Report on solid waste management

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1. Report on Solid Waste Management

Introduction-
Solid waste management is an essential service in any society. Before introducing
the process, however, let's start with a discussion of the material being managed—
solid waste. Solid waste refers to the range of garbage materials—arising from
animal and human activities—that are discarded as unwanted and useless. Solid
waste is generated from industrial, residential, and commercial activities in a given
area, and may be handled in a variety of ways. As such, landfills are typically
classified as sanitary, municipal, construction and demolition, or industrial waste
sites.
Waste can be categorized based on material such as plastic, paper, glass, metal,
and organic waste. Categorization may also be based on hazard potential, including
radioactive, flammable, infectious, toxic, or non-toxic wastes. Categories may also
pertain to the origin of the waste, whether industrial, domestic, commercial,
institutional, or construction and demolition.
Regardless of the origin, content, or hazard potential, solid waste must be managed
systematically to ensure environmental best practices. As solid waste management
is a critical aspect of environmental hygiene, it must be incorporated
into environmental planning.
North American Waste Generation: Key Insights
 The North American region generates the highest average amount of waste
per capita, at 4.6 pounds per day. Total waste produced in 2016 was 289
million tons.
 Waste collection coverage in North America is nearly universal, at 99.7%.
Bermuda represents the only gap in coverage.
 More than 55% of waste in Noth America comprises recyclables, including
paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass.

 Just over half (54%) of the waste in North America is disposed of at
sanitary landfills, while one-third is recycled.

OBJECTIVES :
The main objective of the solid waste management system in the campus is to
promote the Environment Management and Conservation in the College
Campus. The purpose of the current available system is • To identify, quantify,

2. describe and prioritize framework of Environment Sustainability in compliance
with the applicable regulations, policies and standards. • To introduce and aware
students to real concerns of environment and its sustainability • To secure the
environment and cut down the threats posed to human health by analyzing the
pattern and extent of resource use on the campus. • To establish a baseline data
to assess future sustainability by avoiding the interruptions in environment that
are more difficult to handle and their corrections requires high cost. • To bring
out a status report on environmental compliance. • Composting and recycling
are the methods adopted by the institute
The primary goal of solid waste management is reducing and eliminating adverse
impacts of waste materials on human health and the environment to support
economic development and superior quality of life. This is to be done in the most
efficient manner possible, to keep costs low and prevent waste buildup.

Scope:
We completed our review of solid waste management in October 2004. The
objectives of our review were to determine what progress the Province has
made towards a Province-wide waste management system and whether the
Province has systems in place to monitor and regulate waste management
activities.
Currently, none of the 201 landfill sites in the Province are lined. The use of a
liner controls the escape of leachate and provides for its recovery and
treatment to minimize potential environmental consequences. While the
Strategy did not indicate that all unlined sites would be remediated, it is likely
that some sites will be determined to have contaminates at such a level that
the sites will require remediation. As a result, there will likely be significant
expenditures for site remediation
In its scope, solid waste management includes planning, administrative,
financial, engineering, and legal functions. Solutions might include complex
inter-disciplinary relations among fields such as public health, city and regional
planning, political science, geography, sociology, economics, communication
and conservation, demography, engineering, and material sciences.
Solid waste management practices can differ for residential and industrial
producers, for urban and rural areas, and for developed and developing
nations. The administration of non-hazardous waste in metropolitan areas is
the job of local government authorities. On the other hand, the management of

3. hazardous waste materials is typically the responsibility of those who generate
it, as subject to local, national, and even international authorities.

Consequences:
Improper solid waste dumps are spreading different diseases in the
study area. An inefficient municipal solid waste management system
may create serious negative environmental impacts like infectious
diseases, land and water pollution, obstruction of drains and loss of
biodiversity.
Some of the catastrophic effects of today’s poor waste management
systems are listed below:
1. Soil Contamination
Ideally, we would like our plastic, glass, metal and paper waste to end up at
a recycling facility. It then returns to us as a renewable product. But the reality is
entirely different. Have a look at the informative image below.

4. 2. Water Contamination
Water is an excellent solvent; it can contain numerous dissolved chemicals. As
a result, while moving through, water picks up pollution along the way. It often has
dissolved substances like various chemicals and gases.
Rainfall easily mixes to toxic liquid substances and seeps into the water streams to
end up in nearby water bodies. Thus, the neighbourhood fountain, pond, lake or
even drinking water taps are susceptible to the dangers of contamination.
The victims? All living organisms including us, humans.

3. Climate Contamination
Firstly, harmful greenhouse gases are created from decomposing waste. These rise
up to the atmosphere and trap heat. This adversely causes extreme weather
reactions in the form of storms and typhoons.
How else are we impacted? Well, apart from temperature what is also drastically
affected is the level of precipitation in the air. From acid rain to severe hail storms or
global warming – everything is fair game at present. This also spreads out into other
areas with regards to subdivisions such as thermal and radioactive pollution.

4. Air Contamination
Let’s talk about the ozone layer first. A lot of it leaves us feeling hopeless for we feel
unable to make necessary changes. We think we cannot consume any less. Even
so, we can, at least, follow strict protocol over how it’s recycled.
On the occasions paper and plastic are burned at the landfill, causing landfill gas, the
chemicals released which accumulate and contribute to the ozone layer and also
hurt the surrounding human population. Methane gas adds to it as well. Besides,
with chemicals such as dioxin out there, the air has been proven to have harmful
effects on us.
All of it, and especially when improper waste management is concerned, play a
significant role in causing global warming.

5. 5. Harm Towards Animal and Marine Life
Despite strict measures to stop it, we keep seeing the continual dumping of garbage,
raw or untreated sewage. Any animal or marine life coming in contact gets impacted
in the worst of ways. The inevitable formation of algal bloom and clusters
contaminates and eventually suffocates marine life such as coral and fish.
As discussed comprehensively by Conservation International, we have seen how
consumption of fishing lines, cigarette butts, plastic bottles and Styrofoam can kill
millions of marine lives each year.

6. Human Damage
Consider the majority of the human population where we do not see any scientific
waste management system. Such places may possess a system, but there is no
disposal area to be found.
Those who are at significant risk are:
 Children and those who live near such facilities
 Waste disposal workers
 Employees whose workplaces manufacture or come into contact with waste
materials
Think about the fires at landfills and its effects on us. Whether coming from the air or
its accumulation in our cellars, those landfill gases have been exposed for causing
cancer, create respiratory and visibility problems, and the explosion of cans put
people nearby at constant risk.

Advantages of solid waste management
As mentioned above, waste management involves the collection and disposal of both
hazardous and non-hazardous wastes from all the sectors of society. We shall now
look in detail the advantages of waste management or the benefits of proper garbage
disposal.

6. 1. This practice is highly lucrative:
The Journal of Waste management says that the revenues generated by the waste
management would top by $60 million by 2018. But, there are only a few people who
sincerely consider this as an industry into various facets of waste management like
recycling and reusing, and reap the benefits.
Now many companies are looking forward to associating themselves with this
industry and are ready for a long term investment.
2. Keeps the environment clean and fresh:
Perhaps, the greatest advantage of waste management is keeping the environment
fresh and neat. These waste disposal units also make the people go disease-free as all
the resultant wastes are properly disposed and taken care of.
More number of waste disposal units can be placed in all the tier-1 and tier-2 cities so
that the waste disposal process can be prepped up. Also a point worthy of our
consideration here is that this advantage can be taken into account only if extensive
and proper safety measures are implemented along with proper waste disposal
techniques.
There is no use in simply implementing a half-baked technique which, if no use to
both the people and the environment. This is the best effects of proper waste
disposal.
3. Saves the Earth and conserves energy:

7. This characteristic of waste management includes specifically the recycling aspect. As
recycling of waste helps in reducing the cutting down of trees. This cutting of trees is
mainly done for the production of paper. Though the paperless office is the new
trend that is practiced widely but with the help of recycling we can conserve energy
and lower the consumption of earthly resources.
By using this method, we can use recycled waste to make quality papers rather than
relying on trees. Also, recycling needs only a minimal amount of energy for
utilization and complete processing. The resultant product we obtain is a renewable
source of energy and is eco-friendly.
4. Reduces environmental pollution:
As explained above, waste management if done in a proper manner not only
eliminates the surrounding waste but also will reduce the intensity of the greenhouse
gases like methane, carbon monoxide which is emitted from the wastes accumulated.
The depth of the existing landfills and incineration will be curbed, thereby cutting
down the harmful factors that affect the environment.
5. Waste management will help you earn money:
Can you believe if I say that what I have said above is absolutely true?
Yes, waste management earns you a few extra bucks every month. Actually, there are
many companies which will pay you for your waste.
Right from old and used bottles to tin cans and e-wastes, all kinds of wastes are
collected and paid. These wastes are then segregated according to the extent of

8. pollution they cause to the environment and these wastes are recycled accordingly
for various purposes.
There are also crash courses available which will aid you to reuse your trash. Above
all, by following this method, you can create an awareness to your fellow people by
earning money, which is a win-win concept.
6. Creates employment:
Again, this aspect too is unbelievable for you… right?
You may even ask how come this is possible? But in all the facets of waste
management, a huge amount of labor is needed. Right from the collection to the final
step of segregation, every phase needs manpower and ultimately a large number of
employment opportunities get opened up.
This claim is evident from the labour statistics provided by the US government,
according to which around 3.1 million new jobs are produced due to the waste
management.
Disadvantage of Solid Waste Management
We have now seen the merits of waste management in detail. Let us now have a look
at the disadvantages also.
1. The process is not always cost-effective:
Yes, though it may pay cash to the contributors, the truth is this process needs a lot
of money, time and land to set up a plant and run. As the amount of waste that is

9. being contributed to the waste product unit increases, so are the number of plants
that process these resources.
Setting up a huge factory obviously needs a lot of money, and this management will
start fetching yields only in the long run. Hence, this is not seen as a short-term
lucrative investment.
While dumping more and more garbages in the landfills cause only $50 per ton,
recycling them in the proper manner will cause $150 per ton, which is exactly triple
the cost and thus many of the companies tend to switch over to the landfill method
itself.
2. The resultant product has a short life:
This is also true since the resulting recycled product cannot be expected to have a
durable quality. As the product itself has its origin from the remains of the other
trashed waste products and heaps of partially used ones.
The recycled product, though, is eco-friendly is expected to have a shorter life span
than the intended original one.
3. The sites are often dangerous:
As the waste management sites include the landfills to recycling units under its aegis,
these sites are highly susceptible to fungal and bacterial growth thereby leading to
various diseases.
Even the debris formation will be accelerated by such bacterial growth, which makes
it totally unsafe for the workers who work there. It also causes widespread pollution

10. and releases harmful chemicals. These chemicals, when mixed with drinking water or
any other consumable item pose a high amount of danger to human health.
4. The practices are not done uniformly:
Still, a large scale of these waste management practices are done only as a small scale
process and is mostly confined to residential homes, schools, and colleges and is not
practiced in a uniform manner in large industries and conglomerates.
It is not even practiced globally, as the global level consists of curbing oil spills, ocean
disposals and decreasing the tree felling.
5. Waste management can cause more problems:
Though waste management creates employment, it only has the ability to produce
low-quality jobs. These jobs include right from sorting the garbage collector to the
intensive and laborious jobs that are needed in the factories and outlets.
Daily basis collection of garbages will make the streets look unpleasant and
unhygienic leaving excess debris on the streets to rot up. Even after the successful
completion of the final stage, many chemical stews will be left behind which needs to
be properly and completely disposed, otherwise, they will also pose a threat to the
environment which makes the ultimate purpose of waste management go redundant.
Also, in the areas where these management units are present, it is noticed that the
groundwater gets affected. So, it too causes a considerable extent of water pollution
and land pollution.