Waste Management

Meaning Of Waste

Waste is exclusively human problem. Virtually every pound of natural resources

we take from forests, mines, wells, aquifers, and earth ends up sooner or later in an

unmanageable pile of trash with no place to go or in other forms of pollution.

Waste are two major type

Solid waste

Liquid 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.

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Waste Management

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 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 plastic waste, 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 picker who plays an important

role in the segregation of this waste.

Types of solid waste

Solid waste can be classified into different types depending on their source:

a) Household waste is generally classified as municipal waste,

b) Industrial waste as hazardous waste, and

c) Biomedical waste or hospital waste as infectious waste.

Municipal solid waste

Municipal solid waste consists of household waste,

construction and demolition debris, sanitation residue, and

waste from streets. This garbage is generated mainly from

residential and commercial complexes. With rising

urbanization and change in lifestyle and food habits, the

amount of municipal solid waste has been increasing rapidly and its composition

changing. In 1947 cities and towns in India generated an estimated 6 million tonnes of

solid waste, in 1997 it was about 48 million tonnes. More than 25% of the municipal

solid waste is not collected at all; 70% of the Indian cities lack adequate capacity to

transport it and there are no sanitary landfills to dispose of the waste.

The existing landfills are neither well equipped or well managed and are not lined

properly to protect against contamination of soil and groundwater.

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Waste Management

Over the last few years, the consumer market has grown rapidly leading to products being

packed in cans, aluminium foils, plastics, and other such nonbiodegradable items that

cause incalculable harm to the environment. In India, some municipal areas have banned

the use of plastics and they seem to have achieved success. For example, today one will

not see a single piece of plastic in the entire district of Ladakh where the local authorities

imposed a ban on plastics in 1998. Other states should follow the example of this region

and ban the use of items that cause harm to the environment. One positive note is that in

many large cities, shops have begun packing items in reusable or biodegradable bags.

Certain biodegradable items can also be composted and reused. In fact proper handling of

the biodegradable waste will considerably lessen the burden of solid waste that each city

has to tackle.

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Waste Management

There are different categories of waste generated, each take their own time to degenerate

(as illustrated in the table below).

The type of litter we generate and the approximate time it takes to degenerate

Type of litter Approximate time it takes to degenerate the litter

Organic waste such as vegetable and fruit peels, leftover foodstuff, etc.

a week or two.

Paper 10–30 days

Cotton cloth 2–5 months

Wood 10–15 years

Woolen items 1 year

Tin, aluminium, and other metal items such as cans

100–500 years

Plastic bags one million years?

Glass bottles undetermined

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Waste Management

Hazardous waste

Industrial and hospital waste is considered hazardous as they may contain toxic

substances. Certain types of household waste are also hazardous. Hazardous wastes could

be highly toxic to humans, animals, and plants; are corrosive, highly inflammable, or

explosive; and react when exposed to certain things e.g. gases. India generates around 7

million tonnes of hazardous wastes every year, most of which is concentrated in four

states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Household waste that can be categorized as hazardous waste include old batteries,

shoe polish, paint tins, old medicines, and medicine bottles.

Hospital waste contaminated by chemicals used in hospitals is considered

hazardous. These chemicals include formaldehyde and phenols, which are used as

disinfectants, and mercury, which is used in thermometers or equipment that measure

blood pressure. Most hospitals in India do not have proper disposal facilities for these

hazardous wastes.

In the industrial sector, the major generators of hazardous waste are the metal,

chemical, paper, pesticide, dye, refining, and rubber goods industries. Direct exposure to

chemicals in hazardous waste such as mercury and cyanide can be fatal.

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Waste Management

Hospital waste

Hospital waste is generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of

human beings or animals or in research activities in these fields or in the production or

testing of biological. It may include wastes like sharps, soiled waste, disposables,

anatomical waste, cultures, discarded medicines, chemical wastes, etc. These are in the

form of disposable syringes, swabs, bandages, body fluids, human excreta, etc. This

waste is highly infectious and can be a serious threat to human health if not managed in a

scientific and discriminate manner. It has been roughly estimated that of the 4 kg of waste

generated in a hospital at least 1 kg would be infected.

Surveys carried out by various agencies show that the health care establishments

in India are not giving due attention to their waste management. After the notification of

the Bio-medical Waste (Handling and Management) Rules, 1998, these establishments

are slowly streamlining the process of waste segregation, collection, treatment, and

disposal. Many of the larger hospitals have either installed the treatment facilities or are

in the process of doing so.

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Waste Management

What Is Radioactive waste ?

Radioactive waste, arising from civilian nuclear activities as well as from defense-

related nuclear-weapon activities, poses a formidable problem for handling and

protecting the environment to be safe to the present and future generations. This article

deals with this global problem in its varied aspects and discusses the cause for concern,

the magnitude of the waste involved and various solutions proposed and being practiced.

As nuclear power and arsenal grow, continuous monitoring and immobilization of the

waste over several decades and centuries and deposition in safe repositories, assumes

great relevance and importance.

What Is Liquid waste?

By virtue of unchecked withdrawal of underground water, the community tends to

generate disproportionately high volume of liquid waste. On one hand it develops

enormous pressure on the sewage system that are not designed to carry such a large

volume, on the other hand it depletes the precious underground water table at an alarming

rate. Defective water supply systems, leaking outdated supply lines and lack of effective

maintenance, irresponsible and lavish consumption habits, use of potable water for

horticulture & farm operations, round the clock supply as against intermittent supply etc.

are some of the identifiable factors that contribute in no small measure in generating

excessive liquid waste. Whereas a large segment of our population does not have access

to potable drinking water, the privileged community of a residential campus indulges in

the luxury of excessive consumption, in the absence of a national policy and self-

restraint. If we were to preserve the scare natural resource, as vital as water, we need to

develop norms for withdrawal of water from deep aquifers and also an effective

mechanism to enforce discipline. Recharging the underground water table also needs to

be made mandatory, as part of water table preservation policy and water harvesting

techniques need to be put in place.

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Waste Management

The Institutions usually do not treat the liquid waste before discharging them into

the drains and local water bodies. When untreated wastewater is allowed to accumulate,

the decomposition of organic materials in it leads to production of obnoxious gases. In

addition, the untreated wastewater contains a variety of pathogenic, disease causing

microorganisms and toxic compounds. Therefore the immediate and nuisance free

removal of wastewater from its source of generation, followed by treatment and disposal,

is not only desirable but also essential in the larger interest of the environment. However

in absence of any norms and cost effective models for treatment and disposal of

wastewater on mini scales, the educational institutions continue to discharge untreated

water with impunity, in total disregard to its social responsibilities.

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Waste Management

Waste Management

Waste management is the collection, transport, processing (waste treatment),

recycling or disposal of waste materials, usually ones produced by human activity, in an

effort to reduce their effect on human health or local aesthetics or amenity. A subfocus in

recent decades has been to reduce waste materials' effect on the natural world and the

environment and to recover resources from them.Waste management can involve solid,

liquid or gaseous with different methods and fields of expertise for each.

Waste management practices differ for developed and developing nations, for

urban and rural areas, and for residential, industrial, and commercial producers. Waste

management for non-hazardous residential and institutional waste in metropolitan areas is

usually the responsibility of local government authorities, while management for non-

hazardous commercial and industrial waste is usually the responsibility of the generator

Waste management concepts

There are a number of concepts about waste management, which vary in their

usage between countries or regions.

The waste hierarchy classifies waste management strategies according to their

desirability. The waste hierarchy has taken many forms over the past decade, but the

basic concept has remained the cornerstone of most waste minimisation strategies. The

aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum practical benefits from products and

to generate the minimum amount of waste.

Some waste management experts have recently incorporated a 'fourth R': "Re-

think", with the implied meaning that the present system may have fundamental flaws,

and that a thoroughly effective system of waste management may need an entirely new

way of looking at waste. Some "re-think" solutions may be counter-intuitive, such as

cutting fabric patterns with slightly more "waste material" left -- the now larger scraps are

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Waste Management

then used for cutting small parts of the pattern, resulting in a decrease in net waste. This

type of solution is by no means limited to the clothing industry.

Source reduction involves efforts to reduce hazardous waste and other materials

by modifying industrial production. Source reduction methods involve changes in

manufacturing technology, raw material inputs, and product formulation. At times, the

term "pollution prevention" may refer to source reduction.

Another method of source reduction is to increase incentives for recycling. Many

communities in the United States are implementing variable rate pricing for waste

disposal which has been effective in reducing the size of the municipal waste stream.

Source reduction is typically measured by efficiencies and cutbacks in waste.

Toxics use reduction is a more controversial approach to source reduction that targets and

measures reductions in the upstream use of toxic materials. Toxics use reduction

emphasizes the more preventive aspects of source reduction but, due to its emphasis on

toxic chemical inputs, has been opposed more vigorously by chemical manufacturers.

Toxics use reduction programs have been set up by legislation in some states, e.g.,

Massachusetts, New Jersey and Oregon.

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Waste Management

Resource recovery

A relatively recent idea in

waste management has been to treat

the waste material as a resource to

be exploited, instead of simply a

challenge to be managed and

disposed of. There are a number of

different methods by which

resources may be extracted from

waste: the materials may be

extracted and recycled, or the

calorific content of the waste may be

converted to electricity.

The process of extracting resources or

value from waste is variously referred to as

secondary resource recovery, recycling, and

other terms. The practice of treating waste

materials as a resource is becoming more

common, especially in metropolitan areas

where space for new landfills is becoming

scarcer. There is also a growing

acknowledgement that simply disposing of

waste materials is unsustainable in the long

term, as there is a finite supply of most raw materials.

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.

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Waste Management

There are a number of methods of recovering resources from waste materials,

with new technologies and methods being developed continuously.

In some developing nations some resource recovery already takes place by way of

manual labourers who sift through un-segregated garbage to salvage material that can be

sold in the recycling market. These unrecognized workers called wastepickers or

ragpickers, are part of the informal sector, but play a significant role in reducing the load

on the Municipalities' Solid Waste Management departments. There is an increasing trend

in recognizing their contribution to the environment and there are efforts to try and

integrate them into the formal waste management systems, which is proven to be both

cost effective and also appears to help in urban poverty alleviation. However, the very

high human cost of these activities including disease, injury and reduced life expectancy

through contact with toxic or infectious materials would not be tolerated in a developed

country.

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Waste Management

Recycling and reuses

Recycling involves the collection of used and discarded

materials processing these materials and making them into new

products. It reduces the amount of waste that is thrown into the

community dustbins thereby making the environment cleaner and

the air more fresh to breathe.

Surveys carried out by Government and non-government agencies in the country

have all recognized the importance of recycling wastes. However, the methodology for

safe recycling of waste has not been standardized. Studies have revealed that 7 %-15% of

the waste is recycled. If recycling is done in a proper manner, it will solve the problems

of waste or garbage. At the community level, a large number of NGOs (Non

Governmental Organizations) and private sector enterprises have taken an initiative in

segregation and recycling of waste (EXNORA International in Chennai recycles a large

part of the waste that is collected). It is being used for composting; making pellets to be

used in gasifies, etc. Plastics are sold to the factories that reuse them.

The steps involved in the process prior to recycling include

a)Collection of waste from doorsteps, commercial places, etc

b)Collection of waste from community dumps.

c) Collection/picking up of waste from final disposal sites.

Most of the garbage generated in the household can be recycled and reused.

Organic kitchen waste such as leftover foodstuff, vegetable peels, and spoilt or dried

fruits and vegetables can be recycled by putting them in the compost pits that have been

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Waste Management

dug in the garden. Old newspapers, magazines and bottles can be sold to the kabadiwala

the man who buys these items from homes.

In your own homes you can contribute to waste reduction and the recycling and

reuse of certain items. To cover you books you can use old calendars; old greeting cards

can also be reused. Paper can also be made at home through a very simple process and

you can paint on them.

Waste recycling has some significant

advantages.

Leads to less utilization of raw materials.

Reduces environmental impacts arising

from waste treatment and disposal.

Makes the surroundings cleaner and

healthier.

Saves on landfill space.

Saves money

Reduces the amount of energy required

to manufacture new products.

In fact recycling can prevent the creation of

waste at the source.

Some items that can be recycled or reused

Paper Old copiesOld booksPaper bagsNewspapersOld greeting cardsCardboard box

Plastic ContainersBottlesBagsSheets

Glass and ceramics

Bottles PlatesCupBowls

Miscellaneous Old cansUtensilsClothesFurniture

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Comparing recycling with normal extraction

Aluminium Recycling one kilogram of aluminum

saves up to 8 kilograms of bauxite, four

kilograms of chemical products and 14

kilowatt hours of electricity.

It takes 20 times more energy to

make aluminum from bauxite ore

than using recycled aluminum.

Glass A 20% reduction in emissions from glass

furnaces and up to 32% reduction in

energy usage.

For every ton of recycled glass

used, approx 315 kilos of Carbon

dioxide and 1.2 tons of raw

materials are spared.

Paper A ton of paper from recycled material

conserves about 7,000 gallons of water,

17-31 trees, 60 lb of air pollutants and

4,000 KWh of electricity.

Milling paper from recycled paper

uses 20% less energy than it does

to make paper from fresh lumber.

Recycling Techniques

Many different materials can be recycled but each type requires a different

technique

Aluminium

Aluminium is shredded and ground into small pieces. These pieces are melted in

an aluminium smelter to produce molten aluminium. By this stage the recycled

aluminium is indistinguishable from virgin aluminium and further processing is identical

for both. The environmental benefits of recycling aluminium are also enormous. Only

around 5% of the CO2 is produced during the recycling process compared to producing

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Waste Management

raw aluminium (and an even smaller percentage when considering the complete cycle of

mining and transporting the aluminium). Also, as open-cut mining most often used for

obtaining aluminium ore, mining destroys large sections of natural land.

Batteries

The large variation in size and type of batteries makes their recycling extremely

difficult: they must first be sorted into similar kinds and each kind requires an individual

recycling process. Additionally, older batteries contain mercury and cadmium, harmful

materials which must be handled with caution.

Electrical equipment

The direct disposal of electrical equipment—such as old computers and mobile

phones—is banned in many areas due to the toxic contents of certain components. The

recycling process works by mechanically separating the metals, plastics and circuit

boards contained in the appliance. When this is done on a large scale at an electronic

waste recycling plant, component recovery can be achieved in a cost-effective manner.

Glass

Glass bottles and jars are gathered via kerbside collection schemes and bottle

banks, where the glass is sorted into colour categories. The collected glass cullet is taken

to a glass recycling plant where it is monitored for purity and contaminants are removed.

The cullet is crushed and added to a raw material mix in a melting furnace. It is then

mechanically blown or moulded into new jars or bottles. Glass cullet is also used in the

construction industry for aggregate and glasphalt. Glasphalt is a road-laying material

which comprises around 30% recycled glass. Glass can be recycled indefinitely as its

structure does not deteriorate when reprocessed.

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Waste Management

Textiles

When considering textile recycling one must understand what the material

consists of. Most textiles are composites of cotton (biodegradable material) and synthetic

plastics. The textiles composition will affect its durability and method of recycling.

Workers sort and separate collected textiles into good quality clothing and shoes which

can be reused or worn. Damaged textiles are further sorted into grades to make industrial

wiping cloths and for use in paper manufacture or material which is suitable for fibre

reclamation and filling products.

Fibre reclamation mills sort textiles according to fibre type and colour. Colour

sorting eliminates the need to re-dye the recycled textiles. The textiles are shredded into

'shoddy' fibres and blended with other selected fibres, depending on the intended end use

of the recycled yarn. The blended mixture is carded to clean and mix the fibres and spun

ready for weaving or knitting. The fibres can also be compressed for mattress production.

Textiles sent to the flocking industry are shredded to make filling material for car

insulation, roofing felts, loudspeaker cones, panel linings and furniture padding.

Paper

Paper can be directly recycled or treated with other biodegradable wastes. In

direct recycling it is separated into its component fibres in water, which creates a pulp

slurry material. A cleaning process removes non-fibrous contaminants and if required,

sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate is used to de-ink the material. This fibre is then

ready to be used to make new recycled paper. Paper is the main material that gets

recycled in most countries.

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Waste Management

Plastics

Plastic with its exclusive qualities of being light yet

strong and economical, has invaded every aspect of our day-

to-day life. It has many advantages: it is durable, light, easy to

mould, and can be adapted to different user requirements.

Once hailed as a 'wonder material', plastic is now a serious

worldwide environmental and health concern, essentially due

to its nonbiodegradable nature.

In India, the plastic industry is growing phenomenally. Plastics have use in all

sectors of the economy – infrastructure, construction, agriculture, consumer goods,

telecommunications, and packaging. But the good news is that along with a growth in the

use, a country-wide network for collection of plastic waste through rag pickers, waste

collectors and waste dealers and recycling enterprises has sprung all over the country

over the last decade or so. More than 50% of the plastic waste generated in the country is

recycled and used in the manufacture of various plastic products.

Conventional plastics have been associated with reproductive problems in both

wildlife and humans. Studies have shown a decline in human sperm count and quality,

genital abnormalities and a rise in the incidence of breast cancer. Dioxin a highly

carcinogenic and toxic by-product of the manufacturing process of plastics, is one of the

chemicals believed to be passed on through breast milk to the nursing infant. Burning of

plastics, especially PVC releases this dioxin and also furan into the atmosphere. Thus,

conventional plastics, right from their manufacture to their disposal are a major problem

to the environment.

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Waste Management

Plastics are so versatile in use that their impacts on the environment are extremely

wide ranging. Careless disposal of plastic bags chokes drains, blocks the porosity of the

soil and causes problems for groundwater recharge. Plastic disturbs the soil microbe

activity, and once ingested, can kill animals. Plastic bags can also contaminate foodstuffs

due to leaching of toxic dyes and transfer of pathogens. In fact, a major portion of the

plastic bags i.e. approximately 60-80% of the plastic

Waste generated in India is

collected and segregated to be recycled.

The rest remains strewn on the ground,

littered around in open drains, or in

unmanaged garbage dumps. Though only

a small percentage lies strewn it is this

portion that is of concern as it causes

extensive damage to the environment.

The plastic industry in the

developed world has realized the need of

environmentally acceptable modes for

recycling plastics wastes and has set out

targets and missions.

Designing eco-friendly, a biodegradable plastic is the need of the hour. Though

partially biodegradable plastics have been developed and used, completely biodegradable

plastics based on renewable starch rather than petrochemicals have only recently been

developed and are in the early stages of commercialization.

Source of generation of waste plastics

HOUSEHOLD Carry bags BottlesContainersTrash bags

HEALTH AND MEDICARE

Disposable syringesGlucose bottlesBlood and uro bagsIntravenous tubesCathetersSurgical gloves

HOTEL AND CATERING

Packaging itemsMineral water bottlesPlastic plates, glasses, spoons

AIR/RAIL TRAVEL

Mineral water bottlesPlastic plates, glasses, spoonsPlastic bags

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Waste Management

Waste management techniques

As cities are growing in size with a rise in the population, the amount of waste

generated is increasing becoming unmanageable. Managing municipal waste, industrial

waste and commercial waste has traditionally consisted of collection, followed by

disposal. Depending upon the type of waste and the area, a level of processing may

follow collection. This processing may be to reduce the hazard of the waste, recover

material for recycling, produce energy from the waste, or reduce it in volume for more

efficient disposal. The local corporations have adapted different methods for the disposal

of waste

Open dumps.

Landfills.

Sanitary landfills.

Incineration plants.

One of the important methods of waste treatment is composting.

Open dumps

Open dumps refer to uncovered areas that are used to dump solid waste of all

kinds. The waste is untreated, uncovered, and not segregated. It is the breeding ground

for flies, rats, and other insects that spread disease. The rainwater run-off from these

dumps contaminates nearby land and water thereby spreading disease. In some countries,

open dumps are being phased out.

Landfills

Landfills are generally located in urban areas where a large amount of waste is

generated and has to be dumped in a common place. Unlike an open dump, it is a pit that

is dug in the ground. The garbage is dumped and the pit is covered thus preventing the

breeding of flies and rats. At the end of each day, a layer of soil is scattered on top of it

and some mechanism, usually earth-moving equipment is used to compress the garbage,

which now forms a cell. Thus, every day, garbage is dumped and becomes a cell. After

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the landfill is full, the area is covered with a thick layer of mud and the site can thereafter

be developed as a parking lot or a park.

Landfills have many problems. All types of waste is dumped in landfills and when

water seeps through them it gets contaminated and in turn pollutes the surrounding area.

This contamination of groundwater and soil through landfills is known as leaching.

Sanitary landfills

An alternative to landfills which will solve the problem of leaching to some

extent, is a sanitary landfill which is more hygienic and built in a methodical manner.

These are lined with materials that are impermeable such as plastics and clay, and are

also built over impermeable soil. Constructing sanitary landfills is very costly and they

are have their own problems. Some authorities claim that often the plastic liner develops

cracks as it reacts with various chemical solvents present in the waste.

The rate of decomposition in sanitary landfills is also extremely variable. This can

be due to the fact that less oxygen is available as the garbage is compressed very tightly.

It has also been observed that some biodegradable materials do not decompose in a

landfill. Another major problem is the development of methane gas, which occurs when

little oxygen is present, i.e. during anaerobic decomposition.

Many landfills also have a landfill gas extraction system installed after closure to

extract the gas generated by the decomposing waste materials. This gas is often burnt in a

gas engine to generate electricity. Even flaring the gas off is a better environmental

outcome than allowing it to escape to the atmosphere, as this consumes the methane,

which is a far stronger greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Some of it can be tapped for

use as a fuel.

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Incineration plants

This process of burning waste in large furnaces is known as incineration. In these

plants the recyclable material is segregated and the rest of the material is burnt. At the

end of the process all that is left behind is ash. During the process some of the ash floats

out with the hot air. This is called fly ash. Both the fly ash and the ash that is left in the

furnace after burning have high concentrations of dangerous toxins such as dioxins and

heavy metals. Disposing of this ash is a problem. The ash that is buried at the landfills

leaches the area and cause severe contamination.

Burning garbage is not a clean process as it produces tonnes of toxic ash and

pollutes the air and water. A large amount of the waste that is burnt here can be recovered

and recycled. In fact, at present, incineration is kept as the last resort and is used mainly

for treating the infectious waste.

Composting

Organic matter constitutes 35%–40% of

the municipal solid waste generated in

India. This waste can be recycled by the

method of composting, one of the oldest

forms of disposal. It is the natural

process of decomposition of organic

waste that yields manure or compost,

which is very rich in nutrients. Composting is a biological process in which micro-

organisms, mainly fungi and bacteria, convert degradable organic waste into humus like

substance. This finished product which looks like soil, is high in carbon and nitrogen and

is an excellent medium for growing plants. The process of composting ensures the waste

that is produced in the kitchens is not carelessly thrown and left to rot. It recycles the

nutrients and returns them to the soil as nutrients. Apart from being clean, cheap, and

safe, composting can significantly reduce the amount of disposable garbage. The organic

fertilizer can be used instead of chemical fertilizers and is better specially when used for

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vegetables. It increases the soil’s ability to hold water and makes the soil easier to

cultivate. It helped the soil retain more of the plant nutrients.

Vermi-composting has become very popular in the last few years. In this method,

worms are added to the compost. These help to break the waste and the added excreta of

the worms makes the compost very rich in nutrients. In the activity section of this web

site you can learn how to make a compost pit or a vermi-compost pit in your school or in

the garden at home.

To make a compost pit, you have to select a cool, shaded corner of the garden or

the school compound and dig a pit, which ideally should be 3 feet deep. This depth is

convenient for aerobic composting as the compost has to be turned at regular intervals in

this process. Preferably the pit should be lined with granite or brick to prevent nitrite

pollution of the subsoil water, which is known to be highly toxic.

Each time organic matter is added to the pit it should be covered with a layer of dried

leaves or a thin layer of soil which allows air to enter the pit thereby preventing bad

odour. At the end of 45 days, the rich pure organic matter is ready to be used.

Composting: some benefits

Compost allows the soil to retain more plant nutrients over a longer period.

It supplies part of the 16 essential elements needed by the plants.

It helps reduce the adverse effects of excessive alkalinity, acidity, or the excessive

use of chemical fertilizer.

It makes soil easier to cultivate.

It helps keep the soil cool in summer and warm in winter.

It aids in preventing soil erosion by keeping the soil covered.

It helps in controlling the growth of weeds in the garden.

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Rethinking waste management

There is no Indian policy document which examines waste as part of a cycle of

production-consumption-recovery or perceives waste through a prism of overall

sustainability. In fact, interventions have been fragmented and are often contradictory.

The new Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules 2000, which came into effect from

January 2004, fail even to manage waste in a cyclic process. Waste management still is a

linear system of collection and disposal, creating health and environmental hazards.

Urban India is likely to face a massive waste disposal problem in the coming

years. Until now, the problem of waste has been seen as one of cleaning and disposing as

rubbish. But a closer look at the current and future scenario reveals that waste needs to be

treated holistically, recognizing its natural resource roots as well as health impacts. Waste

can be wealth, which has tremendous potential not only for generating livelihoods for the

urban poor but can also enrich the earth through composting and recycling rather than

spreading pollution as has been the case. Increasing urban migration and a high density of

population will make waste management a difficult issue to handle in the near future, if a

new paradigm for approaching it is not created.

Developing countries such as India are undergoing a massive migration of their

population from rural to urban centers. New consumption patterns and social linkages are

emerging. India will have more than 40 per cent, i.e. over 400 million people, clustered in

cities over the next thirty years (UN, 1995). Modern urban living brings on the problem

of waste, which increases in quantity, and changes in composition with each passing day.

There is, however, an inadequate understanding of the problem, both of infrastructure

requirements as well as its social dimensions. Urban planners, municipal agencies,

environmental regulators, labour groups, citizens’ groups and non-governmental

organisations need to develop a variety of responses which are rooted in local dynamics,

rather than borrow non-contextual solutions from elsewhere.

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Waste Management

There have been a variety of policy responses to the problem of urban solid

waste in India, especially over the past few years, yet sustainable solutions either of

organic or inorganic waste remain untapped and unattended. All policy documents as

well as legislation dealing with urban solid waste mention or acknowledge recycling as

one of the ways of diverting waste, but they do so in a piece-meal manner and do not

address the framework needed to enable this to happen. Critical issues such as industry

responsibility, a critical paradigm to enable sustainable recycling and to catalyse waste

reduction through, say better packing, have not been touched upon.

Any new paradigm should include a cradle-to-grave approach with responsibility

being shared by many stakeholders, including product manufacturers, consumers and

communities, the recycling industry, trade, municipalities and the urban poor.

What is our waste?

Consumption, linked to per capita income, has a strong relationship with waste

generation. As per capita income rises, more savings are spent on goods and services,

especially when the transition is from a low income to a middle-income level.

Urbanization not only concentrates waste, but also raises generation rates since rural

consumers consume less than urban ones. India will probably see a rise in waste

generation from less than 40,000 metric tonnes per year to over 125,000 metric tonnes by

the year 2030 (Srishti, 2000). Technologies, which can process organic wastes have to be

a mainstay to any solution. The Supreme Court appointed the Burman Committee (1999),

which rightly recommended that composting should be carried out in each municipality.

Composting is probably the easiest and most appropriate technology to deal with a

majority of our waste, given its organic nature.

However, new and expensive technologies are being pushed to deal with our

urban waste problem, ignoring their environmental and social implications. It is

particularly true in the case of thermal treatment of waste using technologies such as

gasification, incineration, pyrolysis or pellatisation. Indian waste content does not

provide enough fuel value (caloric value) for profitable energy production (and is

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Waste Management

unlikely to do so soon). It needs the addition of auxiliary fuel or energy. Such

technologies put communities to risk and are opposed widely. For example, the United

States has not been able to install a new incinerator for the past five years, while costs for

burning garbage have escalated astronomically with rising environmental standards in

Europe.

While the more developed countries are doing away with incinerators because of

high costs (due to higher standards of emission control), developing countries have

become potential markets for dumping such technologies. Incinerators routinely emit

dioxins, furans and polychlorinated by-phenyls (PCB), which are deadly toxins, casing

cancer and endocrine system damage. Other conventional toxins such as mercury, heavy

metals are also released. Pollution control costs for incinerators can exceed over 50 per

cent of their already astronomical cost, and an incinerator for 2,000 metric tonnes of

waste per day can cost over 500 million US dollars. Ironically, the better the air control

works, the more pollutants are transferred to land and water, through scrubbers and filters

and the problem of safe landfill disposal of the ash remains.

Again, such measures go against the requirements of the Municipal Solid Waste

Management Rules 2000, which asks for source segregation of waste for cleaner

composting and recycling. The lessons of incinerating Indian urban waste do not seem to

have been learnt, despite a disastrous experience with a Dutch-funded incinerator in

Delhi. It ran for just one week in 1984, since the calorific value of the fuel was less than

half of that the incinerator needed.

Composting: the environmentally and economically sustainable solution

Composting of city wastes is a legal requirement provided under the Municipal

Solid Waste Management (MSW) Rules 2000 for all municipal bodies in the country. But

neither the central nor the state governments have yet responded to show any kind of

preparedness for it, nor have they been able to grasp it as an environmental and social

good that requires official support which can generate employment. The MSW Rules

2000 requires that “biodegradable wastes shall be processed by composting, vermi-

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Waste Management

composting, anaerobic digestion or any other appropriate biological processing for the

stabilisation of wastes”. The specified deadline for setting up of waste processing and

disposal facilities was 31 December 2003 or earlier.

The production and sale of city compost is not the primary function of city

administrations, but it will need to be privatized for optimum efficiency and care. Several

entrepreneurs have already entered the field and many compost plants are in place, almost

all on public land made available at a nominal cost. These companies are willing to wait

for the five to seven years payback on their investment, but are facing tremendous

problems of producing compost from unsegregated wastes, and of marketing and

distributing their product. The government is indifferent to the problems of these compost

producers (i.e. a working capital crunch because of highly seasonal demand) and to

farmers’ needs (i.e., timely, easily accessible availability of affordable compost).

The Fertilizer Association of India, the leading lobby group for synthetic

fertilizers, is focused on protecting the fertilizer producers’ massive subsidies (Rs

142,500 million annually) for their chemical fertilizers – subsidies from which the

farmers do not benefit. This situation is increasingly coming under national debate. Just

12 per cent of this annual subsidy would meet the one-time capital cost of city compost

plants in India’s 400 largest cities (which include cities with populations of over 100,000

people) and would be able to produce 5.7 million tonnes a year of organic soil

conditioners. Integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) would also reduce the

foreign exchange burden on the Indian exchequer because bulk supplies of phosphorus

and potassium must be imported. In addition, the government of India spends Rs 43.19

million on phosphorus and potassium concessions alone. (Phosphorous is used to store

and transfer energy within the plant. It is used in forming nucleic acids (DNA, RNA).

Potassium remains in tissues in ionic form and is not used in the synthesis of new

compounds as are nitrogen and phosphorous. Potassium is mobile in plants and tends to

move from older to younger, more active growing tissue.)

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Waste Management

Emphasizing IPNM using city compost, which can be produced all over the

country can be a successful strategy if a focused inter-ministerial effort is made.

However, in spite of the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture renamed its Department of

Fertilizers as the “Department of Integrated Nutrient Management” a year ago, no policy

changes have taken place whatsoever. A proposed Task Force including the agriculture

and fertilizer ministries may soon formulate an Action Plan for IPNM.

The real economic benefits of compost use, like improved soil quality, water retention,

biological activity, micronutrient content and improved pest resistance of crops, are

ignored by policy-makers and fertilizer producers. Fertilizer producers do not yet realize

that preventing soil depletion and reclaiming degraded soils would in fact increase the

size of the market and therefore, also their market share, which is currently threatened by

globalization and world prices that undercut their own. Since most large fertilizer plants

are government-owned, another threat is the government’s intended policy of closing

down loss-making public-sector enterprises and disinvesting from profitable ones.

Preliminary surveys on municipalities' preparedness in implementing the MSW

Rules 2000 show that the majority of the cities are yet to embark on city-wide

implementation of door-to-door collection of waste, source segregation, composting of

organics, recycling and creating engineered and safe landfill sites for residual waste

disposal. The municipalities were given three years time to make such preparations but

most of them have not even woken up. This is the regard given to the apex court’s

verdict. Whether municipalities will enforce the MSW Rules 2000 and provide cleaner

and healthier cities is yet to be seen. For now, the risk remains that MSW Rules will

become yet another policy to gather dust due to government apathy.

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Waste Management

Sustainable Waste Management; Case study of Nagpur INDIA

ABSTRACT

In India the amount of waste generated per capita is estimated to increase at a rate

of 1%-1.33% annually. It is estimated that the total waste quantity generated in by the

year 2047 would be approximately about 260 million tonnes per year. The enormous

increase in waste generation will have impacts in terms of the land required for waste

disposal. It is estimated that if the waste is not disposed off in a more systematic manner,

more than 1400 sq. km of land would be required in the country by the year 2047 for its

disposal.

At present the standard of solid waste management is far from being satisfactory.

The environmental and health hazards caused by the unsanitary conditions in the cities

were epitomized by the episode of Plague in Surat in 1994. That triggered public interest

litigation in the Supreme Court of India. Based on the recommendations of the committee

set up by the apex court in that Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the Government of India,

has framed Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000, under the

Environmental Protection Act, 1986. One of the major requisite of these rules is to

establish door-to-door garbage collection system in the cities. Nagpur which is located in

centre of India has taken initiative in implementing MSW Rules 2000 by introducing

100% door-to-door garbage collection. It has enabled:

Livelihood creation for 1600 people from most deprived segment of the society.

Clean environment as 75% of the total waste generated is being collected from

doorstep.

Successful Public Private Peoples Partnership

Use of ergonomic tools for managing waste

Use of appropriate technology for waste management, also creating

entrepreneurship opportunities.

Effective recycling of waste for useful purposes.

Partnership of Waste Producers

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Waste Management

BACKGROUND

There has been a significant increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation

in India in the last few decades. This is largely because of rapid population growth and

economic development in the country. The per capita of MSW generated daily in India

ranges from about 100 gm in small towns to 500 gm in large towns. The increased MSW

generation can be ascribed to our changing lifestyles, food habits and change in living

standards. In India the amount of waste generated per capita is estimated to increase at a

rate of 1%-1.33% annually. It is estimated that the total waste quantity generated in by

the year 2047 would be approximately about 260 million tonnes per year, more than five

times the present level of about 55 million tonnes. The enormous increase in solid waste

generation will have significant impacts in terms of the land required for waste disposal.

It is estimated that if the waste is not disposed off in a more systematic manner, more

than 1400 sq. km of land which is equivalent to the size of city of Delhi would be

required in the country by the year 2047 for its disposal.

In our country municipal corporations are primarily responsible for solid waste

Management. But with the growing population and urbanization municipal bodies are

facing financial crunch and can no longer cope with the demands. The limited revenues

earmarked for the municipalities make them ill equipped to provide for high cost

involved in the collection, storage, treatment and proper disposal of waste. Municipalities

are only able to provide secondary collection of waste, means they only collect waste

from municipal bins or depots. A substantial part of the municipal solid waste generated

remains unattended and grows in the heaps at poorly maintained collection centers. Open

dumping of garbage facilitates breeding of disease vectors such as flies, mosquitoes,

cockroaches, rats and other pests.

At present the standard of solid waste management is far from being satisfactory.

The environmental and health hazards caused by the unsanitary conditions in the cities

were epitomized by the episode of Plague in Surat in 1994. That triggered public interest

litigation in the Supreme Court of India. Based on the recommendations of the committee

set up by the apex court in that Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the Government of India

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Waste Management

has framed Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000, under the

Environmental Protection Act, 1986. The Municipal Solid Waste (Management and

Handling) Rules 2000 are as follows:

1. Collection of municipal solid wastes- Organizing doorstep collection of municipal

solid waste from houses, hotels, restaurants, office complexes and commercial areas.

2. Segregation of municipal solid wastes- Municipal authority shall organize awareness

programs for segregating the waste at source as dry and wet waste and promote recycling

or reuse of segregated materials.

3. Storage of municipal solid waste- Municipal authorities shall establish and maintain

storage facilities such that wastes stored are not exposed to open atmosphere and shall be

aesthetically acceptable and user friendly and it should have easy to operate design for

handling, transfer and transportation of waste.

4. Transportation of municipal solid wastes- Vehicles used for transportation of waste

shall be covered and waste should not be visible to public, nor exposed to open

environment and shall be so designed that multiple handling of wastes prior to final

disposal, is avoided.

5. Processing of municipal solid wastes- Municipal authorities shall adopt suitable

Technology or combination of such technologies to make use of wastes so as to Minimize

burden on landfill.

6.Disposal of municipal solid waste- Land filling shall be restricted to

nonbiodegradable, inert waste and other waste that are not suitable either for recycling or

for biological processing. Land filling of mixed waste shall be avoided unless the same is

found unsuitable for waste processing.

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Waste Management

Swachata Doot Aplya Dari: A Scientific And Innovative

Approach For Municipal Solid Waste Management

As can be seen from the above guidelines, collection and segregation of municipal

solid waste is a primary requirement for implementation of MSW Rules 2000. Primary

collection of garbage is important to prevent littering of waste on the streets. As per the

MSW guidelines, waste has to be collected in segregated form so that it can be recycled

to the extent possible by adoption of suitable technology. This recycling will minimise

the burden on landfills.

Though doorstep collection of segregated waste is important for municipal solid

waste management, it is not carried out by many of the municipal bodies in the country as

they are lacking in financial resources or the expertise to comply with those rules and

they often make little effort to revise outdated and deficient waste management systems.

As the authorities were hardly able to provide cost-efficient service to citizens, one

possibility was to outsource solid waste management by putting in charge professional

private organizations like Centre for Development Communication (CDC). The key

concept is a daily door-to-door collection of segregated domestic waste, but the model

includes all aspects of solid waste management from waste generation to waste

processing (e.g. recycling and vermi-composting) and the final disposal. The end

consumer is both main contributor and main beneficiary, as he should segregate the waste

instead of littering it and, in turn, profits from the cleanliness of the city and creation of a

new awareness that CDC work is generating. Presently the Swachta Doot project is being

successfully being implemented in several cities of India.

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Waste Management

The Swachta Doot Project is a major solid waste management program that

includes the following aspects:

A. Daily door-to-door garbage collection

B. Waste segregation

C. Garbage lifting and Transportation

D. Employment Generation

E. Awareness building

A. Daily Door-to-door Garbage Collection

Daily door-to-door garbage collection is the core of the CDC model. It is most

essential for complying with the norms prescribed by the Municipal Solid Wastes

(Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 as well as the Supreme Court Guidelines for

solid waste management.

Swachta Doot

Rag pickers and private sweepers who were previously working in the same

sector and spent their life at foul-smelling and most unhygienic places rummaging

through debris with bare hands and getting an uncertain and irregular low payment for

this dirty work are brought into organised sector by CDC, and now called as Swachta

Doots

Training

Swachta Doots undergo a special training that equips them with the abilities

necessary for their job:

Handling the waste in a proper and hygienic manner

Polite and helpful behaviour towards local residents

Discipline, sincerity commitment to their work

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Waste Management

The properly trained workers collect the waste from households and shops seven days

a week and 365 days a year. This service is provided in the morning time (between 6.00

am to 1.00 pm). They wear colourful work clothes (uniforms) so that residents and

shopkeepers can easily identify them. Training and neat public appearance helps the

worker to be better accepted by the community.

The garbage is directly transported and unloaded to local containers (transfer stations)

using specially designed vehicles. Those Containers are brought to landfill sites outside

the city by municipal corporation workforce. There is a close cooperation between CDC

and the municipal bodies so that waste is not stored longer than necessary in residential

areas. This way of domestic waste management is in compliance of MSW guidelines and

Guarantees that:

Waste is handled only once

It is exposed nowhere

There is no need of burning the garbage or dumping it in streets, drains and open

places

Equipment

CDC has developed a micro-plan to adopt waste collection to the special

conditions that prevail in different areas. For example, in slum areas different type of

waste is produced than in posh colonies and the size of the streets is varying. To

implement this microplan, CDC uses different types of vehicles. Swachta Doots collect

the garbage with specially designed mechanical tricycle

Rickshaws and multi bucket wheelbarrows. They have several advantages:

Workers can access even very narrow roads (for example in Slum areas)

Segregated waste collection

The waste can be directly unloaded in the container. It does not have to be

touched.

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Waste Management

So, hygienic conditions for workers are improved.

CDC follows a dynamic model of selection of equipment and modifies the equipment

according to the requirements of a particular locality, town or a city.

Evolution of Primary Collection Equipment

a) Open Body Tricycle Rickshaws:

The open body tricycle rickshaw is the most basic primary collection equipment

and its capacity is about 50 Kgs. Its benefits include low cost and since it collects the

mixed waste, it takes less time for waste collection from individual households. This type

of equipment is no more in use as it collects the waste in mixed form, which is in

contravention of MSW Rules. Further the collected waste is often dumped onto the

ground or road and attracts rag pickers to sort out the recyclable part of the waste,

exposing them to serious health risks. Additionally, since the waste is transported open to

atmosphere, it is non-aesthetic and it is also observed that waste keeps spilling from the

sides of the rickshaw.

b) 6 Container Tricycle Rickshaws:

In order to overcome some of the problems faced in the above model, CDC

evolved a 6-container tricycle rickshaw for primary collection of waste. The major

advantages of this type of equipment is that it allows collection of waste in segregated

form and prevents multiple handling as the waste can be directly unloaded to the

secondary collection vehicle. Due to these reasons, this type of equipment complies with

the MSW guidelines. Its cost is a little more than the open body tricycle rickshaw and can

carry 75 kgs of waste in one trip. The only limitation with this type of equipment is that it

led to frequent thefts of plastic containers requiring their replacement. This unnecessarily

adds to the costs.

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Types of Containers

Metal Containers Plastic Containers

Heavy, Corrosive and Expensive Light Weight & Durable and Non-

Corrosive

c) Closed Body Container with 2 compartments:

In some of the areas, a new type of tricycle rickshaw has also been utilised viz.

Closed Body Container with 2 Compartments, which aids in segregated collection of

waste, and since it’s a closed body type the waste is not exposed to the atmosphere and

therefore has aesthetic appearance. This type of equipment can carry 150 Kgs of waste

and costs about Rs. 8000/-, which is a little more than 6 container type tricycle rickshaw.

The only limitation with this equipment is that since the waste cannot be unloaded to the

secondary collection vehicle, it leads to multiple handling, which is in contravention to

MSW guidelines. This type of equipment is highly suitable for smaller cities where the

waste can be directly transferred after collection to the landfill site.

d) Closed Tipping Bodies with 2 containers:

To overcome the problem of multiple waste handling, a further improvement is in

the design of rickshaw has been incorporated, that includes hydraulic lifting of the rear

side of the rickshaw unto the height of secondary collection vehicle so that the waste can

be directly disposed off. This type of equipment is most expensive and requires more

maintenance as compared to the earlier ones.

e) Mechanised Auto Rickshaws with closed container body with compartments:

In some cases CDC has deployed mechanised equipment in the form of Auto

rickshaws for primary waste collection. The benefits of this type of equipment include

high coverage area and can handle more waste. Further, since it has a closed container

body, it is aesthetic in appearance and can directly unload the waste to final disposal

point. This type of equipment is most optimum for smaller cities and towns as the overall

economics is favourable as compared to manually driven rickshaws.

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Waste Management

f) Mechanised operations with Medium Utility Vehicles:

In line with the abovementioned mechanised operations, CDC has also

introduced medium utility vehicles for primary waste collection in some of its projects.

The advantage of this type of system is that it can handle more waste than auto rickshaws

and is most ideal for bin-free cities. It fully complies with the MSW guidelines and is

aesthetic in appearance, as waste is not exposed in the open atmosphere. The demerit is

that it is more expensive

Door-to-Door Garbage Collection - The Monitoring System

Supervisors and Zonal In-charges inspect the field everyday. They regularly get in

touch with households and shops to check for feedback, complaints and suggestions so

that a satisfying service can be maintained. The CDC customer care service, telephone

number is available from 6.00 am till 8.00 pm. In most cases complaints are redressed

within 30 - 60 minutes during working hours, or the next morning if problems arise

outside working hours.

B. Waste Segregation

Waste is not all the same. It has different characteristics according to which it can

be divided accordingly:

• Recyclable e.g. glass, paper, plastic

• Organic e.g. food leftovers, garden waste

• Toxic e.g. tin, batteries

• Reusable e.g. plastic bottles, polythene bags

While recyclable waste is dry in nature, the organic kind is wet and 100%

biodegradable. Hence, bacterial action is faster in the latter. If waste is segregated, it is

easier to handle, does not cause much pollution and can be reused, recycled or

decomposed. The CDC model of waste management is based on the principle of

segregating waste and treating it according to its characteristics. Waste should be

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Waste Management

segregated at the place or source of origin. In order to realize this concept CDC,

implements the following approach:

Educating the community about waste characteristics and the consequences of

inappropriate waste dumping

Collecting the waste in a segregated manner every day

Using specially designed multi-chambered rickshaws for garbage collection

C. Garbage Lifting and Transportation

Since June 2004, CDC is also lifting the local containers and transporting them to

landfill sites in few cities. This enables CDC to co-ordinate the different processes of

primary waste collection and transportation. Containers are lifted before they overflow

and waste is not stored longer than necessary in residential areas. Furthermore,

superfluous containers can be removed for better public convenience.

D. Employment Generation

As CDC is not a profit-oriented organization, it is committed to improve quality

of life, especially for the deprived section of the society. For this reason, most grassroots

workers have been recruited from slum areas. CDC started its work initially with few

workers. This number increased every day and now CDC could create livelihood for

about 6000 persons in the Swachta Doot Project. The services have grown in various

cities and presently CDC is catering to a population of nearly 6 million.

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The following table highlights some of the current projects of CDC in various cities

including employment generated approximate quantity of waste collected, utilized and

finally transported as inert material to landfill sites.

City Household

Covered

Road

sweeping

Employment

Generation

Waste

collect

Organic

Matter

Recycle

Content

Inert

inorganic

Jaipur 50000 150 300 100 60 10 30

Nagpur 450000 200 2500 900 540 90 270

Ahmedabad 30000 35 125 60 36 6 18

Surat 100000 N.A 100 200 120 20 60

Delhi 200000 450 629 126 N.A N.A N.A

Jaisalmer 3000 30 32 A.N A.N A.N A.N

Note: 1) Recyclable contents include paper, glass, plastic and metal

2) All weight values are approximate values.

Introduction of door-to-door collection service has improved the financial condition of

Swachta Doots who now receive regular payment as compared to the earlier situation

when they could earn low (12-15/-per day) and irregular incomes. They are now enjoying

dignified working conditions at CDC, as their profession is viewed with greater respect

amongst society members compared to their earlier work. As both genders are treated

equally the number of women is almost as high as the number of male grassroots

workers. Women are given the chance to make an own contribution to the living standard

of their families. Additionally unemployed or underemployed educated youth profit from

these job opportunities as they are recruited as Managers and Supervisors.

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Waste Management

E. Awareness Building

It is CDC’s conviction that the cleanliness of city is a collective good. It can only

be achieved with the participation of all concerned. Therefore, CDC encourages and

motivates people to keep their surroundings clean. They are provided education regarding

sanitation and garbage disposal through various means of communication such as:

Posters, folders, booklets, leaflets

Exhibitions

Wall paintings

Living society meetings

Debates and painting competitions in schools

Regular talks with citizens

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Waste Management

. BENEFITS OF SWACHTA DOOT PROJECT

Social

Improving social standard of Swachta Doots by providing training and financial

stability

The community is made aware of the consequences of unscientific waste

throwing and can participate actively

As the citizens are also involved in the project they develop a sense of

belongingness

People appreciate the service and consider it as necessary and essential. This

makes the project self-sustainable

Economic

City’s image as a “green and clean” city can boost local economy especially in

tourism branch

Creates new avenues of employment

Composting of organic matter and recycling of paper, glass, plastics and metals

yield productive outcomes and reduces burden on landfill site

Public Health and Life Quality

Waste is handled in a hygienic and scientific manner, so no pollution is caused at

any stage

Garbage on the roads is tremendously reduced

Drains are no longer clogged with garbage – no smell, no breeding site for

malaria spreading mosquitoes, no meeting place for pigs and other stray animals

Quality of life improves as the whole city looks clean and aesthetic This shows

that the model is not only a convincing theoretical concept but also a successful

intervention in the field of Municipal Solid Waste Management.

Key Highlights

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Waste Management

First project in India involving D2D collection of garbage from 100% households

on all 365 days.

The only project on solid waste management in India to recruit physically

challenged persons. At present there are 37 such persons working on this project

and thereby earning livelihood for themselves and their families.

No dependence on external funding.

Community involvement on a large scale.

Well-defined roles for NMC, NGO and the community under the scheme.

Strategy followed

All concerned stakeholders were consulted before finalizing the implementation

plan.

Implementation plan

The work of D2D collection of waste by ‘Volunteer’ begins at 6.00 a.m. daily.

Every household in the given group is attended daily.

The doot goes around the demarcated households & announces his arrival by

blowing a whistle.

When the cycle rickshaw is completely filled with waste, it is unloaded in the

nearby community dustbins. After unloading, the volunteer covers the remaining

households.

During every unloading, the recyclable waste is separated by the volunteer.

At no point of time, he does manual handling of the waste collected.

Monitoring indicators have been set in consultation with the NGO, which have

further ensured prompt implementation of the project, e.g. households covered,

timely complainant redressal, regular and surprise filed visits, community

feedback, etc. are monitored regularly.

RESULTS

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Benefits to NMC

Successfully implemented the Supreme Court guidelines. Savings worth Rs. 5 crores

in terms of lower costs for providing D2D garbage collection service to the citizens.

Benefits to CDC (NGO)

Other municipal corporations in India are adopting Swatchata Doot model. CDC has

assisted in preparation of policy in Rajasthan.

CDC’s budget for the financial year 2003-04 was Rs. 53 lakhs. After being appointed

as implementer for this project, its financial credibility has escalated to Rs.15 crores.

Moreover, we have been appointed to implement similar project in other cities of India.

Financial institutions like Kotak Mahindra, ICICI, Tata Finance, etc. have come forward

to sponsor equipments required for D2D collection. To date credit worth Rs.1 crore has

been availed from these institutions.

NMC has further reposed its confidence in CDC activities and has handed over

the responsibility of secondary transportation of Municipal Solid Waste also to a joint

venture involving CDC. Improvement in sanitation.

Benefits to Citizens

Regular D2D collection of garbage and active participation in the zero garbage drive.

Better and prompt service at minimum costs.

Bio medical waste

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Waste Management

Solid waste generated from medical establishment needs to be handled very

carefully as these wastes may contain infectious material. The hospital wastes deserve

special treatment and disposal unlike household waste. Different types of solid waste are

generated in hospitals, which need to be handled in different ways. Nowadays, hospital

wastes are more explicitly termed as health care unit waste. Thus, the hospital waste

management system should be operated very carefully and methodically to avoid serious

consequences. Hospital waste can be broadly classified into two types:

  1)     Solid waste containing of materials likely to transmit infection, and

2)     Solid waste, which are normally safe to handle but may get infected as they are

produced in hospital premises.

  Obviously, the first category waste needs very careful handling and disposal

while the waste of second category can be handled in normal manner with a precaution

that they are not mixed with the infectious material. In either case, contact with wastes by

the workers should be avoided Further classification of hospital waste is as follows:

1) General waste: This includes domestic type of waste, packing material, garbage from

hospital kitchen and other waste material which do not pose a special handling problem

or hazards to human health and environment.

2)  Human anatomical wastes, blood body fluids: This includes waste consisting of

anatomical human tissues, organs, waste body parts, blood fluids, blood and blood

products and items saturated or dripping with blood, body fluids contaminated with blood

and body fluids removed during / after treatment, surgery or autopsy or other medical

procedures.

3) Microbiological wastes: Wastes from laboratory culture stocks or specimens of

micro-organisms, live or attenuated vaccines, human and animal cell culture used in

research and infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories, waste from

production of biological dishes and devices used for transfer of cultures.

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Waste Management

  4) Waste sharps: Wastes consisting of sharps, such as needles scalpel, blades, syringes,

glass, etc. That may cause puncture.

  5) Highly infectious waste: Waste containing highly infectious living and non-living

pathogens.

  6) Isolated waste: Biological waste from material contaminated with blood, excertion

exudates or secretion from human and animals isolated due to communicable disease.

  7) Discarded medicines: Waste comprising of expired, contaminated and discarded

medicines.

  8) Discarded glasswares: Waste generated from glasswares and glass equipment used.

  9) Soiled waste: Waste generated from soiled cotton, dressing, bedding, etc.

 10)Disposable (PVC/plastics, cardboards & thermocol): Wastes generated from

disposable items other than the waste sharps.

 11) Biotechnology wastes: Wastes generated from activities involving genetically

engineered organisms or products and their cultures not declared to be safe.

12) Incineration waste: Ash generation from incineration of any bio-medical waste.

13) Liquid waste: Waste generated from laboratory and washing, cleaning,

housekeeping and disinfecting activities discharge into drains.

 

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Waste Management

Waste Quantification

According to WHO report, 85% of hospitals wastes are actually non-hazardous.

10 % are infectious and 5 % are non-infectious but hazardous.

Treatment technologies

There are five board categories of medical waste treatment technologies:

Mechanical process:

Mechanical processes are used to change the physical from or chacharcterisities

of the waste either to facilitated waste handling or to process the waste in conjunction

with other treatement steps. The two primary mechanical processes are compaction and

shredding.

Thermal process:

Thermal processes use heat to denotaminate or destroy medical waste. Most

microorganisms are rapidly destroyed at temperatures ranging from 49c to 91c thermal

treatment processes include the following

Autoclaving : Steam sterilization (autoclave) systems are designed to bring steam

into direct contact with waste in a controlled manner and for sufficient duration

to kill pathogenic microorganisms that may be contaminating the waste. There

are several different types and designs of autoclave systems. Without full steam

penetration and contact into the most densely packed wastes, decontamination

will not be complete and sterilization cannot be achieved.

Microwaving : One medical waste treatment process uses a combination of

shredding and Microwaving. Waste is loaded into the system and shredded while

being injected with steaming. An auger conveyor past a series of magnetrons, or

microwave generators transports the shredded and steam-moistened waste. The

heat generated in the waste by microwave radiation accomplishes

decontamination. Shredding also reportedly provides up to an 80% volume

reduction.

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Waste Management

Chemical disinfection processes: Most medical waste treatment systems use chlorine

compounds, but other disinfectants, such as phenolic compounds, iodine, alcohol,

formaldehydes, etc. could also be used. Most chemical solutions are used as aqueous

solutions. Water is needed to bring the chemicals and microorganisms together as

necessary to achieve inactivation.

Irradiation Processes: Irradiation is synonymous with electromagnetic or ionizing

radiation. Recently, irradiation processes, gamma radiation and electron beam radiation,

have been developed or considered for medical waste treatment.

Biological process:

A system is being developed using biological reactions will not only decontaminate the

waste but also cause the destruction of all the organic constituents so that only plastics,

glass, and other insert will remains in the residues.

Selection of waste management options

In an infectious waste management system, several options are available within

each area of management. Options for treatment techniques for the various types of

infectious waste, types of treatment equipment, treatment sites, and various waste

handling practices all need to be carefully evaluated. The selection of available options at

a facility depends upon a number of factors such as the nature of the infectious waste, the

quantity of infectious waste generated, the availability of equipment for treatment on-site;

regulatory constraints, and cost considerations.

Since treatment methods vary with the waste type, the waste must be evaluated

and categorized with regard to its potential to cause disease. Such characteristics as

chemical context, density, water content, bulk and so on, are known to influence waste

treatment decisions. For example, many facilities use a combination of techniques for the

different components of the infectious waste stream, such as stream sterilization for

laboratory cultures and incineration for pathological waste.

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Waste Management

The quantity of each category of infectious waste generated at the facility may

also influence the method of treatment. Decisions should be made on the basis of the

major components of the infectious waste stream.

Another important factor in the selection of options for infectious waste

management is the availability of on-site and off-site treatment. When selecting an on-

site treatment system, both the treatment technology and the vendor providing the system

should be carefully evaluated. For some facilities, however off-site treatment may offer

the most cost-effective option. Off-site treatment alternatives include such options as

crematories operated by morticians, a shared treatment unit at another institution, and

commercial or community treatment facilities. It is also important to consider prevailing

community attitudes in such matter as site selection for off-site treatment facilities.

Cost considerations are the determining factor in the selection of infectious waste

management options. Cost factors include personnel, equipment cost (capital expense,

annual operating, and maintenance), handling costs (for infectious waste and the residue

from treatment), and, if applicable, service fees for off-site treatment option.

Thus till now we saw that medical waste include waste from dentists, morticians,

veterinary clinic, home health care, blood banks, and private practices, as well as

hospitals and clinics. Regulated medical waste thus includes cultures and stocks,

pathological waste, human blood and blood products, sharps, animal waste, isolation

waste, and unused sharps.

Chemotherapy waste should also be segregated from non-infectious waste.

Infectious waste should be packed and stored in a safe manner which will protect waste

handlers and the general public from possible injury and/or disease that may result from

exposure to the waste.

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Waste Management

Treatment methods substantially reduce or eliminate the potential for a waste to

spread disease. Incineration, autoclaving, microwave processing, chemical disinfection,

and irradiation systems are currently used to treat infectious waste.

Though we have so many waste disposal methods depending on the type of waste

yet hospitals generally have been slow to improve their handling and disposing of the

waste materials, which are increasing in quantity as a result of more patients and higher

per-patient waste loads.

What the effect has been on health and safety has not been measured, but without

proper management, wastes containing contaminated materials, dangerous chemicals, or

discarded needles are a potential hazard to millions of patients, health care workers, and

visitors. Furthermore, the health of entire community can be jeopardized if these wastes

are temporarily but inadequately stored outside the hospitals or thrown onto open dumps.

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Waste Management

Environmental Concern

The improper management of bio-medical waste causes serious environmental

problems in terms of air, water and land pollution. The nature of pollutants can be

classified into biological, chemical and radioactive. There are several legislations in India

concerning environmental problems, which are addressed in this website under the

section of legislations. The radioactive waste generated as part of bio-medical waste is

covered under the Atomic Act. Environment problems can arise due to the mere

generation of bio-medical waste and from the process of handling, treatment and

disposal. Although pollution cannot be mitigated completely, it can be reduced to a large

extent. This section deals with causes, hazards and steps to minimize the hazard.  

Air Pollution

Air pollution can be caused in both indoors and outdoors. Biomedical waste that

generates air pollution is of three types - Biological, Chemical and radioactive.

 

Indoor air pollution: Pathogens present in the waste can enter and remain in the air in an

institution for a long period in the form of spores or as pathogens itself. This can result in

Hospital Acquired Infections (Nosocomial infections) or Occupational Health Hazards.

The patients and their attendants also have a chance of contracting infections caused due

to pathogens or spores which are air borne. However, there are very limited statistics

available in this field. This is an area which requires research.  

Indoor air pollution due to biologicals can be reduced by covering the waste

properly, routing the waste in such a way that shortest distance is used and sensitive areas

are avoided. Segregation of waste, pretreatment at source etc., can also reduce this

problem to a great extent. Sterilizing the rooms will also help in checking the indoor air

pollution due to biologicals. 

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Waste Management

Indoor air pollution can also be caused due to: Poor ventilation: The building design

plays an important role in maintaining proper ventilation. Faulty air conditioning also

will result in poor circulation of air within the room

The paints, carpets, furniture, equipment, etc., used in the rooms, can give out

volatile organic compounds (VOC) Use of chemicals: Disinfectants, fumigants etc., give

out acidic or hazardous gases. 

The indoor air pollution caused due to the above chemicals or poor ventilation can

cause Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) to the employees. Proper building design and well-

maintained air conditioners could reduce the SBS. Chemicals should be utilized as per

prescribed norms. Over use of chemicals should be avoided.  

Outdoor air pollution: Outdoor air pollution can be caused by pathogens. When waste

without pretreatment is being transported outside the institution, or if it is dumped

openly, pathogens can enter the atmosphere. These pathogens can find their way to

drinking water, food stuff, soil etc., and or remain in the ambient air and cause diseases in

animals and human beings. Proper waste management practices can reduce this pollution

to a large extent. 

Chemical pollutants that cause outdoor air pollution have two major sources-

open burning and incinerators. Open burning of bio-medical waste is the most harmful

practice. The presence of plastics and hazardous materials in the waste will generate

harmful gases such as oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, carbon dioxide etc., and

suspended particulate matter. These when inhaled can cause respiratory diseases. Certain

organic gases such as dioxins and furans are carcinogenic.

 

Open burning of bio-medical waste should be strictly avoided. Pollution control

devices should be used for technology produces toxic emissions. The design parameters

and maintenance of such treatment and disposal technology should be as per the

prescribed standards.  

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Waste Management

Water Pollution

Bio-medical waste can cause water pollution. If the waste is dumped in low-lying

areas, or into lakes and water bodies, can cause severe water pollution. The liquid waste

generated when let into sewers can also lead to water pollution if not treated. Certain

treatment or disposal options can also cause water pollution. Water pollution can either

be caused due to biological, chemicals or radioactive substances.  

The pathogens present in the waste can leach out and contaminate the ground

water or surface water. Harmful chemicals present in bio-medical waste such as heavy

metals can also cause water pollution. Poor landfilling technology may cause water

pollution in the form of leachates. Excess nutrient leachate such as nitrates and

phosphates from landfills can cause a phenomenon called eutrophication (where surface

of the water body develops algal blooms). Water pollution can alter parameters such as

pH, BOD, DO, COD, etc. There are instances where dioxins are reported from water

bodies near incinerator plants. Dioxins enter the water body from the air. 

The standards for effluent release from institutions should be maintained. Proper

waste management practices will reduce the water pollution considerably. Incinerators

should be sited away from water bodies. Care should be taken to have proper liners in

landfills to avoid leachate from entering water bodies.

Radioactive effluent

Many shipments of radioactive material are in liquid form.  The residues of these

shipments constitute the principal liquid radioactive waste requiring handling and

disposal.  Radioactive waste in liquid form can come from chemical or biological

research, from body organ imaging, from decontamination of radioactive spills, from

patients urine and from scintillation liquids used in radioimmunoassay.  Undoubtedly,

this last source of liquid waste produces the largest volume of liquid radioactive waste. 

Very low-level liquid radioactive waste is usually handled by direct dispersal in the sewer

system.  Higher level radioactive waste, such as that generated in radioiodine therapy, can

be stored pending decay, followed by appropriate radiation monitoring and subsequent

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Waste Management

dispersal in the sewer system.  It is not usually necessary to collect and confine patient

waste.  Under normal circumstances, urine and faeces can be handled as nonradioactive

waste so long as the patient’s room is routinely monitored for radioactive contamination. 

In the case of contaminated liquid scintillation phosphorous, the toxicity of the chemical

matrix is probably more hazardous than its radioactivity.  Indeed the chemical toxicity of

this material may preclude its direct disposal in the sewer system.  From a practical

standpoint, it is acceptable to identify a sink in the laboratory as a waste receptacle if the

daily disposal is restricted to 100 kBq.

Land Pollution

The final disposal of all bio-medical waste is to the land. Even liquid effluent

after treatment is spread on land. Hence, pollution caused to land is inevitable. However,

it can be minimized to a large extent through proper treatment. Open dumping of bio-

medical waste is the greatest cause for land pollution. Landfilling is also harmful to a

limited extent. Soil pollution from bio-medical waste is caused due to infectious waste,

discarded medicines, chemicals used in treatment and ash and other waste generated

during treatment processes. Heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, mercury etc., which are

present in the waste will get absorbed by plants and can then enter the food chain.

Nitrates and phosphates present in leachates from landfills are also pollutants. Excessive

amounts of trace nutrient elements and other elements including heavy metals in soil are

harmful to crops and are also harmful to animals and human beings.  

Leachate containing concentrated heavy metals and or microbes which is released

from landfills can lead to ground water and surface water pollution. Radioactive waste

generated from institutions can cause soil pollution. Cadavers, protective clothing,

absorbent paper generated in the nuclear medicine imaging laboratory will also cause soil

pollution.

Minimizing the waste and proper treatment before disposal on land are the only

ways of reducing this kind of pollution.

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Waste Management

Health hazards: 

According to the WHO, the global life expectancy is increasing year after year.

However, deaths due to infectious disease are increasing. A study conducted by the WHO

in 1996, reveals that more than 50,000 people die everyday from infectious diseases. One

of the causes for the increase in infectious diseases is improper waste management.

Blood, body fluids and body secretions which are constituents of bio-medical waste

harbour most of the viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause infection. This passes via a

number of human contacts, all of whom are potential ‘recipients’ of the infection. Human

Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and hepatitis viruses spearhead an extensive list of

infections and diseases documented to have spread through bio-medical waste.

Tuberculosis, pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, tetanus, whooping cough etc., are other

common diseases spread due to improper waste management. 

Occupational health hazards: The health hazards due to improper waste

management can not only affect the occupants in institutions, but also spread in the

vicinity of the institutions. Occupational health concerns exist for janitorial and laundry

workers, nurses, emergency medical personnel, and refuse workers. Injuries from sharps

and exposure to harmful chemical waste and radioactive waste also causes health hazards

to employees in institutions generating bio-medical waste. The problem of occupational

health hazards due to bio-medical waste is not publicized as there is lack of information.

Hence, the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 prescribes a

form under schedule VI to report such incidences in order to develop a database.  There is

plenty of scope for research in this field. Proper management of waste can solve the

problem of occupational hazards to a large extent.  

Hazards to the general public: The general public’s health can also be adversely

affected by bio-medical waste. Improper practices such as dumping of bio-medical waste

in municipal dustbins, open spaces, water bodies etc., leads to the spread of diseases.

Emissions from incinerators and open burning also leads to exposure to harmful gases

which can cause cancer and respiratory diseases. Exposure to radioactive waste can in the

waste stream can also cause serious health hazards. An often-ignored area is the increase

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Waste Management

of in-home healthcare activities. An increase in the number of diabetics who inject

themselves with insulin, home nurses taking care of terminally ill patients etc., all

generate bio-medical waste which can cause health hazards. 

Bio-medical waste can cause health hazards to animals and birds. Plastic waste

can choke animals which scavenge on openly dumped waste. Injuries from sharps are a

common feature affecting animals. Harmful chemicals such as dioxins and furans can

cause serious health hazards to animals and birds. Certain heavy metals can affect the

reproductive health of the animals

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Waste Management

Bio-Medical (Handling & Management) Rules

The ministry of environment & forests has issued draft rules for management of

bio-medical waste. The following are some of the salient features of these rules:

The rules will apply to hospitals, nursing homes, veterinary institutions, animal

houses or slaughterhouses generating biomedical waste.

State government can notify authorities for the purpose of granting authorization

for collection , reception, storage, treatment and disposal of bio-medical wastes,

from

Directorate of health services,

Directorate of animal husbandry or veterinary services,

State pollution control boards\committees, and municipal authorities.

Every hospital, nursing home, veterinary institution, animal house generating bio-

medical waste need to install an appropriate facility in the premises or shall set up

a common facility within a period of nine months from the date of

commencement of these rules.

Any person generating\handling biomedical wastes or operating bio-medical

waste treatment facility, needs to make authorization from appropriate authority.

A generator or an operator of biomedical waste facility needs to take all measures

necessary to prevent damages or adverse effects to the environment. He is also

required to submit detailed information about the types and quantities of bio-

medical wastes collected or handled by him. This must be done every year.

An authorized person handling any biomedical wastes needs to segregate various

categories of wastes as per classification specified in the rules.

Waste of different categories shall be segregated, stored, treated and disposed as

per procedure prescribed in rules.

The authorized person needs to maintain records about the category of waste

generated, quantity, storage, transportation and treatment details, which are

subject to verification by appropriate authority.

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Waste Management

Status surveys of medical waste management

The status of bio-medical waste management in different metropolitan cities

considered is:

Delhi: CPCB conducted surveys of 66 major hospitals in Delhi, during may 28 to

June 18, 1997 and from July 16 to October 24 1997. it was found that 19 hospitals

have installed incinerator for treating their medical wastes, out of which only 11 are

with double chambers. Further 20 hospitals are in the process of providing

incinerators/ autoclave.

Mumbai: Mumbai has a large number medium to small sized hospitals and clinics

besides the large hospitals, which are run by the government, the municipal

corporation or private trust, all India institute of local self government, Mumbai has

conducted a study to collect information on the present practices of waste

management in hospitals. It was found that only 19 % of the large privates of

hospitals use incinerators and some large private hospitals make use of their waste

like organs, tissues etc. segregation of wastes is not practiced adopted in an organized

manner. Although about 45 % of the private hospitals claim to segregate the waste, it

is not separated. It is the from of ret rival of useful things like plastic bottles; card

boxes by the lower staff. There is no colour coding used for waste segregation.

Banglore: A report on management of health care waste for bangolre city has been

prepared by M.S. Ramaiah medical college, banglore. Out of 68 health care setting

visited by the project team only 9 have incineration facilities whereas 11 burn in open

air. Segregation of waste sharps is done in only 13 setting.

Indore: Average quantity of bio-medical waste generated from the government

hospitals is 1.43 kg/ day/ bed, while average quantity of biomedical waste generated

from private hospitals is 1.49 kg/day/bed. Thus private hospitals generated more

quantity of bio-medical waste.

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Waste Management

Case study

The Hinduja foundation has established an ultramodern hospital and Medical

Research Centre in Mumbai in collaboration with Massachusetts’s general hospital

(MGH), Boston.

P.D.Hinduja National Hospital and Medical research centre is a charitable

institution, with a life span of 40 years. It assimilates the finest in medical and surgical

talent and technique to bring them closer to common man. This dream was nurtured in

heart of great founder Mr. Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja.

The hospital stands today as a concrete testimony to the fulfillment of the

founders dream. Located on the busiest artery in central Mumbai, this is a 16 storeyed

fully air conditioned building. It has an inpatient capacity of 335 beds inclusive of 47

critical care beds in different specialties. The inpatient services are complemented by an

outpatients department centrally air conditioned building which houses doctors

consulting rooms and diagnostic services. The hospitals offers expertise in various

specialties to include Cardiology, Neurology, Pheumatology Endocrinology, ENT,

General medicine and General surgery, etc. except the Maternity department.

  The hospital management and professionals lay emphasis on quality. Hospital has

well qualified and dedicated professionals, medical and paramedical staff who are

regularly trained to further enhance their skills.

  It has a separate waste management department, which manages its waste in the

following manner:

This hospital has a manpower of more than 1500.The waste is segregated at

source. Every room and department in the hospital are provided with four different

colours of bags in which wastes are collected depending on their density of infection.

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Waste Management

The description of wastes collected according to the colour bags as done in this

hospital is given below:

  Red: Waste, which is highly infecting are collected in these bags, such as HIV affected

patient waste, soiled waste etc. Then these bags are sealed and disposed to the hospital

laundry. There they are separately washed to make them free of infectious

microorganisms. Then they are mixed with general lot washed and then can be reused.

Green: All the waste which can be recycled or reused are collected in this bag and

sometimes sold as scrap. Example: plastic containers, which can fetch some revenue.

They are sold as scrap after a pre-disposal treatment.

Yellow: All the waste, which is highly infectious, is collected in such bags. Wastes such

as bandages, body fluids, etc. are collected and then incinerated in the campus itself. The

hospital has an in-house incinerator. Such waste is almost half a kg. per bed.

Black: All the administrative waste is collected in these bags. Waste such as paper, paper

products etc. are collected. These bags are than handed over to the BMC agents. There is

a special vehicle, which collects these wastes twice a day. Almost one and a half-ton of

such waste are collected everyday.

All other types of waste such as waste sharps, needles, syringes are incinerated as

and when collected.

Once the waste is segregated and sealed in their respective bags no person from

house keeping department touches it. It directly goes in the disposal system. With such

perfection in waste management system this hospital faces no difficulty of any kind. To

add to it the outlet of the incinerator goes right up towards the sky above the 16 floors in

the atmosphere not affecting the residents in the locality.

 

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Waste Management

As an endorsement of the quality services the hospital has been awarded the ISO-

9002 certification award from KEMA of Netherlands for quality management systems.

So with such an efficient waste management system hospitals shouldn’t face any

difficulty in disposing of any type of waste. But this is not possible in all types of

hospitals. Hospitals, which have sources, can afford it, but a hospital run by government

or trustees face certain difficulties. They have inadequate methods or rather knowledge

about disposing of their waste, which may lead to unethical disposal causing harm to

human beings and above all our environment.

  To avoid this the government has taken certain steps, which makes every hospital

of India to adopt an efficient waste management system. Our team members through

certain doctors collected these facts. We are listing some of them in this report.

Government of India passed an act in the year 1996 giving specifications

regarding disposal of solid waste in hospitals.

This act was amended in year 1998 and it was passed in July 1998. This act gave

notification from the ministry of environment and forests notifying the rules for the

management and handling of the bio-medical waste. The rules were called as the Bio-

Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules.1998. They came into force on the

date of publication of the office gazette. The rules applied to all the persons who

generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose, or handle bio-medical waste in

any form. This act gave various specifications regarding some terms, duties of various

people involved in this field, types of waste and their disposal systems, prescribed

authorities and certain standards for treatment and disposal of the bio-medical waste.

Example: the act explained segregation, packaging, transportation and storage of the bio-

medical waste. the act gave standards for incineration, autoclaving, deep burial, etc. this

act also specified treatment for the waste resulting of incineration, autoclaving,

microwaving.

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Waste Management

The Bureau of Indian Standards gave “Indian Standard Solid Wastes- Hospitals-

Guidelines for Management” in the year 1989.these guidelines gave specific grades for

the terms involved in medical waste management. These grades are recognized in the

whole country.

Example: standards are given for types of solid waste, their hazards to human

health and environment, transportation and disposal along with air pollution control due

to incineration, auto-claving, etc.

In the same manner the central pollution board has also given Environmental

Standards and Guidelines for Management of Hospital Waste. Like other acts these

guidelines also specified ways of disposal, types of wastes, etc.

To add to this list government gave some easy ways for disposing medical waste in

private nursing homes and small hospitals.

Wastes are produced in every walk of life. Hotels, hospitals, industries, and so

forth. All produce huge amounts of waste which vary in intensity of being harmful to the

environment. People go to hotels out of their will but people going to hospitals do so

because of sufferings and illness. Hotels therefore produce waste, which are not very

harmful, but hospitals produce waste, which need special mention because they are

hazardous in nature. The waste generated in hospitals and hotels is increasing day by day

due to the increasing population and their ever increasing needs.

Hospital waste can spread infection, which may affect the entire population and

this may lead in spreading dangerous diseases.

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