Waste Management: Definition, Types, Methods and Benefits (2023)

The process of managing unwanted waste items that have served their purpose but are no longer useful is called waste management.Solid waste collection, processing and disposal are part of the waste management process. Human interaction with the environment has always led to the generation of waste.

Waste includes dead and decaying plant and animal remains, metabolic by-products (faecal residue, feces, etc.), discarded materials from homes, workplaces, shops, restaurants, factories, hospitals, pesticides, herbicides sprayed on fields, and more. further. In this article, students will learn about waste management, including the different waste management methods and their benefits.

Waste management: what is waste?

Unwanted or unusable materials that are discarded after their primary use are called waste.

waste sources

Waste is generated from various sources such as B. from domestic, industrial, agricultural and commercial activities.

Fig: Waste sources

(i) household waste

The waste that accumulates in our homes from our daily activities is called household waste. These include:

• Kitchen waste such as vegetables, fruit and other leftovers.
• Wastewater: human waste and waste from bathrooms and kitchens.
• Garbage: newspapers, rags, hair, house dust.
• Others - plastic bags, bottles, cans, etc.

In general, household waste is referred to as waste. About \(90\%\) of household waste is dumped directly on the land, increasing the contamination of the land or soil.

(ii) industrial waste

All industries generate waste. Waste generally includes ash, trash, construction waste, toxic waste, metal containers, plastic containers, paints, oils and other complex synthetic materials.

• Mining operations leave overburden (rock of little or no value) as waste.
• The metallurgical industry releases waste such as slag and scrap.
• Pulp and paper mills discharge effluents that contain wood chips, pieces of bark, cellulose fibers and a variety of chemicals.
• Oil refineries and petrochemical plants release a mixture of waste containing hydrocarbons, organic acids and sulfur compounds.
• Food processing plants such as dairies, breweries and meat processing plants release organic waste.

(iii) Agricultural waste

Modern techniques used in agriculture and the use of a variety of chemicals have contributed to the production of large amounts of agricultural waste.

1. Agricultural waste includes crop residues such as hulls and straw, livestock waste, and chemicals such as pesticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
2. These residues can enter the water table as runoff from agricultural fields.
3. Chemicals used in agriculture are inherently toxic.

(iv) Commercial Waste

A large amount of waste is generated in commercial facilities such as restaurants, hotels, markets, offices, graphics, mechanical workshops, medical facilities and hospitals.

types of waste

There are basically two types of waste:

1. Biodegradable waste:Waste that can be decomposed by the action of microorganisms is called biodegradable waste. For example, domestic sewage, newspaper, and plant matter biodegrade and rot.
2. Non-biodegradable waste:Waste that does not readily degrade is referred to as non-biodegradable waste. These residues do not rot. For example polythene bags, plastic, glass, aluminum cans, iron nails and DDT. The disposal of plastic waste is the need of the hour.

What is waste management?

Waste management can be defined simply as the collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of waste along with the supervision and regulation of the waste management process. However, the new concept of waste management speaks of the 7 R's: Rethink, Reject, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Regulate and Investigate.

The 7 R's of waste management

types of waste management

There are different types of waste management, some of them are listed below:

1. Solid waste disposal
2. Liquid waste management
3. Biomedical Waste Disposal

waste management

The term solid waste refers to all solid and semi-solid waste that is discarded and disposed of as a result of human and animal activities. These can be divided into municipal waste, industrial waste and hazardous waste. The culture of use and disposal of advanced societies has led to a tremendous increase in the generation of solid waste. In order to overcome the main causes of solid waste, we must not practice litter zoning rules, separate dry garbage from wet garbage and throw it in municipal transporters, avoid using plastic, etc.

Six main functional elements of a solid waste disposal system:

• remaining generation
• On-site handling (sorting, storage and processing)
• collection
• transfers and transportation
• processing and recovery
• determination

Waste management and segregation, storage and treatment at source:

1. The best place or source to collect waste materials for reuse and recycling is from the owners.
2. The separation of newspapers, cardboard, bottles, garden waste, aluminum cans, ferrous materials and above all hazardous waste.
3. Waste processing can reduce waste volume, recycle valuable materials, and change the shape of solid waste.
4. The most commonly used on-site processing operations are:
   • Food waste: shred and discharge into drains
   • component separation
   • Compression: Reduces volume to \(70\%. \)
   • Incineration, composting of garden waste etc.

Disposal of liquid waste

It is practiced to eliminate or prevent the discharge of contaminants into the drainage system or waterways as a result of the generation, collection and disposal of non-hazardous liquid materials. To solve the liquid waste problem, we must stop dumping oil containers on ships that disturb marine life, stop washing animals in rivers, etc.

Liquid waste treatment process by management:

1. Initial treatment:Sieving, desanding and sedimentation (decanting).
2. Secondary or biological treatment:Biological processes and additional sedimentation.
3. Tertiary or advanced treatment:Not all wastewater treatment plants require a third (extended) treatment.

Biomedical waste disposal

Biological waste is generated from the diagnosis, testing, treatment, research or manufacture of biological products for humans or animals. The main sources of biomedical waste are hospitals, blood banks, laboratories, etc.

Biomedical waste treatment process:

1. combustion
2. Autoclave
3. Mechanical/chemical disinfection
4. microwave
5. irradiation
6. glazing

Recycling or reuse of waste

However, non-biodegradable waste can be recycled or reused.

RecyclingIt means conserving resources in used items and turning them into new products. For example, old newspapers can be recycled into tissue paper and cardboard. Aluminum cans can be recycled to make new cans.

reusemeans conserving resources in used items by using them over and over again. For example, glass bottles can be collected, washed and refilled.

Dangerous residues

Nuclear reactors produce toxic and radioactive materials such as heavy water or spent nuclear fuel. Radioactive waste is dangerous to all life forms as well as to the environment. Substances exhibiting flammable or corrosive or reactive or toxic properties.

Benefits of Waste Management

Below are some of the benefits of waste management:

1. Reduces bad smell
2. Reduces pollution
3. Reduces waste production
4. That creates employment
5. generates energy

Waste management summary

Waste management includes a process of collecting, transporting and disposing of waste in the best possible way to limit or eliminate the harmful effects of the waste. This aspect of environmental management is just as important as any other public facility or infrastructure without which modern man's life would be extremely difficult.

Studies have shown a direct link between air, water and soil pollution and diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, cholera and hepatitis. In addition, climate change and eutrophication are a direct consequence of water and air pollution. Not surprisingly, there are big differences in life expectancy between people in developed and developing countries.

Frequently asked questions about waste management

Here are some frequently asked questions about waste management:

Q.1: What types of waste management are there?
Answer:There are basically two types of waste:
1. Biodegradable waste
2. Non-biodegradable waste

Q.2: What is waste management?
Answer:Waste management is simply defined as the transport, collection, recycling and disposal of waste. It includes the supervision of such operations and the aftercare of landfills, which is known as waste management.

P.3. What are the three principles of waste management?
Answer:The three basic principles of waste management are reduce, recycle and reuse.

Q.4: What will waste management not take away?
Answer:Waste management does not accept hazardous waste such as radioactive waste, nuclear reactors, e-waste, etc.

Q.5: What is biomedical waste management?
Answer:Biomedical waste is generated from the diagnosis, testing, treatment, research, or manufacture of biological products for humans or animals. Biomedical waste disposal needs to be well managed. The main sources of biological waste are hospitals, blood banks, laboratories, etc.

We hope this in-depth article on waste management has been helpful. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comment section below. We'll contact you as soon as possible.

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