Solid Wastes Management

Solid waste management​ refers to the systematic collection, transportation, treatment, analysis, and disposal of solid waste​s. It involves various processes and strategies to minimize environmental and health impacts, including waste reduction, recycling, composting, landfilling, and waste-to-energy technologies. Solid waste management is essential for maintaining clean and sustainable communities while minimizing the negative effects of waste on the environment and public health.

What is Solid Waste Management?

Solid waste management refers to the collection, transportation, treatment, analysis, and disposal of solid wastes. Solid waste refers to everything that goes out in the trash, like paper, food waste, plastics, glass, metals, rubber, leather, textiles, etc. It is also known as Municipal Waste. Municipal solid wastes are collected and disposed by the municipality. It also includes recycling the recyclable solid waste which does not belong to garbage.

Solid management is all about how solid waste can be changed into useful resources. It is a complex task and involves many technical challenges. With rapid urbanization, economic development, and changing lifestyles municipal solid waste is increasing at a fast rate, and thus solid management become crucial to avoid the harmful effects of solid waste on public health and the environment. The goal of solid waste management is to manage solid waste by reducing, reusing, and recycling responsibly and sustainably ensuring the safety of the environment.

Solid Waste Management Diagram

Various method that can be used for the solid waste management are shown in the diagram below.

Sources of Solid Waste

The various sources of the solid waste includes:

• Household waste includes plastic, paper, food, clothing, newspapers, bottles, cans, kitchen waste, etc.
• Electronic waste includes irreparable electronic appliances, batteries, bulbs, etc.
• Hospital waste includes used needles and syringes, soiled dressings, body parts, diagnostic samples, blood, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, disinfectants, medical devices, radioactive materials, etc.
• Industrial waste includes waste from chemical plants, cement factories, power plants, textile industries, food processing industries, and petroleum industries.
• Construction waste includes concrete, bricks, tiles, ceramics, asbestos, paints
• Agricultural waste includes bagasse, leaves, peel, straw, stem, shell, stalk, husk, pulp, stubble, insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides

Types of Solid Waste

There are mainly five types of municipal solid waste:

• Biodegradable Waste: wet kitchen waste, rotten food, flowers and leaves, vegetable and fruit peels, agricultural waste, etc.
• Recyclable waste: Glasses, bottles, cans, paper, metals, etc.
• Inert Waste: Rocks, construction material, debris, etc.
• Hazardous and Toxic Waste: Electronic waste, hospital waste, industrial waste, etc.
• Composite Waste: Toys, clothing, Tetra Packs, etc.

Harmful Effects of Solid Waste

Some harmful effects of solid waste management are as follows:

• Incorrect disposal of solid waste can lead to soil, water, and air pollution, which can harm ecosystems and wildlife.
• Exposure to hazardous waste materials can result in severe health issues, including respiratory problems, skin disorders, and even cancer.
• Accumulated waste can attract disease vectors like rats and flies, leading to the spread of diseases like cholera, dengue, and typhoid.
• Poor water management that is improper disposal can contaminate water sources, posing risks to human consumption and aquatic life.
• Methane gas produced by decomposing organic waste in landfills is a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change.
• Unsightly piles of waste can reduce the aesthetic appeal of an area, impacting tourism and property values.
• Accumulated waste results in poor water management that causes various water borne diseases like typhoid, cholera etc.
• Contaminated soil from waste can negatively impact agricultural productivity and food safety.

Need for Solid Waste Management

Rapid urbanization, economic development, and changing lifestyle results in increasing municipal waste. India produces 277.1 million tonnes of solid waste every year, which is increasing rapidly due to urbanization, population growth, and economic development. Solid management is necessary because solid waste causes environmental pollution and has adverse effects on health by causing vector-borne diseases. Municipal solid management is the need of the hour and important for the prevention of degradation of the natural beauty of the earth, for better environmental quality, and safety of public health.

Solid Waste Management Techniques

Various techniques that can be used for the proper disposal of the solid waste are as follows:

Open burning

It is also known as Incineration. It refers to the burning of solid wastes in open or in incinerators. This method is useful because it reduces the volume of waste resulting in solid management. Although waste is not burnt completely and these dumps serve as the breeding ground for rats and flies. Smoke and fire hazards may also exist.

Sanitary Landfills

Wastes are dumped in a depression or trench after compaction, and covered with layers of soil. These trenches are known as landfill sites. They are located outside the city for solid management. The problem with this technique is that landfilling sites are limited and there is the danger of seepage of chemicals, etc., from these landfills polluting the underground water resources, resulting in poor water management.

Recycling

It is a process in which waste material is reprocessed to form new original products or other useful products. It is environment-friendly but it is expensive to set up. All waste can be categorized into three types:

1. Biodegradable: Biodegradable materials can be breakdown naturally by detrivores.
2. Non-Biodegradable Recyclable: Wastes that are Non-Biodegradable but can be easily recycled.
3. Non-Biodegradable Non-Recyclable: Wastes that are non-biodegradable and non-recyclable as well. They are the most harmful.

Composting

Composting is a natural process that converts organic materials like kitchen scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil conditioner known as compost. It involves the activity of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, which break down organic matter into a stable, humus-like substance. Compost enriches soil, improves its water retention and structure, and promotes plant growth. It’s an eco-friendly way to reduce waste and create a valuable resource for gardening and agriculture.

Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is a type of composting that uses earthworms to break down organic waste materials. These worms consume organic matter, such as food scraps and plant residues, and transform it into nutrient-rich vermicompost or worm castings. Vermicompost is a valuable soil conditioner, rich in essential nutrients, and it enhances soil fertility and structure. This method is eco-friendly and suitable for both small-scale and large-scale composting.

Effects of Poor Solid Waste Management

Due to poor disposal of solid waste by the municipality, a large number of garbage remains collected at corners of streets that cause a lot of problems like:

• Heaps of garbage become a breeding ground for rats and flies that spread vector-borne diseases.
• It releases a foul odor.
• Toxic gases and dioxins are also released on burning the waste which causes skin infections, cancer, etc.
• It is one of the cause of poor water management like choking of drains.
• It causes air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, etc.
• It also degrades the natural beauty of the Earth.
• It has adverse effects on biodiversity.
• The chemicals from the waste can seep into the soil and pollute the groundwater.
• The hazardous wastes mixed with combustible wastes make its degradation difficult.

FAQs on Solid Waste Management

1. What is Solid Waste Management?

Solid waste management is the systematic collection, transportation, recycling, and disposal of solid waste materials generated by human activities in an environmentally responsible and safe manner.

2. What are the Different Types of Waste?

Waste can be broadly divided into solid waste, liquid waste, industrial waste, radioactive waste and recyclable waste. Source of this waste includes garbage from households, industries, offices, schools, restaurants and marketplaces, etc.

3. What are Industrial Wastes?

Industrial wastes are byproducts like chemicals, heavy metals, and non-recyclable residues, generated from manufacturing, production, or industrial processes, that require specialized disposal methods due to their potential environmental and health risks.

4. What are 3 Ways to Manage Solid Waste?

Rising urbanization and development have increased the amount of municipal waste. Proper management is important to prevent environmental pollution, protect public health, and preserve the natural beauty of the Earth.

5. What are the 4 Types of Solid Waste Management?

The four types of solid waste management are collection and transportation, recycling and composting, disposal in landfills, and waste-to-energy incineration. These methods collectively address the collection, treatment, and disposal of solid waste materials.

6. What is Poor Water Management?

Poor water management refers to the inefficient, unsustainable, or inadequate use of water resources, leading to issues such as water scarcity, pollution, and wastage. It can have detrimental environmental, social, and economic consequences.