Lecture: 13

Module C: Solid Waste Management

COURSE Id: CE302

BTech: All Departments

1
 Solid Waste Characteristics

(1) Physical Characteristics

a. Composition analysis
Compositional variation (1) location (2) season (3) Economy
Fraction of dry waste generated for High income group (HIG) households is high
compared to that of low income group (LIG) households.
b. Density or specific weight
It is often looked into loose, and compacted
for food waste – the density is very high, then paper and plastic and so on.
Specific weight = weight/volume.
How much amount of land is required we can use this.
c. Particle size
Separation based on particle size. Eg: Magnetic separator
d) Field capacity
Field capacity of solid waste is the total amount of moisture content that can be retained in the
waste sample subjected to the downward pull of gravity.
With this we can know how much leachate is getting produced.
2. Chemical characteristics
Used to design treatment process
a. Proximity Analysis
Is important in evaluating the combustion properties of waste or waste derived fuel.
Moisture content, Ash, volatile matter, fixed carbon
b. Ultimate analysis
Used to determine proportion of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur (C,H,O,N and
S). Analyzed by CHONS analyzer.
Also used to determine proper mix to achieve suitable C/N ratio for biological conversion
processes.
c. Energy Content
The energy content of organic components is in MSW can be determined by
1) Elemental analysis 2) Bomb calorimetry
d. Metal content (free element)
The metal content (i.e Cd, Cr, Pb, As, Ni etc) should also be determined because of its potential
harmful environmental effects (Ground water pollution). AAS used (Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer)
3. Biological Characteristics
The most important biological characteristic i.e organic fraction of solid waste is that all of the
organic components can be converted biologically + gases and relatively inert organic and
inorganic soil
4. Volatile solids
All organic matter is volatile in nature but all volatile matter are not biodegradable.
Example: Paper low biodegradability but high volatility
This is not the actual method to say about the presence of percentage of biological organic matter
 Solid Waste Management

• Management of solid waste is associated with the control of generation,

storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of solid
wastes in a manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health,
economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental
considerations.
 MSWM
• Municipal Solid waste management involves the application of principle of
Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) to municipal waste.

• ISWM is the application of suitable techniques, technologies and

management programs covering all types of solid wastes from all sources
to achieve the twin objectives of:

(a) Waste reduction and

(b) Effective management of waste still produced after waste reduction

Importance of waste quantification
1. To know how much of land required
2. To know the volume of vehicle required
3. To finalize new locations (landfills)
4. To know the recycling percentage

North India: % recycles 21.44

South India: 17.02%
Hierarchy of priorities in hazardous waste management
Di
Least preferred
sp
os
al
Treatment

Recycle / reuse

Reduce generation

Most preferred Eliminate generation

The management of solid waste should include the following general steps

1. Waste generation

2. Onsite handling, storage and processing

3. Collection, transport, sorting and recycling

4. Treatment and reuse

5. Disposal options
 Solid Waste Management

Generation & Storage

Collection

Transport Recycle, Reuse and Recover

Process

Illegal Dumping Disposal

Contaminated sites
 GENERATION AND STORAGE

• Waste generation and storage: encompasses activities in which materials are identified as no longer
being of value (in their present form) and are either thrown away or gathered together for disposal

Separate Colored Collections Bins

Collection: includes gathering the solid wastes and recyclable materials
and transport of these materials to either the processing facility, transfer
facility or the disposal site
 COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT

• The transfer of wastes from smaller collection

vehicle to larger transport vehicle and, the
subsequent transport of the wastes usually over
long distances, to a processing or disposal site.
The transfer usually takes place at a transfer
station.

Conventional method
 TYPES OF COLLECTION SYSTEM

• Collection system: Collection from any point say apartments, transfer stations to the
final disposal site
• Segregation is one of the major thoughts of Swatch Bharath Mission

(1) Haul container system (HCS): It is flexible location, we can relocate the position of
container
In this the container used for the storage of waste are hauled (taken away) to a material
recovery, transfer station, or disposal site then emptied the container and return to either to
original location or some other location
• Suitability: It is suitable where the rate of generation is high. Because at high generation places
to empty the waste requires more power etc. hence, container is taken to the disposal.

Advantages
• Where generation of Solid waste is high, it is good
• It avoids unsanitary conditions, eliminates handling time etc.
• It is flexible
• It requires only one truck and driver to accomplish the collection cycle

Disadvantage
If the containers are not filled properly, it results in low utilization rate
(2) STATIONARY CONTAINER SYSTEM
Stationary container system: In this system, the containers used for the storage of waste
remain at the point of generation, expect when they are moved to the curb or other
location to be emptied
• It is placed at fixed position, and it is economical if it is a mechanical loading vehicle
because the time required is less.
Advantages
• Mostly in cities in India this is used
• The vehicle does not travel to the disposal area until it is full resulting high utilization
rate

Disadvantages
• Not suited for heavy industries waste and bulk rubbish as it may damage the relatively
delicate mechanism
• Man power required is more
 Analysis of collection systems

There are four unit operations

(a) Pick up
(b) Haul
(c) At site
(d) Off route

Useful to estimate economic analysis and propose other effective management techniques.
 TRANSFER STATIONS: PROCESS-SEGREGATION

Sorting Facilities are Well Organized and Materials are Separated for Further Processing

• Sorting of the mixed waste usually occurs at a material recovery facility, transfer

stations, combustion facilities and disposal sites.

• Waste processing and transformation Solid waste processing reduces the amount

of material requiring disposal and, in some cases produces a useful product

• Recycling and reuse- the process, by which materials otherwise destined for

disposal are collected, reprocessed or remanufactured and are reused

Recyclables Collected from Scavengers are Deposited in One Place
Separation of Recyclable and Placing Separately
Transfer station
Type of transfer operation to be used
(a) Provide waste recovery options
(b) keep adequate area available for unloading of collection vehicles
(c) Storage capacity should be evaluated carefully

Sanitation requirements
(a) Spilled solid waste should be picked up immediately
(b) In large facilities wastewater pretreatment may be required to treat plant wastewater
before discharging to the local sewer

Health and safety requirements

There should not be scope of dust inhalation by providing masks to all workers
Location of transfer station
As near as possible to the weighed center of the individual solid waste production are
served
Where there will be minimum public and environmental objection
Where construction and operation will be economical
Site selection based on transportation cost: Transfer stations should be located to
minimize the transportation costs
Site selection based on operational constraints