Thursday 14 April 2011

Solid Waste


What is solid waste?
The sight of a dustbin overflowing and the stench rising from it, the all too familiar sights and smells of a crowded city. You look away from it and hold your nose as you cross it. Have you ever thought that you also have a role to play in the creation of this stench? That you can also play a role in the lessening of this smell and making this waste bin look a little more attractive if you follow proper methods of disposal of the waste generated in the house?

Since the beginning, humankind has been generating waste, be it the bones and other parts of animals they slaughter for their food or the wood they cut to make their carts. With the progress of civilization, the waste generated became of a more complex nature. At the end of the 19th century the industrial revolution saw the rise of the world of consumers. Not only did the air get more and more polluted but the earth itself became more polluted with the generation of nonbiodegradable solid waste. The increase in population and urbanization was also largely responsible for the increase in solid waste.

Four Rs (Refuse, Reuse, Recycle, Reduce) to be followed for waste management
1. Refuse. Instead of buying new containers from the market, use the ones that are in the house. Refuse to buy new items though you may think they are prettier than the ones you already have.
2. Reuse. Do not throw away the soft drink cans or the bottles; cover them with homemade paper or paint on them and use them as pencil stands or small vases.
3. Recycle. Use shopping bags made of cloth or jute, which can be used over and over again [will this come under recycle or reduce?].Segregate your waste to make sure that it is collected and taken for recycling.
4. Reduce. Reduce the generation of unnecessary waste, e.g. carry your own shopping bag when you go to the market and put all your purchases directly into it.
Each household generates garbage or waste day in and day out. Items that we no longer need or do not have any further use for fall in the category of waste, and we tend to throw them away. There are different types of solid waste depending on their source. In today’s polluted world, learning the correct methods of handling the waste generated has become essential. Segregation is an important method of handling municipal solid waste. Segregation at source can be understood clearly by schematic representation.One of the important methods of managing and treating wastes is composting.
As the cities are growing in size and in problems such as the generation of plasticwaste, various municipal waste treatment and disposal methods are now being used to try and resolve these problems. One common sight in all cities is the rag pickerwho plays an important role in thesegregation of this waste.
Garbage generated in households can be
recycled and reused to prevent creation of waste at source and reducing amount of waste thrown into the community dustbins.

Learn more about hazardous waste and the regulations that govern it:
  • Generators: Hazardous waste generators are divided into categories based on the amount of waste they produce each month. Different regulations apply to each generator category.
  • Transporters: Hazardous waste transporters move waste from one site to another by highway, rail, water, or air. Federal and, in some cases, State regulations govern hazardous waste transportation, including the Manifest System.
  • Waste Minimization: EPA, States, and industries are working to reduce the amount, toxicity, and persistence of wastes that are generated.
  • Corrective Action: RCRA compels those responsible for releasing hazardous pollutants into the soil, water, or air to clean up those releases.
  • Test Methods: EPA has a variety of analytical chemistry and characteristic testing methodologies, environmental sampling and monitoring, and quality assurance in place to support RCRA.
  • International Waste: EPA provides information and guidance on regulations, agreements, initiatives, and other developments in waste policy and law, both in the United States and ab.
Non- Hazardous waste- Conservation
        construction debris  EPA defines solid waste as any garbage or refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities.  Nearly everything we do leaves behind some kind of waste.  In fact, in 2006, U.S. residents, businesses, and institutions produced more than 251 million tons of municipal solid waste, which is approximately 4.6 pounds of waste per person per day.  In addition, American industrial facilities generate and dispose of approximately 7.6 billion tons of industrial solid waste each year.Choose from the solid waste types below to learn more.



Waste - Resource Conservation
        recycling computers Natural resource and energy conservation is achieved by managing materials more efficiently. Choose from the efforts and resources below to learn how to conserve resources at home and at work.
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Learn ways to reduce household and industrial waste. Three primary strategies for effectively managing materials and waste are 'reduce, reuse, and recycle'.
    • Reduce waste by making smart decisions when purchasing products, including the consideration of product packaging.
    • Reuse containers and products.
    • Recycle materials ranging from paper to food scraps, yard trimmings, and electronics.
    • Purchase products manufactured with recycled content.Conservation Tools: Tools and programs that promote waste reduction and recycling. Read guidelines for businesses regarding purchasing recycled materials, controlling solid waste management costs, and streamlining and improving operations. Learn about evaluating effectiveness of recycling in the community.
  • Common Wastes and Materials: Common materials from the municipal, commercial, and industrial waste streams that have good opportunities for recycling and reuse.
     hazardous waste drums Hazardous waste is waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases, or sludges. They can be discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes.
Municipal solid waste is commonly known as trash or garbage.Industrial waste is made up of a wide variety of non-hazardous materials that result from the production of goods and products.


Solid Waste Disposal Techniques -



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