SOLID WASTE

MANAGEMENT
Waste
It is defined as
Waste (rubbish, trash, garbage, junk, refuse) is any unwanted or useless
materials.
OR
Acc. to Basel Convention “Wastes' are substance or objects, which are disposed of or are
intended to be disposed of or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of
national law"
 Introduction
Around the world, waste generation rates are rising. In 2016, the worlds’ cities generated 2.01 billion
tonnes of solid waste, amounting to a footprint of 0.74 kilograms per person per day. With rapid
population growth and urbanization, annual waste generation is expected to increase by 70% from 2016
levels to 3.40 billion tonnes in 2050.

Compared to those in developed nations, residents in developing countries, especially the urban poor, are
more severely impacted by unsustainably managed waste. In low-income countries, over 90% of waste is
often disposed in unregulated dumps or openly burned. These practices create serious health, safety, and
environmental consequences. Poorly managed waste serves as a breeding ground for disease vectors,
contributes to global climate change through methane generation, and can even promote urban violence.

Managing waste properly is essential for building sustainable and livable cities, but it remains a challenge
for many developing countries and cities. Effective waste management is expensive, often comprising
20%–50% of municipal budgets. Operating this essential municipal service requires integrated systems
that are efficient, sustainable, and socially supported.
 On the basis of their Effects
Wastes are classified as…
Hazardous wastes
Substances that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. Unsafe to
use commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically and have any of the following
properties- ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity & toxicity.
Example: paints, e-waste, pesticides, deodorant bottles, biomedical waste etc.

Non-hazardous
Substances safe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically and do not have any
of those properties mentioned above.
Food waste, paper, construction waste etc.
Based on their Origin wastes are classified as…

Municipal Solid wastes

Bio-medical wastes
Industrial wastes
Agricultural wastes
Fishery wastes
Radioactive wastes
E-wastes
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
 Introduction

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is an inevitable by-product of

human activity. In nature, there is no such thing as waste,
because nature is able to “recycle” the elements in the
ecosystem. However, urbanization and rapid population
increase has generated waste. The generation of waste,
which has exceeded the earth’s carrying capacity by more
than 30%, has resulted in an accumulation of waste in specific
sites. MSW has unique features compared with other waste
types, because it involves the public, where the generator
frequently meets the waste management representative.
Urban India is facing an ever increasing challenge of providing for the incremental infrastructural needs of a
growing urban population.

According to the 2011 census, the population of India was 1.21 billion; of this 31% live in cities. It is further
projected that by 2050 half of India’s population will live in cities.

With this increasing population, management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the country has emerged as a
severe problem not only because of the environmental and aesthetic concerns but also because of the sheer
quantities generated every day.

According to Central Pollution Control board 1, 27,486 TPD (Tons per day) of Municipal Solid Waste was generated
in India during 2011-12, with an average waste generation of 0.11 kg/capita/day. Of the total waste generated,
approximately 89,334 TPD (70%) of MSW was collected and only 15,881 TPD (12.45%) was processed or treated.

Segregation at source, collection, transportation, treatment and scientific disposal of waste was largely insufficient
leading to degradation of the environment and poor quality of life.
 Effects
of
Solid Waste
  Improper handling of waste (bio-medical waste, radioactive waste) is dangerous to
human health.

• Improper disposal of waste can greatly affect the health of the population living
nearby the polluted area or landfills.
• Waste disposal workers and other employees in these landfill facilities are at a
greater risk.
• Exposure to improperly handled wastes can cause skin irritations, blood
infections, respiratory problems, growth problems, and even reproductive
issues.
• Mosquitoes and rats are known to live and breed in sewage areas, and both are
known to carry life-threatening diseases.
• Mosquitoes breed in cans and tires that collect water, and can carry diseases
such as malaria and dengue.
• Rats find food and shelter in landfills and sewage, and they can carry diseases
such as leptospirosis and salmonellosis. 
• Moisture production from waste is a breeding ground for mould. It’s bacteria that
has the ability to spread and grow given the appropriate conditions, such as
moisture production from appliances and food scraps.
Uncontrolled and illegal burning of urban waste leads to air pollution
(dioxins, PCBs, formaldehyde, lead, mercury, arsenic etc).

• Mostly these urban waste contains hazardous chemicals,

such as bleach and acids that needs to be disposed of
properly, and only in approved containers with correct labels.
But many small scale industries do not follow the
environmental guidelines and end up dumping their toxic
waste in the landfills.
• Papers and plastics are burned in landfills, emitting gas and
chemicals that hurt the ozone layer.
• Waste that releases dioxins are also dangerous and pose a
health risk when they diffuse into the air that we breathe.
• Also methane gase is released by the decomposing/organic
wastes.
• Finally, landfill gas produced by the decomposing wastes,
can be explosive and can harm nearby communities.
 Improper dumping urban waste dumping results in leaching of toxic substances thus
contaminating both groundwater and surface water.

• Leakage of leachate affects the surrounding environment the most, especially the
surface and ground water bodies because the leachate consists of high
concentrations of heavy metals, organic compounds and toxic contents.
• The production and usage of heavy metals such as copper, cadmium and zinc
have increased substantially over the years, which can produce toxic substances
and enter different water environments.
• Hazardous wastes in the environment leach into the ground, and ultimately, into
groundwater. This water is used for many things, from watering the local fields to
drinking. Toxic liquid chemicals from waste can also seep into water streams and
bodies of water.
• The leachate from MSW landfills may leak into groundwater aquifers due to
rainfalls, spread into the adjacent river system by groundwater flow and pollute
the surrounding environment.
• However, this process does not stop even after the landfill activities have stopped
receiving solid waste. Hence, it is very essential to keep assessing and monitoring
the surroundings of decommissioned landfill sites.
  Improper disposal of solid waste results in spread of diseases (unhygienic conditions).
• Such disposal sites attract all types of insects and
rodents that can spread diseases. Flies, mosquitoes,
rodents are few examples.
• Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, blocked due to
the waste choked in the drains.
• In urban areas, MSW clogs drains, creating stagnant
water for insect breeding and floods during rainy
seasons.
 Death of stray animals due to improper dumping of waste.
• As the stray animals tend to feed on the waste, accidentally animals also consume plastic
bags, plastic caps, blades and other such harmful waste materials from the improper
dumping areas, thus causing their death.
 Open garbage dumps without any management also affects the beauty of the area
(aesthetic value). Loss in the aesthetic value can also affect the local economy; such as, its
tourism, hampering the livelihoods of many stakeholders.
 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

1. Reduction 5. Sanitary
at source Landfills

4. Waste to
Energy power
2. Recycle 3. Composting plants or
Incinerators
• Reduction at Source: Reduce the use of material/products by reusing them.
• Recycle: instead of dumping the waste as such, it has to be segregated. Segregation
based on biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste is one of the basic method and
the easiest. Half of the domestic waste generated is organic which can be recycled into
compost/manure. Other materials such as paper, plazric glass, metals etc. can also be
segregated and recycled thus putting less pressure on the mining of the raw materials
by destroying the ecosystems.
• Composting: All the organic waste can be converted to compost. It can be done in the
presence of oxygen (aerobic composting), which is done manually, for eg.
Vermicomposting (using red earthworms) and occurs naturally/by human activities too
in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic composting) for eg; peats, landfill sites.
• Waste to Energy (WTE) Power Plants: Incinerators where combustion method is
used to convert the waste into energy. Other methods are also used in WTE such as
Pyrolysis, Gasification and Methanogenesis.
• Landfills: This is the last step in the hierarchy for managing our solid waste. Where the
waste which can neither be decomposed nor converted to energy is dumped and finally
the site has to be capped in order to prevent any kind of environmental damage.
Recycle and Reuse
 Layers in a Typical Sanitary Landfill
The native soils beneath the landfill are prepared as needed prior to beginning landfill construction.

Compacted Clay is located directly below the geo-membrane and forms an additional barrier to prevent leachate from
leaving the landfill and entering the environment. This layer also helps to prevent the escape of landfill gas.

A thick plastic layer forms a liner that pre-vents leachate from leaving the landfill and entering the environment. This geo-
membrane is typically constructed of a special type of plastic called high-density polyethylene or HDPE. HDPE is tough,
impermeable and extremely resistant to attack by the compounds that might be in the leachate. This layer also helps to
prevent the escape of landfill gas.
Leachate Collection Pipe System: Perforated pipes, surrounded by a bed of gravel, transport collected leachate to
specially designed low points called sumps. Pumps, located within the sumps, automatically remove the leachate from the
landfill and transport it to the leachate management facilities for treatment or another proper method of disposal.

A geotextile fabric, similar in appearance to felt, may be located on top of the leachate collection pipe system to provide
separation of solid particles from liquid. This prevents clogging of the pipe system.

Leachate Collection Layer: A layer of sand or gravel or a thick plastic mesh called a geo-net collects leachate and allows
it to drain by gravity to the leachate collection pipe system.

Waste: As waste arrives, it is compacted in layers within a small area to reduce the volume consumed within the landfill.
This practice also helps to reduce odors, keeps litter from scattering and deters scavengers.
Daily Cover: At the end of each working period, waste is covered with six to twelve inches of soil or other approved
material. Daily cover reduces odors, keeps litter from scattering and helps deter scavengers.

Compacted Clay: Is placed over the waste to form a cap when the landfill reaches the permitted height. This layer
prevents excess precipitation from entering the landfill and forming leachate and helps to prevent the escape of
landfill gas, there by reducing odors.

Geo-membrane: A thick plastic layer forms a cap that prevents excess precipitation from entering the landfill and
forming leachate. This layer also helps to prevent the escape of landfill gas, thereby reducing odors.
Drainage Layer: A layer of sand or gravel or a thick plastic mesh called a geo-net drains excess precipitation from the
protective cover soil to enhance stability and help prevent infiltration of water through the landfill cap system. A
geotextile fabric, similar in appearance to felt, may be located on top of the drainage layer to provide separation of
solid particles from liquid. This prevents clogging of the drainage layer.
Protective Cover Soil: Protects the landfill cap system and provides additional moisture retention to help support the
cover vegetation.

Top Soil: Helps to support and maintain the growth of vegetation by retaining moisture and providing nutrients.

Cover Vegetation: As portions of the landfill are completed, native grasses and shrubs are planted and the areas are
maintained as open spaces. The vegetation is visually pleasing and prevents erosion of the underlying soils.
Landfill Site for Hazardous waste that can’t be recycled,
reused or incinerated
After a landfill site is completely filled by the waste material, it has to be decommissioned, i.e.
the landfill is no more in use because it is filled as per its capacity. The landfill is to be covered as
per the guidelines and covered with light vegetation or can be used as recreational parks.
Delhi’s Solid Waste Still Hanging in There…
 Civic Bodies in Delhi to Manage Solid
Waste

Name Plant Electricity

Capacity Generated (MW)
(MT)
Timarpur- 1950 16
Okhla Waste
to Energy Plant
Gazipur Waste 1300 2
to Energy Plant
Narela Waste 3000 24
to Energy Plant