Municipal Solid Waste Problem Research Articles

Waste to Energy: A Case Study of Madinah City

The concept of energy from waste is getting popular nowadays across the globe, as being capable of producing multi fuels and value-added products from different fractions of municipal solid waste (MSW). The energy recovery technologies under this concept are anaerobic digestion (AD), pyrolysis, transesterification, refuse derived fuel (RDF) and incineration. This concept is very relevant to implementation in countries like Saudi Arabia, who wants to cut their dependence on oil. Moreover, the waste to energy becomes the imperative need of the time because of new governmental policy ‘Vision 2030’ that firmly said to produce renewable energy from indigenous sources of waste, wind and solar and due to given situations of Hajj and Umrah with massive amounts of waste generation in a short period. This study focused on two waste to energy technologies, AD and pyrolysis for food (40% of MSW) and plastic (20% of MSW) waste streams respectively. The energy potential of 1409.63 and 5619.80 TJ can be produced if all of the food and plastic waste of the Madinah city are processed through AD and pyrolysis respectively. This is equivalent to 15.64 and 58.81 MW from biogas and pyrolytic oil respectively or total 74.45 MW of continuous electricity supply in Madinah city throughout the whole year. It has been estimated that the development of AD and pyrolysis technologies will also benefit the economy with net savings of around US $63.51 and US $53.45 million respectively, totaling to an annual benefit of US $116.96 million. Therefore, in Saudi Arabia and particularly in Holiest cities of Makkah and Madinah the benefits of waste to energy are several, including the development of renewable-energy, solving MSW problems, new businesses, and job creation and improving environmental and public health.

Indonesia municiple solid waste life cycle and environmental monitoring: current situation, before and future challenges

Indonesia municiple solid waste life cycle and environmental monitoring: current situation, before and future challenges

Management of Municipal Solid Waste in Sri Lanka: A Comparative Appraisal of the Economics of Composting

Sri Lanka, a developing nation, is facing a severe problem of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management, the currently adopted predominant method being open dumping due mainly to low cost and less processing involved. This practice is hazardous, and causes significant negative externalities to society and to the economy. In contrast, composting is considered to be one of the most technically appropriate methods of managing MSW in Sri Lanka, the composition of waste being predominantly organic. Though a few local authorities are engaged in composting but no comprehensive economic feasibility study has been carried out which is the knowledge gap that this paper attempts to address. The study examined the economics of MSW management through composting in Sri Lanka by examining various models proposed and implemented. Further, the Pilisaru prescription and what has been implemented by a few local authorities were analysed using benefit-cost appraisal methodology, with particular reference to the management model adopted by the Weligama Urban Council. The study reveals that composting as a MSW management method would be economically viable. It also signifies that based on comparative investment and operating cost levels in other composting experiments in Sri Lanka, even achieving financial viability would be possible, if a compost management model with improved investment productivity is developed.

Inclusive municipal solid waste management policy in Nigeria: engaging the informal economy in post-2015 development agenda

ABSTRACTThe problem of municipal solid waste has remained intractable in Nigeria despite the state’s central role in municipal solid waste management (MSWM). Policy and reforms of the MSWM system have invariably excluded the informal economy, with this exclusion frequently reinforced by uncritical implementation of neo-liberal development policies. Yet, the informal economy fortuitously remains active in solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal. This article is the aggregate outcome of an 8-year multi-stakeholder engagement in MSWM in Nigerian cities. It draws on insights from first-hand qualitative engagement with informal waste workers, interviews with key stakeholders, policy documents, and relevant literature to situate the Nigerian informal waste economy within current international development discourse. While highlighting the implications of social acceptance and inclusion of the waste economy in post-2015 MSWM and development policy, the study notes the lack of an articulate policy on MSWM in Nigeria and canvasses a specific policy to integrate the ubiquitous informal waste economy in MSWM. The paper suggests that inclusion per sé is central to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and argues that an inclusive MSWM policy in Nigeria is desirable as it maps onto the SDGs which aim to improve lives in the post-2015 development era.

Impact on Ground Water Contamination by Storage of Municipal Solid Waste Under Open Sky

The conventional India is facing very big problem of Municipal Solid Waste. It is discharge daily in very heavy quantity and to store or dissolve are the major problem in our country. Governments doing the efforts but those are very small action against the quantity of Waste discharge. The Waste Management Plant is running low capacity due to daily quantity increase Furness goes slowly down by dumpage of Waste on incinerators. Dry Waste polluted air environment and wet waste polluted Ground water. Ground water contamination is the biggest problem in those areas where waste is stored in heavy quantity, under open sky without any concrete + rubber platform.

Application of TOPSIS and VIKOR improved versions in a multi criteria decision analysis to develop an optimized municipal solid waste management model

Selecting a suitable Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method is a crucial stage to establish a Solid Waste Management (SWM) system. Main objective of the current study is to demonstrate and evaluate a proposed method using Multiple Criteria Decision Making methods (MCDM). An improved version of Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) applied to obtain the best municipal solid waste management method by comparing and ranking the scenarios. Applying this method in order to rank treatment methods is introduced as one contribution of the study. Besides, Viekriterijumsko Kompromisno Rangiranje (VIKOR) compromise solution method applied for sensitivity analyses. The proposed method can assist urban decision makers in prioritizing and selecting an optimized Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) treatment system. Besides, a logical and systematic scientific method was proposed to guide an appropriate decision-making.A modified TOPSIS methodology as a superior to existing methods for first time was applied for MSW problems. Applying this method in order to rank treatment methods is introduced as one contribution of the study. Next, 11 scenarios of MSW treatment methods are defined and compared environmentally and economically based on the waste management conditions. Results show that integrating a sanitary landfill (18.1%), RDF (3.1%), composting (2%), anaerobic digestion (40.4%), and recycling (36.4%) was an optimized model of integrated waste management. An applied decision-making structure provides the opportunity for optimum decision-making. Therefore, the mix of recycling and anaerobic digestion and a sanitary landfill with Electricity Production (EP) are the preferred options for MSW management.

Извлечение полимерных материалов из твердых бытовых отходов и их утилизация

The main effect in solving the problem of municipal solid waste (MSW) gives extraction or preventing the ingress in them secondary material resources (SMR). Ones of the main valuable components falling in the MSW are polymeric wastes. Their content in the MSW is about 10%, and 40% are accounted for the polymeric films. Entering of polymeric materials in the environment leads to its significant pollution because in vivo the plastic waste is not decomposed and not degraded over many decades. 
 The authors considered some ways to recycle plastic waste and noted that for the extraction of polymeric materials from MSW are most appropriate methods of separation, that isn´t connected with changes in the aggregate state of the plastics in the process of separation.
 It was shown experimentally that the best results of polymeric films extraction from the flow of solid waste provides a combination of two enrichment processes - aeroseparation and electrical separation. As the parameters optimization of the separation process of the polymeric films used technological criteria (a combination of the basic parameters of enrichment), and as a method to study the process - mathematical modeling.
 The authors noted the methods of intensification of the enrichment processes and control the physical properties of the components of separated composition of materials, and it is reported that in the various methods electrical separation had been used strong electric fields and thus a high voltage.
 The dependences of the specific electrical resistance of the samples of waste paper and polymeric film from moisture and curves of ability for enrichment of these components with aeroseparation in different conditions and indicators of their enrichment are shown in the article. 

Wastewater Bio-solids Management for Fertilizer Quality Using Co- composting Process

Co-composting process can be acquired by combining organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) with sewage sludge (SS) and mature compost (MC) as enhancement and bulking agent to overcome the problems of municipal solid waste and wastewater treatment plants besides the finally produced fertilizer usage for agriculture and horticulture. The effects of different mixture ratios of (OFMSW), (SS) and (MC) on the performance of composting process were investigated in this study. Piles of about 10 kg were prepared by mixing OFMSW, SS and MC in three different ratios (w/w) [OFMSW: SS: MC= 3:1:1, 3:2:1, and 3:3:1]. Results showed that the pile [3:1:1] was most beneficial to composting. The final compost products contained a C/N ratio (12.17), nitrification index (N-NH4/N-NO3) (0.2), organic matter degradation (36%), N content (1.75%), and Germintation Index (GI) 77.4%. Final compost showed low amounts of heavy metals, and significant reduction of pathogens indicating mature and stable bio-mass
 

Sustainable Urban Requalification: Circularity of Processes for a New Metabolism

Sustainable Urban Requalification: Circularity of Processes for a New Metabolism Antonella Mamì, Lidia Mormino Abstract Through this paper we present the first results of a research combining the management problem of Municipal Solid Waste to the requalification of built environment. The goal of this research is to mitigate the vulnerability of territory and urban heritage and to transform a problem into opportunities. Above all, we have paid attention to several exemplifying cases of Italian territory: suburbs of large towns, historical centres, small centres (and, in particular, those with a strong historical connotation). Their features are, at the same time, restrictions and challenges for designing new compatible systems that can contribute to the requalification of urban landscape recovering spaces with demolition products and residual materials and comparing with managerial needs. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/jea.v2n2a17

Solid Waste Management: Its Sources, Collection, Transportation and Recycling

Solid wastes may be defined as useless, unused, unwanted, or discarded material available in solid form. Semisolid food wastes and municipal sludge may also be included in municipal solid waste. The subject of solid wastes came to the national limelight after the passage of the solid waste disposal act of 1965. Today, solid waste is accepted as a major problem of our society. In the United States over 180 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) was generated in 1988. At this generation quantity, the average resident of an urban community is responsible for more than 1.8 kg (4.0 lbs.) of solid waste per day. This quantity does not include industrial, mining, agricultural, and animal wastes generated in the country each year. If these quantities are added, the solid waste production rate reaches 45 kg per capita per day (100 lb. /c.d.). To introduce the reader to the solid waste management field, an overview of municipal solid waste problems, sources, collection, resource recovery, and disposal methods are presented in this paper. Greater emphasis has been given to the design and operation of municipal sanitary landfills, regulations governing land disposal, and leachate generation, containment and treatment methods.

Assessing Incorrect Household Waste Sorting in a Medium-Sized Swedish City

Source separation is a common method for dealing with the increasing problem of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in society. The citizens are then responsible for separating waste fractions produced in their home. If the consumers fail to sort the waste according to the source separation scheme, it will lead to an ineffective system. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the environmental, economic and social aspects of incorrect waste sorting in a medium sized Swedish city that has established a source separation system. In order to determine the extent to which citizens correctly sort their waste, food waste (black bags) and combustible fraction (white bags), were collected randomly from a residential area and categorized in different waste fractions. The results show that approximately 68 wt% of the waste in the white and 29 wt% in the black bags were not sorted correctly. This incorrect sorting accrues over 13 million SEK per year cost for this community. In order to improve the inhabitants’ participation in the waste management system, it is necessary to change different factors such as convenience and easy access to the recycling stations in the local MSW management systems as well as to review current regulation and policy.

Simulation of MSW Pyrolysis/Gasification Processes for Power Production

With the rapid expansion of industry, urbanization and increasing population in Thailand, many cities face the problem of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal. The great majority of a plant for MSW, which are in operation around the world, are based on mass burn incineration systems. There are, however, a number of novel, thermal processing technologies for MSW, based on pyrolysis and/or gasification of the waste, which may provide significant technical and environmental advantages over conventional incineration. The objective of this article is to investigate the effect of operational parameters to electricity produced efficiency. The processes consist of drying unit, thermal waste treatment unit which is comprised of pyrolysis, gasification and combustion units, heat recovery steam generation unit, power generation unit and gas cleaning unit. The article are applied to the performance analysis of a MSW power plant in case of after passing through drying unit pyrolysis unit was operated at constant MSW feed rate of 28 tonnes/hr with varied moisture content. At lower moisture content which led higher energy content and more excess air required, the efficiencies of system were increased.

A Discussion on the Priority Areas for MSW Classification Recycling

The problem of municipal solid waste (MSW) has been a serious threat to the health of residents and the ecological environment of city. Waste classification can maximize waste resource utilization, reduce the amount of garbage disposal, improve the quality of the living environment, and is the fundamental solution to the problem of "garbage siege" phenomenon. However, over the years, our country MSW classification recycling work remains stagnant. It is proposed that the classification recycling of MSW in China can choose the clearest, simplest and most harmful areas, start from the household appliances, electronic waste, vegetable waste, packaging and kitchen waste recycling, to recycle social resources effectively and realize the sustainable development of city.

The Use of Organic Waste as an Eco-Efficient Energy Source in Ghana

The problem of municipal solid waste (MSW) management has been an issue of global concern in recent times and has engaged governments and local authorities in their quest to manage solid waste in a sustained manner. One proposition which has the potential of solving three problems at the same time is the use of the biodegradable component of MSW as a source of energy to augment energy supply. This research therefore assessed the use of the organic fraction of MSW as an eco-efficient energy source in Ghana. A study of Ghana’s solid waste profile was undertaken and the fraction of biodegradable component was found to be approximately 60%, with a heating value of 17 MJ/kg and a moisture content of 50%. Moreover, it was established that 0.5 kg of solid waste is generated daily by each Ghanaian, meaning that about 5610 tons of the organic fraction could be made available every day to generate energy to the national grid. It was also established that waste disposal in Ghana is largely by way of open dumping as primary collection of waste from households in Ghana is limited to high-income communities which represent only 11% of the population, whereas secondary collection from transfer points to the disposal facilities is inefficient. With representative power output of 1.66 MWh/tonne a total of 3320 GWh of energy can be produced annually from the 4 proposed plants, generating net revenue of about $111,600,000. As an optimizing step, a waste incineration scheme was suggested in which the off-gases produced from organic waste combustion could be used to produce electrical power with steam in a multi-stage heat exchanger-steam turbine configuration, and the off gases again used for pre-drying of the organic waste in a cycle. A state-of-the art waste incineration technology was used as a model and adapted to suit Ghana’s tropical conditions. MSW combustion releases less CO2 for the same power output (837 Ib/MWh) than any of the other conventional fuels do, and is therefore a good fuel for the fight against climate change.

Design of Integrated Treatment Process of Municipal Solid Waste in Shanghai

Based on analysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Shanghai city, a related integrated treatment process of MSW was studied. MSW was classified into organic, combustible, recyclable and other parts. The designed integrated treatment process includes mixed waste sorting, anaerobic digestion of the biodegradability organic waste, RDF production systems of combustible waste and deodorizing system. Organic MSW is digested under anaerobic conditions and produce biogas for power generation for electricity plant. The residue can be used to prepare organic and inorganic fertilizer; Combustible MSW has low water, high calorific value and can be prepared RDF; The recyclable trash (plastic, metal) are on sale. Other MSW is land filled. The designed integrated treatment process may provide a route to solve the problems of MSW in Shanghai.

Municipal solid waste problem in the city of Hit

Municipal solid waste problem in the city of Hit

Report: Risk factors associated with treatment of mixed municipal solid waste in the Indian context

Across India, all small and large urban local bodies (ULB) alike are grappling with the problem of municipal solid waste (MSW), which has reached critical dimensions because of, among others, rapidly increasing quantities and complex characteristics, inadequate regulation, lack of awareness, concern and cooperation on the part of the urban residents, limited resources for collection, transport and safe disposal, and limited expertise on the part of the ULBs. A number of ULBs have attempted to address the two-fold constraint of resources and land by setting up treatment plants under the premise of generating revenue and reducing liability of safe disposal. Over the last three decades, under the paradigms of converting 'waste to energy' and 'waste to wealth' various technologies have been tried out, however time and again it is seen that irrespective of the technology, MSW treatment plants run in to difficulties and/or close down. The issues do not pertain just to technology but are systemic and encompass project development, feedstock delivery system including quality and quantity, climate, high life-cycle costs, low value realization on outputs and adverse environmental and social impacts. With such a wide range of risk factors, experience has shown that the probability of manifestation of any one of them or a combination thereof at one or the other stages of the project is quite high. Investment in a mixed MSW treatment plant therefore can not deliver positive financial returns, rather it can become a non-performing asset without even guaranteeing the desired environmental and public health benefits. This paper therefore argues for the adoption of a robust, elastic and most forgiving option of sanitary landfill as a dependable and safe disposal system for MSW.

Municipal Solid Waste Fueled Power Generation in China: A Case Study of Waste-to-Energy in Changchun City

With rapid economic growth and massive urbanization in China, many cities face the problem of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal. With the lack of space for new landfills, waste-to-energy incineration is playing an increasingly important role in waste management. Incineration of MSW from Chinese cities presents some unique challenges because of its low calorific value (3000-6700 kJ/kg) and high water content (approximately 50%). This study reports a novel waste-to-energy incineration technology based on co-firing of MSW with coal in a grate-circulating fluidized bed (CFB) incinerator, which was implemented in the Changchun MSW power plant. In 2006, two 260 ton/day incinerators incinerated 137,325 tons, or approximately one/sixth of the MSW generated in Changchun, saving more than 0.2 million m3 landfill space. A total of 46.2 million kWh electricity was generated (38,473 tons lignite was also burned as supplementary fuel), with an overall fuel-to-electricity efficiency of 14.6%. Emission of air pollutants including particulate matters, acidic gases, heavy metals, and dioxins was low and met the emission standards for incinerators. As compared to imported incineration systems, this new technology has much lower capital and operating costs and is expected to play a role in meeting China's demands for MSW disposal and alternative energy.

Stakeholder-based SWOT analysis for successful municipal solid waste management in Lucknow, India

The present investigation is a case study of Lucknow, the main metropolis in Northern India, which succumbs to a major problem of municipal solid waste and its management. A qualitative investigation using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis (SWOT) has been successfully implemented through this community participation study. This qualitative investigation emphasizes the limited capabilities of the municipal corporation’s resources to provide proper facilitation of the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) services without community participation in Lucknow city. The SWOT analysis was performed to formulate strategic action plans for MSWM in order to mobilize and utilize the community resources on the one hand and municipal corporation’s resources on the other. It has allowed the introduction of a participatory approach for better collaboration between the community and municipal corporation in Lucknow (India). With this stakeholder-based SWOT analysis, efforts were made to explore the ways and means of converting the possible ‘threats’ into ‘opportunities’ and changing the ‘weaknesses’ into ‘strengths’ regarding a community-based MSWM programme. By this investigation, concrete strategic action plans were developed for both the community and municipal corporation to improve MSWM in Lucknow.

Research for MSW flow analysis in developing nations

Developing nations have various problems regarding municipal solid waste (MSW). Therefore, to carry out a systematic review of the MSW problems in the target area and to formulate a well-considered management plan, it is extremely important to understand the present MSW flow in the region. One of the authors participated in the nine solid waste management (SWM) studies in developing nations undertaken under the technical cooperation program of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Based on these studies, this paper reviews the results of research in developing countries regarding different MSW streams, the factors that cause the differences, and the elements considered to have the most impact on those streams. This research identifies several issues regarding MSW streams in developing nations. The MSW generation rate per capita in developing countries is generally said to grow in proportion to the GNP. However, the findings of this research show no correlation between the two; instead, there is a relationship between the GNP and the collection rate. To formulate proper future MSW management plans in countries with low collection rates, it is very important to forecast the rates of self-disposed and recycled waste, and their fluctuations. These are affected by urban structure, collection services, etc.