STATUS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE GENERATION IN KERALA AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

Dr. R. Ajayakumar Varma Executive Director, Suchitwa Mission Local Self Government Department Thiruvananthapuram 695 014 Introduction The rapid urbanization, constant change in consumption pattern and social behaviour have increased the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Kerala beyond the assimilative of capacity of our environment and management capacity of the existing waste management systems. Therefore, there is an urgent necessity of improved planning and implementation of comprehensive MSW management systems for upgrading the environmental scenario of the State. It requires detailed information on the quantity and character of MSW generated and their physical and chemical properties. This is to evolve appropriate waste management strategy based on the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle and design appropriate collection, transportation, processing and disposal system. It requires reliable data on quantity and quality of MSW generated in the State. Therefore, an attempt is made here to present the details of available data on the quantity and character of MSW generated at various parts of the State for planning further studies on the aspect.

Database on MSW generation Generally, data on the quantity of MSW generation is maintained by the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). This is generated based on the quantity of waste collected and transported on a day to day basis, based on the number of trips made or on approximation based on guesstimates. Normally, there is no practice of weighing the MSW or measurement of its volume while transportation. Therefore, the data has very little authenticity (SEUF, 2006). Based on the studies carried out by the Centre for Earth Science Studies and data compiled by the Clean Kerala Mission for all the Municipalities and Corporations of the State, the average daily per capita generation comes to 0.178 kg with a very high variation from 0.034 kg for Koothuparamba to 0.707 kg for Thalassery (CESS, 2001; Padmalal & Maya, 2002; Varma & Dileepkumar, 2004). This is due to the fact that the quantification of

generation from different types of sources has not been done in any of the ULBs by direct method of source wise sample surveys or by indirect method of assessing collected waste, uncollected quantities and that separated for recycling and reuse. The studies carried out by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in Indian cities have revealed that quantum of MSW generation varies between 0.21-0.35 kg/capita/day in the urban centres and it goes up to 0.5 kg/capita/day in large cities (NEERI, 1996). Considering this, the waste generation in the Municipalities of Kerala can be taken as a minimum of 0.21 kg/capita/day with an increment due to the increasing trend of waste generation and that the estimate was that of 1996. The studies conducted by the Urban Development Section (East Asia and Pacific Region) of the World Bank, considering the relation between GNP and per capita waste generation, indicated that
3.2 4.1 19.6 12.2 Magnitude of w aste sources Domestic Commercial Community halls 9.5 Hotels 101.4 Markets 12.4 Institutions Street Hospitals 21.9 2.4 22.8 Slaughter hse Construction

the

rate

of

waste

generation is estimated to grow at an exponential rate of 1.41 per cent per annum. Therefore, minimum the present of

generation

MSW can be considered as around 0.242 kg/head/day. Accordingly, MSW the in daily the

generation

Municipalities of the State as per the norms derived is given in Table 1.

However, amendments are necessary in some special cases such as Guruvayoor, where about 35,000 pilgrims reaches on a day to day basis, which goes up to 50,000 per day during the festival seasons. The generation of MSW by the Guruvayoor Temple is reported be 3.30 tons/day and that of elephant dung and elephant food is 7.80 tons. Therefore, these need to be added to that estimated using the norm derived. Similar amendments are required for various urban centres. Therefore, considering the data provided in Table 1 as first approximation value, each Municipality need to make its own assessment of the

quantity of waste generated which is one of the crucial basic data for developing a MSW management programme. It is also necessary to estimate the waste generated at different sources of a region for planning and undertaking effective management of MSW at respective sources, as far as possible. Accordingly, the Kerala State Urban Development Project generated data on the quantum of municipal MSW generated from different source in four City Corporations of Kerala by engaging consultants with specific terms of references based on standard protocols (Information from KSUDP, 2006). The MSW

generated in four Corporations, estimated based on direct method, is given in Table 2. Based on this, the magnitude of waste generating sources is given in pie chart. It indicates that most dominant sources to be addressed for waste management are domestic sources, commercial areas, hotels, streets and markets.

Considering these estimates, the total MSW generation in the entire state, estimated based on the population figure of 2001 and projected for the year 2006 is given in Table 3. A portion of the MSW generated will be collected by rag pickers for recycling and reuse. There will also be source level disposal, especially in areas where the population density is low. It is estimated that in urban areas, it works out to be about 10 to 15%.

Physical composition of MSW The physical composition of MSW is important for deciding the prime management actions namely the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste. The physical composition of MSWs at the collection point and dumping sites, as reported by the KSUDP, is given in Table 4. It indicates that in the major cities of the State, around 80% of the waste is compostable organics enabling high level of recycling in the form of manure or fuel. The physical composition of wastes are also reported from other Municipalities by CESS (2001), Padmalal & Maya (2001) etc., which is given in Table 5. These data also indicate the dominance of compostable waste in the State indicating the high possibility of productive use of wastes.

Chemical composition of MSW The chemical characterization of waste is important to understand the utilization as well as

the pollution potential of the waste. The chemical composition of MSW from four major cities of the state as reported by the KSUDP is given in Table 6. It indicates high moisture content, low calorific value and high nutrient content making the dominant organic fraction of waste more conducive for recycling in the form of manure. The data reported from other towns by CESS (2001), Padmalal & Maya (2001) also indicate a similar pattern in the chemical composition (Table 7). One of the notable features of the chemical characteristics of waste is the high content of heavy metals (Table 8; Table 9). It indicates that dumping of waste will lead to metallic pollution of land, especially if the waste is subjected to putrefaction.

Conclusion Though there is appreciable data on the generation of MSW, they are generated based on different approaches. However, they play a major role for planning and implementing comprehensive MSW management programmes as stipulated in the MSW (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000. The protocol adopted for data generation do not find tallying in many cases. This has implication on determining the quantum and quality of MSW at source as well as processing site. The data generated for the four Corporations, Kollam, Cochin, Thrissur and Kozhikkode is found to be based on a systematic protocol. Such a data generation practice is important for planning foolproof MSW management system.
References CESS, 2001. Carrying capacity based development planning of Greater Kochi Region (GKR)., Rep. Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram. p. 269.

KSUDP. 2006. Solid waste management of Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikkode Corporations of Kerala. Dft. Detailed Project Report. Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala & Asian Development Bank (Personal communication)
NEERI, 1996. Municipal solid waste management in Indian Urban Centres. Rep. National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. Nagpur. Padmalal, D., Narendra Babu, K., Maya, K., Rajesh Reghunath., Mini, S.R., Sreeja, R. and Saji, S. 2002. Municipal solid waste generation and management of Changanasseri, Kottayam and Kannur Municipalities, Kerala. Rep. Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram. CESS PR- 02- 2002. p. 47.

SEUF, 2006. Sector assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Kerala. Consultancy to support Clean Kerala Mission (Government of Kerala) to develop policy and institutional reform guidelines. Final Report. Socio Economic Unit Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram. p. 224.
Varma, Ajaykumar and Dileep Kumar. 2004. A handbook on solid waste management. Clean

Kerala Mission, Govt. of Kerala. p. 78. Varma, Ajaykumar. 2007. A database on solid wastes of Kerala for initiating programmes for prevention of land pollution and upgradation of environment. Proc. Natl. Workshop. Fertility evaluation for soil health enhancement (Ed. Premachandran, P.N.). Soil Survey Organization, Govt. of Kerala. pp. 330-338.

Table 1. Municipal Solid Waste Generation as per the norms Standard Norms
Sl. No Name of Municipality Population 2001 177079 60725 51960 24108 130736 63795 99386 56828 26550 53650 75740 52683 69435 35648 47226 37802 65299 45102 22640 46226 37169 29230 51585 30056 59881 33424 48371 MSW generation tonnes/day 43 15 13 6 32 15 24 14 6 13 18 13 17 9 11 9 16 11 5 11 9 7 12 7 14 8 12 Sl. No Name of Municipality Population 2001 28873 33543 42022 58490 83704 44613 65499 56138 42273 38649 28943 28440 25391 22637 63176 38138 21187 31884 49230 87356 29602 68711 29532 67441 68970 44317 2731093 MSW generation tonnes/day 7 8 10 14 20 11 16 14 10 9 7 7 6 5 15 9 5 8 12 21 7 17 7 16 17 11 661

1 Alappuzha 2 Kottayam 3 Chenganassery 4 Aluva 5 Palakkad 6 Kannur 7 Thalassery 8 Thuruvalla 9 Perumbavoor 10 Thirur 11 Vadakara 12 Kasaragod 13 Neyattinkata 14 Attingal 15 Punallor 16 Pathanamthitta 17 Kayamkulam 18 Cherthala 19 Pala 20 Thodupuzha 21 Kothamangalam 22 Muvattupuzha 23 Kunnamkulam 24 North Paravur 25 Thrippunithura 26 Angamaly 27 Chalakudy

28 Iringalakuda 29 Kudungallur 30 Shornur 31 Malappuram 32 Manjeri 33 Perinthalmanna 34 Kanchangad 35 Nedumangad 36 Varkala 37 Paravur (South) 38 Adoor 39 Mavelikkara 40 Chengannur 41 Vikom 42 Kalamassery 43 Chavakkad 44 Guruvayoor 45 CittoorThathamangalam 46 Otapalam 47 Ponnani 48 Kalpatta 49 Payannur Koothuparambu 51 Thaliparambu 52 Quilandy 53 Mattannur Total

(AfterNEERI, 1996; Varma& Dileep, 2004; SEUF, 2006)

Table 2. Municipal Solid Waste generation estimated based on direct sampling

Sl. No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 MSW Generation sources Domestic sources Commercial establishments Marriage & Community Halls Hotel & Restaurent Markets Institutions/Schools, Offices Street sweepings Hospitals (Non-infectious) Slaughter house Construction & demolition Total Per capita generation (g/day/head) Quantum of MSW Generation (tonnes/day) Kollam Kochi Thrissur Kozhikkode 95 134.7 75.75 100.12 17 32.99 13.02 28.16 1 4.75 2.12 1.56 19 29.9 14.57 24.07 6 20.39 11.01 12.08 7 14.75 5.51 10.62 14 31.3 13.87 19.28 2 4.22 3.60 6.64 2 5.26 2.25 -7 17.00 13.60 11.00 170 295.26 154.70 213.53 434 482 476 477

(After KSUDP, 2006)

Table 3. Waste Generation scenario in Kerala in 2006 Population Percapita 2001 waste generation (g) 5 2456618 435 Corporations 53 2731093 250 Municipalities 999 23574449 175 Panchayats Total Waste Generation in Kerala Tot Waste generation (tonnes/day) 1069 683 4126 5878 Projected Projected Total waste population waste generation 2006 generatio 2006 n (g) (tonnes/day) 2543812 2828030 24411200 465 268 187 1183 758 4565 6506

Table 4. Physical composition of MSW at collection point and dumping site (%) Type of MSW Kollam Kochi Thrissur Kozhikkode Collection Dump Collection Dump Collection Dump Collection Dump point site point site point site point site 3.10 4.38 4.87 4.42 2.74 3.36 3.32 5.71 2.95 4.39 4.83 4.10 2.26 2.46 2.05 2.36 0.32 0.51 0.35 1.03 0.25 0.61 0.71 0.38 0.76 1.06 1.06 2.04 0.47 1.36 1.85 0.68 0.84 1.53 1.50 1.42 1.31 2.17 1.50 0.93 0.77 0.00 1.74 1.81 1.06 1.82 1.44 1.85 1.90 2.45 1.68 3.68 6.43 3.47 2.75 5.06 88.34 84.32 79.78 77.14 82.51 81.85 83.9 79.28 0.17 0.85 0.38 0.96 0.28 3.90 0.74 3.64 0.33 2.63 0.62 2.26 0.93 1.55 0.46 3.29

Paper Plastic Metals Glass Rubber & Leather Inerts Ash & fine earth Compostable organics Domestic hazardous

(After KSUDP, 2006)

Table 5. Physical composition of MSW from different townships of Kerala (%) Composition Chenga- Kottayam nasseri Paper 10.20 6.80 Plastic 4.90 4.25 Metals 0.20 2.00 Glass 0.50 2.25 Rubber & Leather 0.60 2.20 Compostable organics 76.60 73.45 Others-Textiles, Inerts 7.00 9.05
& domestic hazardous
(After Padmalal et al., 2002; Rep. Capital City Development Project for Thiruvananthapuram, 2003; SEUF, 2007)

Kannur 8.20 6.67 1.40 1.60 1.67 68.73 11.73

Aluva 9.72 6.94 1.38 1.00 1.77 70.83 8.36

Thiruvananthapuram 2.25 2.79 1.02 1.30 2.11 69.09 21.44

Average
7.43 5.11 1.20 1.33 1.67 71.74 11.52

Table 6. Chemical characteristics of MSW at the dumping sites of major cities

Sl. Sampling No. Locartion/area 1 Kollam 2 Kochi 3 Thrissur 4 Kozhikkode Average Density Moisture Calorific (Kg/m3) Content Value (%) (K.Cal/kg) 207.06 74.32 1656 267.81 55.29 1759 335.50 69.52 1744 327.65 79.54 1816 284.51 69.67
(After KSUDP, 2006)

pH

C N C/N (%) (%) 24.97 26.39 28.68 32.72 0.97 1.25 0.93 2.43 25.74 21.11 30.84 13.46

7.72 7.46 7.40 7.12

P as P205 (%) 553.5 129.25 1561.17 1050.17 823.52

1744 7.43 28.19 1.40 22.79

Table 7. Chemcial characterisitcs of MSW from various townships of Kerala

Sl. Sampling Density Moisture Calorific No. Locartion/area (Kg/m3) Content Value (%) (K.Cal/kg) 1 Changanasseri 613 51.04 1331 2 Chengannur 688 60.58 1670 3 Muvattupuzha 538 45.08 923 4 Pala 420 56.76 1198 5 Kottayam 510 58.98 1408 6 Alappuzha 570 61.61 2393 7 Kothamangalam 472 58.12 2664 8 Aluva 522 53.74 1523 9 Kannur 472 46.42 -Average 541.63 55.74 1638.75 pH Organic C N C/N P K Matter (%) (%) as P205 K2O (%) (%) (%) 8.3 31.95 18.53 0.55 33.51 0.49 0.54 7.7 26.57 15.41 0.5 30.58 0.2 0.61 8.1 30.67 17.79 0.37 47.95 0.37 0.54 6.6 23.73 13.76 0.5 27.69 0.3 0.37 7.4 32.27 18.72 0.33 56.89 0.52 0.46 7 31 17.98 0.53 34.25 0.72 0.44 6.8 52.43 30.41 0.76 39.86 0.47 0.54 6.6 41.76 24.22 0.53 46.13 0.24 0.51 7.11 -- 13.91 1.16 11.99 0.41 0.45 7.31 33.80 19.60 0.51 39.61 0.41 0.50

(After CESS, 2001; Padmalal et al., 2002;; SEUF, 2006)

Table 8. Heavy metal content in MSW at the dumping sites of major cities in Kerala Sampling Ar Mn location Mg/kg ppm
Kollam Kochi Thrissur Kozhikkode Average 3.43 5.72 0.40 1.80 2.84 ------

Ni ppm
2.48 4.49 1.17 3.68 2.96

Cd ppm
0.20 0.38 0.20 0.82 0.4

Pb ppm
5.13 2.48 5.43 15.92 7.24

Cr ppm
------

Cu ppm
11.95 47.53 14.98 10.15 21.15

Zn ppm
24.30 98.98 25.98 31.42 45.17

Hg Mg/kg
<0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1

(After KSUDP, 2006)

Table 9. Heavy metal content in MSW from various townships of Kerala Sampling Fe Mn Ni Cd Pb Cr Cu Zn location % ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm
Changanasseri Chengannur Muvattupuzha Pala Kottayam Alappuzha Kannur Average 1.51 1.68 1.18 1.00 1.61 1.52 0.75 1.32 176 229 141 122 229 247 -191 24 37 21 17 26 21 13 22.71 2.00 1.78 1.46 1.55 2.53 2.08 1.76 1.88 68 265 295 90 84 308 42 164.57 69 96 82 58 77 56 28 66.57 119 223 172 207 115 127 48 97 167 267 68 224 55 -106.58 190.83

(After CESS, 2001; Padmalal et al., 2002;; SEUF, 2006)