classification of waste and their characteristics

short detail on waste and their classification and their characteristics

1. CLASSIFICATION OF WASTE AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

2. Waste Waste is explained as most unwanted materials according to the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Waste includes any scrap material, effluent or unwanted extra substance or article that needs disposal because it is broken, contaminated or otherwise polluted. Wastes are 'those substances or objects which fall out of the business cycle or chain of utility. The waste can be classified by using the criteria of their degradability and their management.

3. A) Classification on the basis of degradability   Biodegradable Wastes - The biodegradable wastes are those that can be decomposed by the natural processes and converted into the elemental form. For example, kitchen garbage, animal dung, etc. Non-biodegradable Wastes - The non-biodegradable wastes are those that cannot be decomposed and remain as such in the environment. They are persistent and can cause various problems. For example, plastics, nuclear wastes, glass, etc.

4. B) Classification on the basis of their management   On the basis management the waste can be classified into controlled waste and uncontrolled waste. 1 . Controlled waste : it includes   a) Municipal solid waste   b) Industrial waste c) Biomedical waste or hospital waste      d) Electronic waste 2.uncontrolled waste : it include a)agricultural waste b radioactive waste

5. a) Municipal solid waste   Municipal solid waste consists of household waste, construction and demolition debris, sanitation residue, and waste from streets. This garbage is generated mainly from residential and commercial complexes. With rising urbanization and change in lifestyle and food habits, the amount of municipal solid waste has been increasing rapidly . b) Industrial waste Industrial waste is considered hazardous as they may contain toxic substances. Hazardous wastes could be highly toxic to humans, animals, and plants because they are corrosive, highly inflammable, or explosive, and react when exposed to certain things e.g. gases . India generates around 7 million tonnes of hazardous wastes every year, most of which is concentrated in four states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

6. Industrial waste……. Rapid industrialization has resulted in the generation of huge quantity of wastes, both solid and liquid, in industrial sectors such as sugar, pulp and paper, fruit and food processing, starch, distilleries, poultries, etc. These wastes are generally dumped on land or discharged into water bodies, without adequate treatment, and thus become a large source of environmental pollution and health hazard.   c)Medical waste Medical waste is material produced in the course of health protection, medical treatment and scientific research. It consists of a broad range of materials from used needles and syringes to soiled dressings, body parts, diagnostic samples, blood, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and radioactive materials

7. d) Electronic waste It is a term that refers to outdated material or irreparable electronic devices such as mobile phones, television, printers and computers. The electronic waste contains toxic elements like Cadmium, Mercury, Chromium, Lead, and Arsenic.

8. 2. Uncontrolled waste a) Agricultural waste Agricultural waste comes from various sources. Pesticides and fertilizers comprises the bulk of agricultural waste and includes many man made synthetic chemicals and materials. This chemicals are sprayed on crop field to keep insects away and enters stream and water ways as runoff. Most of these chemicals are non-biodegradable so remains stable in environment for many decade to century. The contaminated water is another way primary effect of agricultural waste. Water becomes contaminated through fertilizers and pesticides residues which may enter the drinking water system. The accumulation of these chemicals lead to the health issues such as blue baby syndrome and neurological ailments. Agricultural waste can be negatively affect the animals and plants because fertilizers, manure, ammonia disrupt the ecological process.

9. b) Radioactive waste There are many industries like mining, defense, medicine, scientific research and nuclear power generator, which produce by-products that includes radioactive waste. The radioactive waste can remain radioactive for few month, years or even hundreds of years and the level of radioactivity varies from the radioactive element to element. The biggest concern is the negative Effect that can have on human body when exposed to radiation. Long term effect to radiation can even Couse cancer and also can Couse change in DNA that leads to the mutation in gene.