Abstract

Sustainable waste management practices have become

challenging due to our consumption behavior and
changing socioeconomic conditions. Waste management is a
multidimensional problem that requires technology, economics, and
sociocultural and political activities to go hand in hand. This chapter
attempts to summarize the key influential aspects in waste
management practices, including the interaction of the
abovementioned factors. Furthermore, the chapter provides some
brief data on global waste generation followed by an update on
advanced waste management technologies available today. The
interaction between the different factors is highlighted. Finally, case
studies comparing waste management activities in three different
countries is presented.
Introduction
waste management (WM) has emerged as one of the most massive development
challenges in urban India. Numerous studies indicate that the unsafe disposal of
waste generates dangerous gases and leachates, due to microbial decomposition,
climate conditions, refuse characteristics and land-filling operations. According to
the 12th Schedule of the 74th Constitution Amendment Act of 1992, urban local
bodies (ULBs) are responsible for keeping cities and towns clean. However, most
ULBs lack adequate infrastructure and face various strategic and institutional
weaknesses, such as poor institutional capacity, financial constraints, and a lack of
political will.i While many Indian ULBs do receive government assistance, almost
all of them continue to be financially fragile. India has already exhausted all
available landfill sites, and the concerned ULBs do not have resources to acquire
new land. Moreover, finding new landfill sites is a difficult task as local officials are
averse to setting aside land in their jurisdiction for waste that come from other
areas.1
Various legislations have been passed for regulating the manner of waste disposal.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) have together rolled out policies
and programmes to address these issues. However, most of these have failed to
achieve their objectives due to a lack of clarity and awareness amongst the
stakeholders, and poor enforcement by the regulators.
Waste Generation by Wards under SBM, as of January 2020
what is waste management?
Waste management (or waste disposal) includes the
processes and actions required to manage waste from its
inception to its final disposal.[1] This includes the collection,
transport, treatment and disposal of waste, together with
monitoring and regulation of the waste management process
and waste-related laws, technologies, economic mechanisms.
Waste can be solid, liquid, or gaseous and each type has
different methods of disposal and management. Waste
management deals with all types of waste, including
industrial, biological, household, municipal,
organic, biomedical, radioactive wastes. In some cases, waste
can pose a threat to human health.[2] Health issues are
associated throughout the entire process of waste
management. Health issues can also arise indirectly or directly.
Directly, through the handling of solid waste, and indirectly
through the consumption of water, soil and food. Waste is
produced by [3] human activity, for example, the extraction and
processing of raw materials.[4] Waste management is intended
to reduce adverse effects of waste on human health,
the environment, planetary resources and aesthetics

Definition and types of waste

Waste is defined as unwanted and unusable materials and is regarded as a substance which
is of no use. Waste that we see in our surroundings is also known as garbage. Garbage is
mainly considered as a solid waste that includes wastes from our houses (domestic waste),
wastes from schools offices, etc.. and waste from industries and factories (industrial waste).

SOURCES OF WASTE
SOURCES OF WASTE CAN BE BROADLY CLASSIFIED INTO FOUR TYPES; industrial, commercial,
domestic agricultural and e-waste.
Industrial waste..
Industrial waste is the waste produced by industrial activity which includes any material that is
rendered useless during a manufacturing process such as that of factories, mills, and mining
operations. Types of industrial waste include dirt and gravel, masonry and concrete, scrap metal,
oil, solvents, chemicals, scrap lumber, even vegetable matter from restaurants. Industrial waste
may be solid, semi-solid or liquid in form. It may be hazardous waste (some types of which
are toxic) or non-hazardous waste. Industrial waste may pollute the nearby soil or adjacent water
bodies, and can contaminate groundwater, lakes, streams, rivers or coastal waters.

Methods of industrial waste management in india

Segregation and Recycling

Much of the waste that is generated by your company’s production, shipping, and packaging

needs is not reusable or compostable, but it is recyclable. The first step in your industrial

waste management program is to identify which items can be recycled, and set up recycling

bins or dumpsters into which they can be sorted. Most recycling centers can handle glass,

paper, and plastic recycling. Many can also handle scrap metal recycling, cardboard

recycling, food waste recycling, and electronics recycling. You must segregate and separate

your recycling from your hazardous waste, compostable waste, and non-hazardous solid

waste.

Use of Landfills

Landfills are one of the most common ways to dispose of waste in America. The only waste

that should be sent to landfills is that which is non-hazardous, non-recyclable, and non-

compostable. When waste is sent to a landfill, it is confined to a small area, compacted

when necessary, and then buried in the earth. As the waste decomposes, it releases gases

that can be converted to natural gases used for power and fuel. Landfills are cost-efficient

and are designed to minimize the harm done to the environment.

Composting

The composting process turns organic waste into fertilizer that can be used to nourish

plants. Most food waste can be composted, and even unsafe organic items can be turned
into safe composting. You can compost food waste, leaves, newspaper, very small pieces of

cardboard, straw, and sawdust. Compost is then added to soil to provide nutrients and

encourage growth. Composting is one of the most effective ways to reuse and recycle waste.

Commercial waste
Commercial waste consists of waste from premises used mainly for the purposes of
a trade or business or for the purpose of sport, recreation, education or entertainment, but
excluding household, agricultural or industrial waste. Business waste also includes that
resulting from construction, agriculture, industry, and demolition.

There is often confusion around what waste types fall under the commercial
category.

Any waste produced by a business — including (but not limited to) paper,
cardboard, cans, retail packaging, and food wrappers — is commercial waste.

Method of commercial waste management in india

Segregation

Building materials, plastics, glass and waste from the site work could take a really
long time period to decompose. This is the actual reason, why waste separation
using container unit is so necessary. Thus, it is very required to maintain green
practices so waste management should be done with proper segregation. Thus we
make sure to assist you in eliminating hazardous waste from compostable organic
waste, non-hazardous solid waste, recyclable materials and other regulated
material.

Landfill

Generally, when it comes to waste disposal, landfill is one of the most popular and
favored approaches. In the process of landfill the process buries the waste in the
land, but still there is a lot more to it. In relation to right landfill management, it is
important to deal with the entire waste first and send only the waste that is not
possible to compost and recycle. There is also a procedure that eliminates the
dangers and the odour of rubbish before placing them on the ground.

Composting
This waste management process turns waste into organic compounds that you can
use to feed plants. In terms of the environment advantages this is actually beneficial
technique. Making use of this method, it’s easy to turn unsafe organic products into
safe compost.

Recycling

If your approach is not towards disposing materials and other wastes, then this
recycling and recovery method will be a good approach for you. This is process aim
to make undesirable objects into useful ones. By understanding what you can
recycle and how you can recover valuable resources, you can be a very best part of
helping the country to attain a positive environmental future.  

Domestic waste
Domestic waste is any waste that is produced in the home environment.

Local authorities’ waste teams regularly collect the bulk of this, and additional
household waste can be collected via one-off waste collections or skip hire.

Larger or extra domestic waste can also be taken to a local recycling centre for
disposal.

This blog post will explore what domestic waste consists of and what happens to it
after being collected from the nation’s homes.

Types of domestic waste

Recyclable waste

Recyclable waste includes plastics, paper, cardboard, aluminium, and glass bottles.

Most UK households have council collections for recyclables, although which

recyclables can vary between authorities.

For example, Leeds City Council doesn’t collect glass bottles from households;
whereas, Harrogate Borough Council collects glass at the kerbside.
Always check what you can and cannot place inside your domestic recycling bin, as
incorrect items can ruin entire loads of recycling.
General waste

All households have a general waste collection, and this bin collects non-recyclable
domestic waste.

If you have an excess of general waste, larger items, or rubble from DIY or
renovation work, then you can take it to your local recycling centre, organise a waste
collection, or hire a skip.

Garden waste

Most local authorities offer a garden waste collection service throughout the
summer months, but a charge is often involved.

If you require a garden waste collection, check your council’s website for more
information.

Alternatively, get in touch with a waste management company that can arrange
a one-off waste collection.
We wrote a blog post on how to dispose of unwanted soil, so you may wish to read that
if you are a keen gardener.

Hazardous waste

You may be wondering, ‘what is domestic hazardous waste?’ as most hazardous

waste is commercial.

Domestic hazardous waste is anything that is considered harmful to humans or the

environment, including medical waste, batteries, chemicals, pesticides, and
refrigerators.
Most council-run recycling centres accept many types of hazardous waste, so get in
touch with your local council if you have some hazardous waste to shift.

Method of domestic waste management in india

Sanitary Landfill Disposal
The modern sanitary landfill is much more than a simple dumping
ground, due to the fact that waste materials are handled in a more
controlled fashion to preserve the quality of groundwater in the area.
Lighter materials are placed at the bottom of the sanitary landfill, which
contains the majority of toxic compounds, thereby protecting the local
environment

Incineration Disposal
Incineration is a popular garbage-disposal method in locations where
space is at a premium or in locations where there is no sanitation
service provided by local government. Although incineration can
provide relief from dealing with the bulk of material waste, it does not
entirely eliminate problems. Anything in the burning incinerator that
contains a toxic substance, particularly heavy-metal toxic substances,
will be sent up the chimney and cast as ash all over the surrounding
area

Material-Recovery Sorting Disposal

Material-recovery sorting takes the concept of recycling to a whole
new level, wherein the entirety of the city’s waste is sorted by material
specifications, and as much of it is recovered for reprocessing as
possible. Although at first glance such a project can seem daunting,
tedious and expensive, it is possible for the opposite to be true.

Agricultural waste
Agricultural waste is waste produced as a result of various agricultural operations. It includes manure
and other wastes from farms, poultry houses and slaughterhouses; harvest waste; fertilizer run- off
from fields; pesticides that enter into water, air or soils; and salt and silt drained from fields. In
addition to being potentially damaging to the environment, agricultural
waste may expose workers to harmful biological material (biohazards).

Storing agricultural waste can multiply the hazards associated with it

since stored waste can release harmful gases

Specific biohazards related to agricultural waste

include:
 Fungi
 Molds
  Bacteria
 Viruses
 Animal-borne diseases (zoonoses)

Methods of agricultural waste management

1, animal feed- In india, crop wastes are usually used to feed animals either
unprocessed or supplemented with additives..

2, roof thatching- this is the craft if building roof with dry vegetation such as straw,
water reed, rushes and palm branches.

3, surface mulching- a mulch is a layer of dry farm materials applied to the surface of
soil. Reasons for applying include conservation of soil moisture and improving
fertility.

4, composting- Composting is the natural process of recycling organic

matter, such as leaves and food scraps, into a valuable fertilizer that can
enrich soil and plants

5, fertilisers- Farm compost is made by placing farm wastes in trenches of

suitable size, say, 4.5 m to 5.0 m long, 1.5 m to 2.0 m wide and 1.0 m to
2.0 m deep. Farm waste is placed in the trenches layer by layer. Each
layer is well moistened by sprinkling cow dung slurry or water.

6, direct combustion- Direct combustion is a thermochemical technique in

which the biomass is burned in open air or in the presence of excess air. In
this process, the photosynthetically stored chemical energy of the
biomass will be converted into gases.

7, pyrolysis- Pyrolysis is a feedstock agnostic process where any type of

organic wastes can be converted into liquid fuel. 

8, Fibres for textile industry

How farmers can reduce food waste?

1) Try not to purchase more products than you need.

2) Identify the products which you do not use, or those that are often left over
when you are no longer able to use them. Minimise the amount of these that you
purchase or produce.
3) Take proper care of your plants/produce to avoid planting crops that will never
be harvested/will be harvested poorly.
4) Consider investing in new technologies that can help manage crop growth.
5) Recycle where possible.
6) Introducing composting to your routine.
7) Consider selling surplus products in bulk at a decreased price instead of
throwing it away.
8) Donate surplus products to charities such as food banks or homeless shelters,
who will ensure the product does not go to waste.

Electronic waste
Electronic waste or e-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices.
Used electronics which are destined for refurbishment, reuse, resale, salvage
recycling through material recovery, or disposal are also considered e-waste.

Methods of electronic waste management

5. Give Your Electronic Waste to a Certified E-Waste Recycler

The positive aspect of e-waste recycling is that you have quite a few recycling options.

You need to find an e-waste recycler who is officially certified by the Basel Action Network
(BAN). BAN is a non-profit organization of recycling companies which are dedicated to recycling
e-waste in a safe and responsible way. All members have to make a pledge and display their
Pledges of Responsible Recycling

4. Sell Off Your Outdated Technology

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure as the old saying goes. This can be applied to helping
you get rid of your old electronics. You can tap into online sites like craigslist, eBay or even resort
to having a garage sale as this will help you get rid of your outdated electronics as well as
earning some money. Examples of this are old Nintendo video games which can sell for as high
as $40 a piece. Most electronic shops are always ready to buy your old electronics.

3. Donating Your Outdated Technology

Old gadgets that you no longer need can be donated as they may be useful to others. Your old
computer may be useful to either an NGO or students. You should ask yourself these 2
questions before disposing of your old electronics:

2. Visit Civic Institutions

Enquire amongst your government, universities, and schools for any recycling programs they run
as a lot of organizations have started assigning a certain day and place for environmentally
conscious citizens to come and drop off their e-waste.
1. Give Back to Your Electronic Companies and Drop Off Points

A lot of electronic companies tend to have an exchange policy whereby they take back your old
gadgets when you buy a later version, sometimes offering you a discount on your new purchase.

The reversed 5r waste management

concept
The Reversed Triangle 5R Waste Management Concept

1. Reduce – reduce waste generation from the start by bringing your own
shopping bags, using products that can be used repeatedly, and so on
2. Reuse – reuse materials that can and are safe to be reused, one of them
is by making handicrafts or through the upcycling process
3. Recycle – recycling waste by melting, chopping to be re-formed into new
products that most likely to experience a decline in quality
4. Recovery – when it cannot be recycled, then find a way to produce energy
or new material by processing the non-recyclable waste (residue)
5. Disposal – waste byproducts from the recovery process which are
generally in the form of ash or other waste material are taken to the
landfill to be processed so as not to damage the environment
The Benefits of Waste Management
There are multiple benefits to treating and managing waste.
In this section, we will take a closer look at them.

Better Environment
Probably the biggest advantage of managing waste is that it
eventually leads to a better and fresher environment.

Waste disposal units also contribute to the well-being of

people by helping them become disease-free. The best part:
all of this happens while the unnecessary is duly disposed of
in a proper and sanitary manner.

Multiple waste disposal units should be placed in tier-1 and

tier-2 cities in a bid to prep up the process of waste disposal.
This will also help implement remarkable safety measures in
the long run.

Reduces Pollution
When waste is managed the right way, it doesn’t merely
eliminate the subsequent waste but also reduces the impact
and the intensity of harmful greenhouse gases like carbon-di-
oxide, carbon mono-oxide, and methane that are often
exuded from accumulated wastes in landfills.
Managing waste reduces our reliance on landfills while also
significantly cutting down the many factors that adversely
impact our environment.

Conserves Energy
Recycling is one of the biggest aspects of waste management,
and over time, it helps conserve energy. One of the biggest
instances of this advantage can be traced to the practice of
recycling paper.

All of us are probably aware that thousands of trees are cut to

produce paper. When a used paper is recycled to create new
paper, the need of cutting trees is significantly minimized.
This helps conserve energy while also reducing your carbon
footprints.

Creates Employment
The recycling industry alone creates hundreds of jobs. As
more people adopt this eco-friendly practice, organizations
creating and selling recycled products come to the forefront.
This helps boost their business while also creating hundreds
of jobs.

Helps Make a Difference

By managing waste, you are also making a difference to the
society and the world in general. While none of us can
completely get rid of garbage, we can always adopt eco-
friendly practices of reducing and reusing waste. This way,
you create an example for the people around you, who in
turn are now motivated to embrace a sustainable approach.

Conclusion

The SWM system in India is in a critical state, as

ULBs have largely failed to manage solid waste
efficiently. Being heavily dependent on the state
governments for funding, these local bodies lack
the resources to acquire new land or obtain the
technologies required for SWM. Moreover,
waster pickers, who are key workers in the
industry, lack legal status and protection, and
are hardly effective or capable of enforcing
systems in the collection and segregation of
waste. For the situation to improve, institutional
and financial issues must be addressed on
priority. While the 2016 SWM Rules do address a
significant number of issues, compliance
remains weak. A policy paper or action plan
must be prepared to promote the
decentralisation of the waste management
system.
To enhance the efficiency of SWM in India,
citizen participation should be promoted,
especially in source segregation and treatment
processes. The policy agenda for sustainable
SWM must drive behavioural change amongst
citizens, elected representatives and decision-
makers, to minimise wastage and littering, and
increase reuse and recycling. Community
awareness and a change in people’s attitudes
towards solid waste and their disposal can go a
long way in improving India’s SWM system.