Solid waste management 10CV757

water behind the deposited refuse. When the landfill has exhausted its life, a final cover
is placed on top of the landfill; topsoil is replaced on the site and the site is landscaped;
groundwater is continuously monitored; leachate is continuously collected and treated;
and, gases are continuously collected and vented. Leachate production and groundwater
monitoring. Leachate is the liquid that percolates through a landfill. It is very high in
concentration of water quality parameters. An engineer designs a landfill to minimize
movement of water into the mass of refuse and thus attempts to minimize the production
of leachate. The leachate collection system must be designed to keep the depth of the
leachate over the liner to less than 30 cm. Landfills are lined with either compacted clay
or some type of geosynthetic liner. The purpose of these systems is to greatly reduce the
hydraulic conductivity in the liner that minimizes the flow of leachate through the liner.
If compacted clay is used, it is typically 15 t0 120 centimeters thick and it is very
important that the clay liner be compacted properly and not be allowed to dry out or
crack. Geosynthetic liners are gaining widespread popularity and their installation is
extremely important so that seams are sealed properly. Lying on top of this liner system
is a leachate collection system, and on top of this is the compacted solid waste.
Generally, ground-water monitoring is conducted at all landfills. In fact, Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) requires that owners/operators install enough ground-water
monitoring wells in the appropriate places to accurately assess the quality of the uppermost
aquifer 1) beneath the landfill before it has passed the landfill boundary (to determine
background quality) and 2) at a relevant point of compliance (down gradient).
Owners/operators should consider the specific characteristics of the sites when establishing
their monitoring systems, but the systems must be certified as adequate by a qualified
groundwater scientist or the director of an EPA-approved state/tribal program.
Composting
Composting is an excellent method of recycling biodegradable waste from an ecological
point of view. Composting is in fact the controlled biological decomposition of organic
matter, such as food and yard wastes, into humus, a soil-like material. Composting is

and flower gardens, landscaping and the like. However, many large and small
composting schemes have failed because composting is regarded as a disposal process,
and not a production process.
Environmental problems may arise when waste is composted without noncompostible
matter like metals and plastics being removed. Hazardous substances like heavy metals
may then be found in the compost, which in turn may be taken up in the food chain
when compost is used on agricultural land. To prevent this situation, sorting at the
composting plant or even at the household level might be called for.

Benefits of Composting-

Keeps organic wastes out of landfills.

Provides nutrients to the soil.

Increases beneficial soil organisms (e.g., worms and centipedes).

Department of Civil Engineering, ACE Page 68

Suppresses certain plant diseases.

Reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides.

Protects soils from erosion.

Assists pollution remediation

Composting is also defined as process in which organic matter of the solid waste is
decomposed and converted to humus and stable mineral compounds. The end product
of composting process is called compost which is rich fertilizer.

There are three methods of composting:

(1) Composting by Trenching

(2) Open window composting

(3) Mechanical Composting

Composting by Trenching:

In this method trenches 3 to 12 m long, 2 to 3 m wide and 1 to 2 m deep are excavated with
clear spacing of 2 m. The trenches are then filled up with dry solid waste in layers of 15 cm.
On top of each layer 5 cm thick sandwiching layer of night soil animal dung is spread in
semi liquid form. On the top layer of night soil animal dung is spread in semi liquid form. On
the top layer protruding about 30 cm above the surrounding ground layer, a layer of earth
having thickness of around 10 cm is laid so that there is no problem of flies. Intensive
biological action starts in 2 to 3 days and organic matter decomposition starts. In this process
considerable heat is generated and temperature of the composting mass rises upto 75 0 C.
Due to this fly breeding does not take place. The solid waste stabilizes in 4 to 6 months and
gets changed in to a brown coloured, odourless, innocuous powdery form known as humus
having high manure value because of nitrogen content.

The stabilized mass is then removed from trenches screened to remove coarse
inert materials like stones brick bats, glass pieces plastic articles etc.

Department of Civil Engineering, ACE Page 69

Indore Method of Composting:

In this method solid waste night soil and animal dung etc. are placed in brick lined pits 3
m x 3 m x 1 m deep in alternate layers of 7.5 to 10 cm height, till the total height
becomes 1.5 m. Chemical insecticides are added to prevent fly breeding. The material is
turned regularly for a period of about 8 to 12 weeks and then stored on ground for 4 to 6
weeks. In about 6 to 8 turnings and period of 4 months time compost becomes ready for
use as manure. Insecticide used in Indore method was DDT but now because of very high
half life of DDT in nature other suitable insecticide is recommended, e.g. Gamaxine.

Department of Civil Engineering, ACE Page 70

Bangalore Method

The solid waste is stabilized anaerobically. Earthen trenches of size 10 x 1.5 x 1.5 m
deep are filled up in alternate layers of solid waste and night soil/cow dung. The material
is converse with 15 cm earthen layer and left for biodegradation. In about 4-5 months the
compost becomes ready to use, normally a city produces 200 to 250 kg/capita/year of
refuse and 8 to 10 kg / capita/year of night soil. Composting will produce about 5600 to
6750 of compost annually from above waste.

Department of Civil Engineering, ACE Page 71