WASTE MANAGEMENT

Presented By-
Uday Kiran Padhy
Potturi Pradeep Chand
18B91A04L4
18B91A04G8
Abstract:
The problems of waste generation and
management in most cities especially in
developing has become one of the
intractable environmental problems facing
urban centres. This situation could be
handled by low level of technology that is
enough to handle the high rate of waste
generation. This paper mainly focus on how
waste generation can be minimised and
how waste management can be imple
mented effectively.
Introduction:
The term ‘waste’ refers to all kinds of
waste, whether generated during extraction
of raw materials, processing of raw
materials into final products, or other
human activities. Waste management or
waste disposal includes all the activities and
actions such as collection, transport,
treatment and disposal of waste from its
inception to its final disposal.
In earlier times, the amount of waste
generated by humans was not a matter of
concern because of low population and low
levels of exploitation of natural resources.
Besides, the waste was mostly organic or
biodegradable. The onset of
industrialization, along with rapid
urbanization that followed, the concern on
Waste management increased.
Industrialization also led to exploitation of
more and more natural resources, resulting
in generation of more waste material a large
portion of which was no longer
biodegradable. As industrialization
progressed, proportion of non-
biodegradable or even hazardous
substances, in the waste material increased.
Most of the populated areas present a
picture of inadequately managed and
uncontrolled dumping sites of waste
(dustbins) with poor, waste collection
services. To the city/town administrators,
waste management is an ongoing challenge
and they struggle due to weak institutions,
poor infrastructure and rapid urbanization.
Types of Waste:
There are many types of wastes in present
scenario. They are Biodegradable wastes,
Biomedical Waste, Plastic waste,
Construction and demolition waste, E-
waste, Radioactive waste, Mining waste,
Chemical waste , Food Waste.
1) Biodegradable waste:
Biodegradable wastes are
those wastes which can be easily
decomposed by the action of nature. They
can also be used as a manure in agriculture
many time.
2) Biomedical Waste:
Biomedical waste is any kind
of waste containing infectious materials. It
may also include waste associated with the
generation of biomedical waste that
appears to be of medical or laboratory
origin (e.g., packaging, unused bandages
,etc.), as well research laboratory waste
containing biomolecules or organisms that
are mainly restricted from environmental
release.
3) Plastic Waste:
Plastic waste this consists of
bags, containers, jars, bottles and many
other products that can be found in your
household. Plastic is not biodegradable, but
many types of plastic can be recycled
. Plastic should not be mix in with your
regular waste, it should be sorted and
placed in your recycling bin.

4) Construction and demolition waste:
Construction waste consists of unwanted
material produced directly or incidentally
by the construction or industries. This
includes building materials such as
insulation, nails, electrical wiring, shingle,
and roofing as well as waste originating
from site preparation such
as dredging materials, tree stumps,
and rubble. Construction waste may
contain lead, asbestos, or other hazardous
substances.
5) Electronic Waste: Electronic
waste or e-waste describes discarded
electrical or electronic devices. Used
electronics which are destined for
refurbishment, reuse, resale, through
material recovery, or disposal are
considered e-waste. Informal processing of
e-waste in developing countries can lead to
adverse human health effects
and environmental pollution.
6) Radio Active Wastes: Radioactive
waste is waste that contains radioactive
material. Radioactive waste is usually
a byproduct of nuclear power generation
and other applications of nuclear
fission or nuclear technology, such as
research and medicine. Radioactive waste
is hazardous to most forms of life and the
environment, and is regulated by
government agencies in order to protect
human health and the environment.
7) Mining Waste: Mining
wastes include waste generated during the
extraction, beneficiation, and processing of
minerals.
8) Chemical Waste: Chemical waste is any
type of waste that is composed of
hazardous-chemicals.
Harmful chemicals and solvents that are the
byproducts of large scale laboratories and
manufacturing plants serve as the most
common examples of industrial chemical
waste.
9) Food Waste: Food waste or food
loss is food that is wasted or lost uneaten.
The causes of food waste or loss are
numerous and occur at the stages
of producing, processing, retailing and
consuming.
Negative Effects of Improper
Management of Waste:
1. Soil contamination:
Soil contamination is the No. 1 problem
caused by improper waste removal and
disposal. Some wastes that end up in
landfills excrete hazardous chemicals that
leak into the soil. Soil contamination does
not only affect plant growth, it is also
unhealthy to humans and animals feeding
on those plants.
It is therefore important that every
household takes recycling to heart. Plastics,
metals, paper, and electronic wastes can be
recycled at your local recycling centres
2. Water contamination: Hazardous
wastes in the environment leech into the
ground, and ultimately, into ground water.
This water is used for many things, from
watering the local fields to drinking. Toxic
liquid chemicals from waste can also seep
into water streams and bodies of water.
It can destroy and suffocate marine habitats.
Contaminated water is also dangerous and
harmful to humans who consume fish and
other marine life.
3. Air contamination: Waste that contains
hazardous chemicals, such as bleach and
acids, needs to be disposed of properly, and
only in approved containers with correct
labels.
Some papers and plastics are burned in
landfills, emitting gas and chemicals that
hurt the ozone layer. Finally, landfill gas
produced by the decomposing wastes, can
be explosive and can harm nearby
communities.
4. Bad impact on human health: Improper
disposal of waste can greatly affect the
health of the population living nearby the
polluted area or landfills. Waste disposal
workers and other employees in these
landfill facilities are at a greater risk.
Exposure to improperly handled wastes can
cause skin irritations, blood infections,
respiratory problems, growth problems, and
even reproductive issues.
5. Impact on animals and marine life:
Animals likewise suffer the effects of
pollution caused by improperly disposed
wastes and rubbish. Animals who consume
grasses near contaminated areas or landfills
are also at risk of poisoning due to the
toxins that seep into the soil.
6. Disease-carrying pests: Mosquitoes and
rats are known to live and breed in sewage
areas, and both are known to carry life-
threatening diseases. Mosquitoes breed in
cans and tires that collect water, and can
carry diseases such as malaria and dengue.
Rats find food and shelter in landfills and
sewage, and they can carry.
7. Adversely affect the local economy:
Everyone wants to stay and live in a
healthy, clean, fresh, and sanitary place. A
city with poor waste management will
certainly not attract tourists or investors.
Landfill facilities that are mismanaged can
cause the local economy to sink, which can
then affect the livelihood of the locals.
8. Missed recycling opportunities: There
is revenue in recycling. Cities that do not
implement proper removal and recycling of
wastes miss on this. They also miss out on
the resources that can be reused and on the
employment opportunities that a recycling
centre brings.
9. Causes extreme climate changes:
Decomposing waste emits gases that rise to
the atmosphere and trap heat. Greenhouse
gases are one of the major culprits behind
the extreme weather changes that the world
is experiencing.
Measures taken for Waste
Management:
First thing first , There are many ways in
waste management but there Is order to
follow that is prevention (most favoured
option) ,minimisation ,reuse , recycling
,energy recovery and then the least
favoured option which is disposal.
Avoidance/Waste Minimization: The
easier method of waste management is to
reduce creation of waste materials thereby
reducing the amount of waste going to
landfills. Waste reduction can be done
through recycling old materials, repairing
broken items instead of buying, avoiding
use of disposable products like plastic, and
reusing second hand items.
Recycling: Recycling is the process of
converting waste products into new
products to prevent energy usage and
consumption of fresh raw materials.
Donate/Exchange: On our part we can
donate old books, textiles to the needy,
Building Material and old equipment’s to
organisations.
Local Residents: Local residents can
contribute in construction of backyard
compost pit, construction of storage bins
where recyclable and reusable materials are
stored by each household. Greening of their
respective areas and encouraging others to
join.
Waste to Energy (Recover Energy):
Waste to energy process involves
converting of non-recyclable waste
items into useable heat, electricity, or fuel
through a variety of processes. It can also
help to reduce carbon emissions by
offsetting the need for energy from fossil
sources.
Landfills: Throwing daily waste/garbage
in the landfills is the most popularly used
method of waste disposal used today. This
process of waste disposal focuses attention
on burying the waste in the land. While it
is true this is the most popular form
of waste disposal.
Landfills give rise to air and water
pollution which severely affects the
environment and can prove fatal to the lives
of humans and animals.
Incineration/Combustion: Incineration or
combustion is a type disposal method in
which municipal solid wastes are burned at
high temperatures so as to convert
them into residue and gaseous products.
The biggest advantage of this type of
method is that it can reduce the volume of
solid waste to 20 to 30 percent of the
original volume, decreases the space they
take up and reduce the stress on landfills.
Composting: Composting is an easy and
natural bio-degradation process that takes
organic wastes i.e. remains of plants and
garden and kitchen waste and turns into
nutrient rich food for your plants.
Composting is one of the best method of
waste disposal as it can turn unsafe organic
products into safe compost. On the other
side, it is slow process and takes lot of
space.
Conclusion: We only have one planet, and
our careless handling of waste is harming it.
Taking care of the environment is
everyone’s responsibility, for ourselves, for
our planet, and for our children.
Reference:
[1] Measures taken for Waste Management:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/16568045/Me
thods-of-Waste-Disposal
[2] Negative Effects of Improper
Management of Waste:
https://www.skipthetip.com/10-negative-
effects-of-improper-rubbish-removal/
[3] Types of Wastes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_mana
gement#External_links