0Report: A Preliminary Study And Possible Solutions
For Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management
Objective : MSW is a challenge to urbanization. It causes air pollution, land contamination, hygiene issues, and indirectly affects city commercial value.
Under this preliminary report, based on some basic informations and available technology resources we tried to highlight some potential solutions.
A detail study is recommended based of the observations for a final techno-commercial decision.
Observations : MSW is a challenge to urbanization. However, a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management programme, MSWMP, makes:
- The city Clean and Pollution free hence Environment friendly.
- Improves city Hygiene.
- No side-effects to the people.
- Processing may be self-energy sufficient with Energy Generation for Revenue.
- Costly land is not wasted as dumping ground, hence city commercial value improves.
- Employment pattern changes: from dirty job it becomes organized job.
- credibility improves: CM Rojgar Yojona for 365 days may be launched.
- Other advantages: Recycling opportunity improves for E_waste, Thermocol, Paper,Glass, Metal, Plastic, etc.
Possibilities: MSW management may be addressed various ways:
Collection and Dumping: In practical sense with human settlement, waste starts getting generated. The most primitive and traditional method is just leave it at an isolated place called “DUMP YARD”.At small areas we cannot see it as a potential big problem till the area has been messed with waste or DUMP YARD’s spillover.
A small village, Bazar, highway, railway-tract, public gathering, so on, all challenge us with potential waste threats.
With plastic, glass, construction waste, battery, hazardous material constituting such waste, they challenge environment and ecology including human well-being with various waste related effects.
Collection, Unorganized segregation and Dumping: Have we ever wondered, “Waste also has Natural resources” !
But many people know this; most of them are poor and under-privileged; they survive on recovered resources from MSW. These people belong to unskilled and unorganized sector, and mostly don’t contribute good economic wealth.
Further, the poor hygiene, unscientific approach are big challenges to community health.
So we need solution:
The best solution is balanced economic activities which will address environment and ecological challenge, Prevent Air-Water-Land pollution, Control Contamination, Improve hygiene, Minimize DUMP YARDS (precious commercial land value ), etc.
Is there a possibility that Municipal bodies achieve above?
Yes, it is possible. Municipal bodies can achieve above and make profit out of it with implementation of sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management Programme, MSWMP.
The Approach is:
- Identify Waste Problems.
- Identify Sustainable Practices using Technology.
- Formalise with Policy and Regulation.
Combined Semi-Mechanised Process: This process is simple and assimilates with many existing practices including “Collection and Dumping” processes. However, minor changes in present practices improve the system efficiency manifold.
The objective of this method is to convert the biodegradable fraction of MSW into Compost, combustible fraction of MSW into RDF, part of non-biodegradables to SRF, and recyclables to new products. (RDF :Refuse-derived fuel, a fuel alternate produced from various types of wastes such as Municipal Solid wastes, industrial wastes or commercial wastes. SRF: Solid Recovered Fuel, used in Cement Kiln.)
How it works: Since there are no emission concerns, rather it helps reduce the global emissions of GHG and other gases while providing opportunity for job creation; it is looked as a sound option of waste management.
The total process of MSW management from collection to the disposal activity is managed either by the municipality alone or by the PPP operator.
Collection: Door-to-door collection, VAT, transportation, Compactor, all remain same. The trick lies in segregation.
Segregation: MSWs sources are many, so also the complex combination. It varies widely from place to place, city to city, city-tier level etc. But it becomes easy when handled after segregation. Let’s assume a typical combination as follows:
- Food / raw waste from house-hold.
- Vegetable / meat processing waste from market.
- Leaves, animal waste, dead animal as MSW.
- Paper, packaging, plastic waste: household, commercial.
- Mixed household, commercial, MSW.
- Construction / demolition waste.
- Scrap, Automobile, Electronics, Tyre, Containers, etc.
- Hazarded contains as battery, led based products, bulbs, toxic leftover, etc. (Bio-medical, and Industrial wastes are not discussed now).
Processing and Output : When segregated and channelized:
- Food / Vegetable / meat processing raw wastes from house-hold or market, leaves, animal waste, dead animal as MSW can be processed to generate electrical energy or manure for agriculture both have commercial value.
- Paper, packaging, plastic waste can be purchased by industry for co-processing, municipality gets revenue.
- Metal wastes are purchased by re-cyclers, Municipality gets revenue.
- Construction / demolition waste can generate metal scrap and backfilling, construction material, Municipality gets revenue.
- Scrap, Automobile, Electronics, Tyre, Containers, all have re-cycle value, if supported by industry they generate direct and indirect revenues for state govt.
- Hazarded waste to be disposed of by organized processor and all resources to be extracted, Municipalities can earn direct and indirect revenues while creating employment.
Complete Mechanised Waste to Energy: This process is complex and fully mechanized centralized process. It attracts big investment and manly focuses of Waste to Energy and Re-cycling.
How it works: Centralized plant takes MSW as input and produce electricity and other recyclables.
Collection: Door-to-door collection, VAT, transportation, Compactor, all remain same. MSW goes to centralized processing plant.
Segregation: Done at plant by fully mechanized centralized system.
Processing and Output: Centralized plant takes MSW as input, processes it and produce electricity and other recyclables, both have commercial value.
Remarks: The cost of setting up and operating Waste To Energy plants is high. With the present business models in place for management of MSW, the same may not work as a viable one. However, the Combined Semi-Mechanised Process may be best suitable under Indian socio-economic condition.
