Exercise 4 solid waste management

Q1. The student population of X high school is 881. The school has 30 standard classrooms. Assuming a 5day school week with solids waste pick-ups on Wed and Fri before school starts in the morning, determine
the size of storage container (dumpster) required. Assume waste is generated at a rate of 0.11 kg/capita.d
plus 3.6 kg per room and that the density of uncompacted solid waste is 120.0 kg/m3. Standard container
sizes are as follows (all in m3): 1.5, 2.3, 3.0, and 4.6.

Solution
Given:
High school population = 881
30 class rooms; 0.11 kg/cap.d plus 3.6 kg/room
Density = 120 kg/m3
Wednesday & Friday pickup
Containers sizes: 1.5; 2.3, 3.0, 4.6 m3

Step 1: Calculate daily solid waste generation

(30 rooms)(3.6 kg/room) = 108.0 kg/d
(881 students)(0.11 kg/student) = 96.91 kg/d
Total = 108.0 + 96.91 = 204.91 kg/d

Step 2: Calculate daily volume

V = 204.91 kg/d / (120 kg/m3) = 1.71 m3/ d

Step 3: Consider collection schedule

Wednesday pickup includes Friday, Monday and Tuesday waste
Friday pickup includes Wednesday and Thursday waste
Thus, take the higher number of days needed to store the waste, in this case, 3 days.
Total Volume = (3 d)(1.71 m3/d) = 5.12 m3

Step 4: Decide number and size of containers

Many combinations may be possible:
One of 1.5 m3 and one of 4.6 m3 = 6.10 m3 okay
One of 2.3 m3 and one of 3.0 m3 = 5.30 m3 okay
Two of 3.0 m3 = 6.0 m3 okay

Q2. Estimate the area and volume of landfill to handle the solid waste from Midden for 20 years. The
Science Club at Midden High school has furnished the following data in Table Q2 based on a 12-month
survey. (One sample having a mass of 1.000 Mg was taken at the existing landfill during normal off-loading
operations 1 day each month).
Assume:
A cell height of 2.40 m and that the recommended depths of cover will be used and that compaction will
be normal.
Population is 44000.
Average solid waste generation rate is 1.17 kg/capita.d
Average uncompacted density is 144.7 kg/m3
The area which the solid waste will be spread: 0.3 m (layer)

Table Q2
Characterization of Midden solid waste
Component
Food waste
Paper
Nonferrous metal, rubber, leather
Textiles
Metals
Glass
Miscellaneous
Total

Mass fraction
0.0926
0.4954
0.0438
0.0379
0.0741
0.1668
0.0894
1.0000

Solution:

Step 1: Mass of solid waste/y

(44000 population)(1.17 kg/cap-d)(365 d/y) = 18,790,200 kg/y or 18,790 Mg/y

Step 2: Calculate weighted compaction ratio (using Table 11-10, Page 827 Davis book)
Component
Food waste
Paper
Nonferrous metal, rubber, leather
Textiles
Metals
Glass
Miscellaneous
Total

Mass fraction
0.0926
0.4954
0.0438
0.0379
0.0741
0.1668
0.0894
1.0000

Normal
2.8
5
4.45
2.5
4.25
1.7
1.2
-

Weighed compaction ratio

0.26
2.48
0.19
0.09
0.31
0.28
0.11
3.72

Note:

Average of components of nonferrous metal, rubber, leather,= nonferrous metal + rubber, leather,
wood (5.6 + 3.3)/2 = 4.45
Average of components of metals is nonferrous metal + ferrous metal = 5.6+2.9 = 4.25

Step 3: Compute density of compacted fill

Dc = (144.7 kg/m3) (3.72) = 539 kg/m3

Step 4: Volume per day

(44000 population)(1.17 kg/cap.d)/ 539 kg/m3 = 95.49 m3/d

Step 5: Find the area per day

Assume spread in 0.3-m layer,

95.49 m3/d / 0.3 m = 318.30 m2/d

Step 5: Find the time to complete cell

Using 0.15 m/d cover then 0.3 m SW + 0.15 m soil = 0.45 m and it will take
(2.4 0.15) m / 0.45 m = 5 d to complete the cell

Step 6: Soil volume Not ignoring soil separating cells (Check Fig 11-15, page 830, Davis book)
For daily cover
(3 cells/stack)(5 lifts/cell)(318.30 m2/d)(0.15 m) = 716.18 m3

plus 0.15 m for intermediate cover (weekly) to make up to 0.3 m (Table 11-6, Page 818, Davis book)
(3 cells/stack)(318.30)(0.15) = 143.24 m3

plus final cover (additional 0.3 m to bring to final cover of 0.6 m) (Table 11-6, Page 818, Davis book)
(318.30)(0.3) = 95.49 m3

plus soil separating stack (square @ (318.3)1/2 = 17.84 m)

(0.03 m)(2.4 m high)(17.84 m long)(3 cells) = 38.54 m3

for two sides

2(38.54 m3) = 77.08 m3

for total soil volume

Vsoil = 716.18 + 143.24 + 95.49 + 77.08
Vsoil = 1031.99 m3

Step 7: Volume of solid waste

Vsw = (95.49 m3/d)(15 d/stack) = 1432.35 m3/stack

Step 8: To find E, the ratio of cover (soil) to compacted fill

Vsw = 1432.35 m3/stack

Vc = 1031.99 m3/stack
E= (1031.99 +1432.35 )/ 1432.35
= 1.72

Step 9: Find the volume of landfill (Eq 11-11, Page 825, Davis book)
VLF = (18,790 Mg/y )(1.72) (20 y) / 0.539 Mg/m3
= 1,199,213.36 m3

Step 10: Find the area of landfill

3 cells per stack, and 2.4 m per cell + additional 0.3 m for final cover.
1.199 x 105 / [ (3 x 2.4) +0.3 ] = 157000 m2

Q3. Although the market value of compost is negligible, many communities have implemented yard waste
composting system. Explain why?
Given:
Composting of yard waste has little economic value
Solution:
Yard waste uses a considerable volume of landfill space. Composing reduces the volume and makes a
useful product to return to the environment.