Table of Contents
Municipal solid waste
Learn about municipal solid waste containment and aggregation. Discover best practices for storing waste at the source, household bins, shop and hotel waste management, garden composting, and construction waste storage. Explore efficient collection systems like kerbside, lane, and yard services, along with fixed and transported container systems for effective waste management. Raising awareness about municipal solid waste management promotes better storage, disposal practices, and cleaner cities for sustainable living.
Storage of Municipal Solid Waste
Containment of waste at the source is the first essential step in Solid Waste Management. Every household, shop, and establishment produces solid waste daily. The waste should ideally be kept at the point of generation until it is collected for disposal.
In India, this practice has not been widely implemented and due to the absence of a proper containment system, waste is often dumped on streets, treating them as disposal sites. Proper containment of municipal solid waste at the source is essential for effective waste management and maintaining cleanliness in urban areas.
Therefore, there is a need to raise awareness about storing waste at the source, discarding it as per local authority regulations, and actively engaging in municipal initiatives to uphold cleanliness in cities.
1. For Storing Household Waste: All households may be advised that:
- They must not discard any solid waste in their surroundings, on roads, in open spaces, empty plots, or drainage systems.
- They should (a) place food scraps/organic waste promptly in a suitable household waste bin, ideally with a cover, and (b) store dry/recyclable waste separately, preferably in bags or containers.
- A rust-resistant bin with a lid is suggested for holding food/organic/wet waste. A 15-litre (0.015 cum) bin is generally adequate for a five-person household.
- However, households may opt for larger bins or multiple containers to store daily waste output, maintaining a 100% reserve capacity to handle unexpected collection delays or surplus waste.
Municipal solid waste management involves practices like using household bins, composting garden waste, and properly storing construction waste.
2. For Storing Waste from Shops/Offices/Institutions/Workshops, etc.
All shops and establishments may be instructed that:
- They shall avoid discarding solid waste/sweepings on footpaths, streets, or open areas.
- They shall store their waste at the site of generation in appropriate containers until it is collected from the doorstep.
- The size of the container should be sufficient to accommodate 24-hour waste production, with 100% extra capacity to account for unexpected collection delays or increased waste loads.
3. For Storing Waste from Hotels and Restaurants:
All hotels and restaurants may be instructed that:
- They shall avoid discarding dry and wet waste/sweepings on footpaths, streets, open areas, or drains.
- They shall store their waste on-site in durable containers with a maximum capacity of 100 liters (0.1 cum). Containers should have suitable handles on the top or sides and a rim at the bottom for easy emptying.
- Large hotels and restaurants, where smaller containers are impractical, may use larger storage containers that align with the primary collection and transportation system.
Efficient collection systems such as kerbside, lane pickup, and transported container methods play a key role in managing municipal solid waste effectively.
4.For Storage of Garden Waste:
- Private gardens should, as much as possible, compost all plant waste on-site. If on-site disposal is not feasible, the waste should be stored in large bags or bins and transferred to municipal collection points.
- Fallen leaves and garden waste from large public parks and gardens should be composted whenever possible. If disposal is necessary, large containers matching the municipal transportation system should be used for collection and transport.
5. For Storing Construction & Demolition Waste:
- Construction waste must be stored within the premises of the building or in a designated container.
- If on-site storage is unavailable, waste producers must obtain prior approval from the local authority for temporary storage. The waste must be stored in a way that does not obstruct traffic, scatter on roads, or block surface and water drains.
Collection of Municipal Solid Waste
Aggregation of Municipal Solid Waste The initial collection of waste is the second crucial phase of Solid Waste Management operations. A primary gathering system is essential to ensure that waste kept at the source is retrieved routinely and not dumped on streets, drainage systems, water sources, etc. Storing municipal solid waste correctly reduces street dumping, enhances recycling efforts, and supports sustainable waste disposal practices.
A) Door-to-Door Collection System / Classification of Collection Systems Based on Service Availability
- Roadside Pickup
- Lane Pickup
- Placement & Recovery Service
- Rear Yard Pickup
Roadside (cerbside) Service: Kerb side waste collection is a service offered to residences, mainly in urban and suburban areas, for disposing of household waste. The homeowner is accountable for positioning waste bins at the curb on a designated day. Workers arrive, collect and empty the bins, then return them to the curb.
The homeowner must then retrieve the emptied containers back to their premises. This technique is swift and cost-effective. Required personnel: 1 driver + 1 or 2 collectors.
Lane Service: The waste bins are positioned along the alley boundary, where they are retrieved by workers from the waste collection truck, who then return the emptied bins. Implementing proper municipal solid waste containment and aggregation systems ensures a cleaner and healthier environment for communities.
Placement Service: Waste collection workers retrieve bins from each residence, empty them into the collection truck, and leave the empty bins for homeowners to collect.
Placement & Retrieval Service: A designated worker collects bins from homes and empties them into the waste collection truck, while another set of workers return the empty bins to the homeownersβ yards.
Rear Yard Service: Waste collection personnel use a bin, handcart, sack, or fabric container to collect solid waste from the yard. The bin or handcart is then transported to the collection truck, where it is emptied.
B) Collection Method Based on Operational Mode:
- Transported Container System
- Fixed Container System
Transported Container System: An empty storage bin (called a drop-off box) is transported to the storage area to replace the filled container, which is then taken to the processing facility, transfer station, or disposal site. Raising awareness about municipal solid waste management promotes better storage, disposal practices, and cleaner cities for sustainable living.
Fixed Container System: In this method, bins designated for waste storage remain at the collection point. The collection vehicles typically stop near the storage bins, and the crew loads the waste into the collection vehicle before transporting it to the processing, transfer, or disposal location.
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