EQUIPTMENT FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT SUITED TO EXISTING CONDITIONS.

BEST

EQUIPTMENT PURCHASE

According to a UN HABITAT presentation based in Nairobi Kenya, on the collection of solid waste, large sums of money have been used to purchase collection vehicles and containers. These equipment have been only used for a short period of time and not to their expected designed life. Some equiptment were alleged to be bought under corruption.

CONDITIONS AFFECTING EQUIPMENT SUITABILITY Some factors that influence solid waste handling include the following:a) Climate: - Any waste that is organic, such as waste from food will decompose much faster in hotter climates. These biodegradable wastes will decompose with an unpleasant odour. These wastes should be placed in a bin that is designed only for organic waste and covered tightly. Glass, plastics and metals should be avoided. The waste can be placed in a compost converter or OWC (organic waste converter). This will help produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen which is cooled in a gasifier and used to generate electricity. A typical organic waste converter is shown in the photo below.

b) Type of waste: - Different types of waste need different type of collectors in handling the waste. For example radioactive, chemical and biological waste.

i)

Chemical waste:- These waste are inorganic like fertilizers, pesticides, asbestos, acids and bases. It also includes organic waste like tetrachlorides. These wastes must be stored in large non-biodegradable containers before they reach the landfills. The containers are usually made of plastic or metal. The containers must be labeled as a hazard. If they are not tightly secured, they may leach into the soil and pollute it. The photos below shows examples of metallic barrels used to store toxic chemical waste.

ii)

Organic Waste: - These wastes are normally biodegradable. For the condition of being biodegradable, they can be stored in vacuum tanks and transported to the landfill. SWMCOL normally supplies large vacuum tankers for the collection of liquid organic waste such as faeces, oil waste and sludge.

iii)

Radioactive Waste:- Equipments used for collection and storage of radioactive waste must be specifically designed to suit radioactive conditions. Since these wastes consist of radio nucleotides that can disintegrate rapidly, they are not normally stored in landfills. They are normally kept in large capsules in nuclear power plants. In the power plants, the capsules are normally made of steel and concrete and filled with de-ionised water. See photo below: