Management of solid waste

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Management of solid waste is very important in order to minimize the adverse effects of solid wastes.

1 Types of solid wastes

1. Urban wastes Sources

ü   Domestic wastes – Food waste, Cloth, Waste paper.

ü   Commercial wastes – Packing material, cans, bottles, polythene.

ü   Construction Wastes – Wood, concrete debris.

ü   Bio medical wastes – Anatomical wastes, infectious wastes.

2. Industrial wastes

Sources

ü   Nuclear power plants – generates radioactive wastes

ü   Thermal power plants – produces fly ash in large quantities

2. Chemical industries

Produces large quantities of hazardous and toxic materials

2 Steps involved in solid waste management

ü   Reduce, Reuse and Recycle of materials – raw materials re usage should be reduced, reuse of waste materials should be reduced and recycling of the discarded materials into new useful products should also be reduced.

ü   Discarding wastes

ü   Land fill: Solid wastes are placed in sanitary landfill system in alternate layers of 80 cm thick refuse, covered with selected earth fill of 20cm thickness

ü   Incineration: It is a hygienic way of disposing the solid waste. It is a thermal process and is very effective for detoxification of all combustible pathogens

ü   Composting: It is another popular method practiced in many cities in our country. In this method, bulk organic waste is converted into fertilizing manure by biological action.

3 Role of an individual in prevention of pollution

·        Plant more trees

·        Help more in pollution prevention than pollution control

·        Use water, energy and other resources efficiently

·        Purchase recyclable, recycled and environmentally safe products

·        Reduce deforestation

·        Remove NO from motor vehicular exhaust

·        Use of eco friendly products.

4 Case studies

Ø   Effluents treatment at MRL, Chennai

Ø   The Bhopal gas tragedy

Ø   Arsenic pollution in ground water

Ø   Soft drink bottling unit

Ø   Mercury wastes

Ø   Palar river pollution

Ø   The miniamatta epidemic (marine pollution)