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ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK OFSolid Waste Management

ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK OFSolid Waste Management

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    Solid waste management is the self-restraint associated with control of generation, storage, collection, transport or transfer, processing and disposal of solid waste materials in a way that best addresses the range of public health, conservation, economics, aesthetic, engineering and other environmental considerations. Solid waste management is one of the major challenges faced by many countries around the globe. Inadequate collection, recycling or treatment and uncontrolled disposal of waste in dumps can lead to severe hazards, such as health risks and environmental pollution. This illustrated guide presents an approach on planning, administrative, financial, engineering and legal functions in the process of solving problems arising from waste materials.

Thousands of tons of solid waste are generated daily in the World. Most of it ends up in open dumps and wetlands, contaminating surface and ground water and posing major health hazards. Solid waste is the unwanted or useless solid materials generated from combined residential, industrial and commercial activities in a given area. It may be categorized according to its origin; according to its contents; or according to hazard potential. Management of solid waste reduces or eliminates adverse impacts on the environment and human health and supports economic development and improved quality of life. The refuse materials such as newspaper, cotton pieces, foodstuff, skin, clothes, leather, old dress, fish etc., anything of solids produced by the humans is going to become a waste some time somewhere and somehow. It means waste material is produced as a result of human activity. The quantity of this material is increasing readily due to increase in human population and increase in the standards of living. A number of processes are involved in effectively managing waste for a municipality. These include monitoring, collection, transport, processing, recycling and disposal.

Illustrated Handbook of Solid Waste Management is intended to highlight key issues, questions to consider, and technical options. It focuses on the methods of waste reduction that may include manufacturing products with less packaging, encouraging customers to bring their own reusable bags for packaging, encouraging the public to choose reusable products such as cloth napkins and reusable plastic and glass containers, backyard composting and sharing and donating any unwanted items rather than discarding them. Solid waste management is an important facet of environmental hygiene and it needs to be integrated with total environmental planning. Its storage, collection, transport, treatment and disposal can lead to short term risks. In the long run there may be dangers arising particularly from the chemical pollution of water supplies. Waste treatment techniques seek to transform the waste into a form that is more manageable, reduce the volume or reduce the toxicity of the waste thus making the waste easier to dispose of. Treatment methods are selected based on the composition, quantity, and form of the waste material. Some waste treatment methods being used today include subjecting the waste to extremely high temperatures, dumping on land or land filling and use of biological processes to treat the waste. During the past 20 years there has been an increasing awareness in industrialized nations that the vast growing quantities of refuse are an indication of wasteful use of resources. Conservationists support separation of valuable materials from refuse. In developing countries everything of value are already separated for recycling.

This Illustrated Handbook offers an integrated approach to the planning, design, and management of economical and environmentally responsible solid waste disposal system.