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An Introduction to Solid Waste Management

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An Introduction to Solid Waste Management

Know the key objectives and elements of this important service
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BY RICK LEBLANC 
 
Updated October 11, 2019

Solid waste management is an essential service in any society. Before introducing the
process, however, let's start with a discussion of the material being managed—solid
waste.

Solid waste refers to the range of garbage materials—arising from animal and human
activities—that are discarded as unwanted and useless. Solid waste is generated from
industrial, residential, and commercial activities in a given area, and may be handled in
a variety of ways. As such, landfills are typically classified as
sanitary, municipal, construction and demolition, or industrial waste sites. 
Waste can be categorized based on material, such as plastic, paper, glass, metal, and
organic waste. Categorization may also be based on hazard potential, including
radioactive, flammable, infectious, toxic, or non-toxic wastes. Categories may also
pertain to the origin of the waste, whether industrial, domestic, commercial, institutional,
or construction and demolition.

Regardless of the origin, content, or hazard potential, solid waste must be managed
systematically to ensure environmental best practices. As solid waste management is a
critical aspect of environmental hygiene, it must be incorporated into environmental
planning.

North American Waste Generation: Key Insights

 The North American region generates the highest average

amount of waste per capita, at 4.6 pounds per day. Total waste
produced in 2016 was 289 million tons.
 Waste collection coverage in North America is nearly universal,
at 99.7%. Bermuda represents the only gap in coverage.
 More than 55% of waste in Noth America comprises
recyclables, including paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, and
glass.
 Just over half (54%) of the waste in North America is disposed
of at sanitary landfills, while one-third is
recycled. (Source: World Bank).

What Is Solid Waste Management?

Solid waste management is defined as the discipline associated with control of

generation, storage, collection, transport or transfer, processing and disposal of solid
waste materials in a way that best addresses the range of public health, conservation,
economic, aesthetic, engineering, and other environmental considerations.

In its scope, solid waste management includes planning, administrative, financial,

engineering, and legal functions. Solutions might include complex inter-disciplinary
relations among fields such as public health, city and regional planning, political
science, geography, sociology, economics, communication and conservation,
demography, engineering, and material sciences.

Solid waste management practices can differ for residential and industrial producers, for
urban and rural areas, and for developed and developing nations. The administration of
non-hazardous waste in metropolitan areas is the job of local government authorities.
On the other hand, the management of hazardous waste materials is typically the
responsibility of those who generate it, as subject to local, national, and even
international authorities.

Objectives of Waste Management

The primary goal of solid waste management is reducing and eliminating adverse
impacts of waste materials on human health and the environment to support economic
development and superior quality of life. This is to be done in the most efficient manner
possible, to keep costs low and prevent waste buildup.

6 Functional Elements of the Waste Management System

There are six functional components of the waste management system, as outlined

below:

1. Waste generation: This encompasses any activities involved in

identifying materials that are no longer usable and are either
gathered for systematic disposal or thrown away.
2. Onsite handling, storage, and processing: This relates to
activities at the point of waste generation, which facilitate easier
collection. For example, waste bins are placed at sites that
generate sufficient waste. 
3. Waste collection: A crucial phase of waste management, this
includes activities such as placing waste collection bins,
collecting waste from those bins, and accumulating trash in the
location where the collection vehicles are emptied. Although the
 collection phase involves transportation, this is typically not the
main stage of waste transportation.  
4. Waste transfer and transport: These are the activities involved
in moving waste from the local waste collection locations to the
regional waste disposal site in large waste transport vehicles.
5. Waste processing and recovery: This refers to the facilities,
equipment, and techniques employed to recover reusable or
recyclable materials from the waste stream and to improve the
effectiveness of other functional elements of waste
management.
6. Disposal: The final stage of waste management. It involves the
activities aimed at the systematic disposal of waste materials in
locations such as landfills or waste-to-energy facilities. 

Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM)

As the field of solid waste management advances, solutions are being looked at more
systematically and holistically. ISWM, for example, is an increasingly important term in
the field of waste management. It refers to the selection and use of appropriate
management programs, technologies, and techniques to achieve particular waste
management goals and objectives. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
states that ISWM is composed of waste source reduction, recycling, waste combustion,
and landfills. These activities can be done in either an interactive or hierarchical way. 

In closing, it is important to stress that better solid waste management programs are
urgently needed in some countries. Only about half of the waste generated in cities and
one-quarter of what is produced in rural areas is collected. Internationally, the World
Bank warns that global waste could increase by 70% by 2050 in a business-as-usual
scenario. Ongoing efforts to improve the waste management system are an important
part of preserving a healthy human and ecological future.


 Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) - An Overview

Introduction to Electronics Recycling

The Waste Management Hierarchy

Waste Treatment and Disposal Methods

Recycling Facts and Figures

How Recycling Creates New Jobs

Learn More About E-Waste Recycling With These Facts and Figures


 Introduction to Paper Recycling

Recycling Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC)

Zero Landfill an Important Component of Zero Solid Waste

How Long Will It Take That Bag of Trash to Decompose in a Landfill?

The Definition of Shredders in Recycling and Waste Management

Certification Programs for Recycling Professionals

The Pros and Cons of Starting a Composting Business


 Textile and Garment Recycling Facts and Figures

Electronics Recycling and E-Waste

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 Concepcion Banahaw
Municipality of SariayaProvince of Quezon

Concepcion Banahaw is a barangay in the

municipality of Sariaya, in the province
of Quezon. Its population as determined by the
2015 Census was 2,878. This represented 1.93%
of the total population of Sariaya.

Type barangay
Island group Luzon
Region CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province Quezon
Municipality Sariaya
Postal code 4322
Population (2015) 2,878
Philippine major island(s)Luzon
Coordinates 14.0123, 121.4779

Demographics

Population by age group

According to the 2015 Census, the age group with the highest population in Concepcion
Banahaw is 10 to 14, with 390 individuals. Conversely, the age group with the lowest population
is 80 and over, with 16 individuals.
details

Historical population
The population of Concepcion Banahaw grew from 2,319 in 1990 to 2,878 in 2015, an increase
of 559 people. The latest census figures in 2015 denote a negative growth rate of 0.84%, or a
decrease of 130 people, from the previous population of 3,008 in 2010.

Location

Concepcion Banahaw is situated at approximately 14.0123, 121.4779, in the

island of Luzon. Elevation at these coordinates is estimated at 586.2 meters or
1,923.2 feet above mean sea level.

BODY

Policy planning and Strategy

Solid waste management plans

First of all there should be solid waste management plans in place. Waste management
plans have essential roles to play towards sustainable waste management. Their primary
purpose is to provide an outline of sources of wastes and treatment options. Waste
management plans, national as well as local/regional are essential tools helping in the
implementation and achievement of policies and targets that have been set up.
Furthermore, the plans give an outline of the amount of wastes to be managed. Also,
they contribute to ensuring that the capacity and the way of collection and treatment
systems are coherent with the waste to be managed. The plans also identify areas in
which technological measures should be taken to get rid of or minimize certain types of
waste. Moreover, waste management plans make way for a statement of financial
requirements for the operation of collection schemes and treatment of waste among
others. On this basis, the needs for further investments in waste treatment plans may be
determined. As a solution to many waste management problems, the involvement of
several participants/authorities are required and coherent planning helps to avoid
unnecessary duplication of effort and thus benefits all participants, (EU Commission,
Environment, 2003).

Zero-waste policy
The aim of this policy should be geared towards a sustainable economy. The purpose is
to minimize consumption to a reasonable extent by using design-for-environment in
every product and their packaging, and to make them all recyclable. The determining
factors to achieve Zero Waste are the products’ designs and industrial processes,
that is, their components should be made in such a way that they can be dismantled,
repaired and/or recycled. Zero Waste implies merging communities, businesses and
industries such that one’s waste becomes another’s feedstock, which results in
preventing pollution at its source. Implementing Zero waste will get rid of all discharges
to land, water, or air that threaten the planetary, human, animal or plant health,
(Recycling Council of British Columbia, 2009).

Management of Municipal Solid Waste

Waste Minimization

Waste minimization is considered as a waste management approach that emphasizes on

decreasing the amount and toxicity of hazardous waste that is generated. It is believed
that waste minimization methods that focus on avoiding waste from ever being created,
(source reduction) and recycling is encouraged. There are three general methods of
waste minimization: source reduction, recycling, and treatment, (Scott.W.D, 2005). Waste
minimization can be achieved by reusing materials. In doing so, materials which were
bound to become waste can be used again and there will be no need for recycling,
combustion for energy purpose and disposal of waste materials to landfill. This can lead
to a reduction in waste management costs. However this can effectively be done by
planning, fabricating, buying, or making use of materials in a way that reduce the
amount of trash created, less waste is created and fewer natural resources are used.

Waste Sorting

Waste sorting should be done at home and this can be achieved by the help of the local
authorities, in the sense that, the three bins system should be implemented and there
should be continual training and education awareness programmes. People should be
taught how to use this system effectively and the reason behind using it. The three bins
can either be coloured differently or labelled in order to facilitate the users to dispose
their wastes in the corrective way. Waste sorting helps in achieving a sustainable
environment, in the sense that recyclable wastes will be disposed separately and thus
can be sent directly to the recycling industries and other wastes can be processed
accordingly. This will save time and cost of labour also.

Composting
Composting is the decomposition of organic matter by microorganism in warm, moist,
aerobic and anaerobic environment. There are different ways to do composting. It varies
from simple and cheap backyard or onsite composting methods to more costly and
sophisticated methods such as in-vessel composting. For materials such as food
garbage, vegetables garbage and other materials which are degradable, adoption of
proven technologies for processing such waste as backyard composting can be used; as
this can reduce the amount of waste destined for disposal. Inhabitants can then sell the
compost to nearby farmers and other users. Government should favor and stimulate the
development and acceptance of appropriate technologies for the conversion of
municipal solid waste to compost and promote markets for its use as a soil amendment.
It can also be noted that inhabitant can use the soil conditioner obtained from
composting to grow their own vegetables and crops. This is a good path towards
sustainability and it demands patience and cooperation. However this project may take
time to develop in Mauritius because there is lack of willingness on the part of
communities, local authorities and other parties such as the informal sector and the
formal waste collector. health,

Best practices
Enforcing Law

To achieve a sustainable waste management, the Government must take actions against
those who by-pass the law by throwing wastes haphazardly. The ‘pay- as -you
-throw’ program should be put in place and the local authorities must ensure that
the legal duty to abide by this particular program is imposed on all people in the
country, including tourists.

Education and awareness

There should be a continuous awareness programme in place, so that every person gets
well accustomed to the new techniques of municipal solid waste management. There
should also be public education so that people are not only made aware of the new
techniques, but also that they can understand the reasons behind managing municipal
solid wastes sustainably. The public should know and understand the importance of
sustainable development.
In Conclusion
With an exponentially increasing population, it is even more important to be considerate about how well
individuals take care of the planet. Land is limited, resources are limited, and the health of the plant can only be
hurt to a limited extent. As more and more waste is generated yearly, it is evident that this increasing trend is
unacceptable in the long run. Landfills and recycling can only temporarily mitigate the immediate consequences of
this large waste production. However, if the problem of municipal solid waste is to be truly addressed, the root of
the issue must be looked at first. If less waste is generated in the first place, the challenge of finding
environmentally feasible ways of disposing of waste will be much easier.

Conclusion
        The best way to discover where we can reduce waste is to actually sort through our trash. But what does our
family throw away as waste? What materials take up the most space? Is anything reusable or repairable? Can you
reduce the amount of disposable products you use? Can we substitute environmental friendly products and
packaging made of reusable, recyclable, or nonhazardous materials? If you are throwing away unusable leftover
products as waste, could you purchase these products in smaller sizes in the future? So, in these questions we
made up in our mind, we can realized that the waste that we will throw, we can benefit it again through recycling
or reused it. In this process we can gain benefits as well as we can help our environment that even though we are
not planting trees or other advocacies we just simply not throwing things that we can use again, segregate the
biodegradable and non-biodegradable, and not throwing garbage anywhere. Because time will come the waste that
we’ve thrown will return to us, just like the saying “what we sow, is what we reap”. So, if we destroy our
environment through our waste expect the unexpected or should we say calamity.

    Proper waste disposal is of great importance to both rural and urban areas. Not doing this may bring us to danger
in many ways and surely everybody knows this. Time and again, people are always being educated about the
importance of waste disposal but then this process should not stop because every now and then, people forget.
Some of the kids grow, even if they have learned the proper way of disposing the waste someday they will still
 forget about it. Big thanks to the people who make effort to spread the word and continue to be of service to other
people. As a matter of fact, we can see to it that it’s not that easy to be in their situation because sometimes, most
of them work voluntarily. (http://trashahaulics09.hubpages.com/hub/the_importance_of_proper_waste_disposal) 

  So now, we know the different effects of improper disposal of wastes in our environment. We should start it on  let
us be responsible with our wastes:
1.)Put it on the specific trash bins where it is properly belonged.
2.)We could also help our community through community services, clean up drives and different activities that
could help minimize our wastes.
3.)we should campaign and teach the kids about protecting the environment for the future generation so that the
community they'll be living on will be an accommodating and clean environment.

Waste Disposal Conclusion

and Bibliography
Despite the various new technologies that are emerging for solid waste disposal, landfilling still
remains the most common solution in the northeastern Illinois region. The establishment and
closure of landfills could pose a potential hazard to ground water, due to leachate seepage, and
air quality due to gases released. Unless proper maintenance and management is sustained for a
fairly long time (30 years), public health may be compromised as a result. Such management is
costly and potentially dangerous if faulty. Thus, a safer and more sustainable approach may be
minimizing the number of landfills constructed and insuring their longevity so as not to continue
taking viable land for waste disposal. It is therefore critical to divert waste from landfills through
reduction and recycling.

The Chicago metro area produces the most waste per capita in the state in spite of advanced and
available resource reduction and recycling options. If we continue on this trend, we will face
grave consequences by 2040 or before. Clear and decisive actions must be taken today to avert
costly and environmentally compromising means for disposing of our waste in the future.

There seems to be significant awareness of the importance of recycling in the region, however
not all communities have curbside collection at single and multi-family homes, specifically in the
unincorporated areas. Generally, businesses in the region do not have a mandate or incentive to
recycle other than consumer appeal which does not necessarily prompt them to partake in these
activities. Open/illegal dumping and burning of unacceptable wastes has been listed by several
solid waste professionals in the area whom we surveyed. Although these experts are in consensus
that landfilling waste is the most economical disposal method, they also agree that more
recycling and resource reduction should be attained to reduce the continuous need for landfills.
That said, not all counties have recycling ordinances, the main reasons being political opposition
and lack of funding for personnel to propose, monitor and enforce regulations. The various
counties and municipalities will have to collaborate to reach a comprehensive solution that
addresses solid waste disposal regionally. CMAP can play an important role towards that end in
proposing policies and techniques that will handle this issue in an innovative and sustainable
manner.

Bibliography

Beck, R.W. 2007. "The US Recycling Economic Information Project." Illinois Recycling
Association (IRA). Retrieved from http://www.illinoisrecycles.org/newstudy.html

Delong, James V. 1993. "Public Policy Toward Municipal Solid Waste." Annual Reviews.

Gunther, Marc. 2007. "The End of Garbage." Fortune, CNN Money. Retrieved
from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/03/19/8402369/index.htm

Illinois Recycling Association (IRA), 2007. "Recycling Facts." Retrieved

from http://www.illinoisrecycles.org/facts.html

Johnson, LaMar J., D.E. Daniel, W.V. Abeele, J.O. Ledbetter and W.R. Hansen. 1978. "Effects
from Past Solid Waste Disposal Practices" Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 27, pp. 215-
221

Kelly, Walton R. 2002. "Temporal Changes in Shallow Ground Water Quality in Northeastern
Illinois: Preliminary Results." Illinois State Water Survey.

Murphy, J. 2008. "Recycle Your Building Materials Prior To Demolition." Dearborn Post.
Retrieved from http://blog.teardowns.com/?p=63.

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, 2000. "A Regulatory Strategy For Siting And
Operating Waste Transfer Stations- A Response to a Recurring Environmental Justice
Circumstance: The Siting of Waste Transfer Stations in Low-Income Communities and
Communities of Color." A Federal Advisory Committee to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.

National Solid Waste Management Association, 2004. "Source Reduction." Retrieved

from http://wastec.isproductions.net/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=1124

Northeastern Illinois Regional Planning Commission, 1986. "Regional Solid Waste Management
Policy Plan: An Element of the Comprehensive General Plan of Northeastern Illinois."

Northeastern Illinois Regional Planning Commission, 1998. "Solid Waste Management in

Northeastern Illinois: A Regional Update."
Office of Land Management, 2006. "Non-Hazardous Waste Management and Landfill Capacity
in Illinois." Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

Philips, J.A. 1998. "Managing America's Solid Waste" National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Rathje, W. L. 1995. "The Garbage Project and the Archeology of Us."

Sladky, Lynn. 2006. "Florida Plans to Vaporize Landfill Trash." USA Today. Retrieved
from http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-09-fla-county-trash_x.htm

Solid Waste Agency of North America (SWANA), 2006. "America's Own Energy Source:
Clean, Renewable, Safe, and Economical."

Spiegelman, Helen and Sheehan, Bill. 2005. "Unintended Consequences: Municipal Solid Waste
Management and the Throwaway Society." Product Policy Institute.

United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2008. "Transfer Stations." Retrieved

from http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/transfer.htm

United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2008. "Methane Emissions from Landfills."
Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/landfill/overview.htm

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