Solid Waste Management, Definition, Categories, Types, Methods

Solid Waste Management in India has increased due to increasing urbanisation, industrialisation and changing lifestyles all over the world. Wrong and improper management makes waste a source of environmental pollution, public health hazards and urban management challenges. In this article, we are going to cover solid waste management, its categories, its types and methods. 

Solid Waste Management

Solid waste management is just the collection and dumping of waste but also adoption of a systematic approach that covers generation, segregation, transportation, processing, recycling and safe disposal. 

What is Solid Waste?

Solid waste is the unwanted or useless solid material generated from human activities in residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and institutional sectors. According to the US Environment Protection Agency, solid waste includes:

• Household garbage
• Industrial, commercial, and agricultural discards
• Residues from treatment plants and pollution control facilities

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Solid Waste Management Categories 

Solid waste can be classified into many categories:  

• Based on Source: 
  • Residential waste: food leftovers, plastics, paper, etc.
  • Commercial & industrial waste: metals, glass, packaging, chemicals.
  • Agricultural waste: stubble, food grains, husk, litter.
• Based on Content:
  • Organic waste:  biodegradable, mainly from households & agriculture.
  • Plastic waste: non-biodegradable, difficult to manage.
  • Metallic waste:  hazardous industrial by-products, often carcinogenic.
• Based on Hazard Potential:
  • Toxic waste: dangerous to health (chemicals, radioactive substances).
  • Flammable waste:  prone to causing fire outbreaks in landfills.

Solid Waste Management Types

Solid waste has the following types: 

1. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Generated in daily life from homes, schools, shops, and hospitals (includes plastics, food waste, packaging).
2. Hazardous Waste: Industrial by-products, e-waste, pesticides, paints, and chemicals that pose long-term health and environmental risks.
3. Biomedical Waste: Waste from hospitals and labs (syringes, bandages, pharmaceutical residues). WHO classifies it into 8 categories including sharps, infectious, radioactive, and pharmaceutical wastes.
   

Harmful Effects of Solid Waste

Improper Solid Waste Management has serious consequences:

• Water Pollution: Leaching contaminates groundwater; run-off pollutes rivers/lakes.
• Air Pollution: Methane and toxic gases from landfills contribute to climate change.
• Health Hazards: Epidemics spread due to rodents, pests, and stray animals.
• Fire Risks: Frequent landfill fires (e.g., Bhalswa landfill in Delhi).
• Aviation Hazards: Bird menace near dumping sites causes threats to flights.

Methods of Solid Waste Disposal

1. Open Dumping: Primitive method; causes foul smell, groundwater pollution, and spread of diseases.
2. Landfills: Common disposal method; however, leaching and methane emissions are major issues.
3. Sanitary Landfills: Engineered with liners to prevent contamination; more eco-friendly, often later converted into parks.
4. Incineration: Burning waste; reduces volume, destroys pathogens, and can generate electricity. However, it releases toxic gases and carcinogenic heavy metals.
5. Pyrolysis: Decomposition of organic waste at high temperatures in absence of oxygen; eco-friendly and energy-yielding.
6. Composting: Decomposing organic matter into natural fertilizer, improving soil quality.
7. Vermi-Composting: Using earthworms to produce nutrient-rich organic manure.
   

Solid Waste Management in India 

India has been generating ~ 1,60,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day but only 20-25% of this waste gets scientifically processed. Many cities rely heavily on landfills, fire incidents, air pollution and groundwater contamination. These challenges included: 

• Poor segregation at source
• Over-dependence on landfills
• Lack of modern waste treatment facilities
• Informal waste pickers not fully integrated into waste management systems

Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016

The SWM Rules, 2016 modernised India’s waste management framework:

• Source segregation: Mandatory division into biodegradable, non-biodegradable & domestic hazardous waste.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Producers must take responsibility for managing packaging waste.
• Role of Municipalities: Ensure 100% door-to-door collection, transport, and treatment.
• Waste Processing: Composting, biomethanation, and waste-to-energy plants encouraged.
• Inclusion of Waste Pickers: Recognition of informal sector workers and their integration into formal waste management.