Solid Waste Collection & Disposal System

In Pakistan
Abstract
Solid waste collection includes not only gathering of solid waste
and recyclable but also transport of material after collection to the location where
vehicle is emptied.

Disposal is the last step in solid waste management land filling or

land spreading either directly from source or after processing and recovery of
materials, residues of combustion.

Solid waste collection by government owned and operated

services in Pakistan’s cities currently averages only 50% of waste quantities
generated; however for cities to be restively clean at least 75% of these quantities
should be selected. Unfortunately none of the cities in Pakistan has proper solid
waste management system right from collection of solid waste up to its proper
disposal. In addition because of lack of adequate disposal sites much of collected
waste find its way in dumping ground, open pits, ponds, river and agriculture land.

Sources of Solid Waste

1. Residential areas.
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 2. Commercial areas.
3. Institutions.
4. Industries.
5. Construction and demolition activities.
6. Municipal Services.
7. Agriculture activities.
8. Treatment plants.

Residential and Commercial waste

Residential:- Generated from residential areas.

 Organic (combustible) and non-organic, includes food, paper, plastics,

textile, garden trimmings, glass, household hazardous waste.
 Commercial generated from stores, restaurants, hotels, markets,
offices, service stations, auto workshops, print shops etc.

Institutional Waste
 Generated by government buildings, schools, prisons and hospitals.
 Does not include medical waste which are typically incinerated and
manufacturing wastes from prison.

Construction and Demolition waste

 Construction and repair of buildings and other sources (e.g. road
repair, sewer jobs, renovations), wood, concrete, steel, shingles,
stones, plaster, dirt, bricks, etc.
Municipal Services
 Results from the O&M municipal facilities and the provision of other
municipal services.
 Street sweeping/cleaning, cleaning of drains, parks, food, paper,
sweepings, dead animals.

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 Treatment Plant waste and other Residue
 Solid and some solid waste from water, waste water and industrial
treatment facilities.
 Characteristics vary depending on the nature of treatment process.

Ashes And Residue

 materials remaining from the combustion of wood , coal ,coke , and
other combustible wastes.
 Fine powdery materials chalks and small amount of burned and
partially burned materials.
 Glass, crockery and various metals are found in the residues of
municipal incinerators.
Industrial Solid Waste
 Comes from processing and non processing industries and utilities.
Composition is site specific and depends upon the raw material,
processor used and markets which provide the base for a given
industrial activity.
 Industrial processes waste, scrap materials, etc. and non-industrial
waste including food waste, special waste, hazardous waste, rubbish
etc.
 In the US industrial solid waste is grouped according to SIC (standard
industrial classification) codes.

Agricultural Waste
 Wastes and residues resulting from diverse agricultural activities e.g.
planting and harvesting crops, dairies, feedlots, farms.
 Spoiled food wastes, agricultural waste, rubbish, hazardous waste

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Negative Impacts of Unhygienic Solid waste Disposal
System in Pakistan
1) Open Dumping:-
In this method the solid wastes collected from the
town are deposited in low lying areas
usually on the outskirts of the town in most of the under developed
and developing countries. Since the open dumps are uncovered these
attract flies, birds, insects, rodents and also emit odors. This method is
unscientific and causes nuisance to the public and subjected to fire
hazards. At the same time it causes health and pollution hazards and
not suitable aesthetically. Yet this method is the easiest, and used in
many urban places of the world, because of lack of planning and
funding.
Open dumps of municipal solid waste are creating
serious negative impacts on environment. Many
Negative impacts are being observed in study area due to
Open dumping of solid waste. Heavy winds are spreading
Dust and filth from the open dumps to living areas and toxic Gaseous
emissions are continuously exposed to the
Atmosphere. It was also observed during the field visit that
Dumped solid waste at final disposal site is being burnt and
Creating drastic air pollution.

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 2) Open Burning:-
Smoke from burn barrels pollute our air

Water and soil. The smoke contains hazardous pollutants such as particulate
matter, sulfur dioxide, lead, mercury, volatile organic compound and corrosives.
Ashes containing the same compounds settle on lakes and rivers or be washed into
streams during heavy rains.

These pollutants can have immediate and long term effects on you and your
neighbors including,

 Asthma, emphysema, or other respiratory illnesses.

 Nervous system, kidney or other damage.
 Reproductive or developmental disorder.
 Headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.

Open Burning of these items is prohibited at all times.

 Agriculture.
 Construction.
 Wood Materials.
 Chemical Containers.
 Miscellaneous

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 Suggestions to control these issues
1) Buy as few items containing hazardous materials as possible.
2) Buy only item you really need.
3) Deficiency of staff, crews, vehicles and machinery must be recovered
immediately.
4) Staff training programs must be initiated to motivate the workers.
5) Pen dumping and open burning of municipal solid waste are two major threats
to the town environment, these kinds of practices must be discouraged
through different awareness campaigns.
6) At present a reasonable amount of solid waste is being collected by the
scavengers for recycling purposes, but they are not using any health and safety
measures. These kinds of activities may be motivated while considering the
proper health and safety measures.
7) Due to lack of available budget, the existing solid waste management system in
not working effectively. The induction of small scale recycling plants by the
municipal authority may generate a reasonable financial source in coming
future.
8) Considering ethics and the town environment, the transportation of collected
solid waste through open body vehicles must be discouraged.
9) At present, no proper sanitary landfill site is available for the final disposal of
municipal solid waste. A proper sanitary landfill site while considering the all
environmental aspects may be designated immediately to avoid the
environmental hazards due to illegal open dumps of collected municipal solid
waste.
10) Encouragement of crews through proper incentives may be adopted to
improve the sanitation practices.
11) Purchas items that contain recycled materials.
12) Purchase wisely and avoid buying products that are overly packaged.