CHAPTER 4

SOLID WASTE COLLECTION METHODS

Aksum University
Faculty of Water Technology
Department of Water Supply & Environmental
Engineering

WSEE 4192 SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

 Course contents
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Chapter 1: Solid Waste Management

Chapter 2:Solid Waste Generation

Chapter 3:Solid Waste Handling, Storage and Processing at the Source

Chapter 4:Solid Waste Collection Methods

Chapter 5:Solid Waste Separation, Processing and Transformation

Chapter 6: Solid Waste Transport and Transfer and Disposal

Chapter 7:Hazardous Solid Wastes Management

Chapter 8:Urban And Rural Sanitation

 Introduction
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 Solid waste collection is the removal of refuse from collection points to

final disposal site.
 It demands special vehicles, experienced people to manage, more
manpower, hand tools, and more funds for fuel, salary, maintenance.
 It includes gathering or picking up of solid waste from the various sources,
taking the collected wastes to the location where it is emptied, and
unloading of the collection vehicle.
 Collection cost has been estimated to represent about 50 to 80% of the
total cost of solid waste management depending on the type of disposal
facility used.
 Introduction
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Why solid waste collection is required?(FQ)

 Health of Citizens: Improper disposal of solid waste leads to blocked
drains, an increase in contaminated water bodies, an increase in the
mosquito population and more diseases.
All these will affect the health of the public by reducing life expectancy
and increasing infant mortality. Better SWM, with improved waste
collection, improves the health of all citizens.
 Environmental Sustainability: The water, air and physical environment
have been affected due to bad management of solid waste. The
contaminants with the solid waste and leachate from solid waste, pollute
water bodies. The illegal burning of solid waste causes air pollution and
health problems.
All these threaten the sustainability of the environment. Better SWM
through improved waste collection supports environmental sustainability.
 Introduction…
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 Beauty of the Area: Improper solid waste management, not only

threatens the natural beauty of water bodies, forest reserves, diversity-
rich mountains and beaches but also cities and villages.
Littering spoils the scenic beauty of the environment. The major reason
for aesthetic pollution is bad SWM. Better SWM through improved
waste collection enhances the scenic beauty of the area.
 Economic Development: Cleaner cities are better able to attract
private investments and tourists, and thus create more jobs in the
locality.
The inflow of investments brings economic prosperity and more revenue,
hence satisfactory services to its citizens. Better SWM through improved
waste collection facilitates economic development.
 Introduction…
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Principles to improve solid waste collection

 Effective: for solid waste collection and transport to be effective, the
local authority must get the job done. Since a local authority is vested
with the responsibility of maintaining a disease-free environment for its
citizens.
 It should ensure proper solid waste collection and transport. Failures in
waste collection leads to public health hazards.
 Efficient: handle waste as few times as possible. It is a known fact that
most local authority have inadequate and limited resources available
to engage in the collection and transport of solid waste.
 The efficient use of resources by the local authority in the collection and
transport of solid waste shows how effectively the local authority
engages in this activity.
 Introduction…
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 Cost Effectiveness: Capital Investment Vs Labor Costs. Collection and

transport is the most expensive part of SWM costs. Therefore, it is
essential to assess the efficiency of the service and develop ways to
reduce costs and increase services.
 Environmentally Appropriate: all the waste collected from
households and other establishments should be emptied and disposed
of through a socially and environmentally acceptable practice.
 Citizen Involvement: the public must cooperate with the local
authority. The local authority should also listen to the public for their
ideas, respond to their requests and follow-up to resolve any
complaints.
 Introduction…
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 The collection operation of solid waste management is considered from

four aspects:
1. Understanding the types of collection services that are provided
2. The types of collection system, equipment and labor requirement.
3. An analysis of collection system including component relationship.
4 .General methodology involved in setting up collection routes.
 4.2. Collection services of solid wastes
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One size will not fit everybody.
 The service has to be tailored to meet the needs of different users.
Different types of Collection services are given to residential,
commercial and industrial areas.
 Collection services for Residential areas depend up on the type of
dwelling. The most common types of Residential Collection services
include: (QF)
1. Curb: In this system the homeowner is responsible for placing the
containers to be emptied at the curb (road side) on collection day and
for returning the empty containers back to his house.
2. Alleys: This is collection of waste from the alley( a narrow street or
path between buildings in a town) ways beside houses.
Who will take the containers to the collection vehicles could be
arranged between the owner of the house and the collection crew (the
organization).
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3. Set-out (block collection) : Waste containers are set out from the
homeowner’s property by additional collection crews that go with the
collection vehicle.
The owner of the house is responsible for returning the empty
containers to their storage location.
4. Backyard carrying service /door to door collection: Collection crew that
goes with the collection vehicle are responsible for bringing out stored
solid waste form the dwelling units and other activities related to
collection.
It is the only satisfactory system in which the house holder does not get
involved.
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 Most of the developed countries

have well organized collection
systems. Collection bins are provided
in curb to collect solid waste.
 Different colored collection bins are
placed in curbs for different types of
waste materials.
 These collection bins are also
provided for recyclables such as
glass, cans, plastic bottles etc
 Communities carry waste and put in
these container. These recyclables
are later removed and used for
recycling industries.
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 Curbside collection system is

efficient in many developed
countries.
 Waste are carried out from
house and are placed in curb
with different colored bins.
 These waste are later picked
by collection vehicles.
 These vehicles are single
compartmented and multi-
compartmented to collect
recyclables separately
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 However, developing countries have

different collection systems.
 The collection system is divided into
primary and secondary collection
system.
 Primary collection systems consists of
collection of waste from household and
put into community collection container.
 Primary collection equipment are easy
to operate and maintain.
 These primary collection equipment
are tricycles which are driven by human
power. In order to prevent fall of waste
from these equipment, it is enclosed
from all four sides.
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Unhygienic and inefficient double Improved transfer of waste from a

handling of waste handcart
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 The collected waste by primary collectors

are deposited in waste bins.
 The primary and secondary collection
system is carried out by small mechanical
vehicles, trucks.
 These collection vehicles collect solid waste
from community collection centers, wastes
from street corners.
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 Street sweeping is also another most

important activity. Municipalities
recruit or contract sweepers to clean
street of cities.
 The sweeping is carried out manually
unlike developed countries where it is
done using mechanical sweepers.
Broom and baskets are used for street
sweeping.
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Frequency of collection:
 The frequency of collection depend on the quantity of solid waste, time
of year, socioeconomic status of the area served, and municipal or
contractor responsibility.
 In business districts refuse, including garbage from hotels and restaurants
should be collected daily.
 Garbage: should be collected at least two times weekly in residential
sections in summer and winter, however, most commercial establishments
should be accorded daily collection service through out the year.
 Dead body: should be collected immediately
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 Rubbish: is generally collected weekly in residential areas and daily in

business sections.
 Mixed refuse : should be collected twice daily from most commercial
concerns.
 The provision of frequent collection services is important in the
prevention of fly breeding in garbage.
 Because irregular collections can contribute to the nuisances and
hazards which result under poor storage conditions and in chances the
amount greater than the expected requirement from house holders.
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Typical Service Standards

Type of service Typical frequency Typical service level
Measures Options
Residential Waste Collection Daily, every other day, Door-to-door, building-to-
set days/week. building, waste pooling sites.
Commercial Waste Collection Daily, every other day, Door-to-door, building-to-
set days/week building.
Industrial Waste Collection Daily, every other day, On-site pickup, regional
set days/week. collection centers.
Street Sweeping and Cleaning Daily, set days per Mechanical, manual, all
week. streets, primary and
secondary streets, litter
baskets.
Public Facility Solid Waste Weekly, monthly, bi- On-site pickup, litter bins
Collection monthly. and public bins.
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Methods of Loading the Solid waste to Vehicles:

 The method of loading of solid waste on to the vehicles is usually
accomplished in many different ways. This also depends on the economy,
organization and technological level of the society. Nevertheless, the
methods used are:
i. Direct lifting and carrying of loaded containers to the collection vehicle
for emptying.
ii. Rolling loaded containers on their rims or rollers to the collection
vehicle.
iii. Use of small lifts for rolling loaded containers to the collection vehicle.
vi. Use of large container into which waste from small containers are
emptied and finally lifted by mechanical means.
 4.3 Types of solid wastes collection systems
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 Solid waste collection systems may be classified from several points of

view. These are:
1. Mode of operation:
 Solid waste collection systems are classified according to their
operation in to two categories. These are:
i. Hauled container system : which is a system where the containers
used for storage of wastes are hauled to the disposal site, emptied
and returned.
 This system is ideally suited for the removal of wastes from sources
where generation rate is high.
 There are three main types of hauled container systems: Hoist truck
system, Tilt-frame container system and Trash-trailer system
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ii. Stationary container system : where the containers used for the storage
of waste remain at the point of generation, except for occasional short
trip to the collection vehicle.
❑ There are two main types Stationary Container Systems:
❖ Mechanically loaded systems and
❖ Manually loaded systems
• High injury rates (heavy containers, broken glass/sharp objects)
• Temporary containers that fall apart
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Rear Loading Compactor

Side Loader
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 Commercial Waste Collection

Front Loading Compactor

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Vacuum Collection

• For collection of separate yard waste

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2. Equipment use(QF)
 Some of the equipments used are containers, machineries, hand tools
etc. Containers for hauled systems or operation have various sizes
and shapes.
 Basically, since the system is used to haul wastes from sources where
the route of generation is high large containers are provided.
 Hauled containers system requires only one track, and one
driver, to accomplish the collection cycle. But each container picked
up must be returned back requiring a round trip travel. Therefore,
when using this system:
❖ Container size and utilization are of great economic advantages.
❖ Compressing waste to haul long distance has good advantage.
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 Usually only one driver required

 Works best
o without on-street parking, low
hanging wires, narrow streets
o Where commitment to preventative
maintenance
o Where commitment to educating
public
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3. Type of waste collected

 The collection process is not a single process. Involves five different
phases:
Phase 1 - Generated waste in the premises (house, industry) to dustbin
Phase 2 - From temporary storage (dust bin) to truck
Phase 3 – Truck moves from house to house
Phase 4 - Collected waste by truck to transfer station
Phase 5 - Truck to disposal
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Analysis of Collection System

 To establish labor and vehicle requirement for the various collection
systems and methods, the unit time required to perform each task must be
determined.
 By separating the collection activities into unit operations, it is possible to:
❖ Develop design data and relationship.
❖ Evaluate both the variables associated with collection activities and
the variables related to, or controlled by, the particular locations.
 Before the relationships for collection systems can be modeled effectively
the component task must be explained.
 On the basis of previous or known activities involved in the collection of
solid waste there are four unit operations that need to be defined.
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 These unit operations are:

1. Pick up
 Pick-up as related to hauled container system operated in the
Conventional Mode refers to the:
❖ Time Spent driving to the next container after an empty container
has been deposited.
❖ time spent picking up the loaded container.
❖ time required to re-deposit the container.
 Pick-up as related to the exchange container mode refers to the:
❖ Time required to pick-up a loaded container and to deposit a
container at the next location after its content have been emptied.
  hauled container system (Conventional Mode):
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  hauled container system ( exchange container Mode):
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 Pick-up for stationary container system refers to:

❖ The time spent loading the collection vehicle beginning with the
stopping of the vehicle prior to loading the content of the first
container and ending when the content of the last container to be
emptied have been loaded.
2. Haul
 For hauled container system: Hauling solid waste represent the time
required to reach the disposal site starting after a container whose
content are to be emptied has been loaded on the truck, plus the time
spent after leaving the disposal site until the truck arrives at the
location where the empty container is to be deposited. However, it
does not include time spent at disposal.
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3. At-site
❑ At-site refers to the time spent at the disposal site and includes the time
spent waiting to unload as well as the time spent in loading.
4. Off-route
 Off-site includes the time spent on activities that are non-productive from
the point of view of the overall collection system. Many of the activities
associated with off-rout time are either necessary or unnecessary.
❑ Necessary time is: Time spent checking in and out in the morning and at
the end of the day; Time lost due to unavoidable congestion; Time spent
on equipment repair (tire, engine etc).
 Unnecessary time includes: Time spent for lunch in excess of the time
allowed, Time spent on an unauthorized break, Time spent with friend etc
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 Solid waste collection needs a lot of thinking and statistical and

mathematical data to base the program. Solid waste Collection Cost
can be Calculated:
Y = a + b + c(d) + e + f + g
Where:
Y: total collection time/day or week
a: garage to route time/day or week
b: actual time collecting waste/day or week
c: number of trips to disposal site/day or week
d: time to drive fully loaded truck to disposal facility, unload and return
to collection area/trip
e: time to drive to garage at the end of the trip/day or week
f + g : off route time, can be expressed as a fraction of Y/day or week
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N = SF
XW
Where:
N: number of vehicles required
S: total number of customers served per week
F: collection frequency
X: number of customers truck can serve per day
W: number of work days per week
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Developing collection routes

 Efficient routing and rerouting of solid waste collection vehicles can decrease
costs by reducing the labor expended for collection.
 Routing procedures usually consist of two separate components. These are
micro routing and macro routing.
 Macro routing, also referred to as route balancing, consists of dividing the
total collection area into routes sized so they represent one day’s collection
for one crew.
 The size of each route depends on the amount of waste collected per stop,
distance between stops, loading time, and traffic conditions.
 Barriers, such as railroad embankments, rivers, and roads with heavy
competing traffic, can be used to divide route territories. As much as possible,
the size and shape of route areas should be balanced within the limits
imposed by such barriers.
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 For large areas, macro routing can be best accomplished by first dividing
the total area into districts, each consisting of the complete area to be
serviced by all crews on a given day. Then, each district can be divided
into routes for individual crews.
 Using the results of the macro routing analysis, micro routing can define
the specific path that each crew and collection vehicle will take each
collection day.
 Results of micro routing analyses can then be used to readjust macro
routing decisions. Micro routing analyses should also include input and
review by experienced collection drivers.
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Micro routing analyses and planning can do the following:

❖ increase the likelihood that all streets will be serviced equally and
consistently.
❖ help supervisors locate crews quickly because they know specific
routes that will be taken.
❖ provide theoretically optimal routes that can be tested against
driver judgment and experience to provide the best actual routes.
 The method selected for micro routing must be simple enough to use for
route rebalancing when system changes occur or to respond to seasonal
variations in waste generation rates.
 For example, growth in parts of a community might necessitate
overtime on several routes to complete them. Rebalancing can perhaps
consolidate this need for increased service to a new route.
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