Solid Waste

Engineering and Management

Introduction to Subject
Sources, Composition, and Characterization of Solid Waste
Class 1 & 2
What is Solid Waste?
o Waste is conventionally defined as
unwanted material at the point of
generation which does not have
immediate use.

o As the name suggests, the term solid

waste is used for waste which is solid.

o Waste is usually considered as useless and

unwanted. But many of these waste
substances are valuable resources and can
be reused for various purposes.
Sources of Solid Waste
Residential Waste composes of decomposable food waste, packaging material
comprising paper, plastic, old cloth, hazardous waste like old battery, nail
polish bottles, insecticides, after shaving lotion, bottle, and biomedical
waste like sanitary napkin. Waste quantity varies depending on income
and development of the country.

Commercial Waste composes of decomposable food waste, packaging material

comprising paper, plastic, hazardous waste include used batteries,
chemical containers. Waste quantity varies depending on the activities
and turnover.

Gardens Waste predominantly composes of garden trimming and leaves.

Hazardous chemicals include packaging material of agro chemicals. The
waste cold include packaging material like cover used for chips, ice cream
cups etc.
Sources of Solid Waste
Industrial Waste depends of product of the industry. Industrial waste comprises
highly hazardous chemicals to non hazardous packaging material.
Quantity of waste depends on quantity and type of product
manufactured.

Agriculture Waste mainly comprises of rotten vegetable, fruits, leaves and other plant
parts. Hazardous chemicals include packaging material of agrochemicals.
and Most of the waste will be used within the same farm/estate hence
Rural quantity is negligible.

Demolition Waste mainly comprises of concrete, brick pieces, soil, wood, metals, and
other debris. Recyclables material like steel and other metals are
and recovered by construction/demolition agencies. The quantity depends on
Construction size of construction/demolition and construction technology.
Sources of Solid Waste
Institutional Waste generated by schools, hospitals, and government buildings
primarily includes paper, food waste, plastics, and specialized medical
waste. The quantity of waste depends on the size of the institution, the
type of activities conducted, and the effectiveness of waste management
practices in place.

Mining and Waste from mining and quarrying operations primarily consists of
overburden, rock, soil, and other materials removed to access desired
Quarrying minerals or stones. Mining and quarrying activities can generate
significant quantities of waste, varying in composition and volume
depending on the operation scale, minerals extracted, and the mining
techniques.
Water Solid waste from water treatment plants includes sludge, which is a mix
of solids and liquids that are removed from the water during treatment. It
Treatment also includes things like sand, gravel, and other debris that get filtered
and Sewage out. These materials need to be managed carefully to protect the
Plants environment and public health.
Sources of Solid Waste
Transportation This category can be included as subcategory of commercial activity.
While developed countries do not generate waste along roads and
railway tracks. But people throw waste all along roads and railway tracks
in developing world. The quantity of solid waste besides railway track
depends on the traffic and number of passengers travelled.

Beaches and This category mainly contains litters of food wrappers made up of paper,
plastic, metal and glass. Quantity of waste depends on number of
Recreation visitiors.
areas

Slum Slum people generate least quantity among all urban sectors. Since the
dwellers are poor they make use of the materials available to maximum
extent and sell recyclable fraction. Many of the dwellers depend on
waste for livelihood. The waste mainly contains ash and decries
which does not have recyclable value.
Sources of Solid Waste
Fruits and Fruits and vegetable market prominently contains decomposable waste
like rotten and damaged fruits and vegetables. A small percentage of
Vegetable packaging like cardboard, plastic and paper may be present in the waste.
Market Citrus and other sour fruits like pine apple may add to acidity of the
waste.

Slaughter Waste mainly comprises of hide, hair, undigested and digested food,
bones, and meat. The waste is highly putricible in nature and likely to
House have pathogens that could cause zonoses.
Composition of Solid Waste
o Physical composition includes size, shape, density and moisture content.

o Chemical composition incudes organic compounds (food waste, paper, yard

waste), inorganic compounds (metals, glass, plastic) and hazardous substances
(batteries, electronics, chemicals).

o Biological composition includes bacteria, fungi, insects, and other decomposers.

o Composition of solid waste varies from source to source.

Importance of Understanding Composition
o Environmental Impact
Knowing the composition helps in identifying materials that can be recycled or
reused, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and minimizing
environmental pollution.

o Health Impact
Understanding the composition aids in implementing proper waste handling and
disposal practices to prevent the spread of diseases and reduce health risks
associated with hazardous materials.

o Waste Management Strategies

The composition informs the selection of appropriate treatment and disposal
methods, ensuring efficient and sustainable management of solid waste.
Physical Characteristics of Solid Waste
o The major physical characteristics measured in waste are:
(1) density, (2) size distribution of components, and (3) moisture content.

o Other characteristics which may be used in making decision about solid waste
management are:
(1) colour, (2) voids, (3) shape of components, (4) optical property, (5) magnetic
properties, and (6) electric properties.
Importance of Physical Characteristics
o Optical property can be used to segregate opaque materials from transparent
Substances.
o Magnetic separators are designed based on the magnetic characteristics of the
waste.
o Moisture content is essential for leachate calculation and composting.
o Density is used to assess volume of transportation vehicle and size of the disposal
facility.
o Shape can be used for segregation as flaky substance will behave differently
compared to non-flaky substance.
Chemical Characteristics of Solid Waste
o Important chemical properties measured for solid waste are:
(1) moisture (water content can change chemical and physical properties),
(2) volatile matter,
(3) ash,
(4) fixed carbon,
(5) fusing point of ash,
(6) calorific value,
(7) percent of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur and ash.
Importance of Chemical Characteristics
o The chemical composition of solid waste can have a significant impact on the
environment. For example, organic waste can generate methane, a potent
greenhouse gas, during decomposition in landfills.
o Some chemicals present in solid waste can be hazardous to human health. For
instance, heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium can leach from landfills
into groundwater, posing serious health risks.
o Understanding the chemical composition of solid waste is essential for developing
effective waste management strategies. Different types of waste may require
different treatment methods, such as composting for organic waste or
incineration for certain hazardous materials.
Importance of Chemical Characteristics
o Some components of solid waste, such as metals in electronic waste or organic
matter in food waste, can be recovered and recycled. Knowing the chemical
composition of waste streams helps in identifying valuable resources that can be
recovered.
o Regulatory agencies often set standards for the disposal and treatment of solid
waste based on its chemical characteristics. Compliance with these regulations
requires an understanding of the waste's composition.
o Understanding the chemical characteristics of solid waste can help raise public
awareness about the importance of waste management and recycling. This can
lead to more responsible waste disposal practices.
Biological Characteristics of Solid Waste
Waste Fungus Protozoa Bacteria Insect Rodent
Category
Biomedical ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
waste
Food waste ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Hazardous
waste
Municipal ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
solid waste
Radioactive
waste
WEEE ✔ ✔
Importance of Biological Characteristics
o Wet waste will host more bacteria compared to dry waste.
o Biodegradability of Solid Waste.
o Biodegradable wastes are such waste materials which are and can be degraded
by natural factors like microbes (e.g. bacteria, fungi and a few more), and abiotic
elements like temperature, UV, oxygen, etc.
o And non-biodegradable wastes are not degraded by nature factors.
o Waste from sources like slaughter house would be biologically diverse and
dangerous.
Exercise

Waste Type: Waste Type:

Source: Source:
Biodegradable/Non-biodegradable: Biodegradable/Non-biodegradable:
Exercise

Waste Type: Waste Type:

Source: Source:
Biodegradable/Non-biodegradable: Biodegradable/Non-biodegradable:
Exercise

Waste Type: Waste Type:

Source: Source:
Biodegradable/Non-biodegradable: Biodegradable/Non-biodegradable:
Proximate Analysis
o Proximate analysis of waste aims to determine moisture, volatile matter, ash and
fixed carbon.

o Proximate Analysis focuses on the physical composition and provides a quicker,

more general assessment.

o Proximate Analysis is typically used for initial waste characterization, determining

handling, processing, and combustion requirements.
Ultimate Analysis
o Ultimate analysis of waste aims to analyze percent of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,
sulphur and ash.

o Ultimate analysis provides a detailed elemental breakdown, essential for

understanding the chemical properties and potential environmental impacts of
the waste.

o Ultimate analysis is used for detailed energy content calculations, emission

predictions, and designing treatment processes.
Task
o What is solid waste? Explain the importance of composition and characteristics of
solid waste in solid waste management?
Book
Solid Waste Management: Principles and Practices by Ramesha
Chandrappa and Diganta Bhusan Das.
Thank You