BUILDING SERVICES-I SANITARY LANDFILLING, COMPOSTING, INCINERATION AND PYROLYSIS: ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS
TECHNIQUES OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: SANITARY LANDFILLING : Sanitary landfilling is a method of waste disposal that aims to minimize environmental impacts and public health risks associated with the deposition of solid waste. Collection: Waste is collected from various sources and transported to the landfill site. Segregation: Hazardous waste is separated from non-hazardous waste. Compaction: Waste is compacted to reduce its volume. Placement: Waste is placed in layers or cells with a liner at the bottom to prevent contamination of the surrounding soil and groundwater. Covering: Daily and final cover layers are applied to minimize odor, pests, and environmental contamination. Monitoring: Environmental monitoring and gas collection systems are installed to manage landfill gases (e.g., methane). Long-Term Care: Landfills require post-closure care and monitoring for many years to prevent environmental harm.
TECHNIQUES OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: landscaping, and agriculture. COMPOSTING : Composting is a natural process that turns organic materials into nutrient-rich soil conditioner, often used in gardening and agriculture. Collection: Organic waste materials like food scraps, yard waste, and manure are collected. Mixing: These materials are mixed with the right balance of carbon-rich (e.g., leaves, straw) and nitrogen-rich (e.g., kitchen scraps) materials. Aeration: The compost pile is turned or aerated regularly to provide oxygen to microorganisms that break down the materials. Decomposition: Over time, microorganisms break down the organic matter into humus, a nutrient-rich soil conditioner. Curing: The compost is allowed to cure, mature, and stabilize. Use: The finished compost can be used in gardening, landscaping, and agriculture.
TECHNIQUES OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: INCINERATION : Incineration is a waste treatment method that involves the combustion of waste materials at high temperatures. Waste Collection: Solid waste is collected and transported to the incineration facility. Combustion: The waste is burned at high temperatures in a controlled environment. Energy Recovery: Heat produced during combustion can be used to generate electricity or heat nearby facilities. Air Pollution Control: Various technologies are used to control emissions, such as scrubbers and filters. Residue: After combustion, the remaining ash and non-combustible materials are collected and disposed of. Environmental Compliance: The incineration process must adhere to environmental regulations to minimize air pollutants and toxic emissions.
TECHNIQUES OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: PYROLYSIS : Pyrolysis is a thermal decomposition process that converts organic materials into biochar, bio-oil, and syngas, while avoiding complete combustion. Feedstock Preparation: Organic materials such as biomass, plastics, or rubber are prepared and fed into a pyrolysis reactor. Heating: The feedstock is heated in the absence of oxygen, causing it to break down into different products. Product Collection: The products of pyrolysis include biochar (solid carbon), bio-oil (liquid), and syngas (gaseous). Condensation: Bio-oil is often condensed into a liquid state. Use or Disposal: The resulting products can be used as fuels, soil amendments, or in other industrial applications. Emission Control: Emissions from the pyrolysis process may require treatment to minimize environmental impact.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES: TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES LANDFILLING Universal solution that provides waste disposal. Relatively low cost and easy to implement. Complements with other technology options for handling residual waste. Can derive landfill gas as a by-product for household and industrial uses. Requires large land area; cost incurred as landfill expands. Does not reduces MSW volume. Results secondary pollution problems, as groundwater pollution, air. pollution, and soil contamination. Due to public resistance and space limitation, landfills are often far away, long distance transporting.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES: TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES COMPOSTING Converts decomposable organic materials into an organic fertilizer. Reduces the amount of waste to be landfilled and integrates well with landfilling and materials recovery/recycling. Costly to implement and maintain. Has no environmental or economic advantages compared to incineration. Requires waste size reduction and degree of separation/processing. Public perception, such as bioaerosol emissions during the composting process, and insects. Compost may cause soil pollution by heavy metals and pathogens.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES: TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES INCINERATION Optimal land usage. Substantial reduction in the volume of waste. Minimal pre-processing of waste; The bottom ash is biologically clean and stable. Heat can be used as energy source for CHP. Can be located near residential areas, reducing cost of transporting. More space than other technologies. High capital, operational and maintenance cost. Significant operator expertise is required. Air pollution control equipment is required to treat the flue gas, and the fly ash needs to be disposed in hazardous waste landfills. * Public perception is sometimes negative, primarily with dioxins.