divided solids, or finely dispersed liquid
aerosols at rates that exceed the natural capacity of the environment to dissipate and dilute or absorb them. These
substances may reach concentrations in the air that cause undesirable health, economic, or aesthetic effects.
➢ Rotting food and other decaying organic waste allows methane and carbon dioxide to seep out of the ground
and up into the air. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and can itself be a danger because it is flammable and
potentially explosive. Carbon dioxide is the most widely produced greenhouse gas.
• Climate Change
➢ climate change, periodic modification of Earth’s climate brought about as a result of changes in the atmosphere
as well as interactions between the atmosphere and various other geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic
factors within the Earth system
• Harm Towards Animal and Marine Life
➢ we keep seeing the continual dumping of garbage, raw or untreated sewage. Any animal or marine life coming
in contact gets impacted in the worst of ways. The inevitable formation
of algal bloom and clusters contaminates and eventually suffocates marine life such as coral and fish.
• Human Damage
➢ Exposure to hazardous waste can affect human health, children being more vulnerable to these pollutants. In
fact, direct exposure can lead to diseases through chemical exposure as the release of chemical waste into the
environment leads to chemical poisoning.
Lesson 33: Solid Waste Management (Republic Act (RA) 9003, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act
of 2000).
Wrong manuscript

Lesson 34: Different Methods of Solid Waste Disposal

Solid Waste Disposal and Management:
Garbage arising from human or animal activities, that is abandoned as unwanted and useless is referred as solid
waste. Generally, it is generated from industrial, residential and commercial activities in a given area, and may
be handled in a variety of ways. However, waste can be categorized based on materials such as paper, plastic,
glass, metal and organic waste. Solid waste disposal must be managed systematically to ensure environmental
best practices. Solid waste disposal and management is a critical aspect of environmental hygiene and it needs to
be incorporated into environmental planning.
Methods of Solid Waste Disposal and Management:
Open Dumps
Open dumps refer to uncovered areas that are used to dump solid waste of all kinds. The waste is untreated,
uncovered, 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.
Landfills
Landfills are generally located in urban areas where a large amount of waste is generated and has to be dumped
in a common place. Unlike an open dump, it is a pit that is dug in the ground. The garbage is dumped and the pit
is covered thus preventing the breeding of flies and rats. At the end of each day, a layer of soil is scattered on top
of it and some mechanism, usually an earth-moving equipment is used to compress the garbage, which now forms
a cell. Thus, every day, garbage is dumped and becomes a cell. After the landfill is full, the area is covered with
a thick layer of mud and the site can thereafter be developed as a parking lot or a park.
Landfills have many problems. All types of waste are dumped in landfills and when water seeps through them it
gets contaminated and in turn pollutes the surrounding area. This contamination of groundwater and soil through
landfills is known as leaching.
Sanitary landfills
An alternative to landfills which will solve the problem of leaching to some extent is a sanitary landfill which is
more hygienic and built in a methodical manner. These are lined with materials that are impermeable such as
plastics and clay, and are also built over impermeable soil. Constructing sanitary landfills is very costly and they
have their own problems.
Some authorities claim that often the plastic liner develops cracks as it reacts with various chemical solvents
present in the waste.
The rate of decomposition in sanitary landfills is also extremely variable. This can be due to the fact that less
oxygen is available as the garbage is compressed very tightly. It has also been observed that some biodegradable
materials do not decompose in a landfill. Another major problem is the development of methane gas, which occurs
when little oxygen is present, i.e. during anaerobic decomposition. In some countries, the methane being produced
from sanitary landfills is tapped and sold as fuel.
Incineration plants
This process of burning waste in large furnaces is known as incineration. In these plants the recyclable material
is segregated and the rest of the material is burnt. At the end of the process all that is left behind is ash. During
the process some of the ash floats out with the hot air. This is called fly ash. Both the fly ash and the ash that is
left in the furnace after burning have high concentrations of dangerous toxins such as dioxins and heavy metals.
Disposing of this ash is a problem. The ash that is buried at the landfills leaches the area and cause severe
contamination.
Burning garbage is not a clean process as it produces tonnes of toxic ash and pollutes the air and water. A large
amount of the waste that is burnt here can be recovered and recycled. In fact, at present, incineration is kept as
the last resort and is used mainly for treating the infectious waste.
Advantage and Disadvantage
OPEN DUMPING
Advantages:
Inexpensive
Disadvantages:
Health-hazard - insects, rodents etc.
Damage due to air pollution
Ground water and run-off pollution
LANDFILL
Advantages:
Landfills are an Excellent Energy Source
Landfills Support Jobs and Local Business
Keeps Hazardous Waste Segregated
Disadvantages:
Landfills are Partially Responsible For Climate Change
Contaminate Soil and Water
Landfills Affect Wildlife
SANITARY LANDFILL
Advantages:
Volume can increase with little addition of people/equipment
Filled land can be reused for other community purposes
Disadvantages:
Completed landfill areas can settle and requires maintenance
Requires proper planning, design, and operation
INCINERATION
Advantages:
Requires minimum land
Can be operated in any weather
Produces stable odor-free residue
Refuse volume is reduced by half
Disadvantages:
Expensive to build and operate
High energy requirement
Requires skilled personnel and continuous maintenance
Unsightly - smell, waste, vermin
Lesson 35: Different Types of Solid Waste Treatment
Waste Treatment and Disposal Methods
Solid Waste Management is likely associate with garbage being dumped in landfills or incinerated. While such
activities comprise an important part of the process, a variety of elements is involved in the creation of an optimal
integrated solid waste management (ISWM) system. For example, treatment techniques act to reduce the volume
and toxicity of solid waste. These steps can transform it into a more convenient form for disposal. Waste treatment
and disposal methods are selected and used based on the form, composition, and quantity of waste materials.
Here are major waste treatment and disposal methods:
Thermal Treatment
Thermal waste treatment refers to the processes that use heat to treat waste materials. Following are some of the
most commonly used thermal waste treatment techniques:
• Incineration is one of the most common waste treatments. This approach involves the combustion of
waste material in the presence of oxygen. This thermal treatment method is commonly used as a means of
recovering energy for electricity or heating. This approach has several advantages. It quickly reduces
waste volume, lessens transportation costs and decreases harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
• Gasification and Pyrolysis are two similar methods, both of which decompose organic waste materials
by exposing waste to low amounts of oxygen and very high temperature. Pyrolysis uses absolutely no
oxygen while gasification allows a very low amount of oxygen in the process. Gasification is more
advantageous as it allows the burning process to recover energy without causing air pollution.
• Open Burning is a legacy thermal waste treatment that is environmentally harmful. The incinerators used
in such process have no pollution control devices. They release substances such as hexachlorobenzene,
dioxins, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic
compounds, and ash. Unfortunately, this method is still practiced by many local authorities internationally,
as it offers an inexpensive solution to solid waste.
Dumps and Landfills
• Sanitary landfills provide the most commonly used waste disposal solution. These landfills are desired
to eliminate or reduce the risk of environmental or public health hazards due to waste disposal. These sites
are situated where land features work as natural buffers between the environment and the landfill. For
instance, the landfill area can be comprised of clay soil which is quite resistant to hazardous wastes or is
characterized by an absence of surface water bodies or a low water table, preventing the risk of water
pollution. The use of sanitary landfills presents the least health and environmental risk, but the cost of
establishing such landfills is comparatively higher than other waste disposal methods.
• Controlled dumps are more or less the same as sanitary landfills. These dumps comply with many of the
requirements for being a sanitary landfill but may lack one or two. Such dumps may have a well-planned
capacity but no cell-planning. There may be no or partial gas management, basic record keeping, or regular
cover.
• Bioreactor landfills are the result of recent technological research. These landfills use superior
microbiological processes to speed up waste decomposition. The controlling feature is the continuous
addition of liquid to sustain optimal moisture for microbial digestion. The liquid is added by re-circulating
the landfill leachate. When the amount of leachate is not adequate, liquid waste such as sewage sludge is
used.
Biological Waste Treatment
• Composting is another most frequently used waste disposal or treatment method which is the controlled
aerobic decomposition of organic waste materials by the action of small invertebrates and
 microorganisms. The most common composting techniques include static pile composting, vermin-
composting, windrow composting and in-vessel composting.
• Anaerobic Digestion also uses biological processes to decompose organic materials. Anaerobic
Digestion, however, uses an oxygen and bacteria-free environment to decompose the waste material where
composting must have air to enable the growth of microbes.

Lesson 36: Pyrolysis / Landfills / Incineration etc…

Lesson 37: Advantages / Disadvantages

Waste Management (or Waste Disposal)
Techniques have been in place ever since man learnt to live in communities and settle at one place.
However, with the growing population, technologies, and urbanisation, we have not been able to upkeep the waste
management methods and thus this has created a problem of large dumping of wastes which are a cause of concern
as on date. For instance, there are various methods and techniques by which the waste is disposed of. Some of
them are Landfills, Recycling, Composting, etc. Furthermore, these methods are much useful in disposing of the
waste without causing any harm to the environment.
Waste is produced by human activity, for example, the extraction and processing of raw materials. Waste
management is intended to reduce adverse effects of waste on human health, the environment or aesthetics. Waste
management practices are not uniform among countries (developed and developing nations); regions (urban and
rural areas), and residential and industrial sectors can all take different approaches. A large portion of waste
management practices deal with municipal solid waste (MSW) which is the bulk of the waste that is created by
household, industrial, and commercial activity.
Waste Management helps in reducing pollution and by adapting to efficient waste management
techniques, emission of gases like Carbon dioxide and Methane from wastes can be reduced to a large extent.
Waste Management helps in the prevention of contagious diseases. We saw that recycling is a method of waste
management and it has a lot of benefits. When products are recycled, there is no need to produce new products
which saves raw materials. The energy consumption will also be much less. It is a big industry as it contains
various stages and procedures. Human resources are required in large numbers at every stage. Thus waste
management as an industry creates several job opportunities. People with less education and skilled labor can also
be utilized in high number in this sector.
Traditionally, the waste management industry has been a late adopter of new technologies such as RFID
(Radio Frequency Identification) tags, GPS and integrated software packages which enable better quality data to
be collected without the use of estimation or manual data entry.
Advantage of Waste Management –
• Keeps the environment clean and fresh: The greatest advantage of waste management is keeping the
environment fresh and neat. These waste disposal units also make the people go disease-free as all the
resultant wastes are properly disposed and taken care of. More number of waste disposal units can be
placed in all the tier-1 and tier-2 cities so that the waste disposal process can be prepped up. Also a point
worthy of our consideration here is that this advantage can be taken into account only if extensive and
proper safety measures are implemented along with proper waste disposal techniques.
• There is no use in simply implementing a half-baked technique which, if no use to both the people and the
environment. This is the best effects of proper waste disposal.
• Saves the Earth and conserves energy: This characteristic of waste management includes specifically
the recycling aspect. As recycling of waste helps in reducing the cutting down of trees. This cutting of
trees is mainly done for the production of paper. Though the paperless office is the new trend that is
 practiced widely but with the help of recycling we can conserve energy and lower the consumption of
earthly resources.
• By using this method, we can use recycled waste to make quality papers rather than relying on trees. Also,
recycling needs only a minimal amount of energy for utilization and complete processing. The resultant
product we obtain is a renewable source of energy and is eco-friendly.
• Reduces environmental pollution: As explained above, waste management if done in a proper manner
not only eliminates the surrounding waste but also will reduce the intensity of the greenhouse gases like
methane, carbon monoxide which is emitted from the wastes accumulated. The depth of the existing
landfills and incineration will be curbed, thereby cutting down the harmful factors that affect the
environment.
• Creates employment: A large quantity of manpower and skill is needed for the various processes
involved in waste management. Starting with the collection of the waste to where it is disposed, a lot of
job opportunities are created through the management of waste. This claim is evident from the labor
statistics provided by the US government, according to which around 3.1 million new jobs are produced
due to the waste management factor.
• Health: If human beings are exposed to waste, the health of humans can be affected negatively and can
result in a lot of diseases and illness. As we all know, activities carried out in the management of waste
include waste collection from different landfills and the transportation of waste to places where they can
be safely disposed without causing any harm to our health.
Disadvantages of Waste Management –
• Finance: Waste management on a large can require a lot of man power and technology to be carried out
successfully. There is the need for planning and implementation of the many processes and activities
involved in the management of waste. Also, a lot of varieties of waste need to managed and there is the
need for different methods of waste management for the different types of wastes; this means a higher
cost for the management of waste.
• Health of Workers: The management of wastes and all of the processes involved can lead to a number
of fungal and bacterial infections and diseases on the part of those working in the waste management
sector.
• The sites are often dangerous: As the waste management sites include the landfills to recycling units
under its aegis, these sites are highly susceptible to fungal and bacterial growth thereby leading to various
diseases. Even the debris formation will be accelerated by such bacterial growth, which makes it totally
unsafe for the workers who work there. It also causes widespread pollution and releases harmful
chemicals. These chemicals, when mixed with drinking water or any other consumable item pose a high
amount of danger to human health.
• More problems: Though waste management creates employment, it only has the ability to produce low-
quality jobs. These jobs include right from sorting the garbage collector to the intensive and laborious jobs
that are needed in the factories and outlets. Daily basis collection of garbages will make the streets look
unpleasant and unhygienic leaving excess debris on the streets to rot up. Even after the successful
completion of the final stage, many chemical stews will be left behind which needs to be properly and
completely disposed, otherwise, they will also pose a threat to the environment which makes the ultimate
purpose of waste management go redundant.
 Also, in the areas where these management units are present, it is noticed that the groundwater gets
affected. So, it too causes a considerable extent of water pollution and land pollution.
While waste transport within a given country falls under national regulations, trans-boundary movement
of waste is often subject to international treaties. A major concern to many countries in the world has been
hazardous waste. The Basel Convention, ratified by 172 countries, deprecates movement of hazardous waste from
developed to less developed countries. The provisions of the Basel convention have been integrated into the EU
waste shipment regulation. Radioactive waste, although considered hazardous, does not fall under the jurisdiction
of the Basel Convention.
The Journal of Waste management says that the revenues generated by the waste management would top
by $60 million by 2018. But, there are only a few people who sincerely consider this as an industry into various
facets of waste management like recycling and reusing, and reap the benefits. Now many companies are looking
forward to associating themselves with this industry and are ready for a long term investment.