SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Munish K. Chandel
Environmental Science and
Engineering Department
IIT Bombay
 What is Solid Waste?
• Solid or semi solid materials, which possess no
more value and is the waste for the primary user.

– Agricultural Wastes

– Mining Wastes

– Industrial Wastes
 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
• Urban waste (Municipal Solid Waste) as opposed to
agricultural, mining and industrial wastes.

• Biomedical Waste and Electronic Waste are also

produced in urban areas but are dealt separately in
Indian rules.
 As per Solid Waste Management
Rule 2016
• These rules shall apply to every urban local body, outgrowths in urban
agglomerations, census towns as declared by the Registrar General and Census
Commissioner of India, notified areas, notified industrial townships, areas under
the control of Indian Railways, airports, airbases, Ports and harbours, defence
establishments, special economic zones, State and Central government
organisations, places of pilgrims, religious and historical importance as may be
notified by respective State government from time to time and to every domestic,
institutional, commercial and any other non residential solid waste generator
situated in the areas except industrial waste, hazardous waste, hazardous
chemicals, bio medical wastes, e-waste, lead acid batteries and radio-active waste,
that are covered under separate rules framed under the Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT--
WHY ?
• Solid wastes discarded in the streets and roads could
lead to the breeding of rodents and fleas which could
lead to spread of several diseases.
– E.g. Bubonic Plague killed half of 14th century Europe.

• Solid wastes could lead to air and water pollution.

Deonar Dumping Ground, Mumbai

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Massive-fire-at-Deonar-dumping-ground-
again/articleshow/50985954.cms
Deonar Dumping Ground, Mumbai

NASA image
 Is Municipal Solid Waste
Management Difficult?
• Treatment of MSW becomes difficult once we mix
different types of wastes together.

• Each categories of waste generated, take their own

time to degenerate

– Organic waste(food waste) can degrade biologically within

1-2 weeks.

– Glass bottles will not degrade biologically --never

 Problem of Solid Waste
There are different categories of waste generated, each take their own time to
degenerate
 SOLID WASTE GENERATION
➢ How much MSW you generate everyday?

➢ Calculate…

➢ What is the composition?

 SOLID WASTE GENERATION
➢ Small towns - 100 g/p/day
➢ Medium towns - 300-400 g/p/day
➢ Large towns - 500 g/p/day or more

In general varies between 0.3-0.6 kg/person/day

 QUANTITY OF WASTE GENERATION

❑ ~62 million tonnes of MSW generated annually by 377

million people in urban areas

❑ More than 80% is disposed at dump (uncontrolled)

(Source: Report of the Task Force on Waste to Energy (Volume I) , 2014

http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/rep_wte1205.pdf)
 QUANTITY OF WASTE GENERATION

GARBAGE % OF TOTAL

Waste Generated in 6 Mega Cities 18.4%

Waste Generated in Metro Cities 17.1%
(1 Million Plus Towns)
Waste Generated in Other Class-I Towns (0.1 Million 37.1%
Plus Towns)

72.5%

TOTAL QUANTITY OF SOLID WASTE 1.15 LAKH TONNE

GENERATED IN URBAN AREAS PER DAY (TPD)
OF THE COUNTRY

Source: Guidelines for Preparation of Detailed Project Reports and Selection of Technologies for Processing and Final Disposal of Municipal
Solid Waste Using 12th Finance Commission Grants.

http://www.cmao.nic.in/Resources/12th%20Finnace%20Commission%20Guidelines%20on%20SWM.pdf
 TOTAL WASTE GENERATED
(million tonne)
200
150
100
50
0
1947 1997 2005 2010 2015 2020
 How much it cost to manage
MSW?
• Urban Local Bodies spend ~Rs. 500-1500/- per tonne on
MSW management
– 60-70% of it is spent on collection alone
– 20% - 30% is spent on transportation
– Hardly any fund is spent on treatment and disposal of waste

• Collection efficiency:
– Major metro cities: 70-90%
– Smaller cities: < 50%

Source: Position Paper on PPP in Solid Waste Management. November 2009,

http://www.pppinindia.com/pdf/ppp_position_paper_solid_waste_mgmt_112k9.pdf
 How much land is required to
manage MSW?
• 3 -3.5% of annual growth of urban population would lead to
~5% annual increase in MSW generation.

• By this trend and if waste not disposed properly, >1400 sq. km

of land would be required by 2047 for its disposal.

Source: Position Paper on PPP in Solid Waste Management. November 2009,

http://www.pppinindia.com/pdf/ppp_position_paper_solid_waste_mgmt_112k9.pdf
 CHARACTERSTICS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID
WASTE GENERATED BY MERTO CITIES
Characteristics ( Percent by wt. )
Sl Metro city Paper Textile Leather Plastic Metal Glass Ash, Comp
. Fine ostabl
N earth e
o. & matter
others
1 Mumbai 10.0 3.6 0.2 2.0 - 0.2 44.0 40.0

2 Delhi 6.6 4.0 0.6 1.5 2.5 1.2 51.5 31.78

3 Hyderabad 7.0 1.7 - 1.3 - - 50.0 40.0

4 Jaipur 6.0 2.0 - 1.0 - 2.0 47.0 42.0

5 Kanpur 5.0 1.0 5.0 1.5 - - 52.5 40.0

6 Chennai 10.0 5.0 5.0 3.0 - - 33.0 44.0

7 Visakhapatna 3.0 2.0 - 5.0 - 5.0 50.0 35.0

m
Sharholy et al. / Waste Management 28 (2008) 459–467
 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
• Solid waste management may be defined as the
management of waste from its generation to the final
disposal that uses the best principles of public health,
economics, engineering and conservation.

(Source: Environmental Audit of Municipal Solid Waste Management TECHNICAL

REPORT: 118 June 2006)
http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/pubs/ces_tr/TR118_SPoonancha/Index
.htm.
 FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
• Waste generation and primary storage

• Collection

• Separation, storage and processing at the source

• Transfer and transport

• Processing & recovery

• Disposal
Bin for Source Segregation and Storage
 Source Segregation
• Segregate and store the waste in three separate streams: bio-degradable, non
biodegradable and domestic hazardous wastes in suitable bins and handover to
authorised waste pickers

• Wrap securely the used sanitary waste like diapers, sanitary pads etc., in the
pouches provided by the manufacturers of these products or in a suitable
wrapping material as instructed by the local authorities and shall place the same in
the bin meant for dry waste or non- bio-degradable waste

• Store separately construction and demolition waste, as and when generated, in

his own premises and shall dispose off as per the Construction and Demolition
Waste Management Rules, 2016

• Store horticulture waste and garden waste generated from his premises separately
in his own premises and dispose of as per the directions of the local body from
time to time.
Bin for Source Segregation and
Storage
Litter Bins
 Street Sweepings
• Manual sweeping

• Mechanical sweepers
Street Sweepings
 Collection

• Door to Door Collection

• Community Bins
 Community Bins: Commercial
Complexes, Multistoried Apartments
 Community Bins: Commercial
Complexes, Multistoried Apartments
 Packers/Compactors Trucks
• Municipal solid waste at the curbside has a density of
~100-200 kg/m3 in developed countries and 300-400
kg/m3 in India.
• At those low densities, collection vehicles fill too fast,
which means multiple, time- wasting trips to the disposal
site would be needed.
• Modern trucks, called packers, have hydraulic,
compactors that can compress that waste to as much as
750 kg/m3 density.
• Compaction Ratio: 2-3
Compactors
Compactors
 Transportation System
• Selection of proper number and size of trucks.
• Choosing the most efficient collection routes and schedules.
• Locating transfer stations if they were to be used.

COMPLEX SOLID WASTE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

• With the growing importance of recycling and composting, those

basic operations have become more complicated.
• Now, a municipality may have separate trucks, routes, schedules,
and destinations for recyclables and compostable materials—all of
which need to be coordinated with already existing refuse collection
system.
 Transportation System

• Large vs Small Trucks

• Larger trucks cost more, but they do not- have to make

as many trips back and forth to the disposal site, which
can more than offset the higher capital costs.

• Larger trucks, however, are also less manoeuvrable in

crowded urban areas, and their weight may exceed
allowable limits for residential streets.
Routing
Route
emphasizing
right turns
and a
minimum
amount of
deadheading
 Transfer Station
• A transfer station is a facility where the wastes collected may
be stored temporarily or transferred from the smaller
collection vehicles to bigger transport vehicles for
transportations to the destination point.

• As the distance from the collection system to the processing

facility or disposal site (collectively called destination point)
increases, the cost of hauling or transportation also increases.

• There will eventually be a certain transport distance, where

management must decide whether or not a transfer station is
to be built.
 Transfer Station

Collection Disposal
route Site

Collection to disposal distance

Collection Transfer Disposal

route Station Site
 Transfer Station
20
Break even distance
Cost per ton (INR)

15 Direct Haul

Transfer Haul
10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Haul Distance (km)
TRANSFORMATION OF SOLID
WASTE
TRANSFORMATION OF SOLID
WASTE
Why transform solid waste?
➢ Efficient storage, handling and transport
➢ Reduce disposal cost
➢ Stabilize waste
➢ Destroy toxic element (chemical or biological entities)
➢ Generate useful energy
➢ Re-use
 TRANSFORMATION OF SOLID
WASTE
➢Physical method

➢Chemical method

➢Biological method
 Physical Transformation
Transformation Transformation Transformation
Process Method Products

1.Component Manual and/or Mechanical Individual components

Separation separation of MSW

2. Volume Reduction Application of energy in the Original waste

form of force or component altered in
pressure form and reduced in size
3. Size Reduction Application of energy in the The original waste
form of shredding, components altered in
grinding, or milling the form of and reduced
in size.
 Chemical Transformation
Transformation Transformation Transformation
Process Method Products
1.Combustion Thermal Oxidation Carbon dioxide (CO2), Sulfur
dioxide(SO2), other
oxidation products, and Ash

2.Pyrolysis Destructive distillation A gas stream containing a

variety of gases, tar and/or
pyrolytic oil, and char

3.Gassification Starved air A low calorific value

combustion synthetic gas, charcoal
containing carbon and the
inerts originally in the fuel,
and oil.
 Biological Transformation
Transformation Transformation Transformation
Process Method Products

1. Composting Aerobic biological Compost (Humus like

conversion material used as a soil
conditioner or organic
fertilizer
2. Anaerobic digestion Anaerobic biological Methane (CH4), Carbon
(Low or high-solids) conversion dioxide (CO2), trace
gases, digested humus
or sludge
Shear Shredders
Trommel Screen
Trommel Screen

Source: http://www.graepel.ie/index.cfm/page/casestudy/applicationID/24/casestudyID/20
Air Classifiers
Magnetic Separation
Baler

https://www.imabeus.com/balers-to/paper-balers.html
Biological Process
AEROBIC STABILIZATION:
COMPOSTING
 COMPOSTING: ADVANTAGES

➢ Transformation of biodegradable waste into biologically

stable matter using micro organisms.

➢ Reduces the volume of waste.

➢ Destroy pathogens/insects.

➢ End product is a humus like material called compost

that is rich in nutrients. Compost can be used to support
plant growth and as a soil amendment.
 COMPOSTING
➢Conventional

➢Vermicomposting

➢High Rate: Rotary Drum Composting

Windrow Composting

Source http://www.grand-island.com/index.aspx?page=173
 Land requirement
• For windrow composting:
2-3 acres of land for 100 ton/day plant

1 acres = 4046.86m2
COMPOSTING
Rotary Drum Composting

Source: https://www.americanbiogascouncil.org/images/genericDigestionProcess.gif
 COMPOSTING

Principal Issues in the Implementation of Composting:

• Production of odors

• Presence of pathogens

• Presence of heavy metals

• Definition of what constitutes an acceptable

compost

• Land requirement
 VERMICOMPOSTING
Worms

Eudrilus eugeniae
Use of earthworms for composting of
organic matter

1kg of worms can consume 1kg of

residue every day
Eisenia fetida
Anaerobic Digestion of Solid Waste
Bio gas (CH4, CO2, H2S
etc.)

Organic material
(Food waste, Digestion tank
sludge etc.)

Co-products (Compost,
nutrients etc.)

•The gas stream is composed of mainly methane and carbon

dioxide.

•The slurry stream consist of an aqueous suspension of

undigested organic matter.
Anaerobic Digestion of Solid Waste

Source: http://sternerconsulting.com/blog/new-efficient-anaerobic-digestion-facilities-
recycle-organic-wastes-into-renewable-energy-and-rich-compost/
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
(BARC) Mumbai’s Biogas Plant
 Status India
• The results of the pilot plant, by Western Paques, show that
150 t/day of MSW produce 14,000 m3 of biogas with a
methane content of 55–65%, which can generate 1.2 MW of
power.

• Which means 32 MWe from Mumbai MSW with 4000

tonne/day (Wet waste)

Source: WASTE MANAGEMENT SUMMIT INDIA 2014 TOWARDS GREENER AND CLEANER INDIA, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141205154946-87779745-waste-
management-summit-india-2014towards-greener-and-cleaner-india
 Waste-to-energy
• Thermal Route (Incineration)
Grate incinerator for MSW burning

Source: http://www.igniss.pl/en/msw_municipal_waste_incinerators.php
 Waste-to-energy

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins
Source: http://earthsci.org/education/teacher/basicgeol/solid_waste/solid_waste.html
• Many developed countries do not want to use
incinerators/waste to energy for the MSW
management…
• Why?
 EMISSIONS FROM INCINERATORS
Emissions:
• Organic Compounds: Dioxins, Furans, Polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), Volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Chlorinated
Benzenes etc.
• Heavy Metals: As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, etc.
• Gases: HCl, HF, HBr, SOx, NOx, CO, CO2 etc.
 EMISSIONS FROM INCINERATORS
Solid Outputs:
• Fly ash: contains soot, PAHs, PCBs, Dioxins, Furans and
Heavy Metals like Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn etc.
– Particulate Matter: PM 2.5, PM 10

Incinerator Effluent:
• Wastewater from wet exhaust gas cleaning contains heavy
metals (Pb, Cd, Sb, Cu, Hg, Zn etc.), neutral salts and
unburned organic material.
 Dioxins and Furans:
• The most publicized concerns from environmentalists about
the incineration of municipal solid wastes (MSW) involve the
fear that it produces significant amounts of dioxin and furan
emissions
• Class of compounds that are highly toxic
• Formed as a by-product of combustion involving chlorine
related compounds and hydrocarbons.
• Persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
 Dioxins and Furans:
• Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs)
– Technically PCDDs are derivatives of dibenzo-p-dioxin.
– 75 PCDDs, and seven of them are specifically toxic

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs)

• Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs)

– Technically PCDFs are derivatives of dibenzofuran.
– 135 congeners (derivatives differing only in the number and location of chlorine
atoms).
– Strictly speaking are not dioxins, ten of them have "dioxin-like" properties.

• TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) - most toxic compound known to

science.
 Dioxins and Furans:
• Do we have control technologies now?
– YES. e.g. activated carbon beds, others
– Also can be controlled by process control
 Gasification
•Partial oxidation of the organic and fossil fuel based
materials into gaseous fuel (CO and H2) at elevated
temperature.

•The gaseous fuel (Synthetic fuel) can be further used

either to generate energy or to form other products.

•Comparatively new technology for MSW

Gasification
 Pyrolysis Systems
• Thermal processing of waste in the complete absence of
oxygen
• Used to convert solid waste into gaseous, liquid and solid
fuel using thermal cracking and condensation
• Uses external source of heat to drive the endothermic
pyrolysis reactions
• Three fractions:
– Gas stream: containing hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide,
carbon dioxide, others
– Liquid fraction: Tar or oil stream containing acetic acid, acetone,
methanol and complex hydrocarbons
– Solid: Char, pure carbon and inter material originally present in
the solid waste
 Operational Problems with
Pyrolysis
• Developing technology: Complex system
• Several issues because of heterogeneity of the
waste
DISPOSAL
 DISPOSAL

➢ Open dumping

➢ Barging in to sea

➢ Land filling: Disposal of residual solid wastes in the

surface soils of the earth.
 Why Landfill
Unmanaged and uncontrolled, solid wastes openly
dumped on the land:
• Generate liquid and gaseous emissions (leachate and
landfill gas) that can pollute the environment

• Represent a breeding ground for disease-bearing

animals and microorganisms

• Other risks to the public health and safety and to the

environment
 Sanitary Landfill
• Controlled disposal of waste on the land.
• Controls the exposure of the environment and humans to
the detrimental effects of solid wastes placed on the
land.
• Disposal is accomplished in a way such that contact
between wastes and the environment is significantly
reduced, and wastes are concentrated in a well defined
area.
• Good control of landfill gas and leachate, and limited
access of vectors (e.g., rodents, flies, etc.) to the wastes
 Sanitary Landfill
• LINER SYSTEM
• CAP SYSTEM
• GAS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
– Gas collection, treatment, flaring etc.
• LEACHATE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
– Leachate collection and treatment system
• MONITORING SYSTEMS:
– Water: Ground water monitoring system
– Air: Air monitoring system
 Temporary Environmental
Holding area monitoring facilities

Leachate
Equipment
treatment
workshop
Stock piled Completed facility
cover fill
Inspection/ material Gas
Screening
flaring
facility
facility
Weighing Active
Future filling
scale Surface
fill area area water
collection
Access facility
road Office

Typical Layout of a Landfill

 Landfill operation

Source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Landfill_Hawaii.jpg#
Landfill-Bottom
Cell liner
Leachate Collection System
Dump truck
 Landfill Cell

Source:
http://earthsci.org/education/teacher/basicgeol/solid_w
aste/solid_waste.html
Vertical Piping System
Leachate treatment plant
 POSTCLOSURE CARE

Activities associated with the long-term

monitoring and maintenance of the landfill
(typically 30-50 years).

MSW rules 2016 recommends at least

fifteen years
 Restored landfill

Can be converted to recreational parks,

gardens etc..
 Example: Estimating Landfill
Requirements
Estimate the landfill area needed to handle one year’s
MSW for Mumbai. Assume national average discards, no
combustion, a landfill density of 600 kg/m³, and a single
3m lift. Assume that 20 percent of the cell volume is soil
used for cover.
MBT– Mechanical Biological Treatment

Mechanical Recyclables
Waste Sorting
Rejects to
landfills

Gases (WTE or to
RDF/ Biological atmosphere)
Digestate Degradation
Liquids
http://www.ubbessex.co.uk/technology/
Environmental hierarchy of MSW
Management
Reduction

Reuse

Recycle

Biodegradation (Composting
and Digestion)

Waste to Energy
(Thermal)
Sanitray landfilling
with methane
recovery
Sanitary
landfilling
 3R’s of better MSW management

Reduce & Reuse

• The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place.
• By reducing and reusing, consumers and industry can save natural resources
and reduce waste management costs.

Recycling
Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable
resources.
 Benefits of Recycling

• Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration.

• Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of
products from virgin materials.
• Recycling saves energy.
• Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that
contribute to climate change
• Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water,
and minerals.
• Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations.
Municipal waste management in 32 European
countries, 2001–2010

Source: Managing municipal solid waste — a review of achievements in 32

European countries (EEA Report No 2/2013)
 Legal framework
Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016:
• Responsibilities of Generators to segregate waste in to three streams: Wet
(Biodegradable), Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, wood, etc.) and domestic
hazardous wastes (diapers, napkins, empty containers of cleaning agents,
mosquito repellents, etc.) and handover segregated wastes to authorized
rag-pickers or waste collectors or local bodies.

• Generator will have to pay ‘User Fee’ to waste collector and for ‘Spot Fine’
for Littering and Non-segregation.

Source: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138591
 Status of MSW Management

• Only about 75- 80% of the municipal waste gets collected and out of this only 22-
28 % is processed and treated and remaining is disposed of indiscriminately at
dump yards.

• In 2013-14, municipal authorities have so far only set up 553 compost & vermi-
compost plants, 56 bio-methanation plants, 22 RDF plants and 13 Waste to Energy
(W to E) plants in the country.

Source: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138591
VIDEO to be seen
Recology San Francisco Solid Waste
Transfer and Recycling Center

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdBB6
s3PDGk