Introduction

Waste management (or waste disposal) refers to the methods and activities involved in handling garbage from its generation to its final disposal. This includes waste collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal, as well as the regulation and management of the waste management process, including any laws, technologies, or economic measures related to waste. This article discusses how waste materials must be handled to ensure the safety of the public.

What is Waste?

The term "waste" refers to any item that is no longer useful and requires disposal. Essentially, waste is unwanted material that now needs to be discarded and sent for disposal. This undesirable material can be a by-product generated in any chemical process, such as fly ash from a furnace. It can also be a product that is now no longer useful owing to its age or other factors, like broken toys and devices.

Waste

Types of Waste

Regardless of the form and origin of the waste material in question, it can be broadly classified into one of two forms. These are:

1. Biodegradable waste

2. Non-biodegradable waste.

Classification of waste

Biodegradable Waste

Biodegradable waste refers to any waste material or product that can be naturally broken down into smaller components over time by the action of water, air, sun rays, microorganisms, and other factors. This process involves the decomposition of organic matter into smaller pieces, which are then broken down into the soil by microorganisms, ultimately nourishing the soil. Common examples of biodegradable waste include kitchen waste such as leftover food, fruit or vegetable peel, animal waste, crop residues, and so on.

Non-Biodegradable Waste

Non-biodegradable waste refers to waste materials that cannot be broken down into smaller components by natural processes. Unlike biodegradable waste, they can remain on the Earth's surface for thousands of years without undergoing any significant changes and therefore, are severely harmful to the environment. Examples of non-biodegradable waste include batteries, mobile phones, laptops, nuclear waste, plastic, metal, and glass.

Sources of waste

Waste materials are also classified into the following types depending on their origin.

• Domestic Waste: Waste materials originating in our homes from domestic processes are known as domestic waste. Common examples are fruit peels, cooking byproducts, trash papers, etc. Sewage from our homes is also classified as domestic waste.

• Industrial Waste: Industrial waste refers to waste materials that originate in industries. These can be chemicals, water used for cooling machines, smoke, and other such types of waste. Industrial waste should be carefully treated before disposal.

• Agricultural Waste: As implied by the name, this is waste generated as a byproduct of agricultural processes. This can include weeds, pesticides, harvested plants, etc.

• Commercial Waste: Waste material generated commercially from offices, hotels, shops, etc. is classified under commercial waste. For instance, old papers, food wrappers from hotels, waste from barber shops are all commercial waste materials.

• Nuclear Waste: Nuclear power plants work with radioactive elements and once these elements have been used, they become nuclear waste. Nuclear waste requires the most delicate and careful handling since it can also prove to be the most harmful.

What is waste disposal?

The management of waste involves techniques for its proper disposal. Waste disposal encompasses the collection and processing of waste produced by the society before discarding. Waste materials are classified based on their source and composition and a number of these materials can contain harmful components that can damage the environment. To safeguard us and our environment, waste materials must be collected and disposed of appropriately by taking its components into account. The methods used to dispose of waste materials differ based on the properties and components of the waste.

Methods of Waste Disposal

• Landfills- A large portion of land can be chosen away from the city and materials that do not actively damage the environment can be dumped in these landfills.

• Sanitary landfills- Sometimes, waste materials include chemicals that can seep into the soil and cause damage to the land. In such a case, specially prepared landfills that prevent seepage and toxic runoff are used. These are known as sanitary landfills.

• Recycling- Various materials can be reused or repurposed for further applications instead of disposing. For instance, metallic soda cans can be recycled for later use. This is known as recycling and it consumes far less energy than creating products from scratch. It also helps the environment by reducing the amount of waste generated. 

• Composting – Biodegradable waste materials can be converted into manure and fertilizers using natural processes. These processes convert organic materials into smaller components which are then used to feed plants and crops. Microorganisms like earthworms play a major role in composting waste materials. 

• Incineration- Waste material can also be incinerated into ashes, but this method is immensely harmful for the environment.

• Encapsulation – Waste material that can not be disposed of safely anywhere in the land is sealed into capsules to prevent leakage and buried deep in the ocean or far away from cities. This is a common technique for nuclear waste disposal.

Summary

Urbanization and industrialization result in a significant increase in hazardous waste that can negatively impact the environment and ecosystem. Certain items have a short lifespan and are disposed of after one use, leading to waste buildup. To manage this waste, the 3R approach is implemented, which involves reducing waste production, reusing items when possible, and recycling waste. Waste management is a collaborative process that includes segregating, collecting, processing, and recycling different types of waste.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is pyrolysis?

Pyrolysis is a waste management method that utilizes heat in the absence of oxygen. The process involves heating the waste to high temperatures, typically around six hundred degrees Celsius, which causes the volatile elements to break down. As a result, ash and carbon are produced. However, the process can release carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, if there is a lack of oxygen.

2. What is nuclear waste?

Radioactive waste generated from nuclear power plants is known as nuclear waste. It can prove to be immensely harmful if disposed of improperly.

3. What will be the impact if waste is accumulated?

The quantity and complexity of waste is rapidly increasing today due to the spread of single-use products. If waste is left untreated or not managed properly, it can have various negative impacts, including spoilage of nearby land, health hazards, and pollution.

4. How can the disease be spread through waste contamination?

Untreated and improperly disposed waste material can attract flies and microorganisms. This can lead to the spread of various types of disease. Note that the recent Covid-19 pandemic also originated due to lack of hygiene.