Technical Landfills and Waste Management

The accumulation of solid waste is increasing in the environment, and this accumulation affects the environment and health of people, causing pollution of the air, soil and water. Globally, there are decisive attempts to manage and thus decrease solid waste with the ultimate goal that the affect the environment and the lives of future generations. This is what the term sustainable development explains. This chapter explains what sustainable development is and its fields, the world’s direction towards it, because through it, solid waste is disposed and utilized without harming the environment and future generations. It also explains some sustainable development techniques such as Gasification and Ash Melting, Anaerobic Digestion and Composition. In addition, explain the latest developments reached by scientists about these technics in which serves interests sustainable development of solid waste management. Moreover, this chapter includes how solid waste is disposed in Malaysia and Malaysia’s direction towards developing disposal technologies to maintain sustainable development.

The challenge of solid waste generation and management is a global phenomenon. However, the situation is more pressing in Nigeria due to the ever-growing population, high level of environmental indiscipline, poor waste management technologies (WMTs), low income, and inadequate environmental awareness, which directly influence waste generation and management in Nigeria. This review chapter provides an overview of the environmental burden and the impacts of solid waste management (WM) methods in Nigeria to identify the existing waste management technologies (WMTs), the challenges, the consequences and the sustainable roadmap for future direction. The chapter discusses the impacts of WMTs adopted in Nigeria with a keen interest in water pollution. Results from the comparative studies indicate a high level of environmental indiscipline and abysmal WM systems in Nigeria. The open dumpsite was identified as the popular WM method and an imminent hotspot for air, land, and water pollution because approximately 65% of the total waste generation in Nigeria is discharged through it. High concentration of dissolved substances such as biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and Heavy Metals (HMs) was noted in the analysis of sample water collected from rivers and had-dug wells close to dumpsites. The comparative studies of physiochemical water analysis show high content of BOD (395–1344) mg/l, COD (743–1947) mg/l, TDS (400–2588) mg/l and heavy metals (0.031–3.480) mg/l present in the groundwater systems, close to landfills, which have altered the chemistry of groundwater across Nigeria, About 80–90% of water found in hand-dug wells (HDWs) within a 500 m radius of dumpsites have been qualitatively compromised, while 100% of the surface water (rivers and streams) within a 1.2 km radius of dumpsites have been polluted with leachate plumes. However, the trends were quite contrary in borehole water as over 65% were found within the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for drinking water. In light of the challenges, this chapter review presents a roadmap to reduce the impact of poor WM for adequate environmental control by addressing the challenges of huge generation in Nigeria and leveraging on the waste-to-energy concepts can play a vital role in economic recovery and ensure a sustainable environment for the future.

Reduction of microplastics (MPs) release into the environment calls for a comprehensive strategy that employs scientific and technological innovation. The tracing of MPs from their origins in plastic waste streams to their discharge into multiple environmental compartments is an example of the complicated route that demands a thorough evaluation. It highlights diverse sources of MPs leachate, soil, and air that infiltrate ecosystems. By exploring abiotic and biotic degradation mechanisms, influenced by factors like plastic composition, landfill conditions, and waste age, this chapter reveals the intricate nature of MPs formation. Detection techniques for MPs degradation are discussed, providing a foundation for accurate assessment. The risks MPs pose in landfills-soil, -water, and -air contamination, impacting both health and ecosystems are highlighted. Ecotoxicological effects on terrestrial and aquatic life emphasize the urgency of addressing this issue. Existing approaches to MPs removal within MSW landfills are presented, from physical separation to enhanced biodegradation methods. These strategies offer potential solutions to mitigate MPs pollution.

The household or other urban wastes are presented as a danger disguised as a nuisance or residues, and considered as one of the most important problems to be solved in the modern communities as the economy, the health. Thus the correct management and without notable nuisance of municipal or urban waste was presented in the last 30 years as an imperative necessity with the evolution of modern life, the rural exodus and especially with the emergence of many ecological problems with a close human health relationship. It is a crucial problem requiring an ultimate resolution. When we talk about waste management, we talk about collection, characterization, landfill and especially the importance of waste characterization; and this in an approach of setting up adequate treatment systems and adapted valorization, mainly with the recycling of valuable materials, composting and energy production by biogas or incineration. Thus and considering the importance of the organic fraction in the waste and its humidity, and the great need of poor and degraded soils in organic matter, composting is a priori an adequate solution and of major interest for developing countries, and to a lesser degree for industrialized countries. The success of these treatment technologies requires a fundamental knowledge of the bio-physical–chemical nature of the waste. As a prerequisite to any industrial composting project, the logic of the treatment of a process acquired after a parameterization based on the kind of the waste is essential. The knowledge of a set of parameters of the composition and the physico-chemical features of the waste is necessary to characterize the modalities of their treatment in a composting chain. The good criteria of development and success of composting, anaerobic digestion and incineration impose in particular the knowledge of the granulometric composition of the organic fractions and those inert, undesirable and toxic to be eliminated, the moisture of waste, the ratio carbon/nitrogen, and the contents in metallic trace elements. In terms of conclusion, the main aim of the waste management is to limit the nuisances, and the risks related to their dangerous, fermentable or cumbersome character, which would cause negative sanitary and environmental impacts. Thus, the elimination of waste has given way to its material (recycling) or organic (composting, methanization) and energetic (incineration) recovery, which allows to reduce the impact of its discharges. Waste management includes collection, transport, recovery and disposal and, more broadly, any activity involved in organizing the management of waste from its production to its final treatment, including trading or brokerage activities and the supervision of all these operations.

Heavy urbanization along with population increase in the major cities of Bangladesh generates a massive amount of solid waste, which the government is incapable of handling effectively with the current management system, manpower, infrastructures, monetary backing, and technical aptitudes. With identifying the primary concerns for solid waste management, the research analyzed the present circumstances of waste generation, collection, dumping site transfer system, waste recycling, and treatment facilities of Khulna City Corporation (KCC). This study was completed using both an analytical and descriptive research design. A total of 12 KIIs and two focus group discussions were organized with important stakeholders such as garbage collectors, transporters, homeowners, conservancy field inspectors, and NGO staff. According to the study, a single individual generates 0.3 kg of garbage in KCC, where vegetable and food waste account for approx. 79% of the garbage stream, or nearly four-fifths of all litter created. The KCC has been instrumental in disposing of rubbish from the municipal corporation’s roadside collection points. In accordance with the results of the questionnaire study, the majority of the residences do not have a collection system, and most of them bring their garbage to the nearest STS or storage site. At worst, nearly half of the litter produced from the residence is not accumulated and transferred to the disposal area and is instead disposed of at the Rajbandh landfilling site, causing environmental pollution and posing dangers to surrounding residents. The study discovered that KCC lacks sufficient rules or a framework for scaling up programs to divert household garbage to an organic system. If individuals are specifically informed about transforming organic wastes into compost for fertilizing purposes, a resource recovery technique can precede to an enhancement in managing the MSW successfully. If a living environment is to be assured for citizens, KCC must keep a broad eye on environmental losses by developing effective plans or frameworks and putting them into action to preserve the environment safe and sound.

Proper solid waste management is crucial to urban development, ensuring environmental sustainability and public health. This research study intends to investigate the sources of solid waste generation, analyze the quality of solid waste management techniques, and determine if the existing landfill site is suitable for effective trash disposal in Rajshahi City Corporation, Bangladesh. The study takes a mixed-methods approach, gathering both quantitative and qualitative data. While secondary data is taken from pertinent literature, publications, and government records, primary data is gathered through field surveys and interviews. The study looks into many facets of managing solid waste, such as garbage generation rates, collection and transportation networks, recycling and waste segregation procedures, and ways of disposal at the end of the process. The landfill site's physical characteristics, such as location, geology, hydrogeology, and proximity to residential areas, are examined. Furthermore, the research evaluates the effectiveness of the current solid waste management strategies in terms of environmental impact, resource utilization, and public satisfaction. Number of factors, including as the landfill's capacity, location relative to water bodies, geological stability, and adherence to environmental standards, are taken into account when determining the landfill's acceptability. To analyze and visualize the data and enable informed decision-making, geospatial techniques are used, such as Geographic Information System (GIS). The study's conclusions will help inform policy suggestions and initiatives aimed at enhancing Rajshahi City Corporation's solid waste management procedures. The results will help identify suitable alternatives for waste disposal and promote sustainable waste management strategies that minimize environmental pollution, optimize resource recovery, and enhance public health and well-being.

Municipal solid waste incineration is an incredible method of disposing of municipal solid waste that makes sure waste is managed sustainably for the environment. Incinerators for municipal solid waste present a chance to lessen the volume of trash dumped in landfills. Municipal solid waste (MSW) can be managed by incineration, which also helps minimize the need for landfill space and recovers energy from burned items. For MSW, mass burning is a tried-and-true technology. MSW incineration provides the opportunity to produce several forms of energy from garbage. Municipal solid waste has a high potential calorific value for creating economically viable energy. The volume of municipal solid trash, the possible infectious characteristics and importance of medical waste, and the potential toxicity and volume of hazardous chemical and biological debris are all reduced through incineration. This chapter aims to discuss a detailed overview of municipal solid waste incineration and its benefits and demerits. This chapter briefly describes the municipal solid waste incineration method and its potential in managing municipal solid waste.

The construction industry contributes a considerable share of total waste, which is disposed off at landfill facilities. Disposing construction and demolition waste (CDW) results to a number of environmental challenges including the release of greenhouse gas emissions, pollution of land and water resources, destruction of habitats and land degradation in addition to human health effects. For this reason, recent advances are focusing on reversing the environmental and human health effects of CDW disposal by rerouting it in a circular economy, which prioritizes on waste valorization, reduction, recovery and recycling as is the focus of this chapter. The chapter discussed routes such as construction product modification and substitution, application of the waste hierarchy, use waste for energy recovery and backfilling and policy interventions such as disposal charges, taxation and economic instruments, which can be used to infuse CDW to a circular economy. The effectiveness of the strategies can be enhanced through the appropriate use of waste management plans and via intensive training to all stakeholders in the construction sector. The aim of the approaches is to promote lean engineering through efficient use of construction raw materials while reducing the use and costs of producing virgin raw materials. Using the South African case study, diverting CDW to a circular economy is at the nascent stages in developing countries and must be reinforced by appropriate action plans, financial support, intensive training to involved stakeholders and through appropriate policy use and enforcement.

There is an urgent need for the “circular economy” trend and a “zero waste” society. Even though complete waste recycling and a fully circular economy may not be possible in all circumstances, striving for this objective can still lead to a sustainable future. This chapter discusses the potential utilization of solid waste products from different sectors (agriculture, demolition, and construction, domestic, and industrial) for the treatment and removal of contaminants from wastewater. These solid wastes that are investigated are assessed as filters or absorbents for contaminants in wastewater. As such, the use of alternative, low-cost materials could address the limitations of using some expensive traditional treatment methods. Bayer residue, waste slurry, fly ash, blast furnace slag, coffee and tea waste, lignin, sugar cane bagasse, rice husk, sugar beet pulp, coconut shell, wood waste, some fruit peel, red mud, cement kiln dust, etc. are investigated. It is to be mentioned that these waste products achieve different potentials for wastewater treatment and the removal of some contaminants, but there is still a need for certain precautions to be taken to ensure that any concerns are mitigated. Additionally, for commercial, large-scale applications, more research should be conducted in this direction. A few problems and disadvantages of using industrial waste as inexpensive adsorbents have also been discussed.

The management of food waste (FWM) is a globally pervasive issue characterized by inherent risks. The issue of reducing food losses and food waste is receiving growing global, regional, and national recognition. It is widely recognized that addressing this issue can help alleviate other sustainability concerns, such as food security and climate change. Furthermore, there is an increasing consensus among political and scientific communities regarding the imperative to mitigate global food waste (FW). Food waste is a prevalent issue that arises across several stages of the food supply chain, including production, refining, transport, and consumption. Furthermore, an additional factor contributing to the issue is the absence of adequate planning. Food waste is responsible for the onset of several diseases and contributes to the degradation of the environment. The primary source of loss in low-income nations such as Bangladesh is predominantly observed during the production stage. The consequences stemming from global food waste encompass the depletion of biodiversity, a substantial volume of water amounting to 250 km³, and the squandering of approximately 30% of the Earth's agricultural area. However, the principal ramifications mostly manifest in the form of global warming and the release of greenhouse gases. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), it has been estimated that food losses (FL) and waste contribute to a proportion above 10% of the total global energy consumption. Therefore, food waste has a substantial role in the exacerbation of global warming. Despite the fact that Bangladesh exhibits a range of 67–75% freshwater (FW) resources, there remains a dearth of comprehensive knowledge and study pertaining to the management of FW in the country. Given the aforementioned context, it is imperative to do an analysis of the current situation and consistently evaluate the challenges, opportunities, and significant policy ramifications associated with the management of food waste. The objective of this study is to perform a comprehensive review of the current body of literature, with the intention of examining the contextual obstacles and suggesting potential strategies for mitigating and controlling food waste. It is imperative for the government of Bangladesh to implement initiatives aimed at mitigating and effectively managing the issue of food waste.

Advanced text mining methodologies, specifically the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), have been effectively leveraged to extract valuable insights from European Environment Agency (EEA) reports pertaining to waste and recycling. The LDA technique, a formidable natural language processing approach, has been instrumental in unearthing hidden patterns and concerns from voluminous text datasets. In this context, LDA has been used to generate appropriate labels and classifications for the diverse facets of waste management and recycling practices. This technique entails analyzing the frequency and co-occurrence of words in documents, thereby allowing the algorithm to discern crucial topics that are often intertwined. The technique has been able to label these issues with great efficacy by presenting concise descriptions of the most commonly occurring problems and advancements in waste management. Through the utilization of text mining techniques, an opportunity is presented for stakeholders, policy makers and researchers to obtain synthesized information through labels that encapsulate the core of complex reports. With an improvement in accessibility and comprehension, the European Environment Agency (EEA) is able to encourage more informed decision-making and strategic planning in waste management and recycling across Europe. Consequently, the EEA's integration of LDA as a text mining analyze waste and recycling reports could revolutionize data understanding. The automated production of labels via LDA presents a streamlined approach to isolate key issues in reports, provide superior insights for stakeholders, and facilitate evidence-based action in the pursuit of more sustainable waste management practices.

The excessive accumulation of waste in landfills has prompted researchers to explore various methods of reducing waste volumes and promoting sustainable practices. One approach that has gained significant attention is the recycling of landfill wastes, including plastics, tyres, and glass, for use in construction. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the current state of recycling landfill wastes in construction, including the challenges, benefits, and potential applications. The study also examines the environmental impacts of landfill waste recycling, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Tyres, for example, can be shredded and used as a replacement for gravel in road construction, as a cushioning material in playgrounds and sports fields or as a fuel source in cement kilns. Plastics, on the other hand, can be melted down and molded into building materials such as roofing tiles, floor tiles, and insulation. Glass can also be crushed and used as a replacement for sand in the production of concrete and asphalt. The benefits of recycling landfill wastes in construction are manifold. Firstly, it reduces the amount of waste going to landfills, thereby reducing the environmental impact of waste disposal. Secondly, it conserves natural resources by reducing the need for virgin materials. Thirdly, it provides a low-cost alternative to traditional building materials, which is particularly important in developing countries where access to building materials is limited. However, the recycling of landfill wastes is not without its challenges. One major challenge is the need to ensure that the recycled materials meet the required quality standards for construction materials. Another challenge is the lack of awareness and understanding of the benefits of recycling among construction industry stakeholders. This can result in a reluctance to use recycled materials in construction, particularly in applications where performance requirements are high. In conclusion, the recycling of landfill wastes, such as tyres, plastics, and glass, has the potential to provide a sustainable and low-cost alternative to traditional building materials in construction. However, this requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders in the construction industry to ensure that the recycled materials meet the necessary quality standards and that there is sufficient awareness and understanding of the benefits of recycling.