Waste Management

METHODS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT

After the industrial revolution waste management became an important and necessary function.

It is the control of materials that has become redundant and therefore need to be discarded. This process includes collection, transportation, sorting, recycling, clearance and disposal of waste materials. Waste management includes radioactive substances and other materials that are in a solid, liquid, or gaseous state, and their management techniques also differ from each other.

As waste management is concerned with the materials produced by the actions of humans and unless managed efficiently may have adverse effects on the environment and health of community.

TECHNIQUES OF WASTE DISPOSAL

LANDFILLS:

These are being simple and economical and globally the most common system of disposal. It involves the burial of waste materials. They are not properly designed or managed and may create several environmental hazards, diseases due to dispersion of garbage by wind. These are normally developed on unused pits so that harmful effects can be avoided. Landfills do not pollute surface water or ground water

The waste accumulated in the landfill is reduced in size by compaction to permit maximum storage of waste. Some landfills include systems for the extraction of gas that is used for generation of electricity

Leakage from landfill waste can be minimized by solidification with cement or asphalt

INCINERATION:

After landfills, incineration is the most widely used method to eliminate all types of waste. Hazardous air contaminants are released by burning of waste, due to which there are serious public concerns regarding environment pollution. Combustion is generally not a complete incinerator due to which the gas emissions contain micro pollutants that are not safe for the area near the  incinerator.

For the countries where adequate space is not available for landfills, incineration is more practicable.

 RECYCLING:

Recycling is probably the most ideal way of managing wastage but it can be costly and difficult to implement. There are numerous products that can be recycled instead of throwing away including aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles, paper, and scrap metal. It is becoming popular  in the present day and successful marketing is making recycled materials more likely to purchased. In the long run, recycling can save money and resources as well as keep the environment clean.