If you are not familiar with waste management, this article will introduce you to the three main aspects of it: Collection, Transportation, and Treatment. Waste Management includes several processes that are important for your business. These include the following:
Collection
The collection process is an integral part of municipal solid waste management. Unfortunately, waste collection services are often sporadic and poorly maintained. They also lose part of their load during transport to the disposal site. In some cities, collection workers have informal contracts with junk dealers and earn money by sorting the waste, which diverts them from their main duty. In some cases, garbage is left on the streets or in drains without being properly disposed of.
Private contractors collect municipal solid waste in several cities in Asia. In Singapore, for example, 20 percent of collection services are contracted to private waste collection companies. This trend is gaining momentum in Asia. In Singapore, for example, costs associated with waste collection and disposal rose by 700 percent in the last decade, spurring the government to create a private limited company called SEMAC Pte Ltd., which now collects waste for local residents.
The study concluded that the system had a significant impact on waste management. In fifteen cities, the amount of waste disposed per capita decreased by 29.4 percent, while the volume of recyclable goods rose by 28 percent. In small cities and rural areas, the effect was most noticeable. Per capita waste generation decreased from a million kg per year to a mere one kilogram a day. The study found that there was a direct correlation between the amount of waste collected per capita and the availability of recycled goods.
A strategic waste management plan has been implemented in the United States, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the Republic of Korea. These countries have adopted a waste management system that encourages consumers to choose goods that create less waste and those packaged in refillable containers. As a result, these countries have become leading environmentalists. And their efforts have spurred innovation in other aspects of waste management as well. But what about other countries? The United States has recently made significant progress in this area.
Transportation
Waste transportation refers to the movement of waste from one location to another, often by train, tanker, refuse compactor truck, barge, or any other vehicle. Depending on the type of waste, it may be municipal garbage, hazardous waste, or radioactive waste. Whether a waste is hazardous, it must first be handled, transported, stored, and then disposed of appropriately. Hazardous waste must also be shipped with a shipping manifest that identifies where it was generated and its final destination. These manifests can be used to track wastes from cradle to grave.
In Germany, WM has moved towards a system that allows for source separation of waste. These systems are located in central locations and close to households. Residual waste is deposited in gray containers and may include garbage bags, wheeled bins, or 1.1 cubic meter containers. The collection system is designed to reduce the amount of waste disposed of by reducing the use of primary raw materials. Various wastes are collected, including household garbage and hazardous waste.
The transportation and management of hazardous waste may pose a variety of environmental risks. Depending on its composition, hazardous waste may pose greater risks to human health and the environment. Transport and disposal of hazardous waste can result in the release of pollutants, such as heavy metals, chemicals, and radioactive materials, into water and soil. There are also two pathways through which pollution can spread. In some cases, the spillage may even occur while the waste is being loaded.
Transboundary waste movement is a problem in many countries. Around 10% of the hazardous wastes produced worldwide are shipped internationally. Many countries in industrialized countries export these wastes to developing nations, which benefit from lower costs and fewer technical and financial resources for clean-up. Therefore, developing countries often become the destination of hazardous waste, where treatment and recycling of the wastes can occur. The Basel Convention is a global treaty that regulates transboundary waste management.
Treatment
The process of treating waste involves removing hazardous and nonhazardous substances from the wastewater. This process consists of physical processes such as mixing and washing. The steps of physical treatment of hazardous waste are shown in Fig. 3. This process is usually a combination of chemical and physical methods. The wastewater treatment process involves removing the hazardous materials and releasing the nonhazardous substances into the environment. The wastewater then passes through a grit chamber. There, cinders, sand, and small stones settle at the bottom. The remaining inorganic material is then landfilled.
There are several types of treatment. Some methods include thermal treatment, mechanical biological treatment, and anaerobic digestion. Pre-treatment is used in many landfills before the final step of dumping. This treatment process is necessary to reduce the impact of a landfill on the environment. It is also used to separate waste into categories for recycling. Depending on the type of waste, this pre-treatment process can be simple or complex. If you have only recyclable waste, glass can be collected separately at the kerbside and sent to the recycling facility. Similarly, compaction is not considered a treatment process because it does not change the waste’s characteristics and potential impact on the environment or health.
Chemical treatment of waste at its source is another approach. Biological waste treatment processes convert organic materials that are high in carbon into inoffensive compounds. These processes are also known as thermophilic composting, which transforms low-water-content materials into inoffensive bio-solids. Biological treatment involves using microorganisms to transform domestic waste, aqueous waste, and certain industrial chemicals. The bio-solids are then used for power generation, fuels, and other useful products.
Disposal
Solid waste disposal is the process of collecting, processing, and delivering solutions for waste recycling. Solid waste is a resource, and it must be treated properly. Various methods are used to dispose of this waste. In some cases, it can be recycled to create a valuable product. In the present scenario, open burning is the most common disposal method. In some cases, it may be necessary to dispose solid waste into the sea, but this method is costly and is not environmentally friendly.
As part of waste management, disposal facilities are places where hazardous waste is intentionally disposed of. In some cases, the hazardous waste is placed in locations where it will remain even after the facility is closed. Other forms of waste disposal include corrective action management units. A drip pad, for instance, is an engineered structure constructed of non-earthen materials, and is designed to convey preservative kick-back from treated wood. It also may contain other substances that can be harmful to the environment.
When an empty container is discarded, it is important to remember that the container must meet all requirements for hazardous waste disposal. Empty containers for virgin chemicals and raw materials become waste when they are emptied. In contrast, non-hazardous waste containers may be disposed of in general refuse. These containers must be labeled so that they can be handled properly. Disposal as part of waste management includes the recycling of non-hazardous waste containers.
The Waste Disposal Management Plan, or WDMP, at St. Mary’s University, addresses both regulated and non-regulated waste. It contains procedures for the collection and disposal of waste, as well as the management of hazardous waste. It also contains training requirements for university employees who handle hazardous waste. If a change to the WDMP occurs, the necessary personnel should be informed. If a change in the plan occurs, St. Mary’s University will make sure the procedure is updated and implemented accordingly.
Economic benefits
Waste management is a crucial part of environmental preservation. Not only does it help reduce pollution, it also helps in promoting composting and practices that do not contribute to climate change. Throwing trash around can be dangerous because of sharp objects and caustic chemicals. Hence, hiring a waste management company can ensure physical safety. Additionally, the waste disposal process can generate energy that can be used by the community. The gases produced during the disposal process are also converted to electricity.
A thorough economic analysis of waste management can help local policy makers understand the costs and benefits of different aspects of waste management. For instance, they can help in designing municipal waste management tax structures and subsidies. They can also help in determining the value of urban property by providing better environmental amenities. Various studies have estimated the economic benefits of solid waste management in India. In a recent study, the National Institute of Urban Affairs calculated that the costs of waste collection are about Rs 133 per ton. In contrast, the National Solid Waste Association calculated that the cost of waste management in India is about Rs 417 per ton.
Apart from creating jobs, good waste management can also generate economic benefits for the local community. One study showed that by recycling waste streams, property values increased by 1.30 percent. The same research showed that if the landfill was located a few kilometers away from houses, it increased the value of properties by as much as $1 billion. Further, it also generated tax revenue, resulting in higher property values. So, good waste management is an essential part of environmental protection and can be a cost-effective solution.