Solid Waste Management Process and

Techniques at West Bengal Waste Management

Ltd., Ramkys - Haldia
 What is Waste?
• Waste is a left-over, a redundant product or material of no
value for the owner and which the owner wants to discard.
• “Wright thing in wrong place”.
• Where Is it ??
We see it Daily, Ignore it at your OWN Peril.
• Waste depends on time (e.g. new products, war/shortage),
location (e.g. rural/small town vs. urban, climatic differences),
culture (e.g. food-wise), and social conditions (e.g. poor vs.
rich)
With rapid urbanisation, the country is faced with a massive
waste management challenge. Over 377 million urban people --
31% of the population -- live in 7,935 towns and cities and
generate 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste per annum.
Only 43 million tonne is collected, 11.9 million is treated and
31 million tonne is dumped in landfill sites.

“Waste generation is estimated to reach 165 million tonne per

year by 2030,” according to union environment minister
Prakash Javadekar.
 Waste
• What is Waste Management?
• Waste management is all activities and actions required to
manage waste from its inspection to its final disposal. This
includes collection, transport, treatment and disposal of
waste together with monitoring and regulation.
• Waste management is intended to reduce adverse effects of
waste on health, the environment or aesthetics.
• Waste management practices are not uniform among
countries (developed and developing nations), regions
(urban rural area), and sectors (residential and industrial).
 Waste management hierarchy
Pre
Most favoured option ve
nti
on

Minimisation

Reuse

Recycling

Energy recovery

Disposal
Least favoured option
 Classification of Waste
• Types of Waste
1. Urban Waste
2. Industrial Waste
3. Bio-Medical Waste
4. Electronic Waste
 Types of Waste
Waste

Urban Industrial Biomedical E-waste

Solid Liquid Solid Liquid

Municipal Solid
Sewage and Sludge Hazardous Industrial Waste Water
Waste

Construction and Non-Hazardous

Demolition
Municipal Solid Waste
Municipal Solid Waste

Bio-Degradable Recyclable Inert

Kitchen Waste Plastic and Paper Sand

Vegetable Waste Glass Pebbles

Garden Waste Tin Can and Metal Gravels

 Solid Waste
• As per SWM rule,2016 “Solid waste" means and
includes solid or semi-solid domestic waste, sanitary
waste, commercial waste, institutional waste, catering
and market waste and other non residential wastes,
street sweepings, silt removed or collected from the
surface drains, horticulture waste, agriculture and
dairy waste, treated bio-medical waste excluding
industrial waste, bio-medical waste and e-waste,
battery waste, radio-active waste generated in the area
under the local authorities.
 Technical Aspects of Processing and
Treatment of Solid Waste
• The following options are suitable for Processing and
Treatment of Solid Waste -
1. Landfill
2. Incineration
3. Gasification
4. Biodegradation processes
5. Composting
6. Anaerobic digestion
 Landfill
• Landfilling is the ultimate disposal process for Municipal
Solid Wastes (SW) management.
• A Containment system which separates the waste from the
surrounding environment.
• Objective: To Mitigate the migration of Leachate and
minimize emissions.
• A few Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) have attempted to
demonstrate “Zero garbage” on Municipal Solid Wastes
Management (SWM) by adopting method of recycling/reusing
and processing of wastes. Still, some inert wastes are left out
for disposal.
 The list of site selection criteria developed includes the following items:

• Ownership/Acquisition • Landfill Gas

• Zoning Control
• Road Access • Land Use
• Topography • Agricultural Land
• Capacity • Habitat Value
• Soils • Visual Impacts
• Depth to Groundwater • Downwind Impacts
• Proximity to Water Wells
• Surface Water
• Flood Hazard
• Airport Safety
• Holocene Faulting
• Seismic Impact zone
• Site Stability
• Run-On/Run-Off Controls
A sustainable approach to waste management is being developed through the
Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 and the Waste Management Act,
1996.

The Waste Management Act, 1996 provides for the introduction of:
• measures designed to improve national performance in relation to the
prevention, reduction and recovery of waste; and
• a regulatory framework for the application of higher environmental
standards, particularly in relation to waste disposal.

o Waste Management Plans, which Local Authorities are responsible for

preparing under Section 22 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 and the
Waste Management (Planning) Regulations, 1997; must have particular
regard to waste prevention and waste recovery.
o Section 26 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 requires the Environmental
Protection Agency to prepare a national hazardous waste management plan.
o This must also have particular regard to prevention and minimisation of the
production of hazardous waste and to the recovery of hazardous waste.
 Criteria for Selection of Land fill Site
Landfill site for solid wastes should be selected on following criteria:
• Land area and volume should be sufficient enough to provide landfill capacity so that
the projected need can be fulfilled for several years. In this way the cost coming on all
that procedure can be justified.
• The landfill site should not be at locations where suitable buffer zones between land fill
site and population are not available.
• The landfill area having steep gradient (where stability of slope could be problematic)
should not be selected.
• The water level in ground water table should be sufficient below the base of any
excavation to enable landfill development.
• The land which is significant environmentally (lands of biodiversity); the sensitive
ecological area of such a land should be present within potential area of landfill site.
• Public & private irrigation water supply wells should be well away from the boundaries
of landfill site because these supply wells will be at risk of contamination.
• Landfill area should not be very close to significant water bodies (water courses or
dams). There will be the risk of contamination of water bodies, which can be hazardous
for aquatic life.
• No major power transmission or other infrastructure like sewers, water supply lines
should be crossing through landfill developmental area.
• No residential development should be near the boundaries of landfill site. The waste disposal site must
be very away from residential or commercial areas and water resources.

• Landscaping and protective shelf should be included in the design so that to minimize the visibility of
operations.

• Unstable areas that have significant seismic risk which could cause destruction of berms are not
recommended for landfill site.

• There should not be fault lines and significantly fractured geological structure. These fault lines can
allow the unpredictable movement of gas within 500 meters of perimeter of proposed landfill
development.

• Groundwater quality should not be disturbed during the site developmental phase. There should be
monitoring facilities at site in order to ensure that ground water quality is maintained.

• In areas under the laws of concerned municipality it should be responsibility of municipality to identify
landfill site and handover to operators for operations.

• Selection of landfill site should be based upon the examination of environmental issues.

• The landfill site should be near the wastes recycling facility otherwise, the waste recycling facility
should be planned as integral part of landfill site.
• Landfill site should be away from airports.
There is need of approval of airbase
authorities like civil aviation authorities of
government of Pakistan for setting up of
landfill site in case if site is to be locating
within ten kilometer of an airport boundary.
Criteria for Landfill (as per SWM, 2016)
 The landfill shall be provided with fence, security gate, approach and internal roads, waste
inspection facility, weigh bridge, equipment and machinery, infrastructure like water supply,
lighting, etc. and health inspection facilities.
 Waste shall be compacted adequately and provided with daily cover of minimum 10cm of soil
inert debris.
 Prior to commencement of monsoon intermediate cover of thickness 45cm has to be provided
with proper compaction and grading to prevent infiltration during monsoon. Proper drainage
berms shall be provided to divert runoff from the active cell of the landfill.
 The minimum bottom layer specifications shall be a composite barrier having 1.5mm High
Density Polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane overlying 90cm of soil (clay/amended soil)
having permeability coefficient not greater than 1X10 -7cm/sec. The highest level of water table
shall be 2m below the clay/amended soil layer.
 The final cover shall have a barrier layer comprising of 60cm of clay/amended soil with
permeability coefficient not greater than 1X10 -7cm/sec., on the top of the barrier soil layer there
shall be a drainage layer of 15cm and on the top of drainage layer there shall be a vegetative
layer of 45cm thick.
 In order to prevent the pollution problems storm water diversion drains, leachate collection and
treatment system and preventive measures for run – off from landfill area entering any stream,
lake, river or pond shall be provided.
 Buffer zone around the landfill site and a vegetative cover over the completed site shall be
provided.
 The post closure care of landfill site shall be conducted for at least fifteen years and long-term
monitoring plan shall be prepared.
 DESIGN OBJECTIVES AND CONSIDERATIONS

The primary objective of landfill site design is to

provide effective control measures to prevent or reduce
as far as possible negative effects on the environment, in
particular the pollution of surface water, groundwater,
soil and air, as well as the resulting risks to human health
arising from landfilling of waste.

Landfill practice is dynamic in that it will change with

both advances in technology and changes in legislation.
Generally, landfills are constructed on a phased basis.
 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
 Nature and quantities of waste: The requirements at a landfill accepting inert
waste will be different to those at one accepting non-hazardous biodegradable
waste which in turn will be different from a facility accepting hazardous waste.
 Water control: To reduce leachate generation, control measures may be required
to minimise the quantity of precipitation, surface water and groundwater entering
the landfilled waste. Contaminated water will need to be collected and treated
prior to discharge.
 Protection of soil and water: A liner must be provided for the protection of soil,
groundwater and surface water. The liner system may consist of a natural or
artificially established mineral layer combined with a geosynthetic liner that
must meet prescribed permeability and thickness requirements.
 Leachate management:
An efficient leachate collection system may have to be provided to ensure
that leachate accumulation at the base of the landfill is kept to a minimum.
The leachate system may consist of a leachate collection layer with a pipe
network to convey the leachate to a storage or treatment facility.
 Gas control
The accumulation and migration of landfill gas must be controlled. Landfill
gas may need to be collected with subsequent treatment and utilisation, or
disposal in a safe manner through flaring or venting.
 Environmental nuisances
Provisions should be incorporated in the design to minimise and control
nuisances arising from the construction, operation, closure and aftercare
phases of the landfill. Nuisances that may arise from landfilling include;
noise, odours, dust, litter, birds, vermin and fires.
Diagrammatic Layout of Landfill
 SITE PREPARATION
The extent of preparatory works is site specific and should be determined during the
investigation stage.
The preparatory works will include the
• stripping/filling of soil to formation level for the:
• lining system for cell/phase construction;
• leachate and gas management facilities;
• groundwater, surface water and leachate systems;
• landscaping and screening; and
• all other site infrastructure.

Materials are required during landfill development for:

• basal mineral liner;
• cap barrier layer;
• leachate drainage blanket;
• other drainage layers e.g. capping layer and groundwater/surface
water;
• gas collection and venting system;
• roads;
• cover (daily, intermediate);
• embankments;
• internal and external bunds; and
• restoration layers (subsoil and topsoil).
 Scientific Landfill Cross-Section

Vegetative layer 0.45 m

Drainage layer of granular material with permeability 1 x 10 -2 cm/sec 0.15 m

Barrier layer of clay with permeability 1 x 10 -7cm/sec 0.60 m

Gas venting layer of granular material with permeability 1 x 10 -2 cm/sec 0.20 m

Municipal Solid Waste XX m

Drainage layer of permeability not greater than 1x10 -2 cm/sec 0.30 m

HDPE Geomembrane liner (min.1.5 mm)

Compacted Clay permeability not greater than 1x10 -7 cm/sec 0.90 m

 Slope Stability
• In preliminary design of a landfill section, the
following slopes may be adopted:

(a) Excavated soil slopes (2.5 Hor : 1 Vertical)

(b) Temporary waste slopes (3.0 Hor : 1 Vertical)
(c) Final cover slopes (4.0 Hor : 1 Vertical)
 Components of Scientific Landfill
• A Liner System at the base and sides of the landfill which prevents migration of leachate or gas
to the surrounding soil

• A Leachate Collection Facility which collects and extracts leachate from within and from the
base of the landfill and then treats the leachate

• A Gas Control Facility which collects and extracts gas from within and from the top of the
landfill and then treats it, flares it or uses it for energy recovery

• A Final Cover System which prevents migration of gas to the atmosphere, enhances surface
drainage, intercepts infiltrating water and supports surface vegetation.
• A Surface Water Drainage System which collects and removes all surface runoff from the
landfill site

• An Environmental Monitoring System which periodically collects and analyses air, surface
water, soil-gas and groundwater samples around the landfill site

• A Closure and Post Closure Plan which lists the steps that must be taken to close and secure a
landfill site once the filling operation has been completed and the activities for long-term
monitoring and maintenance of the completed landfill
Method of Scientific Landfilling
Scientific Landfill
After Final Capping
 Incineration
• Incineration means an engineered process involving burning
or combustion of solid waste to thermally degrade waste
materials at high temperatures. It is a process of direct burning
of waste in presence of excess air oxygen, at temperatures of
about 800 °C and above, liberating heat energy, inert gases and
ash.
• The lower calorific value (LCV) of waste must be at least
1,450 kcal/kg (6 MJ/kg) throughout all seasons. The annual
average LCV must not be less than 1,700 kcal/kg (7 MJ/ kg).
 Composting
• Composting means a controlled process involving microbial
decomposition of organic matter. Solid waste (SW) primarily
consists of organic, inorganic, and inert fractions. Under
natural conditions, the organic fraction of waste continually
decomposes, accompanied by a strong foul odour and
production of gases, which are predominantly methane or CO2
depending on the aerobic condition of the decomposing mass.
Composting Process
 Solid Waste Process Flow Chart
Recyclables Inoculum
Moisture
Manual
Degradation of
removal of
waste at
Incoming waste Receiving area recyclables and Leachate
windrow
other large
section
facilities
Inerts Landfill

Screening 4 mm Screening 16 Screening 35

Maturation
size mm size mm size

Inerts Landfill Inerts Landfill

Final Product
Enrichment Bagging
(compost)
 Overview of Collection and Transportation of Solid Waste

600 lit/ Dumper/

Bulk 1100 Lt
Generators Compactor
bins

Dumper
Residential areas Rickshaws/Auto trucks placer/
With Tipper
(90% of Generation) arrangement Compactor

Public Litter
Places Transfer
Bins
Station Dumping
Ground
Street
Sweeping
Dumper
placer/compac
Street 600 lit/ tor
600 L Bins/
Sweeping Hand carts 1100 Lt
(Manual) with bins bins

Twin Bin Dumper

Slums Tricycle Dumper Placer
+ Residential areas (4 bins) Bins Trucks
(10% of Generation)

Dumper
Slums Bins
Appropriate number of colour coded bins/dumper placer bins will be provided in all the zones to facilitate deposition of dry waste
Primary Collection of Solid Waste
 Secondary Collection & Transportation

Dumper Bins and Dumper Placers for Secondary Collection and Transportation

37
 Processing - Composting

Windrow Formation Coarse Segregation

Packing End Product Refinement

 A tiny town in West Bengal is turning waste into piles of wealth
The initiatives of Uttarpara-Kotrung municipality helped the Kolkata Solid Waste
Management Improvement Project win a global award, defeating nearest contenders
Auckland and Milan in urban solid waste management category in the C40 Mayors’
Summit held in Mexico City on December 1.

Bio-degradable waste at the compost plant, Uttarpara,

Hooghly district, Kolkata.
Rag-pickers segregate waste at the plant. The bio-degradable waste goes to the
compost where it is turned into manure. 

The municipality collects 12-14 tonnes of waste every day and produces 3-4 tonne
manure daily. They, however, have the capacity of producing up to 10 tonnes of
manure per day.
Bio-degradable waste at the compost plant at Uttarpara in Kolkata’s Hooghly
district. 
 Environmental Management
 Leachate Quality
• Leachate quality is usually influenced by waste
composition, elapsed time, temperature, moisture and
available oxygen. In general, leachate quality of the
same waste type may be different in landfills located
in different climatic regions.

Generation rate in active area

Leachate volume = (volume of precipitation) + (volume of pore

squeeze liquid) – (volume lost through evaporation) – (volume of
water absorbed by the waste)
The disposal of treated leachates shall meet the following
standards –
 Water Quality
• Ground water quality has to be monitored within 50
m periphery of landfill site. Also, ground water
quality data to be generated before construction of
landfill site for future reference.
The following specifications for drinking water quality shall
apply for monitoring purpose –
 Compost
 In order to ensure safe application of compost, the following
specifications for compost quality shall be met, namely:-
 Air Quality
 The Emission from incinerators /thermal technologies in Solid
Waste treatment/disposal facility shall meet the following
standards –
 Green Belt
Total green belt should cover 33% of the total
facility area.

 Landfill Gas

 Storm Water Management

• References
• Guidelines and Check-list for evaluation of MSW Landfills proposals with Information on
existing landfills, CPCB, 2008.
• http://moud.gov.in/pdf/584e4b8b1e3da584e4a5c4a867Book2.pdf
• Solid Waste Management Guidelines, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
2016.
• Waste to Resources: A waste management handbook, The Energy and Resources Institute,
2014.
• Wikipedia
• www.cpcb.nic.in
• www.envfor.nic.in
• www.google.co.in
• www.moud.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/chap17(1).pdf
• www.ramkyenviroengineers.com
• www.swmindia.blogspot.in
• www.unep.com