Basic Facts
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
MSW—more commonly known as trash or garbage—consists of everyday items such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, paint, and batteries. To learn more about MSW, view our interactive presentation about Milestones in Garbage: 1990–Present.
In 2005, U.S. residents, businesses, and institutions produced more than 245 million tonsof MSW, which is approximately 4.5 pounds of waste per person per day.
Several MSW management practices, such as source reduction, recycling, and composting, prevent or divert materials from the wastestream. Source reduction involves altering the design, manufacture, or use of products and materials to reduce the amount and toxicity of what gets thrown away. Recycling diverts items, such as paper, glass, plastic, and metals, from the wastestream. These materials are sorted, collected, and processed and then manufactured, sold, and bought as new products. Composting decomposes organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, with microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi), producing a humus-like substance.
Other practices address those materials that require disposal. Landfills are engineered areas where waste is placed into the land. Landfills usually have liner systems and other safeguards to prevent groundwater contamination. Combustion is another MSW practice that has helped reduce the amount of landfill space needed. Combustion facilities burn MSW at a high temperature, reducing waste volume and generating electricity.
Solid Waste Hierarchy
EPA has ranked the most environmentally sound strategies for MSW. Source reduction (including reuse) is the most preferred method, followed by recycling and composting, and, lastly, disposal in combustion facilities and landfills.
Currently, in the United States, 32 percent is recovered and recycled or composted, 14 percent is burned at combustion facilities, and the remaining 54 percent is disposed of in landfills.
Source Reduction (Waste Prevention)
Source reduction can be a successful method of reducing waste generation. Practices such as grasscycling, backyard composting, two-sided copying of paper, and transport packaging reduction by industry have yielded substantial benefits through source reduction.
Source reduction has many environmental benefits. It prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases, reduces pollutants, saves energy, conserves resources, and reduces the need for new landfills and combustors.
Recycling
Recycling, including composting, diverted 79 million tons of material away from disposal in 2005, up from 15 million tons in 1980, when the recycle rate was just 10% and 90% of MSW was being combusted with energy recovery or disposed of by landfilling.
Typical materials that are recycled include batteries, recycled at a rate of 99%, paper and paperboard at 50%, and yard trimmings at 62%. These materials and others may be recycled through curbside programs, drop-off centers, buy-back programs, and deposit systems.
Recycling prevents the emission of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants, saves energy, supplies valuable raw materials to industry, creates jobs, stimulates the development of greener technologies, conserves resources for our children's future, and reduces the need for new landfills and combustors.
Recycling also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions that affect global climate. In 1996, recycling of solid waste in the United States prevented the release of 33 million tons of carbon into the air-roughly the amount emitted annually by 25 million cars.
Combustion/Incineration
Burning MSW can generate energy while reducing the amount of waste by up to 90 percent in volume and 75 percent in weight.
EPA's Office of Air and Radiation is primarily responsible for regulating combustors because air emissions from combustion pose the greatest environmental concern.
Recycling also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions that affect global climate. In 2005, the national recycling rate of 32 percent prevented the release of approximately 49 million metric tons of carbon into the air--roughly the amount emitted annually by 39 million cars, or 1400 trillion BTUs, saving energy equivalent to 11 billion gallons of gasoline.
Landfills
Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), landfills that accept MSW are primarily regulated by state, tribal, and local governments. EPA, however, has established national standards these landfills must meet in order to stay open. Municipal landfills can, however, accept household hazardous waste.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was enacted by Congress in 1976 and amended in 1984. The act's primary goal is to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal. In addition, RCRA calls for conservation of energy and natural resources, reduction in waste generated, and environmentally sound waste management practices.
The number of landfills in the United States is steadily decreasing—from 8,000 in 1988 to 1,654 in 2005. The capacity, however, has remained relatively constant. New landfills are much larger than in the past.
Household Hazardous Waste
Households often discard many common items such as paint, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides, that contain hazardous components. Leftover portions of these products are called household hazardous waste (HHW). These products, if mishandled, can be dangerous to your health and the environment.
Environmental Terms, Abbreviations, and Acronyms
EPA provides a glossary that defines in non-technical language commonly used environmental terms appearing in EPA publications and materials. It also explains abbreviations and acronyms used throughout EPA.
posted by Lim Shun Li
Showing posts with label shun li. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shun li. Show all posts
Friday, November 2, 2007
MSW management : reduce and recycle
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Produce Less Waste by Practicing the 3 Rs:
Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard.
Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken or give it to someone who can repair it.
Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying products with recycled content.
Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC)
EPA's national effort to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more efficiently
Reduce
Waste prevention, or "source reduction," means consuming and throwing away less. It includes:
purchasing durable, long-lasting goods;
seeking products and packaging that are as free of toxics as possible;
redesigning products to use less raw material in production, have a longer life, or be used again after its original use.
Source reduction actually prevents the generation of waste in the first place, so it is the most preferred method of waste management and goes a long way toward protecting the environment.
More About Source Reduction
Source Reduction Publications and Software
Ways to Reuse
Using durable coffee mugs.
Using cloth napkins or towels.
Refilling bottles.
Donating old magazines or surplus equipment.
Reusing boxes.
Turning empty jars into containers for leftover food.
Purchasing refillable pens and pencils.
Participating in a paint collection and reuse program.
Reuse
Reusing items -- by repairing them, donating them to charity and community groups, or selling them -- also reduces waste. Reusing products, when possible, is even better than recycling because the item does not need to be reprocessed before it can be used again.
More About Reuse
Recycle
Benefits of Recycling
Conserves resources for our children's future.
Prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants.
Saves energy.
Supplies valuable raw materials to industry.
Creates jobs.
Stimulates the development of greener technologies.
Reduces the need for new landfills and incinerators.
Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. In addition, it generates a host of environmental, financial, and social benefits. Materials like glass, metal, plastics, and paper are collected, separated and sent to facilities that can process them into new materials or products.
Recycling is one of the best environmental success stories of the late 20th century. Recycling, including composting, diverted 79 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2005, up from 34 million tons in 1990. By 2002, almost 9,000 curbside collection programs served roughly half of the American population. Curbside programs, along with drop-off and buy-back centers, resulted in a diversion of about 32 percent of the nation's solid waste in 2005.
More About Recycling
Recycle on the Go – EPA's campaign to put recycling places in public spaces
Recycling Publications
Buying Recycled Products
There's more to recycling than setting out your recyclables at the curb. In order to make recycling economically feasible, we must buy recycled products and packaging. When we buy recycled products, we create an economic incentive for recyclable materials to be collected, manufactured, and marketed as new products. Buying recycled has both economic and environmental benefits. Purchasing products made from or packaged in recycled materials saves resources for future generations.
More About Buying Recycled Products
Benefits of Composting
Keeps organic wastes out of landfills.
Provides nutrients to the soil.
Increases beneficial soil organisms (e.g., worms and centipedes).
Suppresses certain plant diseases.
Reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides.
Protects soils from erosion.
Assists pollution remediation.
Composting
Another form of recycling is composting. Composting is the controlled biological decomposition of organic matter, such as food and yard wastes, into humus, a soil-like material. Composting is nature's way of recycling organic waste into new soil, which can be used in vegetable and flower gardens, landscaping, and many other applications.
More About Composting
Household Hazardous Waste
Common household items such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides contain hazardous components. One way to help determine if your household waste has hazardous components is to read the labels on products. Labels that read "danger," "warning," "caution," "toxic," "corrosive," "flammable," or "poison" identify products that might contain hazardous materials. Leftover portions of these products are called household hazardous waste (HHW). These products, if mishandled, can be dangerous to your health and the environment.
Although we cannot completely stop using hazardous products, we can make sure that leftovers are managed properly. The best way to handle HHW is to reduce the amount initially generated by giving leftover products to someone else to use. Although federal laws allow the disposal of HHW in the trash, many communities have collection programs for HHW to reduce the potential harm posed by these chemicals. These programs ensure the safe disposal of HHW in facilities designed to treat or dispose of hazardous waste. More than 3,000 HHW collection programs exist in the United States.
posted by Lim Shun Li
Produce Less Waste by Practicing the 3 Rs:
Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard.
Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken or give it to someone who can repair it.
Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying products with recycled content.
Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC)
EPA's national effort to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more efficiently
Reduce
Waste prevention, or "source reduction," means consuming and throwing away less. It includes:
purchasing durable, long-lasting goods;
seeking products and packaging that are as free of toxics as possible;
redesigning products to use less raw material in production, have a longer life, or be used again after its original use.
Source reduction actually prevents the generation of waste in the first place, so it is the most preferred method of waste management and goes a long way toward protecting the environment.
More About Source Reduction
Source Reduction Publications and Software
Ways to Reuse
Using durable coffee mugs.
Using cloth napkins or towels.
Refilling bottles.
Donating old magazines or surplus equipment.
Reusing boxes.
Turning empty jars into containers for leftover food.
Purchasing refillable pens and pencils.
Participating in a paint collection and reuse program.
Reuse
Reusing items -- by repairing them, donating them to charity and community groups, or selling them -- also reduces waste. Reusing products, when possible, is even better than recycling because the item does not need to be reprocessed before it can be used again.
More About Reuse
Recycle
Benefits of Recycling
Conserves resources for our children's future.
Prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants.
Saves energy.
Supplies valuable raw materials to industry.
Creates jobs.
Stimulates the development of greener technologies.
Reduces the need for new landfills and incinerators.
Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. In addition, it generates a host of environmental, financial, and social benefits. Materials like glass, metal, plastics, and paper are collected, separated and sent to facilities that can process them into new materials or products.
Recycling is one of the best environmental success stories of the late 20th century. Recycling, including composting, diverted 79 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2005, up from 34 million tons in 1990. By 2002, almost 9,000 curbside collection programs served roughly half of the American population. Curbside programs, along with drop-off and buy-back centers, resulted in a diversion of about 32 percent of the nation's solid waste in 2005.
More About Recycling
Recycle on the Go – EPA's campaign to put recycling places in public spaces
Recycling Publications
Buying Recycled Products
There's more to recycling than setting out your recyclables at the curb. In order to make recycling economically feasible, we must buy recycled products and packaging. When we buy recycled products, we create an economic incentive for recyclable materials to be collected, manufactured, and marketed as new products. Buying recycled has both economic and environmental benefits. Purchasing products made from or packaged in recycled materials saves resources for future generations.
More About Buying Recycled Products
Benefits of Composting
Keeps organic wastes out of landfills.
Provides nutrients to the soil.
Increases beneficial soil organisms (e.g., worms and centipedes).
Suppresses certain plant diseases.
Reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides.
Protects soils from erosion.
Assists pollution remediation.
Composting
Another form of recycling is composting. Composting is the controlled biological decomposition of organic matter, such as food and yard wastes, into humus, a soil-like material. Composting is nature's way of recycling organic waste into new soil, which can be used in vegetable and flower gardens, landscaping, and many other applications.
More About Composting
Household Hazardous Waste
Common household items such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides contain hazardous components. One way to help determine if your household waste has hazardous components is to read the labels on products. Labels that read "danger," "warning," "caution," "toxic," "corrosive," "flammable," or "poison" identify products that might contain hazardous materials. Leftover portions of these products are called household hazardous waste (HHW). These products, if mishandled, can be dangerous to your health and the environment.
Although we cannot completely stop using hazardous products, we can make sure that leftovers are managed properly. The best way to handle HHW is to reduce the amount initially generated by giving leftover products to someone else to use. Although federal laws allow the disposal of HHW in the trash, many communities have collection programs for HHW to reduce the potential harm posed by these chemicals. These programs ensure the safe disposal of HHW in facilities designed to treat or dispose of hazardous waste. More than 3,000 HHW collection programs exist in the United States.
posted by Lim Shun Li
Monday, August 27, 2007
Albuquerque's Environmental Story
Environmental Topic: Solid Waste Management
by Jennie V. Chavez and Angela Alberti
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background and Future Planning
WASTE STREAM IN ALBUQUERQUE
FY 1992, Composition
Source: City of Albuquerque, Solid Waste Management Department
Solid waste disposal is one of Albuquerque's pressing environmental concerns--one that is growing every year. The city generates about 1,100 tons of waste per day. What to do and how to "take care" of all this waste, garbage, trash, refuse is an issue to be considered in city planning.
As defined by the Solid Waste Disposal Act, solid waste includes the nonhazardous solid, liquid, or contained gaseous refuse generated by industrial, commercial, and residential sources. While the definition covers many types of waste, public attention has focused on municipal solid waste (MSW), most of which is generated by commercial and residential sources.
Solid waste is regulated under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Criteria by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets minimum technical requirements, but enforcement is left to the states. The 1990 New Mexico Solid Waste Act requires a solid waste management plan that encompasses the Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) hierarchy recommended by EPA. The hierarchy includes source reduction (precycling), recycling (and composting), combustion, or waste-to-energy processes, and landfilling. An immediate goal was set "to divert 25 percent of all solid waste from disposal facilities by July 1, 1995, and 50% by July 1, 2000."
Until the recent decade, waste had not been a major issue of concern. The invention of television and mass communication assisted in proliferating products that people wanted rather than needed. Disposables became popular with the fast-moving American public. The sources of pollution and waste increased dramatically. Few had noticed the problem until the Long Island garbage barge of 1986, which brought to public attention the crisis of waste disposal.
Plastic Lining
Cerro Colorado Landfill
In addition, the capacity for acceptable disposal sites is rapidly decreasing. Half of all the "dumps" operating in the 1980s were closed by 1995. All solid waste must be disposed of in modified or sanitary landfills. Small communities have to transport their wastes to EPA-regulated landfills. The cost of building one is enormous. Landfills are a series of "cells," which are individual sections designed and managed according to prescribed environmental regulations. Requirements include geologically sound sites, plastic liners, leachate trenches, compaction, and specific depth of dirt cover. The final cover is designed to prevent erosion, puddling, and leaching.
The declining number of landfills has caused communities to transport their wastes greater distances for disposal and has increased disposal costs. New Mexico, and Albuquerque in particular, have plentiful open spaces that may still be used for landfilling.
Several factors in finding a suitable site for a landfill must be considered. Locating landfills close to residential areas could unfavorably affect people and be unacceptable to the neighborhoods involved--thus the concepts of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) and LULU (Locally Unacceptable Land Usage).
The improper handling of waste could effect changes not only to our soil and air but, most important, the quality of our water, the most precious commodity in the Southwest. Under the Middle Rio Grande Valley lies a basin-fill aquifer. This aquifer is a critical water source for Albuquerque and its surrounding area.
The Elements of Modern Waste Management
The citizens of Albuquerque are like other Americans who perceive that the right thing to do is to preserve natural resources and protect the environment from pollutants. Thus the Albuquerque public demanded that government play an active role in solid waste management. A waste characterization study and cost studies were conducted. Public forums gave citizens an opportunity to participate in the planning and development of solid waste management policy.
Albuquerque's Solid Waste Management Department thus developed and continues to implement the Comprehensive Integrated Solid Waste Management Program. The components of this modern infrastructure include the following elements:
Cerro Colorado Landfill
state-of-the-art landfill
recycling of secondary materials, including collection, an intermediate processing facility, marketing
household hazardous waste disposal center
yard waste collection and composting
new convenience center (transfer station)
automated residential collection.
The Cerro Colorado Landfill was constructed 20 miles southwest of the city and opened in 1991. Residential curbside recycling began in late 1992. The Intermediate Processing Facility was opened April 1993. The new north area convenience center, the Eagle Rock Convenience Center, opened in May 1994. Automated, city-wide refuse collection began in February 1995.
In 1993, the Solid Waste Association of North America recognized the Cerro Colorado Landfill by awarding it second place among 160 landfills in its landfill competition. Landfills were rated on the basis of environmental protection, cost, cleanliness, safety, and monitoring.
Glass Recycling Bins
The residential curbside pick-up of recyclables involves collecting secondary materials such as aluminum, steel cans, plastics, newsprint, and corrugated cardboard. The Albuquerque Environmental Health Department developed an oil recycling program and, with the Solid Waste Management Department, has developed a household hazardous disposal program. In addition, the Parks Management Department collects green waste from parks, which, along with yard waste from the convenience centers, is mixed with waste-water sludge at the Public Works Department's Soils Amendment Facility, where compost is made and then distributed directly back to the parks.
The automated collection system assists safety and sanitation, efficiency, and lowers Workers' Compensation Insurance costs.
The methods of disposal appropriate to our particular geographical location will continue to be evaluated. Financial disclosure to taxpayers is crucial for good decision making. Indeed, communities are being rated on how well they handle their waste.
The success of effective solid waste management is dependent on funding and support of the community and government. Education of the public in the economics, policies, and environmental impacts of waste management will influence how the public perceives and acts on this issue.
Future Technologies
Waste disposal methods of the future might include technologies already within our reach --landfill reclamation, mixed-waste compost as landfill layering, energy fuel from waste (i.e., extruded oil from tires), and self-contained industrial sites for manufacturing using secondary materials.
Conservation of natural resources and attitudinal changes in our consumption habits may be our most difficult educational goal. Over-packaging, early obsolescence and "throw-away" are integral parts of our modern way of life. It is essential to heighten public awareness regarding our consumption habits.
Waste to Compost
Soils Amendment Facility
A surprise came from a 1991 waste-characterization study: a large percentage of the city's waste stream was yard waste. The study was a response to the 1990 state legislation, the Solid Waste Act, which established a goal of diverting 25% of all solid waste from the disposal system by July of 1995 and 50% by July, 2000. Thus Public Works opened a pilot composting facility not far from the Cerro Colorado Landfill in southwest Albuquerque early in 1992. By June of that year, an interdepartmental program for composting green waste was in the works. Green waste is added to biosolids from the wastewater treatment facility. The program included the departments of Solid Waste Management and Public Works and Parks and General Services.
The interdepartmental program became a part of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan in 1992. The department developed a two-pronged approach to yard waste diversion. The first part was to reduce the amount of green waste generated in the city; the second was to develop collection and processing programs to take care of the remainder of the waste.
Mulching Yard Waste
Residents are encouraged to do backyard composting, especially if their yard waste exceeds the capacity of the 90-gallon container, which the Solid Waste Department trucks with special electronic arms can pick up. Residents can also request special pick ups (for which they must pay special rates) or take the material to convenience centers. By encouraging reduction of yard wastes and the use of conveniences centers, the city enforces behavior consistent with the long-range goals of the 25% diversion of wastes from the landfill as well as the general goal of conserving water.
In addition to meeting state and national recycling goals and reducing costs, the city is helping people improve the soil. Compost increases soil microbial populations, provides nutrients, helps soil retain both water and nutrients, and helps prevent soil erosion.
by Jennie V. Chavez and Angela Alberti
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background and Future Planning
WASTE STREAM IN ALBUQUERQUE
FY 1992, Composition
Source: City of Albuquerque, Solid Waste Management Department
Solid waste disposal is one of Albuquerque's pressing environmental concerns--one that is growing every year. The city generates about 1,100 tons of waste per day. What to do and how to "take care" of all this waste, garbage, trash, refuse is an issue to be considered in city planning.
As defined by the Solid Waste Disposal Act, solid waste includes the nonhazardous solid, liquid, or contained gaseous refuse generated by industrial, commercial, and residential sources. While the definition covers many types of waste, public attention has focused on municipal solid waste (MSW), most of which is generated by commercial and residential sources.
Solid waste is regulated under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Criteria by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets minimum technical requirements, but enforcement is left to the states. The 1990 New Mexico Solid Waste Act requires a solid waste management plan that encompasses the Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) hierarchy recommended by EPA. The hierarchy includes source reduction (precycling), recycling (and composting), combustion, or waste-to-energy processes, and landfilling. An immediate goal was set "to divert 25 percent of all solid waste from disposal facilities by July 1, 1995, and 50% by July 1, 2000."
Until the recent decade, waste had not been a major issue of concern. The invention of television and mass communication assisted in proliferating products that people wanted rather than needed. Disposables became popular with the fast-moving American public. The sources of pollution and waste increased dramatically. Few had noticed the problem until the Long Island garbage barge of 1986, which brought to public attention the crisis of waste disposal.
Plastic Lining
Cerro Colorado Landfill
In addition, the capacity for acceptable disposal sites is rapidly decreasing. Half of all the "dumps" operating in the 1980s were closed by 1995. All solid waste must be disposed of in modified or sanitary landfills. Small communities have to transport their wastes to EPA-regulated landfills. The cost of building one is enormous. Landfills are a series of "cells," which are individual sections designed and managed according to prescribed environmental regulations. Requirements include geologically sound sites, plastic liners, leachate trenches, compaction, and specific depth of dirt cover. The final cover is designed to prevent erosion, puddling, and leaching.
The declining number of landfills has caused communities to transport their wastes greater distances for disposal and has increased disposal costs. New Mexico, and Albuquerque in particular, have plentiful open spaces that may still be used for landfilling.
Several factors in finding a suitable site for a landfill must be considered. Locating landfills close to residential areas could unfavorably affect people and be unacceptable to the neighborhoods involved--thus the concepts of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) and LULU (Locally Unacceptable Land Usage).
The improper handling of waste could effect changes not only to our soil and air but, most important, the quality of our water, the most precious commodity in the Southwest. Under the Middle Rio Grande Valley lies a basin-fill aquifer. This aquifer is a critical water source for Albuquerque and its surrounding area.
The Elements of Modern Waste Management
The citizens of Albuquerque are like other Americans who perceive that the right thing to do is to preserve natural resources and protect the environment from pollutants. Thus the Albuquerque public demanded that government play an active role in solid waste management. A waste characterization study and cost studies were conducted. Public forums gave citizens an opportunity to participate in the planning and development of solid waste management policy.
Albuquerque's Solid Waste Management Department thus developed and continues to implement the Comprehensive Integrated Solid Waste Management Program. The components of this modern infrastructure include the following elements:
Cerro Colorado Landfill
state-of-the-art landfill
recycling of secondary materials, including collection, an intermediate processing facility, marketing
household hazardous waste disposal center
yard waste collection and composting
new convenience center (transfer station)
automated residential collection.
The Cerro Colorado Landfill was constructed 20 miles southwest of the city and opened in 1991. Residential curbside recycling began in late 1992. The Intermediate Processing Facility was opened April 1993. The new north area convenience center, the Eagle Rock Convenience Center, opened in May 1994. Automated, city-wide refuse collection began in February 1995.
In 1993, the Solid Waste Association of North America recognized the Cerro Colorado Landfill by awarding it second place among 160 landfills in its landfill competition. Landfills were rated on the basis of environmental protection, cost, cleanliness, safety, and monitoring.
Glass Recycling Bins
The residential curbside pick-up of recyclables involves collecting secondary materials such as aluminum, steel cans, plastics, newsprint, and corrugated cardboard. The Albuquerque Environmental Health Department developed an oil recycling program and, with the Solid Waste Management Department, has developed a household hazardous disposal program. In addition, the Parks Management Department collects green waste from parks, which, along with yard waste from the convenience centers, is mixed with waste-water sludge at the Public Works Department's Soils Amendment Facility, where compost is made and then distributed directly back to the parks.
The automated collection system assists safety and sanitation, efficiency, and lowers Workers' Compensation Insurance costs.
The methods of disposal appropriate to our particular geographical location will continue to be evaluated. Financial disclosure to taxpayers is crucial for good decision making. Indeed, communities are being rated on how well they handle their waste.
The success of effective solid waste management is dependent on funding and support of the community and government. Education of the public in the economics, policies, and environmental impacts of waste management will influence how the public perceives and acts on this issue.
Future Technologies
Waste disposal methods of the future might include technologies already within our reach --landfill reclamation, mixed-waste compost as landfill layering, energy fuel from waste (i.e., extruded oil from tires), and self-contained industrial sites for manufacturing using secondary materials.
Conservation of natural resources and attitudinal changes in our consumption habits may be our most difficult educational goal. Over-packaging, early obsolescence and "throw-away" are integral parts of our modern way of life. It is essential to heighten public awareness regarding our consumption habits.
Waste to Compost
Soils Amendment Facility
A surprise came from a 1991 waste-characterization study: a large percentage of the city's waste stream was yard waste. The study was a response to the 1990 state legislation, the Solid Waste Act, which established a goal of diverting 25% of all solid waste from the disposal system by July of 1995 and 50% by July, 2000. Thus Public Works opened a pilot composting facility not far from the Cerro Colorado Landfill in southwest Albuquerque early in 1992. By June of that year, an interdepartmental program for composting green waste was in the works. Green waste is added to biosolids from the wastewater treatment facility. The program included the departments of Solid Waste Management and Public Works and Parks and General Services.
The interdepartmental program became a part of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan in 1992. The department developed a two-pronged approach to yard waste diversion. The first part was to reduce the amount of green waste generated in the city; the second was to develop collection and processing programs to take care of the remainder of the waste.
Mulching Yard Waste
Residents are encouraged to do backyard composting, especially if their yard waste exceeds the capacity of the 90-gallon container, which the Solid Waste Department trucks with special electronic arms can pick up. Residents can also request special pick ups (for which they must pay special rates) or take the material to convenience centers. By encouraging reduction of yard wastes and the use of conveniences centers, the city enforces behavior consistent with the long-range goals of the 25% diversion of wastes from the landfill as well as the general goal of conserving water.
In addition to meeting state and national recycling goals and reducing costs, the city is helping people improve the soil. Compost increases soil microbial populations, provides nutrients, helps soil retain both water and nutrients, and helps prevent soil erosion.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Solid Waste Management
Solid waste management and collection/disposal of hazardous hospital waste
Khatib Ahmed writes about the need of availing alternative options for improving the solid waste management system in the city.
Karachi generates about 8000 tons of solid waste per day. 90% waste that is generated is recyclable. It is managed in the following manner:
• 40% reduced by informal sector which is now being recovered by private sector/market forces/in informal sector (No expense incurred by Government)
• 90% of all the recovered items are recycled and reused. Hospital Waste lying
Recycled items include
• Bones
• Glass (Scraps)
• Paper (Scrap/Cardboard)
• Plastics/Polyethylene
• Tin/Metals • Rubber/tyre & tubes
• Waste oil/grease
• 60% of the items are biodegradable/organic (vegetable, fruits matter and organic waste) which are not recoved and cause environmental hazards.
Organic Composting
Composting of Organic Waste is not being done. It is possible to compost the organic wastes on Community level for which the technology is available locally.
Technology is very simple and has been tested out in PCSIR Karach Laboratories and other organizations. Working models are also present in Karachi and few individuals are practicing it at their homes for biodegrading their kitchen and garden waste into compost which they use for their own gardens. If produced on a large scale, it will be more than sufficient to meet the entire requirement of manure by the city’s horticult u re department and also the nearby fields and orchards. These units already buy manure for their plots/garden, green belts.
Addition of compost to the manure improves the quality of soil and also reduces the quantity of manure purchased. Because of its water retention capacity, it helps reduce the water requirement for plants.
The city government should urgently attend to composting because by having a composting plant a sizeable quantity that has to transported to landfills will be diverted to composting plants.
The following documents are available for reference and recommendations from the Shehri office:
1. Promotion of Waste Recycling and Reused in Developing Countries, Study on behalf of UNCHS-Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya- by Khatib Ahmed of NTCS, Karachi.
2. A Citizens Guide to "Soild Waste Management" - by Farhan Anwar
3. Neighbourhood Level Solid Waste Management in Karachi - Issues and Solution - by Farhan Anwar.
4. Institutional Assessment & Evaluation of Public Facilities Management practices in Local Government. Solid Waste Management Sector of Karachi, A Case Study - by Farhan Anwar.
5. Report on Composting of Sabzi Mandi Waste - by Radia Khatib, Naseem F. Usmani, Mohammad Adil of PCSIR, Karachi.
6. Investigation into compostability of Zoological Garden Waste - by Radia Khatib, Naseem F. Usmani of PCSIR, Karachi.
7. Development and study on Low Cost Household/Community Level Composting Unit - by Radia Khatib, Naseem F. Usmani, Mohammad Adil of PCSIR, Karachi.
(Excerpts from a paper read by Mr. Khatib Ahmed, Chairman Shehri-CBE in a Seminar - October 6, 2001 - Solid & Hospital Waste Management, organized by Sindh Ombudsman Secretariat)
Solid waste management in Karachi
Rizwana Kazmi raises some important issues regarding the solid waste management system in Karachi and outline some plans for actions.
Karachi is Pakistan’s most important and the only port city. It is a hub of commercial and industrial activity, accommodating nearly 70 percent of the country’s total industry. The rapid growth of the city, lack of effective land use and proper and effective maintenance system of essential services have led to grave environmental problems. The magnitude of the solid waste problem of Karachi is often reflected in the print media. The findings of various research studies on the topic present supporting conclusion.
According to the daily "DAWN" dated February 27th,2002, Karachi alone produces about some 10,000 metric tones of solid waste daily out of which only 30 - 40 percent is transported and dumped into open landfills while the rest is either left unattended or is being burnt in-situ.
As per a study conducted by UNIDO, apart from industrial waste, another major and most dangerous source of solid waste generation is hospital, clinics and pathological laboratories. Out of many, only one hospital has its own incinerator while the rest rely on the two incinerators of the local government, one of which is not operational. Hospital waste includes toxic, radioactive inflammable and biological waste. A little mismanagement in this situation can cause spread of lethal diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV / AIDs.
The city has two landfill sites, each with an area of 500 acres and a combined capacity to absorb 2,000 tones of waste per days for 20 years.
Although the city’s landfills have the capacity to absorb most of the daily waste produced by the city, hardly 40 per cent of the waste is collected at a time due to lack of resources and poorly administered collection and disposal system with the result that much of the city’s waste goes un-collected for long periods.
Waste is scavenged and burnt in the populated areas exposing the residents to health hazards , adding to the already severe problem of air pollution and creating opportunities for pests to breed and for spread of diseases.
Recently, findings of a waste survey were published by Daily DAWN. According to the survey of Korangi and Landhi, which are highly industrialized regions of Karachi, the incidence of chest infections is alarmingly high in the areas where solid waste is burnt affecting the respiratory system of the inhabitants. According to government sources, about 75 percent of the people coming to hospitals are afflicted with respiratory infections. A majority of these patients live in the areas where solid waste is burnt. Medical experts are of the opinion that the residents living in close proximity to places where solid waste is burnt continuously inhale fumes and develop infections.
Solid waste, which is not collected or burnt, is thrown in drains, which results in choking of drains and further pollutes the environment.
In addition to this, 330 million gallons per day (mgd) of industrial and domestic effluent is also discharged into the sea every day and approximately 70 percent of it reaches the marine environment without any form of treatment having profound effect on the marine environment.
A proper system of solid waste management is lacking for the city and the various bodies responsible for waste disposal are inefficient. For a city with a rapidly expanding population, the existing waste management capacity is far too inadequate and outmoded and needs to be improved, otherwise the problem of ineffective solid waste management services will continue to haunt those living in urban areas.
Khatib Ahmed writes about the need of availing alternative options for improving the solid waste management system in the city.
Karachi generates about 8000 tons of solid waste per day. 90% waste that is generated is recyclable. It is managed in the following manner:
• 40% reduced by informal sector which is now being recovered by private sector/market forces/in informal sector (No expense incurred by Government)
• 90% of all the recovered items are recycled and reused. Hospital Waste lying
Recycled items include
• Bones
• Glass (Scraps)
• Paper (Scrap/Cardboard)
• Plastics/Polyethylene
• Tin/Metals • Rubber/tyre & tubes
• Waste oil/grease
• 60% of the items are biodegradable/organic (vegetable, fruits matter and organic waste) which are not recoved and cause environmental hazards.
Organic Composting
Composting of Organic Waste is not being done. It is possible to compost the organic wastes on Community level for which the technology is available locally.
Technology is very simple and has been tested out in PCSIR Karach Laboratories and other organizations. Working models are also present in Karachi and few individuals are practicing it at their homes for biodegrading their kitchen and garden waste into compost which they use for their own gardens. If produced on a large scale, it will be more than sufficient to meet the entire requirement of manure by the city’s horticult u re department and also the nearby fields and orchards. These units already buy manure for their plots/garden, green belts.
Addition of compost to the manure improves the quality of soil and also reduces the quantity of manure purchased. Because of its water retention capacity, it helps reduce the water requirement for plants.
The city government should urgently attend to composting because by having a composting plant a sizeable quantity that has to transported to landfills will be diverted to composting plants.
The following documents are available for reference and recommendations from the Shehri office:
1. Promotion of Waste Recycling and Reused in Developing Countries, Study on behalf of UNCHS-Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya- by Khatib Ahmed of NTCS, Karachi.
2. A Citizens Guide to "Soild Waste Management" - by Farhan Anwar
3. Neighbourhood Level Solid Waste Management in Karachi - Issues and Solution - by Farhan Anwar.
4. Institutional Assessment & Evaluation of Public Facilities Management practices in Local Government. Solid Waste Management Sector of Karachi, A Case Study - by Farhan Anwar.
5. Report on Composting of Sabzi Mandi Waste - by Radia Khatib, Naseem F. Usmani, Mohammad Adil of PCSIR, Karachi.
6. Investigation into compostability of Zoological Garden Waste - by Radia Khatib, Naseem F. Usmani of PCSIR, Karachi.
7. Development and study on Low Cost Household/Community Level Composting Unit - by Radia Khatib, Naseem F. Usmani, Mohammad Adil of PCSIR, Karachi.
(Excerpts from a paper read by Mr. Khatib Ahmed, Chairman Shehri-CBE in a Seminar - October 6, 2001 - Solid & Hospital Waste Management, organized by Sindh Ombudsman Secretariat)
Solid waste management in Karachi
Rizwana Kazmi raises some important issues regarding the solid waste management system in Karachi and outline some plans for actions.
Karachi is Pakistan’s most important and the only port city. It is a hub of commercial and industrial activity, accommodating nearly 70 percent of the country’s total industry. The rapid growth of the city, lack of effective land use and proper and effective maintenance system of essential services have led to grave environmental problems. The magnitude of the solid waste problem of Karachi is often reflected in the print media. The findings of various research studies on the topic present supporting conclusion.
According to the daily "DAWN" dated February 27th,2002, Karachi alone produces about some 10,000 metric tones of solid waste daily out of which only 30 - 40 percent is transported and dumped into open landfills while the rest is either left unattended or is being burnt in-situ.
As per a study conducted by UNIDO, apart from industrial waste, another major and most dangerous source of solid waste generation is hospital, clinics and pathological laboratories. Out of many, only one hospital has its own incinerator while the rest rely on the two incinerators of the local government, one of which is not operational. Hospital waste includes toxic, radioactive inflammable and biological waste. A little mismanagement in this situation can cause spread of lethal diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV / AIDs.
The city has two landfill sites, each with an area of 500 acres and a combined capacity to absorb 2,000 tones of waste per days for 20 years.
Although the city’s landfills have the capacity to absorb most of the daily waste produced by the city, hardly 40 per cent of the waste is collected at a time due to lack of resources and poorly administered collection and disposal system with the result that much of the city’s waste goes un-collected for long periods.
Waste is scavenged and burnt in the populated areas exposing the residents to health hazards , adding to the already severe problem of air pollution and creating opportunities for pests to breed and for spread of diseases.
Recently, findings of a waste survey were published by Daily DAWN. According to the survey of Korangi and Landhi, which are highly industrialized regions of Karachi, the incidence of chest infections is alarmingly high in the areas where solid waste is burnt affecting the respiratory system of the inhabitants. According to government sources, about 75 percent of the people coming to hospitals are afflicted with respiratory infections. A majority of these patients live in the areas where solid waste is burnt. Medical experts are of the opinion that the residents living in close proximity to places where solid waste is burnt continuously inhale fumes and develop infections.
Solid waste, which is not collected or burnt, is thrown in drains, which results in choking of drains and further pollutes the environment.
In addition to this, 330 million gallons per day (mgd) of industrial and domestic effluent is also discharged into the sea every day and approximately 70 percent of it reaches the marine environment without any form of treatment having profound effect on the marine environment.
A proper system of solid waste management is lacking for the city and the various bodies responsible for waste disposal are inefficient. For a city with a rapidly expanding population, the existing waste management capacity is far too inadequate and outmoded and needs to be improved, otherwise the problem of ineffective solid waste management services will continue to haunt those living in urban areas.
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