08 Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste

refers to the method of collecting and treating solid waste

Solid waste management

these are the discarded solid substances generated from human activities and having no more value with respect to its economic, physiological or technological process

Solid waste

corresponds to any domestic, industrial and agricultural resources that are considered already useless

Solid waste in a broader sense

These are the wastes generated during the preparation of food like vegetables, flowers, leaves, fruits, and other wastes from market places

Organic waste

Wastes that come from plants or animals that can be degraded by other living organisms, often used for composting, If processed, this can be a source of heat, electricity and fuel

Biodegradable wastes

Waste that cannot be broken down by other living organisms

Non-biodegradable wastes

These are usually organic waste having low moisture content

Combustibles

These includes metals, tins, cans, bottles, stones, etc

Non-combustibles

Examples are old medicines, paints, chemicals, bulbs, spray cans, fertilizer and pesticide containers, batteries, shoe polish

Toxic wastes

These wastes can be recycled or used again for the same or different purpose

Recyclables

These wastes consist of unwanted materials that are produced directly or indirectly from the manufacturing, assembly and other construction processes

Construction wastes

These waste are considered harmful and dangerous and can consist of medical waste, industrial waste and hospital waste

Hazardous wastes

Examples of these are tree branches, tires etc

Bulky wastes

food wastes, plastics, paper, glass, leather, cardboard, metals, yard wastes, ashes and special wastes such as electronics, tires, batteries, old mattresses and used oil

Residential waste

generated from housekeeping, food and packaging, construction and demolition materials, medical and hazardous wastes

Industrial waste

plastics, food wastes, metals, paper, glass, wood, cardboard materials, and other hazardous wastes

Commercial waste

glass, plastics, food wastes, wood, paper, metals, cardboard materials, electronics as well as various hazardous wastes

Institutional waste

steel materials, concrete, wood, plastics, rubber, copper wires, dirt and glass

Construction and demolition waste

wastes from street cleaning, wastes from parks and beaches, wastewater treatment plants, landscaping wastes and wastes from recreational areas, including sludge

Municipal services waste

pesticides, spoiled foods and some hazardous materials produced from farms, orchards, dairies and vineyards

Agricultural wastes

syringes, bandages, used gloves, drugs, paper, plastics, food wastes and chemicals

Biomedical wastes

seep into the soil can pollute underground water

Leachates from garbage dumps

can invade the garbage and clutter the waste that can damage the atmosphere and can spread various diseases

Scavengers, stray animals and insects

may result in cholera, jaundice, hepatitis, gastro enteric diseases etc

Contaminated food and water supply

pollute the atmosphere with toxic fumes

Waste plastics and rubber

emit obnoxious odor upon decomposition that make the environment polluted

Organic solid wastes

if not properly handled can cause transmission of diseases

Hospital and clinic wastes

facilitates breeding of mosquitoes resulting to the spread of diseases like malaria and plague

Solid wastes causing water logging

to reduce and eradicate the adverse effect of solid waste to individual’s health and to the environment as well so that economy will be developed and the quality of life will be improved

The main goal of solid waste management

refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle

The 5 R's of waste management

the best way to minimize waste

Refuse

Avoiding too much use of resources can help reduce the waste and therefore, there is less waste to manage

Reduce

replace all of the single-used items with reusable materials

Reuse

referred to as upcycling; think of all possibilities on how each product will serve more than one purpose

Repurpose

new product is formed

Recycle

actions that focus on distinguishing materials that are not functioning anymore or valueless to the owner and are subjected for disposal

Waste generation

system for keeping the waste generated that has been discarded prior to collection and disposal

Onsite handling, storage and processing

collecting waste from garbage bins by the collection vehicles and bringing the garbage in the collection site

Waste collection, transfer and transport

services, tools, and methods used to make materials become ecofriendly to be used again

Waste processing and recovery

disposing waste materials in locations such as landfills or in places that convert waste-to-usable materials facilities

Disposal

Process that converts waste material into gas, ash and heat

Solid Waste Incineration

waste is reduced by an average of 90% depending on its composition

Volume reduction in incineration

organic components undergo oxidation that makes the output more inert

Stabilization of wastes

burning of waste produces energy that can be used to generate steam

Energy recovery from waste

can destroy the pathogens before disposal

Sterilization of waste

Thermal decomposition of carbon-based materials that produce syngas

Pyrolysis

variation of the pyrolysis process with an additional reactor

Pyrolysis/Gasification

carbonaceous materials are converted into syngas using a limited amount of air or oxygen

Conventional gasification

A high temperature pyrolysis process that coverts carbon-based materials into syngas

Plasma arc gasification

involves the conversion of organic materials such as yard trimmings, food scraps, coffee grounds and filters, tea leaves, herbs, spices, nuts and egg shells

Aerobic digestion/Composting

produces renewable energy that avoids carbon emissions

Anaerobic digestion of organic waste

a simple way in which everyone can contribute to make the world a better place to live

Recycling

Lesser amount of waste is accumulated in landfills and incinerators; prevents pollution; saves energy; prevents depletion of natural resources; creation of more employment opportunities; encourage the use of greener technologies; maintains ground water quality

Benefits of recycling

PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)

Recycling Symbol #1

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

Recycling Symbol #2

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or vinyl (V)

Recycling Symbol #3

low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

Recycling Symbol #4

polypropylene (PP)

Recycling Symbol #5

polystyrene (PS)

Recycling Symbol #6

refuse is spread out in thin layers and compressed; lowermost part is enclosed with several water resistant liner

Sanitary landfill

open hole in the ground where wastes are thrown and buried and rats and insects thrive

Dumps

Environmental protection must be considered for all phases of SWM

Environmental requirements

difficult to motivate communities and stakeholders

Social requirements

minimum possible overall cost should be ensured

Economic requirements

responsible institution capable of managing planning, operation and maintenance

Institutional requirements

scavengers buried under waste piles

Fatal accidents in landfill

damage to access roads by heavy vehicles

Infrastructure damage

landfill can contaminate groundwater or aquifers

Pollution of local environment

methane is more potent than carbon dioxide

Production of methane gas

landfills can become a hiding place for vectors like rats and flies

Harboring of disease vectors