See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/279745470

Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in Jalandhar City, Punjab, India

Article  in  Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste · April 2013

DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000156

CITATIONS READS
28 1,028

4 authors:

Sapna Sethi N.C. Kothiyal

7 PUBLICATIONS   44 CITATIONS   
National Institute of Technology Jalandhar
25 PUBLICATIONS   424 CITATIONS   
SEE PROFILE
SEE PROFILE

Arvind K Nema M. K. Kaushik

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Dav Institute of Engineering and Technology
86 PUBLICATIONS   1,347 CITATIONS    35 PUBLICATIONS   75 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

for teaching View project

Use of Tireshreds layers as filter/separator in Geo-technical and Civil Engineering applications View project

All content following this page was uploaded by M. K. Kaushik on 30 July 2016.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste
in Jalandhar City, Punjab, India
Sapna Sethi 1; N. C. Kothiyal 2; Arvind K. Nema 3; and M. K. Kaushik 4
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology D A V I E T on 04/11/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

Abstract: Characterization of the existing municipal solid waste (MSW) in Jalandhar, India, has been performed to evaluate its suitability for
various waste-processing technologies. The predominance of open dumping and the absence of reliable data regarding generation and char-
acterization of waste has created a difficult situation for urban local bodies responsible for managing MSW generated in the city. In this study,
MSW samples collected from a city dump site at different times throughout a year were analyzed for physical, chemical, and geotechnical
characteristics. Physical characterization of the city waste indicates that MSW is rich in biodegradables and inerts. The waste characterization
highlights the importance of waste segregation before sending the waste fractions for different waste-treatment technologies including com-
posting, biomethanation, refuse-derived fuel, and landfilling. Further, physical and geotechnical characterization of the city waste confirms its
suitability for applying bioreactor technology. Seasonal variations in waste characteristics have been observed, mainly in organic fraction.
Data and information created in this study will be helpful for Municipal Corporation Jalandhar in the planning of an upcoming integrated
solid-waste management project in the city. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000156. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
CE Database subject headings: Municipal wastes; Solid wastes; India; Waste management.
Author keywords: Municipal solid waste (MSW); Municipal Corporation Jalandhar (MCJ); Open dumping; Waste characteristics.

Introduction and handling of MSW. Municipalities have been made responsible

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management involves development
of an insight into the impact of waste generation, collection, trans-
portation, and disposal methods adopted by a society on the envi-
ronment and adoption of new methods to reduce this impact. Solid
waste management is an integral element of modern society and
one among the essential and obligatory services provided by the
urban local bodies (ULBs) in the country to maintain health and
hygiene. In the present scenario, with the fast growth and develop-
ment of economies, especially in the developing countries, solid
waste generation and its management has emerged as a continually
growing problem at global, regional, and local levels.
The collection of reliable data regarding generation and charac-
terization of the waste is the key to a successful MSW management.
Presently, lack of reliable information and data regarding genera-
tion rate, amount, and nature of solid waste creates a hurdle in
developing an appropriate waste management plan.
In India, Municipal Solid Waste (Handling and Management)
Rules [Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) 2000] have
been issued by the government to standardize the management
1
Research Scholar, Dept. of Chemistry, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National
Institute of Technology, Jalandhar-144008, India (corresponding author).
E-mail: sethisapna@yahoo.co.in
2
Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute
of Technology, Jalandhar, India. E-mail: kothiyalnc@nitj.ac.in
3 social, demographic characteristics, and economic make-up. The
Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of
Technology, New Delhi, India. E-mail: aknema@civil.iitd.ac.in
4
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, DAV Institute of
Engineering and Technology, Jalandhar-144008, India. E-mail:
mk_kaushik3@rediffmail.com
Note. This manuscript was submitted on January 10, 2012; approved on
September 28, 2012; published online on October 1, 2012. Discussion per-
iod open until September 1, 2013; separate discussions must be submitted
for individual papers. This paper is part of the Journal of Hazardous,
Toxic, and Radioactive Waste, Vol. 17, No. 2, April 1, 2013. © ASCE,
ISSN 2153-5493/2013/2-97-106/$25.00.
for managing MSW under the aegis of MSW rules. These rules
specify regulations regarding source segregation of waste and enu-
merate the various methods such as composting, vermicomposting,
biomethanation, refuse derived fuel for diverting biodegradable
waste from landfills, and sending only nonrecyclables, inerts,
and residues to sanitary landfills.
In India, the current scenario of the state of MSW manage-
ment is not very encouraging. The “India Infrastructure Report”
(3iNetwork 2009) estimated that approximately 115,000 t of
MSW is generated daily in the country. Per capita waste generation
in cities varies from 0.2–0.6 kg per day, depending on the size of
population. A further assessment made by the “India Infrastructure
Report” (3iNetwork 2009) stated that the per capita waste gener-
ation is increasing by approximately 1.3% per year, and the growth
of urban population lies between 3–3.5% per annum. Further, an
annual increase of 5% in the overall quantity of solid waste in the
Indian cities has also been predicted.
Open dumping has been the most accepted practice of solid
waste disposal. On an average, 5–6% of the wastes are disposed of
by using various composting methods (Sharholy et al. 2008). The
scope of waste reduction programs and other ecofriendly methods
of waste disposal decreases because of lack of technical infrastruc-
ture, political willpower, and awareness among people.
Sharholy et al. (2008) reported that the physical and chemical
characteristics of MSW in different cities of India vary with their
organic content of the MSW varies between 35–60% in different
parts of the country. Further, studies carried out by Kumar et al.
(2009) in 59 selected cities in India indicated that the average
composition of MSW includes 30–45% organic matter, 6–10% re-
cyclables, and the rest as inert matter. Most of the cities in India
having compost and waste to energy facilities are facing problems
simply because of poor quality of segregation and therefore, poor
quality of end product that has no market demand (Saha et al.
2010). Still, uncontrolled landfilling remains the most accepted

JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE © ASCE / APRIL 2013 / 97

J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste 2013.17:97-106.

 method of MSW management indicating noncompliance with
Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules (MoEF
2000) in most of the cities and has led to degradation of environ-
ment and human health. Increasing quantum of waste caused by
increasing population, complex nature of waste caused by changing
lifestyle, and decreasing availability of land for waste disposal have
left the municipalities in difficult situation. Municipalities are faced
with severe challenge in handling this situation in the absence of
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology D A V I E T on 04/11/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.
skilled manpower and support of community.
Jalandhar City and Its Sanitation Setup
Jalandhar is an upcoming city of Punjab state and is known for
sporting goods manufacturing. The state of Punjab is situated
northwest in India with a subtropical climate. The state is spread
around 29′30′′ N to 32′32′′ N latitude and 73′55 E to 76′50 E
longitude. Punjab generates nearly 3034.56 t MSWs every day
[Punjab State Council of Science and Technology (PSCST) 2007].
Approximately 1,830 t of waste is generated by the major cities
of Punjab.
Jalandhar is located between the Beas and Sutlej rivers at a dis-
tance of 350 km from Delhi. Jalandhar district possesses 8.04% of
the total population of Punjab with one million urban population
and the other million rural population, as per census 2011, increas-
ing at a growth rate of 3.82% per annum. The climate is, on the
whole, dry, except the brief southwest monsoon season with aver-
age annual rainfall of 703.0 mm, which is spread over average 35
rainy days. 70% of rainfall occurs during southwest monsoon.
The total area includes 85% residential zone, 10% industrial
zone, and 5% mixed zone. In the Jalandhar district, approximately
480 t of MSW is generated per day (Municipal Corporation
Jalandhar, personal communication, 2011). This quantity has in-
creased from approximately 240 t per day from the last decade.
Solid waste generated in urban areas of Jalandhar accounts for
15% of the total waste generated in Punjab (PSCST 2007). Approx-
imately 50 t per day (TPD) of waste is generated from fruit,
vegetable, and grain markets. Solid waste in urban areas contains
domestic refuse, market refuse, institutional, and a small amount
of industrial refuse. The per capita generation has increased to
0.5 kg=day from 0.427 kg=day in 2003–2009 (PSCST 2007).
Approximately 30% of the MSW is composted in the city. In
Punjab, Jalandhar is the only city that operates a composting plant
with a capacity of processing 300 t of MSW per day. However, even
after 10 years of implementation of the Municipal Solid Waste
(Management and Handling) Rules (MoEF 2000), open dumping
is prevalent for a large fraction of MSW.
Solid waste management in Jalandhar municipality is under the
Sanitation Department and the health section department of MCJ,
which is entrusted with responsibility for MSW management and
sanitation of the city. The municipal area caters to a population of
10,000,00 and is spread over a 120 km2 area.
The MCJ is responsible for the management of all kinds of solid
waste (household, commercial, market, and institutional). Con-
struction and demolition (C & D) waste is managed by the private
contractors. However, some amount of C & D waste gets disposed
off along with MSW. The hazardous waste generated by the indus-
tries is taken to a common site developed at Mohali city. Most of
the biomedical waste is disposed off at the Common Bio Medical
Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) developed at Ludhiana city and
does not merge with MSW. Most of the waste coming from house-
hold, commercial, and noncommercial establishments is dumped in
mixed state without any segregation. Most of the final disposal of
98 / JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE © ASCE / APRIL 2013
J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste 2013.17:97-106.
waste is done in an unscientific manner. Public participation and
contribution in maintaining sanitation is almost absent in the city.
The paper presents detailed characterization of MSW of
Jalandhar city. The purpose is to study physical, chemical, and
geotechnical characteristics of MSW to evaluate the suitability
of different waste management technologies and to recognize suit-
able waste processing techniques that are essential to manage the
MSW efficiently on the basis of the results obtained in the current
study. A summary of existing solid waste management practices in
the city is also presented.
Materials and Methods
Sample Collection, Segregation, and Physical
Characterization of MSW
Sampling was done in accordance with ASTM D5231-92 (ASTM
2008). This sampling method involves sampling of waste from ve-
hicles employed for collection and transportation of MSW. As per
this method, vehicles from the identified zone reaching the dump
site were selected at random during each day of the one-week sam-
pling period, to have a representative waste stream. Vehicles loaded
with waste were classified as commercial, institutional, and house-
hold waste as per their place of origin for physical characterization.
The household waste was further categorized on the basis of the
socioeconomic conditions of different areas. The waste sampling
was done for six groups including commercial (Comm.), slums,
high income group (HIG), middle income group (MIG), low in-
come group (LIG), and institution (Inst.) The conventional method
of gravimetric profiling was adopted by emptying out the entire
truck contents on a plastic sheet to prevent the mixing of under-
neath waste/soil with MSW. The quartering technique was used
to collect 1,000 kg of sample from the entire truck content, which
was further reduced to 100 kg in the second iteration. The 100 kg of
fresh waste samples were collected four times during different
months of the year 2010 from the Wariana dumping site by using
the previously mentioned methodology. The waste samples were
segregated manually onsite with the help of rag pickers present
there. Segregation of samples was done into various physical com-
ponents, such as fruit and vegetable waste, paper, plastics, rags,
glass, rubber, leather, metals, and inerts. After separation, all com-
ponents were weighed separately. The mean waste composition
was calculated by using the results of the composition of each
of the sorting samples. For studying seasonal variation in MSW,
the samples from the different vehicles were collected randomly
without any consideration to different socioeconomic groups dur-
ing the different seasons of the year 2010, as per the previously
mentioned method. Every time, 5 kg of waste sample was collected
in a polythene bag and brought to the laboratory for chemical char-
acterization. Moisture content was analyzed immediately, and the
remaining sample was refrigerated and used for chemical analysis.
The gradation of MSW samples was analyzed at the site by
using sieves with diameter of 200, 150, 100, 50, and 20 mm.
Chemical Characterization of MSW
Chemical characterization of waste was done to access its potential
for different waste processing techniques, like composting, vermi-
composting, incineration, and refused derived fuel (RDF).
Proximate analysis included the determination of % moisture
content, % ash content, % volatile matter content, and the calcu-
lation of % fixed carbon. The proximate analysis was conducted
according to ASTM standards E790 (ASTM 2004a), E830 (ASTM
2004b), and E897 (ASTM 2004c). The gross calorific value at
 constant volume was obtained by using a bomb calorimeter in the
laboratory.
The ultimate analysis included determination of carbon, hydro-
gen, nitrogen, sulphur, and oxygen content in dry samples. The
test was carried out by a CHNS analyzer [(Model Vario EL-III)
according to the ASTM D3176-09 (ASTM 2002) standard test
procedures]. The oxygen content was determined by difference,
knowing the mineral content.
Heavy metals were analyzed by using an atomic absorption
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology D A V I E T on 04/11/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.
(BOD), NH4 − N, and heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, and Ni)
using standard methods [American Public Health Association
(APHA) 2005].
Information and Data Regarding Existing Solid Waste
Management Practices in the City
The information and data regarding existing solid waste manage-
ment practices in the city were collected initially by carrying out a

spectrometer (model 4141, ECI). Prior to the analysis, each sample preliminary survey of various waste management practices, starting
was digested with concentrated HNO3 according to the ASTM from the household collection to the ultimate disposal. Further, the
standard method D5198-09 (ASTM 2003) (Method A). information from the preliminary survey was supplemented with
that obtained from MCJ.

Geotechnical Characterization of MSW

The geotechnical properties of MSW must be determined for the
design and maintenance of landfills. The specific gravity of
the samples was determined in accordance with ASTM D854
(ASTM 2006a). Average moisture content and average specific
gravity were used to calculate void ratio, unit weight, and degree
of saturation (Venkatramaiah 1993). The coefficient of permeability
of solid waste samples was determined by using constant head
method [ASTM D 2434-68 (ASTM 2006b)]. It was reported in
cm at 27°C.
Field capacity (moisture content beyond which the waste will
not hold water against the pull of gravity) determination—
undisturbed samples (7.0 kg) of 17 cm in diameter and 40 cm in
height in a cylinder were first saturated with water and then left to
drain until the drainage ceased. Field capacity was determined by
using the following equation (Hernandez-Berriel et al. 2008):
ΔFSW ¼ W SW þ W A − W L ð1Þ
where ΔFSW = solid waste field capacity; W SW = initial moisture
content of the refuse; W A = added water; and W L = percolated
water.
Field capacity determination of each MSW was carried out in
duplicate and an average value of field capacity was reported.
Leachate Characterization
The leachate samples were collected at the base of the dump site
randomly from three different locations and were mixed before its
analysis. Leachate samples were analyzed for pH, electrical
conductivity (EC), total solid (TS), total dissolved solid (TDS),
chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand
Results and Discussion
Details Regarding Physical and Chemical
Characteristics of MSW
The mean values of physical constituents of MSW samples col-
lected from Wariana dump site are presented in Table 1. A majority
of constituents of MSW were biodegradables and inerts. Physical
characterization of the waste indicated that approximately 24–41%
of biodegradables, including mainly fruits and vegetables, were
generated by the different socioeconomic groups in the city. The
MSW collected from slums and areas belonging to low-income
groups contained maximum organic fraction. The MSW contained
approximately 21–33% of inert fraction. The inerts, including sand,
silt, dust, grit, and ash were found high because of practice of
insertion of street sweepings and mixing of some amount of con-
struction debris in MSW. Slums and low income group made major
contribution of inerts to MSW. Unpaved roads in the city add up
inerts to the MSW. The presence of inert fraction increases the
density and decreases the calorific value of the refuse. Commercial
establishments, institutes, and high income groups were major con-
tributors of paper and plastic fractions in the waste. The amounts of
paper, plastic, rubber, and glass were low (approximately 10%), as
compared to composting and inert fractions caused by rag picking
activity at the generation and collection points. These fractions are
picked up from the waste for the purpose of large-scale recycling of
these items. The average contribution of rags and torn fabrics to
MSW was approximately 12%, which could be attributed to good
economic conditions of the residents in the city. Both low- and
high-income groups made substantial contribution of rags and torn
fabrics to waste. The quantities of metal and wooden fractions were

Table 1. Physical Composition of the MSW in Percentage

High income Middle income Low income
Components Commercial Slums group group group Institute Average
Density of total waste (kg=m3 ) 390ð
5.7Þ 415ð
7.6Þ 376ð
2.4Þ 386ð
3.67Þ 408ð
8.7Þ 360ð
3.4Þ 389ð
5.24Þ
Compostable 33ð
1.4Þ 41ð
3.76Þ 34ð
3.28Þ 35ð
2.76Þ 40ð
2.9Þ 24ð4.76Þ 35ð
3.14Þ
Paper/cardboard 2.5ð
2.28Þ 1.3ð
1.08Þ 4.0ð
1.8Þ 3.0ð
1.7Þ 3.2ð
2.28Þ 5.0ð
2.0Þ 3.2ð
1.85Þ
Plastic/Polythene 9.0ð
2.08Þ 3.0ð
2Þ 8.0ð
2.48Þ 5.0ð
0.76Þ 4.0ð
1.16Þ 10ð
3.44Þ 6.5ð
1.98Þ
Glass 0.1ð
0.03Þ 0.1ð
0.02Þ 0.2ð
0.15Þ 0.1ð
0.03Þ 0.2ð
0.2Þ 0.8ð
0.76Þ 0.2ð
0.19Þ
Rubber/Leather 0.2ð
0.15Þ 0.9ð
1.76Þ 0.3ð
0.88Þ 0.5ð
1.28Þ 0.6ð
1.43Þ 0.8ð
1.75Þ 0.5ð
1.20Þ
Rags 12ð
1.58Þ 15ð
5.26Þ 15ð
4.10Þ 12ð
1.34Þ 13ð
2.4Þ 7.0ð
2.2Þ 12.3ð
4.86Þ
Metals 0.2ð
0.44Þ 0.1ð
0.03Þ 0.2ð
0.45Þ 0.1ð
0.07Þ 0.1ð
1.2Þ 0.1ð
1.7Þ 0.1ð
0.64Þ
Wooden matter 0.5ð
0.89Þ 0.9ð
1.74Þ 2.5ð
1.8Þ 2.3ð
2.1Þ 2.6ð
1.7Þ 2.9ð
2.5Þ 2.0ð
2.12Þ
Inerts 30ð
9.21Þ 30ð
14.66Þ 21ð
9.53Þ 29ð
6.73Þ 33ð
7.65Þ 24.3ð5.89Þ 28ð
8.9Þ
Othersa 12.4ð
1.4Þ 7.6ð
2.76Þ 14.7ð
5.74Þ 12.8ð
1.56Þ 3.2ð
3.36Þ 25ð
12.6Þb 12.4ð
4.57Þ
Note: Number in parentheses is standard deviation.
a
Include dry leaves, foam, straw/hay, thermocole, coconut and others.
b
Approximately 22% dry leaves.

JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE © ASCE / APRIL 2013 / 99

J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste 2013.17:97-106.

 Table 2. Seasonal Variation of MSW Components in Percentage
Fraction Winter Spring Summer Autumn
Compostable matter 27ð
6.9Þ 32ð
3.5Þ 38ð
5.5Þ 33ð
2.3Þ
Paper/cardboard 5.1ð
2.76Þ 3.9ð
2.4Þ 2.2ð
1.8Þ 3.5ð
1.5Þ
Plastic/polythene 6.0ð
2Þ 6.0ð
0.89Þ 7.5ð
1.2Þ 4.5ð
1.6Þ
Glass 0.1ð
0.09Þ 0.1ð
0.018Þ 0.3ð
0.4Þ 0.1ð
0.032Þ
Rubber/leather 0.5ð
0.16Þ 0.3ð
0.07Þ 0.5ð
0.26Þ 0.4ð
0.45Þ
Rags 11.4ð
2.26Þ 12.0ð
2.28Þ 11.3ð
3.36Þ 8.4ð
1.8Þ
Metals 0.1ð
0.035Þ 0.1ð
0.017Þ 0.1ð
0.04Þ 0.8ð
0.1Þ
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology D A V I E T on 04/11/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

Wooden matter 1.8ð
2.5Þ 2.9ð
1.5Þ 1.5ð
0.98Þ 1.2ð
2Þ

Inerts 38ð
6.7Þ 31ð
4.0Þ 31.5ð
5.2Þ 28ð
5.7Þ
Others 10ð
3.44Þ 11.7ð
1.56Þ 7.5ð
5.17Þ 20ð
5.0Þ
Note: Number in parentheses is standard deviation.

less in waste owing to their segregation and sale at the house-
hold level.
The seasonal variation in physical components (mean values) of
MSW is presented in Table 2. The seasonal variation possibly arises
because of climate change and cultural and religious events. In an
attempt to characterize seasonal variation of MSW composition, it
was found that except for compostable matter, inerts, and plastics,
there was no significant variation observed in the other components
of MSW. Compostable matter was significantly higher in the
summer season (38%) than the winter season (27%), which was
likely a result of more consumption of fruits and vegetables in
summer. Burning of coal, wood, and other combustible materials
might have increased inert fraction by 5–10% during the winter sea-
son, as compared to other seasons. The use of plastic bottles and
glasses in the summer season could be a reason for the higher frac-
tion of plastics during the summer season (1.5–3.0% higher than
other seasons). During the autumn season, the contribution of dry
leaves to MSW was observed to be more than 15%. The grada-
tion of MSW samples for Jalandhar city is presented in Table 3.
Table 3. Particle Gradation of MSW Samples
Component Size range (mm)
Food 50–150
Paper and cardboard more than 200
Plastic more than 100
Glass 50–150
Rubber 100–150
Rags 100–200
Ash and dust 20–50
The size distribution of MSW samples indicates that approximately
5, 5, 35, 20, and 25% of the MSW retained on 200, 150, 100, 50, and
20-mm sieves, respectively. The percent fines passing through the
20-mm sieve were 10% approximately. Particle size distribution
can be considered an important parameter during the biodegradation
of MSW. The breakdown of large pieces of paper, cardboard,
food, and yard waste in MSW becomes slow if not reduced to a
smaller size. Reducing particle size increases surface area, enhanc-
ing composting/degradation rates of organic materials. Reducing
particle size also reduces the pore size thus, limiting the movement
of oxygen, which may be beneficial for anaerobic decomposition
but not for aerobic composting. For any composting system, there
is an optimum range of particle sizes, and for MSW, the optimum
range of particle size usually lies between 12–50-mm diameters.
As indicated in Table 3, particle size reduction of food and paper
fractions could be considered for enhancing rate of biodegradation
of MSW in both composting and anaerobic digestion.
The awareness of chemical characteristics of waste helps in de-
ciding and setting up a good waste processing and disposal facility
in the city and in determination of efficiency of a waste treatment
process. The results of proximate and ultimate analysis of MSW are
presented in Table 4. Wet moisture content of MSW was observed
between 27–35%. The waste collected from slums and low income
communities hold maximum moisture because of the presence of a
higher percentage of organics. The mineral matter suggested a good
level of minerals in the waste. The C/N ratio was varying from
22–26 for the compostable fraction of MSW. The C/N ratio and
moisture content of waste were found in the optimum range for
composting. Sulfur and nitrogen constituted approximately 2%
of the elemental composition of the waste. Calorific value was

Table 4. Chemical Characteristics of the MSW

High income Middle income Low income
Parameters Units Commercial Slums group group group Institute Average
Proximate analysis
Moisture content % by wet weight 30.1ð
5.12Þ 34.4ð
5.66Þ 27.1ð
4.80Þ 28.5ð
4.88Þ 32.3ð
7.00Þ 25.8ð
2.34Þ 30.0ð
5.06Þ
Volatile matter % by dry weight 19.3ð
4.54Þ 19.2ð
5.00Þ 25.8ð
4.60Þ 19.2ð
4.01Þ 18.9ð
6.58Þ 20.4ð
2.0Þ 20.4ð
4.45Þ
Ash content % by dry weight 42.8ð
7.60Þ 38.1ð
12.0Þ 40.2ð
4.30Þ 45.1ð
4.65Þ 40.7ð
8.03Þ 47.1ð
5.76Þ 42.0ð
7.05Þ
Fixed carbon % by dry weight 7.8ð
4.60Þ 8.3ð
4.98Þ 6.9ð
4.56Þ 7.2ð
4.0Þ 8.1ð
6.12Þ 6.7ð
1.80Þ 7.5ð
4.34Þ
Calorific value kJ=kg 4;191ð
121.6Þ 3;956ð
234Þ 4;521ð
154.4Þ 4;249ð
145.8Þ 4;182ð
250.9Þ 4;517ð
54.78Þ 4;270ð
160.2Þ
Ultimate analysis
Carbon % by dry weight 28.0ð
2.30Þ 30.0ð
3.61Þ 27.1ð
4.32Þ 27.5ð
0.66Þ 29.8ð
2.56Þ 26.8ð
4.32Þ 28.2ð
3.28Þ
Hydrogen % by dry weight 3.56ð
1.34Þ 4.98ð
3.76Þ 3.04ð
0.56Þ 3.45ð
1.67Þ 4.49ð
2.45Þ 3.10ð
2.31Þ 3.77ð
2.25Þ
Sulphur % by dry weight 0.62ð
0.08Þ 0.71ð
0.50Þ 0.69ð
0.70Þ 0.59ð
0.12Þ 0.61ð
0.05Þ 0.56ð
0.06Þ 0.63ð
0.65Þ
Nitrogen % by dry weight 1.04ð
1.45Þ 1.32ð
0.89Þ 1.21ð
0.67Þ 1.09ð
1.50Þ 1.25ð
1.0Þ 1.06ð
0.04Þ 1.16ð
1.12Þ
Oxygen % by dry weight 19.68ð
1.58Þ 20.9ð
5.26Þ 17.1ð
6.43Þ 17.6ð
2.34Þ 19.0ð
4.12Þ 16.5ð
5.79Þ 18.4ð
7.45Þ
Mineral matter % by dry weight 47.1ð
6.22Þ 42.09ð
7.43Þ 44.3ð
7.87Þ 49.7ð
8.40Þ 44.8ð
2.34Þ 51.9ð
5.67Þ 46.0ð
6.89Þ
C/N ratio 26.9 22.7 24.8 25.2 23.8 25.2 24.3
Note: Number in parentheses is standard deviation.

100 / JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE © ASCE / APRIL 2013

J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste 2013.17:97-106.

 Table 5. Heavy Metals in the MSW
Heavy metal Units Commercial Slums High income group
Iron mg=kg 1064ð
65.9Þ 1056ð
70.6Þ 1089ð
89.0Þ
Copper mg=kg 20.26ð
6.78Þ 19.08ð
8.87Þ 8.9ð
12.5Þ
Lead mg=kg 9.38ð
2.34Þ 10.3ð
3.56Þ 12.6ð
1.09Þ
Nickel mg=kg 5.06ð
0.78Þ 5.15ð
0.32Þ 5.45ð
1.15Þ
Manganese mg=kg 13.06ð
1.56Þ 14.7ð
5.23Þ 15.4ð
1.16Þ
Zinc mg=kg 31.08ð
9.32Þ 29.5ð
5.67Þ 25.4ð
6.38Þ
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology D A V I E T on 04/11/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.
Note: Number in parentheses is standard deviation.
found to be low (3956–4521 kJ=kg) because of the lesser amount
of paper and plastic and high quantity of inert material, making it
incompatible for incineration. The ash content of MSW was found
to be quite high because of the presence of a large amount of inert
matter in the waste samples. Density plays a very important role
when deciding for storage, collection, transportation of waste,
and in designing of sanitary and bioreactor landfills. The bulk
density of MSW (average 389 kg=m3 ) was high because of a
higher percentage of compostable and inert fractions in the city
waste. The concentrations of Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni),
Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), and Manganese (Mn) for MSW, as
shown in Table 5, were within the range of the Indian compost stan-
dard of Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules
(MoEF 2000) and of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA) standard (USEPA 1986). Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic
(As) were found to be absent in all MSW samples.
For Indian cities having a population of 1–2 million, various
constituents of MSW, such as compostable matter, recyclables,
C/N ratio, calorific value, and moisture content were in the range
of 39–54%; 9–25%; 18–52; 2;177–10;714 kJ=kg; and 25–65%, re-
spectively (Kumar et al. 2009).
In the present study, various constituents of MSW, such as
compostable matter, recyclables, C/N ratio, calorific value, and
moisture content, were observed to be in the range of 19–36%;
3.5–15.4%; 18.3–20.5; 3;956–4;521 kJ=kg; and 28.5–34.4%,
respectively. However, the compostable fraction of MSW was
observed to be lower than that of Kumar et al. (2009).
The MSW characterization reported by the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) (2006) for two major cities of Punjab,
Amritsar (compostable fraction 50% and inert fraction 30%) and
Ludhiana (compostable matter 40% and inert fraction 30%) rein-
forced the conclusion that all the major cities of the state were
expected to contain a maximum amount of compostable waste
and inerts. Hence, for the state of Punjab, composting, biometha-
nation, and RDF can be considered as the best options for the
biodegradable fraction after segregating recyclables and inerts.
The other option can be to operate sanitary landfills as bioreactors
by recirculating leachate and other liquids because they are the
desired replacement of the conventional landfills to facilitate faster
degradation and earlier attenuation of toxic compounds present in
the waste.
Details Regarding Geotechnical Characteristics of
the Waste
The complete characterization of engineering properties sometimes
becomes difficult because of the heterogeneous nature of MSW.
However, the respective ranges of these properties must be known
to understand the fundamental behavior of waste in landfills,
for assessment of landfill stability and integrity of liner systems.
Geotechnical properties of the waste affect waste degradation,
leachate distribution, and the overall stability of landfills. Some
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE © ASCE / APRIL 2013 / 101
J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste 2013.17:97-106.
Middle income group Low income group Institute Average
1090ð
75.4Þ 1109ð
90.0Þ 1080ð
40.6Þ 1081ð
71.6Þ
19.9ð
6.54Þ 23.6ð
4.53Þ 19.1ð
4.50Þ 20.2ð
7.28Þ
14.5ð
3.67Þ 14.9ð
4.56Þ 12.7ð
5.89Þ 12.3ð
3.51Þ
5.7ð
0.98Þ 5.9ð
0.56Þ 5.4ð
1.89Þ 5.44ð
0.94Þ
15.9ð
0.98Þ 16.3ð
4.79Þ 14.6ð
5.89Þ 14.9ð
3.26Þ
25.4ð
6.01Þ 24.8ð
10.9Þ 28.9ð
4.32Þ 27.5ð
7.1Þ
Table 6. Geotechnical Properties of MSW
Parameters Values
Moisture content (v=v) 0.42ð
0.2Þ
Specific gravity 1.10ð
0.055Þ
Wet unit weight (kN=m3 ) 9.5ð
2.5Þ
Degree of saturation (%) 80ð
7.6Þ
Coefficient of permeability (cm=s) 2.0 × 10−3 –5.0 × 10−3
Note: Number in parentheses is standard deviation.
of the geotechnical properties of the city waste (average values)
are presented in Table 6. The wet unit weight of MSW was
9.5 kN=m3 for the city waste. The strength of landfill liner in a
sanitary landfill is a function of the effective overburden stress,
which is directly dependent on the MSW unit weight. Yu et al.
(2011) reported that the unit weight also affects the capacity evalu-
ation of a landfill. The average value of field capacity was deter-
mined to be 0.42 for MSW. Knowledge of field capacity of the
waste is essential for implementing control over landfill moisture
content, especially in bioreactor landfills. The moisture content of
MSW was found to be below its field capacity value. Bioreactor
landfills are operated by holding the waste close to its field capac-
ity. The MSW would require absorbing additional liquids to reach
its field capacity for bioreactor operation. The approximate water/
leachate requirement would be an additional 150 L of liquid per t of
the city waste to reach the target moisture content of 40% from the
initial 30% [Bioreactor Landfill Operation (BLO) 2008]. The value
of degree of saturation of the waste implies its scope for further
saturation, a prerequisite for bioreactor technology. Permeability
is an important parameter during the design of leachate collection
and recirculation system in bioreactor landfills. Although the co-
efficient of permeability varies with compaction and degradation
of waste, the initial knowledge of permeability of waste could be
helpful in deciding about porosity of waste samples. The high value
of coefficient of permeability (approximately 3.0 × 103 cm=s)
for the city waste suggests the waste samples to be pervious and
suitable for applying bioreactor technology.
Present Scenario of Waste Management Practices
in Jalandhar City
Street Sweeping and Collection Points
The sanitary workers of MCJ collect waste during street sweeping
and dump it to the nearest collection point. Approximately 75
collection points or temporary waste storage depots exist in the
city. Collection points are either open spaces without any bounda-
ries or metallic containers/bins (open and closed). Containers
are not placed on the paved surface, resulting in generation of
additional quantity of inert material along with the collection of
spillages. At a number of places, these bins are found overflowing
 or underutilized. The location of these bins is not properly sited.
Garden and park waste is collected separately by MCJ for compost-
ing in the city.
Secondary Collection/Transportation
In the city, bins are emptied by collection vehicles daily, except on
Sundays and national holidays. The MSW transportation is done
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology D A V I E T on 04/11/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.
intermittently, by mechanized systems using auto tippers, tipper
trucks, dual dumper placers, and tractors. Most of the waste loading
is done manually. In congested areas, three wheelers are used for
waste collection. Survey on the total waste collected in the city re-
veals approximately 400 t of waste is collected by the municipality
in a day. There are two vehicle garages at the opposite ends of the
city from where the vehicles operate for garbage collection. Regular
servicing and maintenance of vehicles is done with the help of
private contractors.
Final Disposal of MSW
Jalandhar city does not have any sanitary landfill for final disposal
of the waste. In the Jalandhar Municipal limit, the collected MSW
is disposed off at village Wariana. The total area of the site is
0.057 km2 , and the same site has been used for the last 50 years.
Approximately 400 t per day waste is deposited at the site by MCJ.
Mixed MSW is dumped in heaps without proper spreading and
compaction, which causes a foul smell and unhygienic conditions.
The MSW is dumped at the site without following any segregation
and applying daily soil covers. There is no provision for leachate
collection by MCJ at the site, so it may easily ooze into pervious
soil and underground water. The physiochemical characteristics of
landfill leachate samples collected from the dump site are presented
in Table 7. The relatively high values of physiochemical character-
istics of leachate samples indicate high concentrations of organic
and inorganic chemicals, including heavy metals. In a study con-
ducted by Bhalla et al. (2011) at the dump site, parameters repre-
senting the physiochemical characteristics of groundwater samples
are also found to be more than permissible limits. The BOD, COD,
and heavy metal concentrations are continuously increasing in
ground water with the passage of time at the site (Bhalla et al.
2011). Until now, the effects of open dumping on the water resour-
ces and on the surrounding environment are completely ignored.
The site is already filled to its full capacity. The incoming daily
waste is just piled up to the already existing mountains of the
waste.
Table 7. Physiochemical Characteristics of Leachate from the Wariana
Dump Site
Parameters Concentration
pH 6.8ð
0.26Þ
Total solid(mg=L) 24;300ð
1;224Þ
TDSðmg=LÞ 20;189ð
988Þ
Electrical Conductivity(μS=cm) 17;567ð
896Þ
BODðmg=LÞ (5 days at 27°C) 15;000ð
2;098Þ
CODðmg=LÞ 23;009ð
4;325Þ
Chloride(mg=L) 1;453ð
487Þ
NH4 − Nðmg=LÞ 2;343ð
546Þ
Feðmg=LÞ 50.6ð
13.2Þ
Pbðmg=LÞ 1.9ð
1.09Þ
Cuðmg=LÞ 0.98ð
0.34Þ
Niðmg=LÞ 0.45ð
0.09Þ
Note: Number in parentheses is standard deviation.
102 / JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE © ASCE / APRIL 2013
J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste 2013.17:97-106.
Waste Processing Techniques in the City
Composting
Jalandhar city was the first in Punjab to initiate its composting plant
in 1999, even before the implementation of Municipal Solid Waste
(Management and Handling) Rules (MoEF 2000). A compost plant
of 300 t per day capacity has been set up by Punjab Grow More
Fertilizer Limited adjacent to the dump site. The compost plant is
partly operational. At present, this plant utilizes 30% of the total
quantity of garbage that it treats and produces compost. As high
ambient temperatures are available in the city, composting in open
windrows is preferred. The composting process involves aerobic
decomposition of biodegradable contents of MSW. Standards for
composting mentioned under Schedule IV in the Municipal Solid
Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules (MoEF 2000) consider
waste segregation as a prerequisite for effective composting but
complied in very few municipalities (Saha et al. 2010). Also in
Jalandhar city, the mixed waste is composted without any segrega-
tion. Leachate generated during windrowing process is collected
and disposed off by the MCJ.
Recycling
Approximately 50% of the waste, including paper, plastics, and fer-
rous and nonferrous metals, is recycled in the city. The percentage
of plastic recycling is much higher in India (approximately 40%)
than the developed nations (10–15%) (Mutha et al. 2006). The re-
covery rate of paper is 14%, as compared to the global recovery
rate, which is approximately 37% (Van Beukering and Buuman
2001). Almost similar trends have been observed in the city for
paper and plastic. Plastic recovery and recycling rate is much
higher than paper. The municipality is not involved in the recovery
of waste for recycling itself. For recycling, materials are either
directly sold to the junk dealer by households and/or collected
by rag pickers. Exact information is not available because of the
lack of records available with privately owned recycling businesses.
Contribution of the informal sector to the waste management is
difficult to quantify. It functions as an unorganized sector.
Incineration/Waste Burning
As such, MCJ is not involved in incineration of waste because of
its less calorific value, higher moisture content, and significant
amount of inerts. Municipal Waste in India has an average calorific
value of approximately 3;349 kJ=kg (Zhu et al. 2008). For combus-
tion technologies to succeed, they would need approximately
8;734–12;561 kJ=kg; otherwise, auxiliary fuel has to be added.
This makes the process more uneconomical and polluting than it
already is. Another major problem is the high percentage of abra-
sive road-dust and ash in MSW that interferes with combustion.
Waste burning has been observed at the household level, particu-
larly by the people residing in slum areas and at the secondary
collection points also.
Compliance with Municipal Solid Waste
(Management and Handling) Rules (MoEF 2000)
The present status of MSW management system of Jalandhar city
reveals that the existing MSW management system is in the primi-
tive stage, and manual handling of waste is practiced from primary
collection to final disposal of waste. Unscientific and unhygienic
practices, like littering of waste, no proper segregation, transporta-
tion in open vehicles, burning of waste, dumping of mixed waste,
 and open dumping are prevalent in the city. The existing vehicles,
tools, equipment, and available manpower in the city are insuffi-
cient to handle the waste generated in the city. The present practices
of MSW management in Jalandhar city does not comply with
Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules (MoEF
2000) in any aspect from collection to final disposal of waste.
The public participation in MSW management is scanty in the
city, which is an underlying principle of Municipal Solid Waste
(Management and Handling) Rules (MoEF 2000).
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology D A V I E T on 04/11/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.
Integrated MSW Management Facility for the City
There seems to be an urgent need for the development of a scien-
tific MSW management system in the city in compliance with
the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules
(MoEF 2000).
The Ministry of Local Bodies, Government of Punjab plans to
implement an integrated MSW management facility for Jalandhar
cluster comprising of Jalandhar city and 25 other urban local
bodies. The facility will comprise of a MSW processing facility at
Jamsher village in Jalandhar district for processing the MSW from
Jalandhar city and other ULBs.
The MSW processing plant will consist of an RDF plant, bio-
methanation plant, power plant (optional), and composting facility
(Fig. 1). Characterization of city waste indicated biodegradables as
a major fraction of MSW. At present, MSW rules prohibit the land-
filling of biodegradable waste. Therefore RDF, biomethanation,
and composting seem to be perfect choices for the processing of
a biodegradable fraction of MSW. Further, sanitary landfills would
be planned at Hoshiarpur and Begowal for the safe disposal of
processing rejects and also inerts, which form a considerable part
of the city waste.
Fig. 1. Schematic of the proposed integrated MSW management project for Jalandhar
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE © ASCE / APRIL 2013 / 103
J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste 2013.17:97-106.
The plant will be designed to process 700 TPD of mixed MSW
and is expected to generate around 260 TPD of RDF in the form
of fluff. The MSW, after drying and separation of noncombustible
and recyclable fraction and after conversion to RDF, will possess
an average gross calorific value (GCV) of 10;000 kJ=kg. The
conversion process of MSW into RDF will involve the processes,
such as homogenization, size reduction, drying, segregation, and
densification.
The plant will also be designed to process 50 TPD of green
waste for producing biogas and manure in a biomethanation plant.
Approximately 50 TPD of segregated organics in the city can gen-
erate 50–55 m3 of biogas per t (which equates to 0.60 m3 of biogas
per kg of volatile solids reduction). The biogas generation is
expected to be approximately 2;750–3;000 Nm3 =day, and manure
quantity is expected to be approximately 6-7 TPD.
The RDF fluff and biogas will be available for firing in a spe-
cially designed boiler to generate high pressure/high temperature
steam. The steam generated from the boiler is expected to generate
approximately 6 MW of power that will be exported to the Punjab
State Electricity Board (PSEB).
Suggestions and Recommendations
Currently, there are no waste treatment facilities present in
Jalandhar, except for a partially functional compost plant. At present,
waste management simply is a linear system of collection and disposal
without any source segregation, creating health and environmental
hazards. There is an urgent need to develop a comprehensive MSW
management system on the basis of the cradle-to-cradle approach.
The MSW management is a complex task, the success of which is
mainly governed through a combination of community support
and suitable choice of waste processing facilities.
 Waste Segregation
Physical characterization of the city waste indicates that MSW is
largely a mixture of biodegradables and inert fraction. Segregation
of waste at source is key to the success of all options and technol-
ogies available for processing of waste; either waste to compost or
waste to energy transformation.
• The foremost step is to educate and encourage the waste gen-
erators for source segregation by keeping separate bins for
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology D A V I E T on 04/11/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.
biodegradable and nonbiodegradable waste/recyclables.
• Additionally, the mixing of inerts with MSW needs to be
avoided because they are otherwise very difficult to separate
because of their smaller particle size. Inert fraction containing
C & D waste, drain silt, dust, and grit makes approximately one-
third of the MSW generated in the city. Inert fraction needs to be
focused on in view of its bulk, which is carried over long dis-
tances just for dumping, occupying large space in landfill sites,
and its presence generally spoils processing of biodegradables
and recyclables. The street sweepings and construction debris
must be strictly prohibited for mixing with MSW. Separate con-
tainers need to be kept at each collection point to ensure seg-
regated storage of organic matter collected from households
and sweepings collected by street sweepers. The inerts may
be used as either daily covers at lined or unlined landfills or
disposed at permitted solid waste landfill.
Containers/Bins/Collection Points
Physical characterization of MSW indicates that MSW is collected
in the city without any segregation of organic fraction from inerts
and recyclables. Upgrading collection facilities in the city will ul-
timately improve the characteristics of waste, which are essential
for the success of different waste processing technologies.
• Each collection point must consist of at least three containers
allocated for organics, inerts, and recyclables. The containers
need to be marked adequately in varying colors to facilitate
people’s identification of the container allocated for a specific
waste material. The storage containers must be placed on
cement flooring and fenced to control the entry of stray animals.
• The capacities of bins/containers need to be predicted by the mu-
nicipality on the basis of population and the waste generation rate
of the area. The density of waste is approximately 390 kg=m3.
So containers of 1 m3 volume are required per 390 kg of waste.
The containers of at least twice the capacity may be placed at
such locations to prevent overflow of bins [Central Public Health
and Environmental Engineering Organization (CPHEEO) 2000].
According to a survey done in the city and the information ob-
tained from MCJ, it is found that containers of approximately
900 m3 volume are available, whereas the requirement is ap-
proximately 1;230 m3 for 480 t of waste per day. Further, if the
aim is to make 100% additional capacity to avoid the overflow,
then the extra volume of approximately 1;560 m3 is required to
be created that shall include approximately 30% volume for
organic waste, 35% for inerts, and 10% for recyclables, as
indicated by physical characterization of MSW.
Waste Processing Facilities
The suitable processing technology must be selected on the basis of
waste quality and quantity, economy, environment impact, and cost
of end products.
• When considering proposals to construct new waste disposal
facilities, in the present scenario, consideration should be given
to alternatives, such as activities to minimize the generation of
municipal waste, including resource recovery, reuse, recycling,
104 / JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE © ASCE / APRIL 2013
J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste 2013.17:97-106.
waste separation, and promoting products that generate less
waste rather than adopting expensive technologies.
• Although, the most attractive features of the incineration process
are that it can be used to reduce the original volume of combus-
tibles by 80–95%. However, air pollution control remains a ma-
jor problem in the implementation of incineration of solid waste
disposal. The enormous cost of pollution-prevention equipment,
both for installation and for proper operation, is quite high
for incineration. In developing countries, the poor preventive
maintenance of any high-tech or even low-tech equipment dis-
courages the utilization of incineration for waste processing.
• The CPHEEO (2000) recommends mechanical composting and
vermi composting for processing the waste for cities whose
daily waste generation varies between 50–500 t. Apart from the
composting plant, educational institutes and city people need to
be encouraged for low-cost but small scale vermi composting
plants, including effective vermin technologies.
• As most of the organic waste is already on the way to landfilling,
another operational strategy can be utilized by improving hy-
draulic conditions in the landfills called bioreactor technology.
The purpose is to enhance the moisture content to degrade the
biodegradable organic fraction of waste at faster rate, generate
maximum gas in a shorter time period and ultimately decrease
the pollution load for future generations. Recovery of landfill
space as a result of enhanced subsidence and decomposition
of the solid waste will be another benefit. Moisture content
can be enhanced by the direct addition of liquids or recirculation
of collected leachate in the landfills. Physical and geotechnical
characterization of the city waste confirmed its suitability for
applying bioreactor technology. At present, MSW rules prohibit
the landfilling of biodegradable waste. However, in the future,
modification of the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and
Handling) Rules (MoEF 2000) may be required before introdu-
cing bioreactor concept in India at full scale.
Community Participation
Community participation must be the key ingredient of integrated
waste management plans for a densely populated city. In develop-
ing countries, creating awareness among residents about waste and
its management could be a real challenge for municipal authorities.
• To encourage the citizens, municipal authority shall organize
awareness programs for waste minimization, segregation of
wastes, and shall promote recycling or reuse of segregated
materials.
• The continuous public awareness campaigns based on infor-
mation, education, and communication strategy may be an
important step to motivate and engage the public in waste
management issues. The awareness programs comprise of
public rallies, meetings, distribution of pamphlets, street plays,
and advertisements.
• Requests and information regarding public participation must be
displayed by using hoardings at public places and on public
transportation systems. Short trainings on waste management
issues to corporation workers, zonal officers, revenue officers,
technical staff, teachers, and school children must be given.
• The municipal authority shall undertake phased programs
to ensure community participation in waste segregation. For
this purpose, regular meetings at quarterly intervals may be
arranged by the municipal authorities with representatives
of local resident welfare associations and nongovernmental
organizations. The NGOs and women associations can play
a vital role in communicating and guiding the public on waste
management issues.
 Environmental standards lacking at the waste disposal site
should be well thought-out and improved to protect its ill effects
on the residents and crop fields near the disposal site. Control
of leachate and gases must be considered urgently to protect ground
water, soil, and air at the site. Up gradation of the existing dump site
must be initialized immediately rather than waiting for new sanitary
landfill. Compaction of the waste, application of daily soil covers,
and leachate collection through drains should be the first step
towards improvement of the existing waste site.
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology D A V I E T on 04/11/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.
Summary and Conclusions
This study provides an opportunity to local decision makers to
choose the best technologies for the processing of Jalandhar city
waste on the basis of detailed characterization of MSW. In addition,
the important strategies for waste handling and disposal, which ul-
timately improves MSW characteristics for different waste process-
ing facilities, are also discussed. Physical characterization of the
city waste indicates that MSW is rich in biodegradables and inerts.
Significant seasonal variation in compostable matter is observed
during summer and winter seasons in the city. Inert fraction needs
to be focused on in view of its presence, which generally spoils
processing of biodegradables and recyclables. Inert fractions, in-
cluding street sweepings and C & D waste, need to be strictly
prohibited from mixing with MSW. At the present juncture, com-
posting, RDF, biomethanation of biodegradable waste, and disposal
of rejects and inerts at the landfill sites seem suitable waste process-
ing technologies for the city. Physical and geotechnical characteri-
zation of the city waste also confirms its suitability for applying
bioreactor technology. In the present state, the composition and
characteristics of MSW discourage the utilization of incineration
for waste processing.
Increasing waste generation and shortage of land to manage it in
the city will demand best strategies for waste management in the
future. Although community and private sector participation is
important, it essentially has to be managed by the municipality
to a great extent. Efficient planning at the level of municipality will
ensure improvement in sanitary conditions and also inspire resi-
dents to cooperate in this mission in their best interest. This work
could be considered a first step in implementing sustainable waste
management planning in Jalandhar City. The Jalandhar City has a
long way to go in improving its waste management practices.
Therefore, a considerable amount of effort is required by the MCJ
and public to obtain significant results in this direction. Segregation
of waste at the source must be considered for the success of waste
management system and technologies mentioned previously for the
processing of waste; either waste to compost or waste to energy
transformation.
Simply because societies will continue to generate an increasing
amount of trash because of increasing populations and the growing
demands of modern society, the sustainable waste management
may always remain an issue. Working together through waste
minimization, source segregation, biomethanation, composting,
and recycling could provide possible long-term solutions to de-
creasing the amount of waste that is produced and ultimately placed
in landfills.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to officials from Municipal Corporation
Jalandhar for providing data and information as required by the
authors. The cooperation and help extended by the workers at
the dump site is also acknowledged.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE © ASCE / APRIL 2013 / 105
J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste 2013.17:97-106.
References
3iNetwork. (2009). “India infrastructure report 2009.” 〈http://www.iitk.ac
.in/3inetwork/html/reports/IIR2009/IIR_2009_Final_July%2009.pdf〉.
American Public Health Association (APHA). (2005). Standard methods for
the examination of water and wastewater, 21st Ed., Washington, DC.
ASTM. (2002). “Standard practice for ultimate analysis of coal and coke.”
D3176-09, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2003). “Standard practice for nitric acid digestion of solid waste.”
D5198-09, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2004a). “Standard test method for residual moisture in a
refuse-derived fuel analysis sample.” E790, ASTM International,
West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2004b). “Standard test method for ash in the analysis sample of
refuse-derived fuel.” E830, ASTM International, West Conshohocken,
PA.
ASTM. (2004c). “Standard test method for volatile matter in the analysis
sample of refuse-derived fuel.” E897, ASTM International, West
Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2006a). “Standard test methods for specific gravity of soil
solids by water pycnometer.” D854, ASTM International, West
Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2006b). “Standard test method for permeability of granular soils
(constant head).” D2434-68, ASTM International, West Conshohocken,
PA.
ASTM. (2008). “Standard test method for determination of the composition
of unprocessed municipal solid waste.” D5231-92, ASTM International,
West Conshohocken, PA.
Bhalla, G., Kumar, A., and Bansal, A. (2011). “Assessment of groundwater
pollution near municipal solid waste landfill.” Asian J. Water Environ.
Pollut., 8(1), 41–51.
Bioreactor Landfill Operation (BLO). (2008). “Guide for devel-
opment, implementation and monitoring.” Version 1.0, 〈http://www
.bioreactor.org/BioreactorFinalReport/FinalReportVOLUME1_10/
AttachmentforVOLUME8/Bioreactor_Landfill_OperationV10.pdf〉
(Dec. 10, 2011).
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). (2006). “Assessment of status of
municipal solid waste management in metro cities and state capitals.”
Series: WPS/65/2006–07, Ministry of Environment and Forests
(MoEF), Government of India, New Delhi, India.
Central Public Health, and Environmental Engineering Organization
(CPHEEO). (2000). “Manual on municipal solid waste management.”
Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, New Delhi.
Hernandez-Berriel, Ma. C., Marquez-Benavides, L., Gonzales-Perez, D. J.,
and Buenrostro-Delgado, O. (2008). “The effect of moisture regimes on
the anaerobic degradation of municipal solid waste from Metepec
(Mexico).” Waste Manage., 28(Suppl. 1), 14–20.
Kumar, S., Bhattacharya, J. K., Vaidya, A. N., Chakrabarti, T., Devotta, S.,
and Akolkar, A. B. (2009). “Assessment of the status of municipal solid
waste management in metro cities, state cities, class I cities, and class II
towns in India: An insight.” Waste Manage., 29(2), 883–895.
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). (2000). Municipal
solid waste (management and handling) rules, The Gazette of India,
New Delhi, India.
Mutha, N. H., Patel, M., and Premnath, V. (2006). “Plastics materials flow
analysis for India.” Resour. Conserv. Rec., 47(3), 222–244.
Punjab State Council of Science, and Technology (PSCST). (2007). “State
of environment, Punjab- Report.” Energy and Resources Institute
(TERI), New Delhi, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government
of India.
Saha, J. K., Panwar, N., and Singh, M. V. (2010). “An assessment of
municipal solid waste compost quality produced in different cities
of India in the perspective of developing quality control indices.” Waste
Manage., 30(2), 192–201.
Sharholy, M., Ahmad, K., Mahmood, G., and Trivedi, R. C. (2008).
“Municipal solid waste management in Indian cities—A review.” Waste
Manage., 28(2), 459–467.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). (1986). “Multiple
extraction procedure (MEP) test method and structural test methods
 for evaluation of solid waste along with compost and TCLP regulatory
limits.” SW-846 Method 1320, Washington, DC.
Van Beukering, P. J. H., and Buuman, M. N. (2001). “Empirical evidence
on recycling and trade of paper and lead in developed and developing
countries.” World Dev., 29(10), 1717–1737.
Venkatramaiah, C. (1993). Geotechnical engineering, Wiley Eastern,
New Delhi, India.
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology D A V I E T on 04/11/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.
106 / JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS, TOXIC, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE © ASCE / APRIL 2013
View publication stats J. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste 2013.17:97-106.
Yu, L., Batlle, F., and Carrera, I. (2011). “Variations of waste unit weight
during mechanical and degradation processes at landfills.” Waste
Manage. Res., 29(12), 1303–1315.
Zhu, D., Asnani, P. U., Zurbrugg, C., Anapolsky, S., and Mani, S.
(2008). Improving municipal solid waste management in India, A
source book for policymakers and practitioners, The World Bank,
Washington, DC.