A Brief Introduction to

Waste Management
rising quality of life, and high rates of resource consumption
Return to patterns have had a unintended and negative impact on the
Urban Waste urban environment - generation of wastes far beyond the
Contact: Hari Srinivas -
hsrinivas@gdrc.org handling capacities of urban governments and agencies.
Cities are now grappling with the problems of high volumes
of waste, the costs involved, the disposal technologies and
methodologies, and the impact of wastes on the local and
global environment.

But these problems have also provided a window of

opportunity for cities to find solutions - involving the
community and the private sector; involving innovative
technologies and disposal methods; and involving behaviour
changes and awareness raising. These issues have been
amply demonstrated by good practices from many cities
around the world.

There is a need for a complete rethinking of "waste" - to

analyse if waste is indeed waste. A rethinking that calls for

WASTE to become WEALTH

REFUSE to become RESOURCE
TRASH to become CASH *

There is a clear need for the current approach of waste

disposal that is focussed on municipalities and uses high
energy/high technology, to move more towards waste
processing and waste recycling (that involves public-
private partnerships, aiming for eventual waste
minimization - driven at the community level, and using low
energy/low technology resources. Some of the defining
criteria for future waste minimization programmes will
include deeper community participation, understanding
economic benefits/recovery of waste, focusing on life cycles
(rather than end-of-pipe solutions), decentralized
administration of waste, minimizing environmental impacts,
reconciling investment costs with long-term goals.
 * Quote from V. Suresh, HUDCO, India.

Also see:
Waste is an issue in every European country,
and waste quantities are generally
o growing.
Solid Waste Management Framework
Unfortunately, the lack of available and
comparable data for many countries does
not always allow reliable comprehensive
assessment of waste-related issues.
Waste is generated by activities in all
economic sectors and is generally regarded
as an unavoidable by-product of economic
activity (waste gen
Kerala is a state considered to be having a developed modern society. The consumption of more resources
results in the generation of more waste. All types of waste including solid, hazardous and biomedical waste
generation in the state are more compared to other states in the country. There is a series of actions
initiated at National and State level abate the problems arise due to the wastes, particularly the pollution
problem. Solid waste generation is mainly due to industrial and domestic activities. The waste generated
due to industrial activities is of hazardous as well as non-hazardous nature. The solid waste generation due
to domestic sources, the garbage, is very high in the State. The biomedical wastes are generated from all
health care institutions. The responsibility of collection, treatment and safe disposal of all types of solid
wastes rests with the generator. erated from inefficient example

iInaddition to releasing gases and particles into the atmosphere, humans produce waste
that is dumped on the environment. Often, this waste is hazardous and dangerous to both
nature and human life.

The levels of dangerous wastes continue to grow. Industries and individuals continue to
be largely unaware of this major environmental problem.

As a result, many people and industries are failing to prevent the creation of hazardous
waste or to limit the negative effects it produces.

Individuals often throw out goods without realizing that they are headed for a landfill and
could be dangerous for the environment. No matter where people put these hazardous
waste materials, there is always a chance that they could find their way into the ground,
and eventually into our bodies.

Corporations usually want to avoid the costs associated with having to limit creation of
hazardous waste. Consequently, they build landfills on site and fill them with waste, or
sometimes pay to have their waste removed. Often, hazardous materials are transported
to areas that accept money to take the waste.
It may prove very difficult to reduce hazardous waste in the future. Unlike many other
environmental problems, waste creation is something people do not often think about.

In the future, people may have to reduce not only their generation of hazardous waste, but
also their consumption of many products that end up in landfills

Causes of Hazardous waste is produced both on a huge scale by major industries and on a
relatively tiny scale by individuals. No matter where it comes from, waste can be
dangerous.

One of the main causes of the abundance of hazardous waste is that people do not realize
how large a problem it is. Because it can be simply removed and sent to a landfill, it is
often assumed that the problem ends there.

Industries have often displayed an unwillingness to find ways to deal with hazardous
waste because of the expenses associated with it.

Many industries and governments create crude landfills to store waste, and often just
dump waste chemicals into nearby bodies of water.

Chemicals used for industrial processes often create dangerous forms of waste. The
amount of these chemicals has risen heavily in the past, as more areas of the world
industrialize and new products are produced.

Over 80,000 different chemicals are used in industries worldwide. Often, it is difficult
and expensive to get rid of these chemicals and to store them in a way that does not
endanger human life or the environment. Obviously, not all of these chemicals are
dangerous, but many are and they do create serious problems.

Around the world, hundreds of millions of tons of hazardous waste are produced
annually. Rather than cleaning up or storing waste more carefully, one method of
reducing the hazardous waste problem may be to simply stop producing so much of it.

effects

Every year, major health problems result from hazardous waste. Increasing amounts of
hazardous waste have caused increasing health problems.

There are over 80,000 chemicals in existence, and many are used commonly in industrial
processes. Often, these chemicals find themselves in places where they are able to harm
human health.

Insufficient research has been done to provide data on the effects of every chemical.
Because waste chemicals often mix together, it will also be necessary to learn how
combinations of these chemicals affect human health.
To compound the problem created by a lack of knowledge, 1,500 new chemicals are
invented every year and many are introduced into industrial processes.

Though the health problems being created are uncertain, they definitely do exist.

In 1989, a school in New Jersey had to be closed because students there had suffered
excessive exposure to chromium. It was later learned that large amounts of chromium
had been dumped nearby, and had blown over to the school area.

Often, the lack of knowledge and certainty about what chemicals are dangerous reduces
the possibilities of restricting their use.

Sadly, it is often only after someone has died or become seriously ill that governments
will intervene and reduce levels of dumped hazardous waste

Solutions Hazardous waste has created many problems and dangers that have not gone
unnoticed. Despite the fact that the problem receives less attention than many other
environmental threats, some successful solutions to the problem of hazardous have been
suggested and used.

As with air pollution and many other environmental problems, hazardous waste can be
controlled through input and output controls.

The government can increase regulations on the disposal of hazardous waste to ensure
that problems do not occur. It could also limit the amount of waste industries are allowed
to produce, or provide incentives to create less waste.

After hazardous waste has been created, there are several actions that can be taken.
Industries can break down chemical compounds into less dangerous forms, or store waste
in ways that protect the environment from being exposed to the waste.

Not only major industries but individuals as well must form part of the solution. They
can choose not to buy those products which require the production of hazardous waste,
attempt to influence policymakers, and produce less hazardous waste themselves.

Many scientists think that waste production can be cut. Experts say that waste can be
reduced by at least one-third using existing technologies and methods.

Some countries, including many in Europe, are working to reduce waste levels. A great
deal of success is being achieved in eliminating this serious problem.

Non-hazardous waste reported includes mixed or household waste,

packaging waste, compostable waste, and inert waste.

Total amounts of non-hazardous waste not recycled in 2009 were 53kt

(up from 44kt in 2008); an additional 33kt were collected materials
being recycled. Of the non-hazardous waste not being recycled,
disposal routes are treatment (42%), incineration with energy
recovery (18%), incineration without energy recovery (21%), and
disposal in landfills (19%).

The increase of non-hazardous waste not recycled is primarily due to

larger volumes of vaccines production at Vaccines and Diagnostics
sites.

Non-hazardous waste target achievement and outlook

Keeping non-hazardous waste to a minimum and recycling it to a

maximum is a constant challenge. Novartis makes ongoing efforts in
all areas to minimize non-hazardous waste that cannot be recycled at
its operations globally. We are installing waste segregation programs
at many sites that allow better use of recycling routes for materials
such as paper, cardboard, glass and plastics - for example from
packaging, offices and production processes.

A target was set to reduce the per employee efficiency of non-

hazardous waste not being recycled by 20% by 2012, based on 2008
values.

A 15-L anaerobic fixed-film reactor (AFFR) was evaluated for treating a trade effluent
containing inhibitory concentrations of persistent branched-chain fatty acids, namely
2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA) and neopentanoic acid (NPA), at a total of 17,000 mg
COD/L. The AFFR was packed with fire-expanded clay spheres, and start-up was
accomplished in 60 d. The organic load was increased in steps from 1.1 to 8.5 g
COD/L/d. Total COD, 2-EHA, and NPA removal efficiencies were maintained above 70,
98, and 75%, respectively. The reactor could recover from a shock load of 150%
increase in organic load. Combined mechanisms of organic adsorption and
biodegradation rendered the AFFR more stable with shock loads. Mathane gas When
solid waste, from food remnants to chemical by-products from manufacturing, isn't discarded
properly it can have far-reaching consequences for the environment and its natural
vegetation and inhabitants, as well as for public health. Usually proper solid waste
management practices are in place, but particularly in low-income areas or developing
countries, those standards aren't always practiced or, in some cases, are non-existent.

Types

1. The solid waste that can create such a problem falls into nine categories.
There is garbage, which is your rotten banana peel or other food-related
waste that can decompose. Then there's the stuff that doesn't decay, like
glass and metals. Ashes from manufacturing operations and large debris like
trees, as well as chemicals from industrial, mining and agricultural ventures,
are thrown into the mix. As unpleasant as it is, dead animals and sewage are
among the types of waste that those in the disposal business concern
themselves with. Looking at the types of waste, it's easy to see the negative
side effects associated with not discarding it in a responsible manner.

Methods

2. Ninety percent of solid waste goes straight to the landfill. Incineration is

the next most popular method of disposal, followed by composting to a much
lesser extent. The dangers from landfills come into play when the site is in a
place where it shouldn't be--such as near wetlands. The other danger is a
lack of monitoring the site. Usually, standards dictate that a plastic liner or
clay soil be utilized to keep waste from seeping into the groundwater. In the
case of incineration, problems usually arise when toxic materials, like
batteries, aren't set aside and recycled and are instead burned--releasing
pollutants into the air.

Groundwater Contamination

3. If waste isn't discarded properly on land, when it rains the waste is soaked
and is then carried through the landfill, eventually making its way into the
water you may drink. Especially dangerous chemicals are volatile organic
compounds, or VOCs, which usually come from household cleaners and
industrial solvents used in operations like dry cleaning. These compounds
have been linked to everything from cancers to birth defects.

Disease Outbreaks

4. Another danger, especially with open pits, comes from the spread of
diseases--usually carried by rodents and bugs. An example of this is malaria,
which festers in open areas with standing water and particularly hot and
muggy temperatures. In addition, there may be a propensity for people to
scavenge wastes in landfills and open pits, which again can create unsanitary
conditions and aid the spread of disease.

Habitat Destruction

5. Disposal locations may encroach upon existing habitat for native flora and
fauna, especially when sited in areas near wetlands. In some cases, people
have taken steps to reclaim the land by capping the landfill and later
attempting to grow vegetation on it.
 Climate Change

6. As waste begins to break down, methane is produced. Methane is

considered a greenhouse gases that is responsible for some of the spike in
the earth's temperatures.

Air Quality

When wastes are burned, especially toxic chemicals like dioxin, they're released
into the surrounding environment and can then cause serious public he Waste
accumulation is posing a great threat to humanity, with the steady increase in
population, the amount of waste being generated also increases. Large scale use
of plastics and non degradable wastes aid in increase and accumulation of waste
materials, because they do not merge with the harmonious cycle of degradation.
In olden days, people had a life that coincided with nature and produced least
amount of waste. They also did not have the sophistication of technology to
hinder the natural process of degradation .It is a pity that the comfort seeking
present generation have become ill equipped to think about the consequences of
their actions. The risk posed by e- waste, radioactive waste, and sundry wastes
blow up and challenge the peaceful living of human beings.

There are three routes of disposal for waste chemicals:

Management by UOEHSM – You may deliver chemicals to an UOEHSM
House or request a pickup. An “Open House" allows you to bring your waste
to
us in Chemistry A027 during predetermined hours. See the current Open
House
Bulletin for details and times. (A sample Bulletin is provided in Appendix B.)
Disposal of non-hazardous materials into the normal trash or sanitary
sewer; and
Chemical treatment, such as neutralization, followed by disposal into the
sanitary
sewer system. Note: Any treatment method other than neutralization must
be
incorporated into an experimental procedure to be considered legal.
When your surplus chemicals are given to UOEHSM, we first determine
whether the
chemical is indeed a waste, or whether it can be reused or recycled. If it is a
waste, we
determine the degree of hazard and the appropriate disposal route.
Throughout this
process, the university is required to keep records that account for hazardous
wastes
"from cradle to grave."
Most of your waste will likely need to be handled by UOEHSM. Waste that can
go to the
sanitary sewer or be placed in the normal trash is limited due to safety,
environmental
and legal considerations. If in doubt, it is prudent to have UOEHSM
characterize your
6.1 Acids or Bases, Concentrated Solutions
This section explains the disposal of concentrated solutions of acids, such as
hydrochloric, nitric and sulfuric acid, and bases such as ammonium
hydroxide.
It is best to bring concentrated solutions of acids or bases to an Open House
due to the
work involved in neutralization. Use only disposable containers for waste with
a pH less
than 3 or greater than 12 because these containers will not be returned.
Any waste that exhibits ONLY the characteristic of corrosivity and is NOT a
listed waste
can be neutralized to within a pH range of 5 to 9 before disposal in the
sanitary sewer.
Flush waste with at least 20 parts water. When in doubt or if neutralization is
not

7. feasible, dispose of the waste through uoehsm

8. Neutralization procedures

Do not neutralize strongly oxidizing acids such as perchloric

acid and
chromic acid.
Perform all steps slowly.
Keep containers cool while neutralizing.
Acid neutralization: While stirring, add acids to large amounts of an ice-
water
and base (sodium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, or 8 M sodium hydroxide)
solution.
Base neutralization: First add the base to a large vessel containing
water.
Slowly add a 1 M solution of HCl.
Neutralize concentrated acid and base solutions to within a pH range of 5
to 9,

9. and then flush them into the sanitary sewer with at least 20 parts of
water.

1. Place solid waste in clear autoclave bags (do not

use red/orange biohazard bags), seal, and attach a
“BIOHAZARD -- To Be Autoclaved” tag and a strip of
autoclave tape.
2. After autoclaving, deface or remove all biohazard
labels or tags and place bag in the non-hazardous solid
waste stream, according to specific building
requirements.
For any biohazardous solid waste which, for any reason,
cannot be autoclaved or for autoclaved waste requiring
additional precautionary disinfection (such as wastes
containing BL2 level human pathogens):
3. Place the solid waste in a red/orange biohazard bag,
complete and affix a “BIOHAZARD” waste tag, and call
UOEHSM to schedule a pickup. For certain departments,
biohazardous waste will be picked up on a regular bases

industrial waste management The medical waste removal industry is dominated by one company that
controls pricing, services, contract length, and, most importantly, the cost of picking up and disposing of your
waste. Sound familiar?

Healthcare Waste Solutions (HWS) has been in the Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington D.C. area for
many years. With the industry consolidation and support from our customers, we have identified this area as
a key growth area for our company.

Water and wastewater treatment are critical to every industry. Each industry has its own set of requirements which
determine treatment needs, from process water to wastewater. Siemens Water Technologies is ready to help you
meet these requirements.

Siemens Water Technologies serves more than 90 percent of the Fortune 500 manufacturing companies, including
approximately 100,000 industrial customers. Through high-purity water technology and related services, Siemens
helps industry and manufacturers meet specific water quality requirements to ensure consistent processes and
production. Siemens also helps industry meet ever increasing industrial wastewater regulations, while improving
efficiency and reducing waste disposal costs.

Nuclear waste management

Solidification processes have been developed in several countries over the past
fifty years. Liquid high-level wastes are evaporated to solids, mixed with glass-
forming materials, melted and poured into robust stainless steel canisters which
are then sealed by welding.

Borosilicate glass from the first waste vitrification plant in UK in the 1960s. This block contains
material chemically identical to high-level waste from reprocessing. A piece this size would
contain the total high-level waste arising from nuclear electricity generation for one person
throughout a normal lifetime.

The vitrified waste from the operation of a 1000 MWe reactor for one year would fill about twelve canisters,
each 1.3m high and 0.4m diameter and holding 400 kg of glass. Commercial vitrification plants in Europe
produce about 1000 tonnes per year of such vitrified waste (2500 canisters) and some have been operating
for more than 20 years.

inal disposal of high-level waste is delayed for 40-50 years to allow its radioactivity to decay, after which less
than one thousandth of its initial radioactivity remains, and it is much easier to handle. Hence canisters of
vitrified waste, or used fuel assemblies, are stored under water in special ponds, or in dry concrete
structures or casks for at least this length of time.
The ultimate disposal of vitrified wastes, or of used fuel assemblies without reprocessing, requires their
isolation from the environment for long periods. The most favoured method is burial in dry, stable geological
formations some 500 metres deep. Several countries are investigating sites that would be technically and
publicly acceptable. The USA is pushing ahead with a repository site in Nevada for all the nation's used fuel.

One purpose-built deep geological repository for long-lived nuclear waste (though only from defence
applications) is already operating in New Mexico.

After being buried for about 1000 years most of the radioactivity will have decayed. The amount of
radioactivity then remaining would be similar to that of the naturally-occurring uranium ore from which it
originated, though it would be more concentrated

Sewage waste treatment Sewage can be treated close to where it is created, a decentralised
system, (in septic tanks, biofilters or aerobic treatment systems), or be collected and transported
via a network of pipes and pump stations to a municipal treatment plant, a centralised system,
(see sewerage and pipes and infrastructure). Sewage collection and treatment is typically subject
to local, state and federal regulations and standards. Industrial sources of wastewater often
require specialized treatment processes (see Industrial wastewater treatment).

Sewage treatment generally involves three stages, called primary, secondary and tertiary
treatment.

 Primary treatment consists of temporarily holding the sewage in a quiescent basin where
heavy solids can settle to the bottom while oil, grease and lighter solids float to the surface.
The settled and floating materials are removed and the remaining liquid may be discharged or
subjected to secondary treatment.
 Secondary treatment removes dissolved and suspended biological matter. Secondary
treatment is typically performed by indigenous, water-borne micro-organisms in a managed
habitat. Secondary treatment may require a separation process to remove the micro-
organisms from the treated water prior to discharge or tertiary treatment.
 Tertiary treatment is sometimes defined as anything more than primary and secondary
treatment in order to allow rejection into a highly sensitive or fragile ecosystem (estuaries,
low-flow rivers, coral reefs,...). Treated water is sometimes disinfected chemically or
physically (for example, by lagoons and microfiltration) prior to discharge into
a stream, river, bay, lagoon or wetland, or it can be used for the irrigation of a golf course,
green way or park. If it is sufficiently clean, it can also be used for groundwater recharge or
agricultural purposes.
What is a Sanitary Landfill?

Sanitary landfills are sites where waste is isolated from the environment until it is safe.
It is considered when it has completely degraded biologically, chemically and physically. In high-income
countries, the level of isolation achieved may be high. However, such an expensive high level of isolation
may not be technically necessary to protect public health. Four basic conditions should be met before a site
can be regarded as a sanitary landfill (see following.) The ways of doing this should be adapted to local
conditions. The immediate goal is to meet, to the best extent possible, the four stated basic sanitary landfill
conditions, with a longer term goal to meet them eventually in full.

Small incremental improvements in landfill design and operation over several years are more likely
to succeed than attempts to make a single, large leap in engineering expectations.
Large landfills will require more investment to improve standards than smaller sites. However, the unit
cost of these improvements (measured per tonne of waste landfilled or per head of population served) will
decrease with increasing site size. There are financial and other benefits to sites with long operating
lifetimes (ten years or more). Large regional sites serving two or more cities could be economically
beneficial, providing waste transport costs are not too high.

Basic requirements
Certain things that are not needed around the house are kept aside to be sold to
the kabadiwala or the man who buys old items. These items are newspapers,
used bottles, magazines, carry bags, old exercise books, oilcans, etc. This is one
form of segregation, which is done as a routine in all households in India.
Separating our waste is essential as the amount of waste being generated today
causes immense problem. Segregation of municipal solid waste can be clearly
understood by schematic representation. Certain items are not biodegradable but
can be reused or recycled. In fact, it is believed that a larger portion can be
recycled, a part of it can be converted to compost, and only a smaller portion of it
is real waste that has no use and has to be discarded segregation
Conclusion Waste is one of the biggest environmental issues faced by most cities in developing
countries. The amount of waste generated has increased rapidly and this is creating
tremendous pressure on local governments to manage the wastes efficiently right from
storage bins, to collection, transfer and transport and finally treatment and disposal. Many of
the waste management practices in the past were aimed at short-term solutions without
sufficient regard or knowledge for long-term integrated waste management solutions that take
into account financial constraints, scarcity of land, impacts on health and environment,
appropriate technology and conservation of resources through 3R (reduce, re-use and recycle)
programs. The solutions for waste management in developing countries may involve many
inter-related factors and the challenge faced by cities is to translate these factors into practical
solutions.
With our growing awareness of the detrimental environmental effects of current waste
management practices, local authorities in developing countries are under increasing pressure
to provide effective waste management systems. Better practice, safer and long-term
solutions are required under the principle “best available technology without incurring
excessive costs”. An integrated waste management (IWM) approach is one of the solutions for
waste management in developing countries.
IWM involves the selection and application of suitable techniques, technologies and
management programs to achieve specific waste management objectives and goals. In this
respect, government and non-governmental agencies including industries and the general
public, all have equal role in achieving the long-term solutions for sustainable waste
management practices.
.