Solid waste management is a

term that is used to refer to the

process of collecting and treating
solid wastes. It also offers
solutions for recycling items that
do not belong to garbage or
trash.
Solid wastes cause a major
risk to public health and
environment. Therefore,
management of solid wastes is
important.
2 Major sources of solid waste

1. URBAN WASTES
It includes the following:
Domestic waste- containing a variety of materials thrown
out from homes. Ex. food waste, clothes, waste paper,
glass bottles…etc.
Commercial waste- includes waste coming out from shop,
markets, hotels, offices, institutions…
Ex. Waste paper, packaging materials, cans, bottles…
Construction wastes- wastes of
construction materials.
Ex. Wood, concrete, debris…
Biomedical wastes- includes mostly
waste organic materials.
Ex. Anatomical wastes, infectious
wastes…
2. INDUSTRIAL WASTES
The main source of industrial waste are
chemical industries, metal, and mineral processing
industries.
Ex:
Nuclear plants- it generates radioactive wastes.
Thermal power plants- it produces large quantities
of hazardous and toxic materials.
Other industries- produce packing materials,
rubbish, organic wastes, acid, alkali, metals,
rubber, plastic, paper, glass, oil, paints, dyes….
• Improper disposal of municipal solid waste on
the roads and surroundings, biodegradable
materials undergo decomposition producing
foul smell and become a breeding ground for
disease vectors.
• Industrial solid wastes are the source for toxic
metals and hazardous wastes that affects the
soil characteristics and productivity of the soil.
• During the process of collecting
solid waste, the hazardous waste
usually mix with ordinary
garbage and other flammable
wastes making the disposal
process even harder and risky.
2 IMPORTANT STEPS INVOLVED IN
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
1.Three R’s – Reduce, Reuse and
Recycle of raw materials.
1. Reduction in use of material will decrease
the production of waste.
Reuse of waste materials: the refillable
containers which are discarded after use can
be reused.
Recycling of materials- it is the processing
of discarded materials into new useful
product.
2. DISCARDING OF WASTES

• Sanitary Landfills
This is the most popular solid waste
disposal method used today. Garbage is basically
spread out in thin layers, compressed and covered
with soil.

.
Advantages:
1.It is simple and economical
2.Segregation of wastes is not required
3.Natural resources are returned to soil and
recycled.
Disadvantages:
1.Large area is required.
2.Leads to bad odor if not properly managed.
3.It will be source of mosquitoes.
4.Causes fire hazard due to formation of
methane in wet weather.
• Incineration
is a hygenic way of disposing waste.
It is suitable if waste contains hazardous
material and organic content. It is a
thermal process and very effective for
detoxification of all combustible
pathogens.
 Solid waste are burnt in a
furnace called incinerator. The
heat produced in the incinerator
during burning of refuse is used in
the form of steam power for
generation of electricity through
turbines. It has to be dried first
before burning.
Advantages:
1. Cost of transportation is not high if it is located in the
city limits.
2. Safest from hygenic point of view.
3. An incinerator plant of 300 tonnes per day capacity
can generate 3MW of power.
4. Requires very little space.

Disadvantages:
1. It’s capital and operating cost is high.
2. Operation needs skilled personnel.
3. Formation of smoke, dust and ashes needs further
disposal and that may cause air pollution.
• Composting
Bulk organic waste is converted
into fertilizer by biological action.
Separated compastible waste is
dumped in underground trenches in
layers of 1.5m and covered with
earth of 20cm and left for
decomposition. Within 2 to 3 days
biological action starts.
Advantages:
1.Manure added to soil increases water
retention and ion exchange capacity of
soil.
2.Can be used to treat several industrial solid
wastes.
3.Manure can be sold.
4.Recycling can be done.

Disadvantages:
1.Non consumables have to be disposed
separately.