Solid Waste Management: Types, Sources, Effects & Disposal (Urban & Industrial)

♻️ What is Solid Waste Management?

It means the process of collecting, treating & safely disposing of solid wastes.

🔁 Steps in the process:
→ Collection
→ Transportation
→ Treatment
→ Analysis
→ Disposal

📌 Must follow strict rules to avoid pollution & health hazards.

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🗑️ Sources of Solid Waste

🔹 Domestic Waste
→ Kitchen waste, paper, plastic, glass

🔹 Industrial Waste
→ Chemicals, packaging waste, metals

🔹 Agricultural Waste
→ Crop residue, animal waste

🔹 Medical Waste
→ Syringes, bandages, expired medicines

🔹 E-Waste
→ Old phones, batteries, computers

🔹 Construction Waste
→ Cement, bricks, sewage sludge

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🗂️ Types of Solid Waste

1. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

➡️ From homes, offices, markets
Divided into:

• Biodegradable Waste 🥦
  → Rotten food, peels, garden waste

• Recyclable Waste 🔁
  → Paper, plastics, glass

• Hazardous Waste ⚠️
  → Bulbs, batteries, chemicals

2. Hazardous Industrial Waste

➡️ From factories & hospitals
→ Includes harmful chemicals, toxic metals, medical waste
→ Needs special handling & disposal

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🗑️ Disposal Methods

➤ Landfills

✅ Most common method
→ Waste is buried in the ground
→ Modern landfills are designed to reduce pollution

➤ Recycling

♻️ Reuse of plastic, paper, metal, etc.

➤ Composting

🌱 Turning biodegradable waste into manure

➤ Incineration

🔥 Burning waste at high temperatures
→ Useful for reducing volume
⚠️ But may release harmful gases

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⚠️ Effects of Poor Waste Management

❌ If waste is not handled properly:

🔸 Garbage piles up ➡️ bad smell & ugly surroundings
🔸 Rotting waste ➡️ attracts flies, mosquitoes → diseases
🔸 Hazardous chemicals leak ➡️ soil & water pollution
🔸 Burning waste ➡️ poisonous gases like dioxins released

⚠️ Health & Environmental Issues:

• Breeding ground for germs

• Groundwater pollution

• Lower soil productivity

• Chronic diseases, skin problems, even cancer

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✅ Conclusion

Proper solid waste management is important to:
✔️ Keep cities clean
✔️ Protect health
✔️ Prevent pollution
✔️ Save the environment

➡️ Use of eco-friendly disposal methods & public awareness is the key.