Solid Waste Management: Definition, Type, Method & Risk

Solid Waste Management: Solid waste management includes the process of collection of waste and treating or disposing of the same. It is important for students to identify the source of solid waste. Solid waste management is one of the most important chapters in Geography and it is a part of Social studies. Social studies include Three subjects History, Civics and Geography. The mean of marks obtained in these subjects will be considered for Social studies.

The Sources of Solid Waste are solid domestic garbage, solid agricultural waste, construction waste, sewage sludge, solid waste material from various industries, and more. In this article, we will talk about municipal solid waste management, solid waste management rules and more. Students can go through this article to understand the concepts associated with solid waste management.

Waste Management: Solid Waste Management

Waste management can be simply defined as the collection, transport, recovery, and disposal of waste, together with monitoring and regulation of the waste management process.
However, the newer concept of waste management talks about \(7\,R’\)s- Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Regulate and Research.

Waste Management: Overall Details

There are various types of waste management, few of them are listed below:
1. Solid Waste Management
2. Liquid Waste Management
3. Biological Waste Management

Types of Solid Waste Management

The system of administration that manages the activities of collection, source separation, storage, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of solid waste is called solid waste management.

Fig: Solid Waste Management

Municipal Solid Waste Management: Classification

Solid waste can be classified into two categories by its characteristics.
1. Organic Solid Waste
2. Inorganic Solid Waste

Organic Solid Waste

The waste that is biodegradable and decomposes in the process of decomposition emits an offensive and irritating smell when left untouched. For example, food, sewage sludge, green waste, etc.

Fig: Organic Solid Waste

Inorganic Solid Waste

Solid matter that does not decompose at any rate. This category of waste matter may be combustible depending on the type the nature of the material they constitute. For example, rubbish.

Fig: Inorganic Solid Waste or Rubbish Waste

Sources of Solid Waste

There are many sources of solid waste that can be classified as below:
1. Residential (domestic or household)
2. Commercial
3. Institutional
4. Construction Demolition
5. Treatment plant sites
6. Solid Industrial Waste
7. Solid Agricultural Waste

The process of waste handling and disposal varies in different countries. In India, the processes differ according to the source of solid waste. They can be classified as:

1. Municipal Solid Waste- Municipal wastes are the wastes generated from domestic activities, restaurants, educational institutions and public places. Municipal wastes may be solid (Municipal solid waste) or liquid in the form of sewage from homes (domestic liquid waste) and from industries, offices, hospitals and other places.

2. Hazardous Solid Waste- Hazardous wastes: These are substances that have characteristic ignitability or corrosivity or reactivity or toxicity. Radioactive substances, chemicals, flammable wastes and explosives are common hazardous wastes.

Functional Elements of Solid Waste Management

1. Waste generation- The materials that are identified and collected are thrown away or gathered for disposal.
2. On-site handling, storage, and processing- The activities associated with the handling, storage, and processing of solid wastes at or near the point of generation.
3. Collection- The collection and disposal of solid waste from various locations.
4. Transfer and transport- The transfer of wastes from the smaller collection vehicle to the larger transport equipment, to the disposal site.
5. Processing and recovery- Those techniques equipment and facilities are used both to improve the efficiency of the other functional elements and to recover usable materials, conversion products, or energy from solid wastes.
6. Disposal- The dumping of waste in a specific place for segregation.

Fig: Functional Elements of Solid Waste Management

Recycling or Reuse of Waste

Fig: 3 R’s (Recycling or Reuse of Waste)

The non-biodegradable wastes can, however, be recycled or reused.

1. Recycling means the conservation of resources in used items by converting them into new products. For example, old newspapers can be recycled to make tissue paper and cardboard. Aluminium cans can be recycled to produce new cans.
2. Reuse means the conservation of the resources in used items by using them repeatedly. For example, glass bottles can be collected, washed, and refilled again.

Common Solid Waste Disposal Methods

In rural communities, the following common useful simple and practical methods of solid waste intermediate treatments/reuse and disposal methods include:

1. Composting: Composting type of waste reduction is used in both urban and rural areas to minimize waste. Its organic components break down into simpler form and turn into natural manure for the plants.

Fig: Composting of Organic Waste

2. Controlled Tipping/Burying: Solid wastes that are not recycled or used should be disposed of. Disposal is affected in many ways. A method that satisfies this is known as controlled tipping. It is a way of isolating any type of waste without bothering to sort or separate it.

A few methods of how isolation is done are as follows:
(a) Firstly, the disposal site should be identified and the collection of waste near water sources, near roads and paths, etc., should be collected from the site.
(b) Pile the dugout earth near the pit for future use.
(c) Dump the collected solid waste or garbage daily in the pit.
(d) Close the soil on the deposited waste in the pit daily and allow it to decompose. The plants can be planted on it after the filling of pits.

Fig: Controlled Tipping/Burying

3. Ploughing in the Fields: Ploughing of lands helps the segregation of the organic waste that is biodegradable waste helps the recovering and reusing of waste for soil conditioning.

Fig: Ploughing in the Fields

4. Incineration: Incineration is a high-temperature dry oxidation process that reduces organic and combustible waste to inorganic, incombustible matter and resulting in a very significant reduction of waste volume and weight.

Fig: Incineration

Other Disposal Methods

Sanitary Landfills Waste: A method of disposing of refuse on land without creating nuisances or hazards to public health or safety.The characteristics of the sanitary landfill that distinguish it from an open dump:

a. The waste is placed in a suitably selected and prepared landfill site in a carefully prescribed manner.
b. The waste materials are spread out and compacted with appropriate heavy machinery.|
c. The waste is covered each day with a layer of compacted soil.

Risk Associated with Poor Solid Waste Management

1. Open dumps of solid waste lead to the breeding ground for disease carriers like flies, pigs, mosquitoes, etc.
2. Unattended wastes often end up in drains, causing blockages which result in flooding and unsanitary conditions.
3. The burning of solid wastes causes air pollution.
4. Piles of waste and gas generated by these present a fire risk.
5. Overall environmental degradation due to contamination of air, water and soil environment via gaseous emission, particulate matter, ash, leachate, piles of unwanted materials, etc.

Advantages of Solid Waste Management

1. Incineration kills pathogenic organisms and reduces the volume of waste.
2. It helps in dealing with a large amount of waste.
3. Waste is used to produce steam from the water to produce electricity.
4. The volume of spoiled and solid waste is reduced in the environment.
5. Increased life of landfills.

Disadvantages of Solid Waste Management

1. The solid waste management devices used are very costly.
2. The management should manage the waste collection every successive period or it might affect the health of people.
3. The burning of a few solid wastes produces highly toxic gases.
4. Difficulty in segregation or sorting.

Summary

Waste management involves a process whereby wastes are collected, transported, and disposed of in the best possible way of limiting or eliminating the harmful effect of wastes. This aspect of environmental management is as important as other public amenities or infrastructures without which the life of a contemporary man would be extremely difficult.

This is because studies have shown a direct link between air, water and land pollution and diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, cholera, and hepatitis. In addition, climate change and eutrophication are a direct result of water and air pollution. Little wonder why there is a huge disparity in the life expectancy of people in developed and developing countries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Solid Waste Management

Frequently asked questions related to solid waste is listed as follows:

Q.1. What are the 3 types of waste management?
Ans: There are various types of waste management, a few of them are listed below:
(a) Solid Waste Management
(b) Liquid Waste Management
(c) Biological Waste Management

Q.2. What are the methods to manage the solid waste?
Ans: The methods to manage solid waste are:
(a) Composting
(b) Controlled Tipping/Burying
(c) Ploughing in the Fields
(d) Incineration

Q.3. What is solid waste management and its types?
Ans: The system of administration that manages the activities of collection, source separation, storage, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of solid waste. Solid waste can be classified into two categories by its characteristics.
(a) Organic Solid Wastet
(b) Inorganic Solid Waste

Q.4. What are the \(3\) types of garbage?
Ans: The three types of garbage are:
(a) Solid Household Waste
(b) E-Waste
(c) Green Waste

Q.5. What are the advantages of solid waste management?
Ans:
(a) Incineration kills pathogenic organisms and reduces the volume of waste.
(b) It helps in dealing with a large amount of waste.
(c) Waste is used to produce steam from the water to produce electricity.
(d) The volume of spoiled and solid waste is reduced in the environment.
(e) Increased life of landfills.

Embibe wishes all the candidates the best of luck for the upcoming examination.