Solid Waste Disposal

Introduction

Solid waste disposal is the process that includes various methods of disposal of unwanted products that are unable to be recycled. Here are two important solid waste disposal methods:

1. Landfills 

2. Thermal processing

Landfills

In some particular sets of land, the solid waste gets disposed of. There are three processes: Chemical, physical and biological decomposition. Leachate and landfill gas are two types of emission.

Leachate – From the landfills, wastewater is emerging. During heavy rain, water flows over the landfills. Some decomposition processes occur where toxic minerals and some waste products get dissolved, and the final leachate is harmful.

Landfill gas – In a landfill, carbon dioxide and methane gas is produced with a high risk of ignition.

Different Types of Landfills based on the Cause and Effects

According to the cause, there are different types of landfills available. They are

• Indiscriminate waste disposal

• Communal open dumping

• Burial in pits

• Controlled landfills

• Sanitary landfills

Indiscriminate Waste Disposal

• It is also called open dumping, where the people leave the waste along the roadside, in the empty land, or along the side of the river bank

• It is considered an unwanted and dangerous practice which is the platform for many harmful diseases, and it also spoils the beauty of the environment

Communal Open Dumping

• In this solid waste disposal, small or medium-size land valleys or depressions are allocated for people near the local areas for disposal

• The major disadvantage of this method is no staff or animal barriers

• The waste and the ground are in contact with each other, so leachate leads to groundwater contamination

• These sites are located a long distance from the people’s houses, and no portable carts are available for disposal. So people are disposing of it nearby rather than taking a walk

• Waste can be blown out since the valley is not covered by the lid, and many insects, flies and dogs are exposed to the waste 

• In case of unexpected rain, leachate can take place

Burial in a Pit

• It is one of the effective ways of disposing, but the location of the pit should be chosen carefully to avoid leachate so that one can avoid groundwater contamination

• It is a placement of a pit in one’s house yard. Another disadvantage other than leachate is that a large amount of waste can’t be accommodated in this pit

Controlled Landfills

• It is one of the significant improvements of the communal open dump

• The waste is covered with the soil every day so that waste can’t be blown off, and no worries about the files

• One separated staff is appointed, and the tractor is used to cover the pit with the soil

• The national urban solid waste handling and disposal strategy has given some standards for construction landfills. They are

1. Daily the landfill should accommodate more than 50 metric tons of waste.

2. After dumping, the waste should be covered by solid.

3. Regular availability of machines like tractors.

4. An Additional 15% should be available for site operation and services.

5. Medicinal waste, industrial waste, and rubber waste should be disposed of separately. The tires can not be composed easily, and they may become the breeding site for mosquitoes and other insects. Rather it can be burnt.

The above standards for a medium-sized town. More staff should be appointed for the control of open dumping. Separating the layers between land and the waste help to avoid the leachate and contamination of groundwater.

Sanitary Landfills

• It is one of the facilities where waste from the large towns and cities is disposed of. Daily more than 150 metric tonnes of waste are disposed of in the sanitary landfills

• This landfill is operated to minimize the health, hazardous and environmental impacts

• On this site, they come up with better measures to control leachate, groundwater management, better gas venting, and good amenities of staff

• Here large sites are divided into cells. First, one cell is filled at a time and covered with sand with the help of a tractor

• Ideal sanitary landfills should be

1. The synthetic or clay material separates the ground from the waste to avoid groundwater contamination. As it is covered by sand, it helps to keep the environment safe and clean.

2. A separate pump system should be available to pump out all the gas in the landfills.

Thermal Processing Methods

In the thermal processing method, solid waste is disposed of by heating and burning it. There are two types

1. Open burning

2. Incineration

Open Burning

• In this process, waste is burnt in the open air at the back of the house

• The major disadvantage of this smoke released from the burning of landfills may annoy the neighbour

Incineration

• Here the waste is burned in the tight container where the air is supplied through the chimney

• In this method, pollution can be controlled, and burnt air can be sent through the atmosphere

Solid Waste Management Meaning

• It refers to collecting, treating and disposal of waste

• Strict regulation is followed during the above process

• Solid waste management examples Sanitary Landfill. This is the most popular solid waste disposal method used today.Incineration is also used for solid waste management

Sources of Solid Waste

1. Solid domestic garbage

2. Solid waste materials from various industries

3. Solid agricultural waste

4. Plastic, glass, metals, and e-waste

5. Medical waste

6. Construction waste

7. Sewage sludge

• In different countries, different ways are followed for solid waste disposal

• In India, two methods are followed

1. Municipal solid waste

2. Hazardous solid waste

Municipal Solid Waste And The Impact Of Solid Waste Pollution

In the municipal waste, all recycled and non-recyclable waste is thrown into the people’s garbage. The solid waste that can be classified are

• Biodegradable waste from the kitchen includes plat and animal residues. Some plastic bags are included under the kitchen a waste, where some techniques are required for disposal

• Recyclable waste includes aluminum foil, tin cans, carbon boxes, etc.

• The hazardous waste coming from the industries and hospital

• Waste comes from the construction sites. It includes rocks, cement, and pebbles

• Waste combined with more than two materials is called composite waste, and some special treatment plant is required for the recycling process

• Overpopulation and the growth of technology are responsible for the growth of solid waste disposal

• For example, in the olden days, jar milk and juice bottles should safely be returned to the supplier without any breakage. But nowadays, as the technologies develop, the glass bottles are converted into tin and can for better convenience, but it increases soil waste. With this development, life gets easier, but it also leads to the development of non-biodegradable waste in the environment

Effects Of Poor Solid Waste Management

• Due to improper disposal of waste, the waste is blown up to the street and spoils the beauty of the environment. It also creates a problem for the public and the environment

• It also becomes the breeding site for mosquitoes and other insects and disease-causing organisms

• Improper disposal can also cause a foul smell and make the environmental condition unhygienic

• Medicinal waste, industrial waste, and rubber waste should be disposed of separately. The tires can not be composed easily, and they may become the breeding site for mosquitoes and other insects. Rather it can be burnt

• Hazardous waste should not be mixed with biodegradable waste as it has high igneous power

• If the soil lot of insects do not cover the waste in the landfill, other germs can be spread and cause disease

• The synthetic or clay material separates the ground from the waste to avoid groundwater contamination. As it is covered by sand, it helps to keep the environment safe and clean

Conclusion

In this solid waste and disposal. We have learnt about the different types of disposal methods. We have also seen the different types of landfills based on the cause and effects. Solid waste management has shown about different types of the management system.