What is solid waste?
The undesirable solid materials created by human activities in residential, industrial or commercial sectors are referred to as solid waste. It may be classified into three types as per their:
· Origin (household, industrial, commercial, architectural, or educational)
· Other Contents (organic materials, glasses, metals, plastic papers, etc.)
· Danger possibility (toxic, non-toxin, flammable, radioactive, infectious, etc.).
Solid Waste Management
The management of solid waste reduces or eliminates harmful environmental and human health implications. Waste management for a municipality entails several steps. Among these include monitoring, collection, transportation, processing, recycling and disposal. The amount of waste created varies mostly due to different lifestyles, which is directly related to the socio-economic status of the urban population.
Solid Waste generation in India
An individual in India's metro cities generate an average of 0.8 kilogram of waste per person every day. Total municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in metropolitan India is projected to be 68.8 million tons per year {0.573 million metric tonnes per day (MMT/d)}.
How can we prevent Solid Waste Generation in India?
There are several methods for reducing your everyday waste that may help you save time and money in the long run, while making the Earth a better place. You may make a substantial difference by incorporating these 10 simple measures into your daily routine to reduce solid waste production:
1. Use bags and containers. Make them your partner whether you go for shopping, traveling, or packing food! For food preservation, we recommend utilizing recyclable plastic bags and glasses.
2. Recycle water bottles, coffee cups and plates as well! Instead of using plastic or paper, invest in reusable and refillable cookware.
3. Avoid individually wrapped foods, such as snack packs or single-serving containers of food.
4. Begin composting in the kitchen and in the yard. Food leftovers and yard detritus may be composted into fertilizer, which benefits the soil as well.
5. Online bill payment! Going paperless with your bank and other bills aids in the conservation of trees!
6. Go paperless in the kitchen as well! Replace paper towels with reusable wash cloths and napkins.
7. Increase your recycling! Fill a notepad before beginning a new one. Make a shopping list using recycled paper or used envelopes and print on both sides.
8. Purchase in bulk! This helps to decrease packaging waste while also saving you money!
9. Reuse old items, such as old tee shirts as cleaning rags or food containers as storage containers for other items such as office supplies.
10. Give away your old items. Donate old clothing, furniture, books, or anything else! It is preferable than tossing it in trash because it can benefit someone in need!
Solid waste prevention through treatment
1: Thermal treatment
Incineration is the burning of solid waste in the presence of oxygen, producing carbon dioxide, water vapour and ash. It is a way of recovering energy from the waste that is also known as the Waste to Energy (WTE) method. The benefits include waste reduction, lower costs for transportationand lower GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions.
2: Biological treatment
This method entails employing microorganisms to degrade waste's biodegradable components.
There are two kinds of processes:
-Aerobic composting requires the presence of oxygen and includes windrow composting, aerated static pile composting, in-vessel composting, vermin culture and other methods.
-Open dumping and landfills: It is the regulated dumping of waste on land in such a manner that waste-to-environment interaction is greatly limited and waste is concentrated in a well-defined region. Dumps are open sites where solid waste is deposited, exposing it to the weather as well as wandering animals and birds.
3: Recycling
It is the process of converting waste into a useful product. It decreases the quantity of waste that must be handled, the expense of processing it, the amount of waste that must be disposed of in landfills, and the environmental effect.
4: Recovery or reclaim
Waste can be converted, reprocessed or broken down using a variety of mechanical, biological, and caloric processes and technologies. This entails converting waste into fuel for manufacturing operations or energy-generating equipment.
Conclusion
Solid waste management is critical for both persons and the environment. Organizations should run awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of solid waste management and its influence on the environment. To guarantee environmentally sound operations, solid waste must be effectively managed.
Netsol Water offers environmental consulting services that are proactive and methods for solid waste management. We are committed to saving your time and money while also providing you with a tailored solution to your specific requirements.
For any further information, please contact us at +91-9650608473 or drop a mail at enquiry@netsolwater.com.