[COMMED] 6 - Solid Waste Disposal

Basel Convention

A treaty designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries

Waste

A substance or object that is disposed of, intended to be disposed of, or required to be disposed of by the provisions of national laws

Disposal

Any operation that may lead to resource recovery, recycling, reclamation, direct reuse, or alternative use

Waste Management

Collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste. Control, monitoring, and regulation of the production, collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste. Prevention of waste production through in-process modifications, reuse, and recycling

Waste Management Hierarchy

Indicates an order of preference for action to reduce and manage waste. Usually presented diagrammatically. Presented as an inverted pyramid because the essential trust of policy is to take action first and foremost on preventing the generation of waste

Avoidance

Asks the question, “Do we really need this product?”. By rethinking the need, unnecessary waste from its very source can be eliminated. The most effective way to prevent waste

Reduction

Focused on redesigning products to minimize their waste potential. Creating smarter and more efficient products can drastically reduce waste before it's even created

Reuse

Modifying or extending the use of products to give them a longer life cycle. Repairing, repurposing, or donating items can help reduce the need for new resources

Recycling

Transforming new materials into new products. While recycling is critical, requires energy and resources which is why it ranks lower than avoidance, reduction, and reuse

Treatments and Residuals Management

The goal is to recover valuable resources from discarded products whether through energy recovery, composting, or other innovative methods

Economic Benefits

Valuable materials are recovered. Creates opportunities for recycling and upcycling industries. Leads to the creation of new jobs and supports the growth of businesses. Drives economic development while reducing costs

Social Benefits

Lifts communities out of poverty by reducing health risks associated with unmanaged waste. Cleaner environments lead to healthier living conditions. Enhances the quality of life of individuals and families

Environmental Benefits

Harmful impacts on our ecosystems are reduced or even eliminated. Results in improved air and water quality. Helps mitigate the effects of climate change. Cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions

Better Health and Environment

Reduces pollution. Minimizes health risks. Prevents environmental degradation across ecosystems

Economic Opportunities

Recovers valuable materials. Creates jobs. Supports industries related to recycling and waste processing

Social Opportunities

Fosters healthier communities. Improves living standards through safer and cleaner environments

Solid Waste

Refers to all discarded household, commercial, non-hazardous institutional and industrial waste, street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural waste, and other non-hazardous/non-toxic solid waste

RA 9003

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001. States that open burning of solid waste is banned due to its harmful environmental and health effects. Proper facilities and methods must be employed to ensure compliance with this particular law

Municipal Waste

Includes everyday trash from residential areas, offices, and public spaces. Examples: Household waste, Food scraps, Packaging materials

Industrial Waste

Generated by factories, manufacturing plants, and other industrial processes. Mostly composed of hazardous waste.

Biomedical Waste

Anything that is generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans or animals. Can also come from biological laboratories and slaughterhouses

Wet Waste

Consists of biodegradable materials. Examples: Food scraps, Vegetable peels, Other organic matter that can decompose naturally. Suitable for composting and can be converted into organic fertilizers for agriculture

Dry Waste

Composed of dry, uncontaminated materials. Recyclable

Generation

Stage at which materials become useless and must be discarded. Point where waste is created

Storage

Keeping of materials after discarded and prior to collection and disposal. Proper storage ensures waste is contained and prepared for the next steps reducing health risks and environmental hazards

Collection

Gathering and transporting of solid wastes to the wastes’ intended destination. Destination could be a processing facility, transfer station, or landfill depending on the waste type and its end goal. Once waste is collected, it undergoes additional processes to ensure proper treatment and final disposal

Separation and processing

Involves the recovery of useful waste materials that have been separated from the source for recycling and transformation. Typically happens at a materials recovery facility, transfer stations, combustion facilities, and disposal sites. Ensures valuable resources are extracted

Transporation

Transfer of wastes to its final destination whether it is a disposal site or processing facility. Efficient transportation systems are critical to avoid leaks or contamination during transit

Disposal

Placement of solid wastes in a sanitary landfill, ensuring waste is safely contained and managed to minimize environmental impact. Waste that cannot be reused, recycled, or recovered is disposed

On-site Disposal Methods

Implemented in areas without centralized collection systems

Communal Pit Disposal

Commonly used method. Simple, low cost, and accessible for small communities. Wastes are disposed directly into a communal pit. Size: 6 cubic meters for every 50 people. Waste should be covered at least weekly with a thin layer of soil to minimize flies and other pests

Communal Bins

Practical for waste collection in areas where centralized disposal is not immediately accessible. Designed to securely collect waste, ensuring that it: Will not be dispersed by wind or animals and Can be easily emptied or transported once full. Preferred material: repurposed oil drums cut in half

Communal Disposal Without Bins

Waste is disposed of directly onto the ground and subsequently cleaned or collected. This method is typically employed in high traffic areas, such as marketplaces, where waste accumulates quickly

Landfill

One of the most commonly used techniques is the landfill. Are carefully designed sites for the disposal of solid waste, ensuring minimal environmental impact

Incineration

Involves burning waste to significantly reduce waste volume. Appropriate where there is limited space for burial or landfill. Should only take place from a considerable distance downwind of dwellings

Composting

One of the most sustainable and effective offsite disposal methods, particularly for organic wastes. Involves decomposition of organic waste to create a nutrient rich compost. It turns waste into a valuable resource while reducing environmental impact

Recycling

Done for materials like plastic bags, plastic containers, tins (e.g., cans) and glass objects

Feces

Hygienically critical (high risk). Consists of organics, nutrients, and trace elements. Any material that we were not able to digest in our gut. Improves soil quality and increase its water retention capacity

Urine

Body’s natural wastewater. Less hygienically critical (less risk). Contains the largest proportion of nutrients available to plants. May contain hormones or medical residues

Greywater

Wastes generated by human activities related to washing. Of no major (or less) hygienic concern/risk. Volumetrically the largest portion of wastewater. Contains almost no (or less) nutrients (simpler treatment)

Fecal-Oral Disease Transmission

Important public health issue regarding human excreta. Main mode of transmitting diarrheal diseases and intestinal parasites. Include primary and secondary barriers to minimize fecal-oral disease transmission

Primary Barrier

Prevent or minimize the release of human excreta to the environment. Composed mainly of proper sanitation practices (e.g. toilet use)

Secondary Barrier

Minimize or reduce contact from fecal matter. Includes improving personal hygiene like hand washing with water and soap (or rubbing alcohol). Other examples: use of food covers and containers

Level 1

Non-water carriage toilet. Toilet facilities requiring small amounts of water to wash into the receiving space

Level 2

On-site toilet of water carriage type, with water-sealed (flush type) with septic tank

Level 3

Water carriage type connected to sewerage system and further connected to a treatment plan

Sanitary

Effectively removes human excrements without leaking into the environment

Simple, Cheap, and Easy to Construct

Importing materials for the construction of toilets is expensive and leads to unnecessary delays in construction

Easy to Maintain

Maintenance should be easy, especially in resource settings

Adequate Protection

It should be able to provide protection against the elements and provide privacy to its users

Acceptable to Users

Facility must be acceptable to its users

Cat-Hole Latrine

Considered the simplest method of excreta disposal as it consists of just digging a small hole using any suitable equipment. As this is basically just like a dog hole, it is not commonly used as a regular waste disposal method

Straddle Trench Latrine

A major upgrade as compared to having a cat-hole latrine. Requires digging a trench instead of a hole to a depth of about 2 feet. Instead of flushing with water, excrement is covered with dirt using a shovel after each defecation

Pit Privy

A type of latrine housed inside a superstructure.

Antipolo Type

The superstructure is elevated to the same level as the main building of the house

Vault Type

The pit has a removable cover for when fecal sludge is collected for agricultural use

Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) Latrine

Designed to overcome some of the problems with traditional latrine designs. Has a vent pipe from the pit to above the roof of the building. When air flows across the top of the vent pipe, air is drawn up the pipe from the pit and fresh air is drawn into the pit from the building. Has a window in the superstructure that lets fresh air go inside

Bored-Hole Latrine

First introduced by the Rockefeller Foundation during the 1930s to control hookworm infestation. Deep holes are bored into the earth with mechanical or manual earth-boring equipment. The hole is provided at the top with a cover. Footrests are sometimes provided to facilitate squatting. Must be decommissioned once the contents reach within 50 cm of the ground level

Water-Sealed Latrines

A pit privy modified to include a bowl made of durable material, with a P or S-shaped trap which forms a water seal when water is added. Water is used for cleaning and about 2-3 liters of water is used for flushing the content

Septic Tank Latrines

An upgraded water-sealed latrine. Used as a good substitute for a sewerage system in towns and cities with piped water supply but has no access to treatment plants

Chemical Toilets

Used as temporary mobile toilets. Utilizes the principle of liquefaction or organic matter using caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to liquefy the fecal material and destroy bacteria

Pail System

Also known as Box and Can Privy or Bucket Latrine. Used as a temporary mode of disposal. Regular removal and disposal of waste in a sanitary manner into a separate bin or pit. Burial of contents at least 12 inches from above the ground, to prevent access to flies or escape of adult flies

Overhung Latrines

Consists of a superstructure provided with a latrine floor on top of wooden piles above the water. Human wastes are disposed of directly into the body of water