Chapter-6 : Municipal Solid Waste Management…

[Link] and Classi cation

[Link] Seawage

3. Functional Elements of MSWM

[Link] of MSW

[Link] of MSW

[Link] of 3Rs

Sources and Classsi cation…

• Mixture of solid and semi solid waste originated due to different

activities in the residential and commercial establishments is termed as

Municipal Solid Waste.

• Solid waste is classi ed as :

[Link] ( Residential + Commercial )

[Link]

3. Hazardous (Radioactive & Flamable Wastes )

• Domestic Waste ( Refuse )

[Link]-biodegradable (450 - 900 kg/m3 )

[Link]-non combustible (700 - 900 kg/m3 )

3. Rubbish-Non Biodegradable (50 - 400 kg/m3 )

If various materials in the waste are having different densities,

the overall bulk density is calculated as follows

M1 + M2 + M3 + . . . . M - mass of wastes
ρoverall = ——————————————— ρ - density of wastes
M1 + M
—— M3 + . . . .
——2 + ——
ρ1 ρ2 ρ3
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Characteristics of Solid Waste…
Understanding waste characteristics is essential for designing collection,

treatment, and disposal systems.

(A) Physical Characteristics

1. Density - Affects storage, transportation, and land ll design

2. Moisture Content - High moisture reduces calori c value

Important for composting and incineration

3. Particle Size & Distribution - In uences segregation and

processing ef ciency ( Smaller size faster decomposition ).

4. Speci c Gravity - Ratio of density of waste to water

Used in land ll design

(B) Chemical Characteristics

1. Calori c Value - Heat energy released during combustion

-Important for incineration - Typical range: 800–2000 kcal/kg

2. pH Value - Indicates acidity/alkalinity(Affects microbial activity)

[Link] Composition - Used in energy recovery calculations

4. Toxic Elements - Pb, Cd, Hg are hazardous to environment

(C) Biological Characteristics

1. Biodegradability - Ability to decompose by microorganisms

2. Putrescibility - Tendency to decompose and produce odor (High in

food waste)

[Link] - Disease causing organisms

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 Functional Elements of MSWM…
Waste Generation Storage Collection Transfer Transportation

1. Waste Generation

• Generation refers to the production of waste materials from various sources.

• Per capita generation: 0.3–0.6 kg/day

2. On-Site Storage of Waste

• Temporary storage of waste at the

point of generation before collection.

• Use of covered bins/containers

Green bin biodegradable waste

Blue bin recyclable waste

3. Collection of Solid Waste

• Process of gathering waste from

storage points and transporting it to

3. Collection of Solid Waste

transfer or disposal sites.

• Methods
Manual collection (hand carts)
Mechanical collection (compactors, trucks)

4. Transfer and Transport

Transfer - Temporary intermediate

station where waste is collected from

small vehicles and transferred to large

transport vehicles.
Treatment of MSWM…
Treatment of solid waste involves processing waste to reduce its volume,

toxicity, or environmental impact, and often to recover useful resources

or energy before disposal.

1. Physical Treatment Methods

Mechanical processes that change the physical characteristics of waste.

Methods:

[Link] (sorting) – separating recyclable and organic waste

[Link]/Grinding – reducing size

3. Compaction – reducing volume

[Link] separation – removing ferrous metals

2. Chemical Treatment

Use of chemical reactions to treat hazardous waste.

Methods:

[Link] (acid–base reaction)

[Link]/Reduction

3. Stabilization/Solidi cation

3. Thermal Treatment

Use of heat to decompose or burn waste.

[Link] - Burning waste at high temperature

[Link] - Heating in absence of oxygen

3. Gasi cation - Partial oxidation

[Link] Derived Fuel - Waste processed into fuel pellets.

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 4. Biological Treatment - Biomethanation

• Municipal solid waste (MSW) contains 40–60% organic matter (food

waste, vegetable waste, manure, etc.)

• Biomethanation speci cally handles this wet biodegradable fraction.

• It is an anaerobic process where M/O break down waste in absence of

oxygen.

• It is technically viable option for Indian MSW due to its high organic

content.

• Outputs: 1. Biogas (CH₄ + CO₂) Used for cooking, electricity

2. Digestate Used as organic fertilizer

Stages of Biomethanation

Organic Matter
Carbohydrates, Lipids and Protien, etc

1. Hydrolysis
Carboxylic Volatile acids, keto acids, hydroxy
acids, ketones, alcohols, simple sugar, amino
acids, H2 and CO2

2. Acidogenesis

Short chain fatty acids

Mainly acetic & formic acids

3. Acetogenesis
Acetate CO2 and H2

4. Methanogenesis
Methane and CO2
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 Methods of Disposal…
1. Open Dumping

• Very simple method in which the solid wastes collected from the city

are dumped in low lying areas located far off from the city.

• Not an eco friendly method and results in contamination of environment.

• Highly unacceptable method as it gives unsightly nuisances, obnoxious

odour & is a breeding place for mosquitoes and ies.

2. Sanitary Land ll YouTube🔗

• Refuse is carried and dumped in low lying areas under an engineered

operation designed and operated in an environmentally sound manner so

as to avoid any public nuisance or hazard to public health.

• The refuse is dumped and compacted in layers of about 1 m thick and

after the days of work, it is covered with good earth of 15 cm thick.

• This cover is called as daily cover.

• Sealants are used on the surface of earth before dumping so as to

prevent leaching of impurities.

• Leaching/Leachate - impure water from waste that can pollute ground

water.
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• Sealants - Bitumen, Asphalt, Butyl Chloride, Bentonite Slurry.

• DDT(Dichloro-Diphenyl Trichloro-ethane) and insecticides are spread

over the daily cover to prevent mosquitoes and y breeding.

Advantages :

[Link] costly plant required.

[Link] lying area water logged area & quarry pits can be put to

better use.

3. No residues or byproduct left(No further disposal required).

Disadvantages :

[Link] evolution of foul gases.

[Link] formed can pollute ground water.

3. Low lying areas in cities may not be easily available.

Diagram
Geomembrane
' Compact Clay

Geomembrane
Final Cover
+
Compact Clay } Sealant
Cell Cell Cell
1 Cell = 1 Day

Cell Cell Cell Cell

No. of Days = No of Cells
Sealant
Daily Cover
 [Link]

• It is biological disposal (segregating at source itself) of refuse in

which decomposition can be carried out aerobically or anaerobically.

• The end product of composting is called compost or manure or humus.

• Ecologically most acceptable method.

Types of Composting

• In composting the optimum conditions are attained when carbon/nitrogen

ratio is between 30-50.

• Ratio greater than this will slow down decomposition by oxidising carbon

to CO2.

• Ratio less than this composting inhibited due to low energy supply and

nitrogen will be lost both by leaching and volatization as ammonia.

• If earthworms are used for composting than the end product is called

Vermi-compost.
 4. Incineration & Pyrolysis

• Best method of disposal for Non Biodegradable waste i.e plastic and

rubber.

• Disposal of refuse is carried out by burning them at high temperature.

• Incineration - Burning in suf cient supply of oxygen.

• Pyrolysis - Burning in absence or limited supply of oxygen.

• These method is adopted for refuse having high calori c value.

• These methods reduce the volume about 90%.

Disadvantages

[Link] method.

[Link] power consumption.

3. Leads to air pollution so requires scrubbers and lter.

5. Ocean Dumping/Barging into the Sea

• Disposal of refuse into the sea can done it is disposed far off from the

shore (15 -20 km) below the water surface level (3-5 m ) during low

tides.

Disadvantages

[Link] Pollution.

[Link] to Aquatic Life.

3. May bring back the waste to shores.

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 3Rs in Solid Waste Management…

• The 3R concept is a fundamental approach in Solid Waste

Management (SWM) that focuses on minimizing waste generation and

maximizing resource ef ciency.

• It follows a priority hierarchy:

1. Reduce 🔻 (Waste Prevention)

• Reducing means minimizing the amount of waste generated at the source.

• “Prevention is better than cure” — best way to manage waste is to not

create it

Importance :

1. Reduces waste generation: Less waste means less burden on collection,

transport, and disposal systems

2. Conserves natural resources: Lower demand for raw materials like wood,

minerals, and water

3. Saves energy: Manufacturing fewer products reduces energy consumption

4. Prevents pollution: Less production leads to reduced emissions and

environmental degradation
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 Methods : Advantages :

1. Avoid single-use plastics 1. Saves natural resources

2. Choose products with less packaging 2. Reduces pollution

3. Use digital documents instead of paper 3. Lowers waste management cost

4. Buy only what is necessary

2. Reuse 🔁 (Repeated Use)

• Reuse means using items again without signi cant processing.

• Extend the life of products by reusing.

Importance :

1. Reduces waste volume: Items are not discarded quickly

2. Saves money: Reusing products reduces the need for new purchases

3. Conserves energy and materials: No additional manufacturing required

4. Encourages sustainable habits: Promotes repair culture and responsible

consumption

5. Reduces environmental impact: Less waste ends up in land lls

Methods : Advantages :

[Link] containers, bottles, bags [Link] waste generation

[Link] clothes, books, furniture [Link] money

3. Repair items instead of discarding 3. Conserves energy and raw

[Link] both sides of paper materials

 3. Recycle ♻ (Material Recovery)

• Recycling means processing waste materials into new products.

• Convert waste resource

1. Reduces land ll usage: Diverts waste from dumping sites

2. Conserves natural resources: Recycled materials replace virgin raw materials

3. Saves energy: Recycling often consumes less energy than new production

4. Generates employment: Creates jobs in recycling industries

5. Supports circular economy: Waste becomes a resource

Methods : Advantages :

1. Recycling of paper, plastic, 1. Reduces land ll waste

glass, metals 2. Conserves natural resources

2. Composting of organic waste 3. Saves energy (compared to

'

(biological recycling) new production)

3. Industrial recycling processes

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