Solid Waste Handling Research Articles

Work-Life Challenges Faced by Sanitary Workers-A Special Reference to Thoothukudi District

Waste production occurs due to business activities, consumption, and use of goods or materials. Solid waste handling, management, and precise and appropriate disposal is a hot topic and public and environmental health concern topic. Sanitary workers are primarily responsible for the health of the entire world. At the same time, challenges such as issues related them financial, mental, and physical problems. Injuries include cuts, bruises, musculoskeletal issues, respiratory issues, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid fever. Furthermore, they are facing a lack of financial security, and they are facing various social problems. This study selects the primary and secondary data. The primary data were directly collected from the respondents, and it had been preparing a structured questionnaire. Secondary data it had been collected from the website, published journals, and magazines. This has been chosen as the stratified sampling method. It has selected 120 respondents and describes the health problems faced by sanitary workers at work in Thoothukudi District. Public health research has not adequately considered the welfare and conservation of sanitary workers. Unlike other risk industries, sanitation does not have specific safety regulatory guidelines for resolving health risks.

Municipal solid waste, an overlooked route of transmission for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: a review.

Municipal solid waste could potentially transmit human pathogens during the collection, transport, handling, and disposal of waste. Workers and residents living in the vicinity of municipal solid waste collection or disposal sites are particularly susceptible, especially unprotected workers and waste pickers. Recent evidence suggests that municipal solid waste-mediated transmission can spread the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to humans. Such risks, however, have received little attention from public health authorities so far and may present an under-investigated transmission route for SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious agents during pandemics. In this review, we provide a retrospective analysis of the challenges, practices, and policies on municipal solid waste management during the current pandemic, and scrutinize the recent case reports on the municipal solid waste-mediated transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We found abrupt changes in quantity and composition of municipal solid wastes during the COVID-19. We detail pathways of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens carried on municipal solid wastes. We disclose evidence of pathogenic transmission by municipal solid waste to humans and animals. Assessments of current policies, gaps, and voluntary actions taken on municipal solid waste handling and disposal in the current pandemic are presented. We propose risk mitigation strategies and research priorities to alleviate the risk for humans and vectors exposed to municipal solid wastes.

THE MANAGEMENT OF SOLID MEDICAL WASTE AT HOSPITAL X IN PASURUAN REGENCY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Background – The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the rate of medical waste generation in hospitals. The amount of medical waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic must be followed by the handling of solid medical waste by standard operating procedures. Improper handling of solid medical waste will harm the environment and human health. This study aimed to determine the solid medical waste management strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods – This descriptive observational study was conducted at X Hospital, Pasuruan Regency. Data was collected using observation, interviews and secondary data collection during 2020 and 2021. Interview respondents were the Head of the Medical Support Division, the K3RS and B3 Admin sections and the PPI team leader. Results – There was an increase in the amount of solid medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic, from an average of 2,495.87 kg in 2020 and 2509.41 kg in 2021. This problem was overcome by a strategy in solid waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy was carried out at the sorting and storage stage, namely by involving the PPI team directly in waste management and regular and scheduled training for all Hospital X staff which had not been carried out before the pandemic; at the collection stage, namely by adding garbage collection to 3 (three) times a day according to the guard shift by using PPE level 2; and the waste transportation stage, the strategy adopted is to add a third party medical waste from 1 (one) to 3 (three). Conclusion – There was a change in strategy in the management of solid medical waste at Hospital X, Pasuruan Regency during the Covid-19 pandemic, namely at the stages of sorting and storing, storing and transporting waste. However, at the temporary collection stage, there was no change.

Use of Waste Plastic as Fine Aggregate Substitute in Concrete

Solid waste disposal is a significant issue in our everyday lives as a result of the rapid population expansion in nations like India. One of the biggest environmental issues is the handling of solid waste. Plastic garbage is the waste kind that causes the majority of adverse environmental effects. Plastic must be recycled or reused because it cannot biodegrade. The study's goal is to examine the behaviour of concrete formed from recycled plastic materials as well as some of its physical characteristics. This study takes into account M20 cement concrete, which includes recovered plastic waste as a partial replacement for fine aggregate. Plastic was used to replace 5%, 10%, and 15% of the concrete in the casting of a concrete cube.

Characterization and Quantification of Solid waste in Gram Panchayats of U.P.

Abstract: Efficient and effective handling of solid waste in gram panchayats of Uttar Pradesh starts with determining the character and quantity of the waste, for which we select two city from central region and west region (1. Lucknow, 2. Gorakhpur). In the above districts 2 Gram Panchayats of each district were surveyed. From the selected Gram Panchayat, the sample was as under: (1) Gram Panchayat with more than 10000 population 300 households were surveyed; (2) Gram Panchayat with 5000-10000 population 150 households were surveyed; (3) Gram Panchayat with 2000-5000 population 100 households were surveyed; (4) Gram Panchayat with less than 2000 population 50 households were surveyed. The selection of Gram Panchayats was done in consultation with the District authorities. And in order to get the data of waste generated and its type at the weekly markets, survey of one weekly market was done at each District. The waste generated in gram panchayats was categorized under 4 major heads (Bio-degradable waste, Recyclable waste, Hazardous waste, Inert waste). In the study we found that most of the waste in gram panchayats are Bio- degradable in nature (58.01%) and Inert waste (22.50%) is at second place and recyclable waste (16.52%) is at number 3 and every type waste can be managed but there is no proper management of solid waste at gram panchayat level. We also suggest some effective way to manage the solid waste at gram panchayat level in U.P

Use of solid urban waste at the Technological Institute of Toluca

Solid Urban Waste (SUW) and Special Handling (EHW) generated in the Institution are handled in 200-liter plastic containers with the appropriate identification according to the type of waste and the race, placed in the buildings of each of the races; the waste is separated by the students following the criterion of the 4 Rs (Reduce, reduce, reuse and recycle). Reusable waste is used for students to make different products in the reuse workshop of the Institutional Environmental Program (IEP) such as paper pads, acetate pencil holders, pens, paper holder and paper board, among others for use by the Institution's population. With the organic waste (OR) compost is prepared in the composting center, which is used to fertilize the green areas. The recyclable waste is sold obtaining an economic benefit that allows the operation of the activities carried out by the (IEP). The (EHW) are concentrated in the “green point” to be sent to the “recyclers”. The alkaline batteries, the Institution collects them temporarily, giving the service to the population of the Toluca valley to be sent to confinement by the municipality of Toluca. The use of Solid Urban Waste allows to form a sustainable environmental culture in the population of the Institution, such as savings in the consumption of paper, financing in the operation of the (IEP) and supporting the economy of the students.Keyword: Solid waste, paper, composting, reuse, recyclable

Waste Reduction Strategy in Upstream Through Community Participation and Modernisation of Waste Bank in Depok City, West Java Province, Indonesia

Depok city with more than 2 million people is an example of a city in a developing country facing complex urban problems. Solid waste handling is one of the critical issues in the city. More than 1,500 tons of waste are generated every day, and currently, the leading landfill site receives approximately 70% of the waste in the city. The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive waste management strategy for waste reduction in Depok City through community participation and modernisation of the local waste bank. The study combined qualitative data collection; interviews and direct observation in the two (2) waste bank, quantitative survey (Multinomial Logistic Regression method) with 319 waste bank managers, and 423 respondents from 11 sub-districts in Depok City. Infrastructures and socialisation are the two (2) variables that affect significantly towards modernisation of the waste bank. Meanwhile, in the context of community participation, only 36% of the respondents process their own household waste. Studies on the waste management subject are extensive, but this paper only discusses two (2) elements; community participation and modernisation of the waste bank. Extending more relevant elements of waste management will have contributed to the sustainability of the environment. This research complements references from previous studies that discuss sustainable waste management. It is hoped that the sustainable waste management strategy in Depok City can be an excellent example for other cities in other developing countries.

A New Approach for Solid Waste Handling in Mosul City, Comparison Study with the Existing System

Municipal Solid waste management constitutes a serious problem in many developing countries. Cities spend increasing resources to improve their Municipal solid waste management. Based on the concept that solid waste is a resource containing significant amounts of valuable materials, new approaches of solid waste management are adopted. The present work proposes a policy framework for improving a low-cost waste management system in Mosul city. The new approach induces additional services to the existing solid waste system to reduce the unit cost per ton of solid waste generated. The proposed system includes sorting, recycling and composting units. This paper presents an application of a new computerized decision package for an integrated solid waste management within Mosul city. New software called "COSEPRE" is used to analyze the service cost for both existing and proposed solid waste management system. The input data is collected from different related directorates in Mosul city. Data that are difficult to be obtained are prepared by laboratory analysis or field investigations. The results revealed a 58% reduction in unit cost by employing the new system of solid waste management.

Perspective review on Municipal Solid Waste-to-energy route: Characteristics, management strategy, and role in circular economy

The proper handling of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is critical due to its high generation rate and the potential to minimise environmental impacts by simultaneously reducing resource depletion and pollution. MSW utilization for recycling is important for transforming the linear economy model into a circular one. The current review analyses and categorises MSW to energy technologies into direct and indirect approaches taking the Circular Economy perspective. The direct approach involves incinerating MSW for heat recovery. The indirect approach, including thermochemical and biochemical processes , is more complicated but attractive due to the variety of the valorized products – such as syngas , bio-oil, biochar, digestate, humus. However, consensus on the best MSW treatment approach is yet to be established due to the inconsistency of assessment criteria in the existing studies. In the case of converting MSW to energy (Waste-to-Energy – W2E), its economic indicators, such as capital, compliance, and operation cost, are important criteria when implementations are considered. In the current work, the critical characteristics of technologies for the MSW to energy routes are scrutinised. In addition, the economic characteristics and the role of MSW in the circular bio-economy is also thoroughly evaluated. Methods to advocate the industrial adoption and important assessing aspects of W2E are proposed at the end of the review to address the environmental and resource management issues related to MSW – most notably dealing with the uncertainty in composition and amounts, the energy efficiency and the resource demands of the W2E processing. • Direct and indirect valorisation techniques for MSW are reviewed. • The economic characteristics and energy production viability of MSW are analysed. • Suggested assessment criteria for fair comparison of Waste-to-Energy technologies. • The low economic viability of Waste-to-Energy due to ignoring environmental benefits. • Methods to advocate the industrial adoption of W2E are proposed.

Challenges and solutions in COVID-19 related pandemic solid waste management (PSWM) - A detailed analysis with special focus on plastic waste

A pandemic like novel coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) not only poses serious public health repercussions but also affects the socio-economic and environmental conditions of the affected countries. The increased consumption of material resources in conjunction with ‘containment and preventive measures’ is generating an unprecedented amount of potentially infectious solid waste, especially that of plastic origin, which if mismanaged, is bound to affect the ecosystem and public health, as the virus can survive on fomites for longer duration. COVID-19 related pandemic waste, such as Personal protective equipment (PPEs), sanitizer and water bottles, disinfection wipes, and Single use Plastics (SUPs) products has already found its way to the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Even before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the management of plastic waste, an environmental stressor with trans-boundary migration capabilities, was a major environmental issue for every stake-holder.In this paper, we propose a separate domain in the waste management framework for the effective management of pandemic related solid waste. Factors and sources contributing to increased plastic waste generation are discussed in detail. A concise picture of global plastic demand through sectors and polymer types is presented and speculations are made on how COVID-19 is going to affect the plastic demand. Current solid waste handling and management practices in developed and developing countries are critically examined from the perspective of this pandemic. We identified various challenges that waste management sectors are facing currently and offered possible solutions.Concerns of transmission through fomites is bringing a change in public behavior and consumption pattern which affects 3R practices, while fear of secondary transmission from occupational infections is interfering with 3R practices at end-of-life plastic waste management. The legislative and restrictive frameworks on plastic use being currently put-on hold at the governmental level to ensure public safety are being used by the plastic industry to lobby for increased plastic consumption. The inability of the governments to win public confidence is further escalating unsustainable practices and slowing the shift towards sustainable economy. It is imperative to enforce sustainable practices without putting public safety at risk and to ensure that an unsustainable societal attitude wouldn’t be reinstated in the post-pandemic world. Lastly, eight research and policy points suggested here may guide future studies and governmental frameworks in the domain of COVID-19 pandemic related solid waste handling and management.

A conceptual method to research in social systems focused to informal waste pickers

The viability of society depends on its ability to manage and maintain its common resources. It is important to find strategies that harmonize their use and access in order to maintain an optimum rate of combined extraction and consumption of resources, as well as to fortify social capital under a variability of cultural and social contexts. Three scenarios have been proposed with regard to the management of common resources; we propose there are differentiated by characteristics that demarcate the grade of conservation of the resources. With respect to the management of byproducts from urban solid wastes that informal waste pickers make in the dumps, throughout 20 years working on the subject, we concluded that the appropriation of materials in these social systems follow the same patterns as in natural systems. So we propose to use the theory of access to common resources, since we consider it is possible to utilize this methodology to model management scenarios that contribute to the understanding of the appropriation of materials at dumps, as well to propose strategies in order to improve the management of solid wastes and the welfare of the informal waste pickers. Under the premise that the handling and appropriation of solid wastes, which is done by the informal waste pickers is characteristic to the use of resources of common property, the theoretical integration of the investigation should undertake why solid wastes should be considered as resources and in what general conditions is the handling of these resources that are found in all countries where informal waste pickers occur.

Groundwater quality assessment in proximity to solid waste dumpsite at Uruli Devachi in Pune, Maharashtra.

Industrialization and population growth lead to changes in the quantity as well as composition of the solid waste produced in a city. This further leads to environmental pollution and deterioration of soil as well as groundwater quality in many cities. Improper management of solid waste results in several challenges for the city inhabitants, predominantly those living around these solid waste dumpsites. If not handled properly, these dumpsites have the potential of polluting various air, water sources, land, and even vegetation. The current study was carried out for Uruli-Devachi dumpsite at Pune, Maharashtra with an objective to evaluate the groundwater quality and to confirm whether it is suitable for drinking. Samples of groundwater were taken from distinct locations including two bore and seven open wells for conditions before and after the monsoon. To ascertain the groundwater suitability for drinking, the physico-chemical characteristics were compared with Indian Standards. The chemical characteristics showed presence of excess chloride, BOD, TSS, zinc, and chromium, which can be attributed to landfill leachate joining the groundwater. The study shows that the borewells around the dumpsite are critically polluted and cause of pollution being leachate coming from the dumpsite. The periodic addition of the solid waste in the dumpsite shall further lead to deterioration of the groundwater quality in the surrounding areas; therefore, suitable steps are necessary to avert further aggravation of the problem.

Robotics in solid waste handling: From science fiction to reality

It is currently estimated that approximately 55% of the world population lives in urban centers (World Bank, 2020). This is partly caused by phenomena such as the migration of people from rural areas toward cities. A direct consequence of this situation is the increase in solid waste (SW) generation.

Sensor-Based Solid Waste Handling Systems: A Survey.

As a consequence of swiftly growing populations in the urban areas, larger quantities of solid waste also form rapidly. Since urban local bodies are found to be unable to manage this perilous situation effectively, there is a high probability of risks relative to the environment and public health. A sudden change is indispensable in the existing systems that are developed for the collection, transportation, and disposal of solid waste, which are entangled in turmoil. However, Smart sensors and wireless technology enable cyber-physical systems to automate solid waste management, which will revolutionize the industry. This work presents a comprehensive study on the evolution of automation approaches in solid waste management systems. This study is enhanced by dissecting the available literature in solid waste management with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), and Internet of Things (IoT)-based approaches and analyzing each category with a typical architecture, respectively. In addition, various communication technologies adopted in the aforementioned categories are critically analyzed to identify the best choice for the deployment of trash bins. From the survey, it is inferred that IoT-based systems are superior to other design approaches, and LoRaWAN is identified as the preferred communication protocol for the automation of solid waste handling systems in urban areas. Furthermore, the critical open research issues on state-of-the-art solid waste handling systems are identified and future directions to address the same topic are suggested.

OPTIMIZATION STRATEGY FOR SOLID TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The increase in the number of hospitals in Indonesia has resulted in an increase in medical waste. Hospital activities have resulted in an increase in B3 waste which manages various problems. This research focuses on finding solutions and strategies in the framework of optimizing solid medical waste (B3) management. In particular, the optimization of medical waste management (B3) services involves several special analyzes, namely: priority needs, opportunities and constraints, and innovative work formulation programs. This study utilizes the Interpreted Structural Model (ISM) method to generate a priority scale in the management of solid B3 waste. This study found an analysis of the priority needs of mass education for all employees regarding the handling of solid B3 waste. Analysis of opportunities to increase stakeholder awareness of the dangers of B3 waste. The priority for solving the problem is that the organizational staffing is not complete according to the job description.

PENERAPAN ALGORITMA K-MEANS DALAM MENGATASI PERMASALAHAN SAMPAH (STUDI KASUS: POLA PERILAKU MASYARAKAT DALAM MEMBUANG SAMPAH)

Waste is discharged from a production process both industrial and domestic (household). According to the regulation number 18 of 2008 on waste management, it is mentioned that waste is the rest of the daily activities of humans or natural processes in the form of solid or semi-solid form of organic or inorganic substances. With the factors that cause damage to the environment because of waste, the Government of Makassar City with various shortcomings and challenges and obstacles experienced in handling the waste problem has also been fully aware of this. The local regulation on waste management of Makassar City, referring to the Regional Regulation of Makassar City Number 4 of 2011 on waste management. Classifying patterns of community behavior in disposing of waste to support the work program of the Makassar city government especially the Makassar Environmental Service to deal with waste management and environmental quality monitoring issues. This study aims to assist the Government of Makassar City in making programs to handle waste problems by applying K-Means Algorithm. The results of this study provide information on waste handling that takes place in the city of Makassar and reporting that helps and involves the Government and the City of Makassar's Office of Environment on the handling and management of solid waste regarding services and facilities that have been met.

Microplastic in the coral reef environments of the Gulf of Mannar, India - Characteristics, distributions, sources and ecological risks

Microplastics (MPs; particles <5 mm) are widely distributed in various habitats from the land to the oceans. They have even reached the remotest of places, including the deep seas and Polar Regions. Although research on MPs pollution in the marine environment has received widespread attention in recent years, the distribution, sources and ecological risks of MPs in coastal areas remain unclear. This study assessed the abundance, characteristics, sources and ecological risk of MPs in surface waters and sediment of the mainland coast and four island groups comprising the coral reef environment of the Gulf of Mannar (GoM), southeast India. Mean MPs abundance across all 95 sampling sites ranged from 28.4 to 126.6 items L−1 in water and from 31.4 to 137.6 items kg−1 in sediment. MP fibers <2 mm dominated the water, while fragments >3 mm were predominant in sediments. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were the most common polymers in both matrices. The major proportion of MPs in the GoM derived from land-based sources, with distance to the mainland, coastal population density and improper handling of solid waste being the main factors influencing the abundance of MPs. Polymer Hazard Index (PHI), Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) were used to assess current levels of MPs. While the GoM has high PHI values (>1000) resulting from MPs with high hazard scores (e.g. polyamide, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride), the PLI values (1.46 and 1.51) indicate low MPs pollution levels in GoM waters and sediments, and the PERI values (31.7 and 24.4) indicate that this represents a minor ecological risk. The results from the current study enhance our understanding of the characteristics, sources, and associated environmental risks of MPs to marine ecosystems. This data may provide a baseline for future monitoring and the formulation of environmental policy.

A brief review on segregation of solid wastes in Indian region

In India, a key environmental challenge is the handling of municipal solid waste (MSW). The amount of MSW being generated in cities and towns has risen as a result of the country's fast urbanization, industrialization, and population growth. The improper disposal of MSW can have a negative impact on the environment, public health, and the socio-economic issues. In this paper, MSW of 9 different states of India was segregated in appropriate manner, such that peer analysis of each and every individual region can be highlighted. A comparison between treated and landfilled of solid waste (SW) among different region has been conducted with the trend analysis of past as well as current scenario of solid waste. Benefits of treated wastes and demerits of landfilling solid waste are comprehensively reviewed. This paper's review provides a detailed analysis for future research and concerning agencies deals with MSW in India.

Life Cycle Assessment of Solid Recovered Fuel Gasification in the State of Qatar

Gas products from gasified solid recovered fuel (SRF) have been proposed as a replacement for natural gas to produce electricity in future power generation systems. In this work, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of SRF air gasification to energy was conducted using the Recipe2016 model considering five environmental impact categories and four scenarios in Qatar. The current situation of municipal solid waste (MSW) handling in Qatar is landfill with composting. The results show that using SRF gasification can reduce the environmental impact of MSW landfills and reliance on natural gas in electricity generation. Using SRF gasification on the selected five environmental impact categories—climate change, terrestrial acidification, marine ecotoxicity, water depletion and fossil resource depletion—returned significant reductions in environmental degradation. The LCA of the SRF gasification for the main four categories in the four scenarios gave varying results. The introduction of the SRF gasification reduced climate change-causing emissions by 41.3% because of production of renewable electricity. A reduction in water depletion and fossil resource depletion of 100 times were achieved. However, the use of solar technology and SRF gasification to generate electricity reduced the impact of climate change to almost zero emissions. Terrestrial acidification showed little to no change in all three scenarios investigated. This study was compared with the previous work from the literature and showed that on a nominal 10 kg MSW processing basis, 5 kg CO2 equivalent emissions were produced for the landfilling scenarios. While the previous studies reported that 8 kg CO2 produced per 10 kg MSW is processed for the same scenario. The findings indicate that introducing SRF gasification in solid waste management and electricity generation in Qatar has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission load and related social, economic, political and environmental costs. In addition, the adoption of the SRF gasification in the country will contribute to Qatar’s national vision 2030 by reducing landfills and produce sustainable energy.

Effective utilization of tannery hair waste to develop a high-performing re-tanning agent for cleaner leather manufacturing

Accumulation of hair waste is a major burden to the leather industry, causing a negative impact on the industry's sustainable development. The industry is already bogged down by the usage of synthetic re-tanning agents that are not only extremely challenging for biodegradation but also release free-form of formaldehyde in the final leather stage. This research work focuses on developing a formaldehyde-free bio-based re-tanning agent from hair waste. In order to do so, hair waste is subjected to alkali hydrolysis and subsequently graft-copolymerized with methacrylic acid (MAA). These treatments were optimal using 20 % (w/w) sodium hydroxide and thermal activity at 90 °C. This resulted in effective hydrolysis of red sheep hair, which was the ideal candidate in this study. The hydrolysate was subjected to monomer in situ polymerization (using MAA) with potassium per sulfate/sodium meta-bisulphite redox system, leading to the development of keratin hydrolysate-g-methacrylic acid (KH-g-MA) copolymer (this was noted both at a laboratory level and pilot scale). The obtained KH-g-MA copolymer exhibited ideal characteristics such as increased protein content (78.3 ± 1.2), appropriate particle size (1516 nm), suitable pH (5) and required viscosity of 512 cP. The developed KH-g-MA copolymer was then applied as a re-tanning agent in the leather manufacturing process. Significant improvement in leather's mechanical strength characteristics was observed. In addition, the organoleptic properties of leather such as fullness, softness and grain tightness showed much improvement. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed an enhanced surface smoothness and filling of the voids in experimental leather in comparison to the control leather. This recycle and reuse strategy of hair waste not only helps resolve issues with handling of hair solid waste but also results in producing an eco-friendly re-tanning agent in leather manufacturing, thereby paving the way for cyclic economic utilization and cleaner environment.