Solid Waste Management

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Why is solid waste disposal a major problem for towns and  It is an expensive undertaking, the cities? 

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second largest expenditure after education It takes up valuable and expensive land close to towns and cities It devalues nearby land properties Pollutes groundwater, air and produces pungent odor The garbage disposal process represent a waste of natural resources.

Open waste dumps

Abandoned piles of household garbage, bags of yard waste, appliances, old barrels, used tires, and debris such as lumber, shingles, pipes and asbestos can threaten the health of humans, wildlife, and the environment.

1. Open waste dumps – demerits 

Open dumps create a public nuisance, divert land from more productive uses, and depress the value of surrounding land.

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Open dumps have become the feeding grounds for children from poor homes

A growing concern for Urban Dwellers: Plastic bags? Plastic Bags

A major source of municipal solid waste

Open dumps pose the following health, safety, and environmental threats:  Fire and explosion  

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Inhalation of toxic gases in nearby homes Injury to children playing on or around the dump site Disease carried by mosquitoes, flies, and rodents Contamination of streams, rivers and lakes Contamination of soil and groundwater Contamination of drinking water Damage to plant and wildlife habitats Decrease in the quality of life to nearby residents and the local community

2. Landfills

Machines compact the clay to meet required density and depth

Looking right to left we find the bottom clay liner, the top double synthetic liner, and then gravel being applied by bulldozers.

Preventing groundwater pollution in a landfill Line r

An adequate lining system is a necessary component for any landfill. The liner is designed as a barrier to intercept leachate and direct it to a collection system to prevent contamination of local groundwater.

Methane emissions from Landfills

3. The Incineration process

Concerns over Incineration 

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Does the Fume Contain Dioxins?

Incineration recovers energy that would otherwise be lost Requires less land Reduces odor but… Emits dangerous cancer causing compounds called dioxins

Modern Waste Management Systems

1. RE USE 2. REDUCE 3. RECYCLE

Recycling Recycling is a form of Reuse . However, Recycling involves some transformation of the original material into new forms.

REDUCE: Suggestions for reducing waste at source 

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Purchase more durable and less of disposable items Buy more efficient products – cars, appliances and houses Reduce consumption of luxury items Purchase items that can be reused over and over Manufacturers must reduce packaging and design small-sized products.

Waste management systems and their impacts on the environment Maximum impact on the environment

Open dump Landf ill Incineration recovery

Incineration recovery

without energy with energy

Recycl e Reus e Reduce waste

Minimum impact on environment

Managing hazardous waste materials Reduction  Modify or redesign manufacturing processes Reuse & recycling  Substitute safe materials for harmful ones Discard approach  Detoxification – physical and biological conversion of harmful substances into harmless material  Secured toxic waste landfills  Use of deep injection wells

Designing a secured landfill for disposing of hazardous waste materials