Inefficient and Unscientific Manual Loading of Waste
In most of the cities/towns there is no synchronization between waste storage depots and transportation of waste. Waste stored in open spaces is either loaded manually or with the help of loaders in traditional trucks. Manual loading takes time and reduces the productivity of the vehicles and manpower deployed.
Besides, manual handling of waste poses a threat to the health of the sanitation workers as the waste is highly contaminated.
MANUAL LOADING OF WASTE
Loading through loading machine necessitates large quantities of waste collected in open, as could be seen from the photograph below.
LOADING OF WASTE THROUGH FRONT END LOADER & TRUCKS
Here the loading operation is cheap but the loaders can not clean waste storage depots fully, besides loading machine damage the flooring and screen walls very often necessitating frequent repairs. If repairs are not carried out on time, the damaged flooring becomes a source of nuisance.
In cities where Dhalavs or large masonry bins are used, waste is not regularly removed from inside of such structures and loaders can not effectively function for removal of waste from the corners of such structures. Leftover (uncollected) waste putrefies and emanates foul smell causing nuisance and insanitary conditions.
13.2.2 Irregular Transportation
Cities and towns generally have limited fleet of vehicles and most of them are old necessitating frequent repairs with the result the transportation of waste does not take place regularly. The waste is generally seen lying in heaps or scattered at the unscientifically designed dust bins giving unsightly appearance besides causing nuisance and unhygienic conditions.
13.2.3 Underutilization of Fleet of Vehicles
Most of the vehicles are manually loaded and the lorries which can easily take 5 to 6 tonnes of solid waste in one trip, carry only 1-3 tonnes of waste as strict monitoring system does not exist. In several cities, small vehicles and even bullock carts are taken directly to landfill sites located at long distances. This makes the transportation operation very inefficient and uneconomical.
13.2.4 Open Trucks Cause Nuisance
Open trucks loaded with garbage wade through cities and towns as shown in Fig.13.3(a) & (b) below. They emanate fowl smell and cause nuisance to people. At places where cover material is arranged, covering of trucks is done half-heartedly and nuisance continues.
13.2.5 Non-Routing of Vehicles
In cities and towns, by and large, transportation net work is illdesigned. Waste storage depots are not cleared at regular intervals and more or less fire fighting operations are carried out by local bodies. These sites are attended to more on the basis of the complaints received or pressure brought on local staff rather than following a system of regular removal of waste from waste storage depots. The system of routing of the vehicles and the clearance of the bins on day to day basis thus generally breaks down.
13.2.6 Transportation of Waste from Hotels, Restaurants, Hospitals, Construction Sites, Etc.
In many cities there is no separate system of collection and transportation of such wastes and waste from the above sites is not cleaned regularly.
Looking to the present situation, transportation of waste has to be planned scientifically to bring about a total change in the existing system.
System of transportation should be such that it can be easily maintained departmentally or through private garages and the system should appropriately match with the system adopted for the storage of waste at the waste storage depots. Manual loading should be discouraged and phased out expeditiously and replaced by direct lifting of containers through hydraulic system or non-hydraulic devices or direct loading of waste into transport vehicles.
Transportation of waste should be done regularly to ensure that the containers /trolleys and dustbin sites are cleared before they start overflowing. The frequency of transportation should be arranged accordingly. The system of transportation of waste must synchronize with bulk storage of waste at the temporary waste storage depots. multiple and manual handling of waste should be avoided.
The method of treatment and disposal of the final rejects/ effluents should be considered in advance. The utility of the same should also be considered as in case of anaerobic digestion, where about 70% of the input is discharged as sediment (digested sludge), but the same after being stabilized through aerobic treatment, can be used as a good fertilizer.
It should be borne in mind while adoption of any particular technology that MSW, though not classified as Hazardous or Toxic, may also contain some such waste component (solvents, paints, pesticides, sewage sludge, pathological wastes from hospitals, etc.). Proper Waste management requires that such waste materials are stored, collected, transported and disposed off separately, preferably after suitable treatment to render them innocuous and not mixed with the Urban Waste stream. The possibility, however, of Toxic & Hazardous wastes being present in the MSW, should be carefully examined and duly taken into consideration during their treatment/ processing and in the design of the WTE plants.
Plastic wastes may account for 1-10% of the total Municipal Solid Wastes.
They are highly resistant to bio-degradation, which makes them objectionable for release to the environment and of special concern in waste management. Plastics have a high heating value making them very suitable for incineration. However, PVC when burnt, may, under certain conditions, produce dioxin and acid gas, which calls for adequate safety measures as already discussed in previous sections.