The waste hierarchy

The waste hierarchy is a simple ranking system used for the different waste management options
according to which is the best for the environment. The most preferred option is to prevent waste,
and the least preferred choice is disposal in landfill sites.

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 Energy Recovery

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Benefits of the recovery of Energy

• The total quantity of waste gets reduced (However, depending upon the
waste composition and the adopted technology).

• Demand for land, which is already scarce in cities, for landfilling is reduced.

• The cost of transportation of waste to far-away landfill sites gets reduced.

• Net reduction in environmental pollution.

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 Parameters affecting Energy Recovery

• Quantity of waste

• Physical and chemical characteristics (quality) of the waste

➢ Volatile Solids
➢ Size of constituents
➢ Fixed Carbon content
➢ Density
➢ Calorific Value
➢ Moisture content
➢ C/N ratio (Carbon/Nitrogen ratio)

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 Methods to recover Energy from the organic fraction of waste
Organic fraction of waste may consist with biodegradable as well as non-
biodegradable matters.
Thermo-chemical conversion : This process consists with thermal de-composition of organic
matter to produce either heat energy or fuel oil or gas.
This process is useful for wastes containing high percentage of organic non-biodegradable
matter and low moisture content.
The main technological options under this category include Incineration and Pyrolysis/
Gasification.

Bio-chemical conversion: This process is based on enzymatic decomposition of organic

matter by microbial action to produce methane gas or alcohol.
This process is preferred for wastes having high percentage of organic bio-degradable
(putrescible) matter and high level of moisture/ water content, which aids microbial activity.
The main technological options under this category is Anaerobic Digestion, also referred to as
Biomethanation.
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 Incineration of waste materials converts
the waste into ash, flue gas and heat.

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https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-pyrolysis-and-gasification/
Desirable range of important waste parameters for technical
viability of energy recovery
Waste Treatment Basic principle Important Waste Desirable
Method Parameters Range*
Thermo-chemical Decomposition of Moisture content < 45 %
conversion organic matter by Organic/
-Incineration action of heat. Volatile matter > 40 %
-Pyrolysis Fixed Carbon < 15 %
-Gasification Total Inerts < 35 %
Calorific Value (Net >1200 k-cal/kg
Calorific Value)

Bio-chemical Decomposition of Moisture content >50 %

Conversion organic matter by Organic/
-Anaerobic microbial action. Volatile matter >40 %
Digestion/ C/N ratio 25-30
Bio-methanation
*Indicated values pertain to suitably segregated/ processed / mixed wastes and do not necessarily correspond to
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wastes as received at the treatment facility.
 Assessment of Energy Recovery Potential

In thermo-chemical conversion all of the organic matter, biodegradable as

well as non-biodegradable, contributes to the energy output :

Note: kilowatt-hours = kilocalories × 0.001162

kWh is a measure of energy, kW is a measure of power

Power= Energy/time (Power is the rate at which energy is generated)
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 Assessment of Energy Recovery Potential
In bio-chemical conversion, only the biodegradable fraction of the organic
matter can contribute to the energy output :

Note: kilowatt-hours = kilocalories × 0.001162

kWh is a measure of energy, kW is a measure of power

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Power= Energy/time (Power is the rate at which energy is generated)
 By assuming 100 kg of solid waste sample, calculate the energy content of the solid waste sample
for the composition given below in kcal/kg.

Component % by mass Energy kJ/kg

Paper 40 17770

Cardboard 12 15800

Plastics 12 16400

Good wastes 16 5000

Garden wastes 8 7000

Wood 6 19000

Tin cans 6 600

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 Disposal of Solid Waste

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 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…
Generally there are several methods of solid waste disposal that can be
utilized. These methods are:

1. Ordinary open dumping

2. Controlled tipping/burial
3. Hog feeding
4. Incineration
5. Sanitary landfill
6. Composting
7. Grinding and discharge into sewer
8. Recycling
9. Dumping into water bodies
10. Disposal of corpses
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 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…
1. Ordinary open dumping

Advantages
1. Suitable for all types of solid wastes except garbage.
2. Less labor and supervision.

Disadvantages
1. Attracts flies, mosquitoes as well as dogs, rats, and other animals.
2. Creates breeding sites for rodents, arthropods and other vermin.
3. Creates of smoke, odor and nuisance.
4. Makes the lands and other surrounding areas useless.

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Disposal of Solid Waste cont…

2. Controlled tipping/burial

( a) Communal pit disposal

(About 100m from the houses to be served)
Advantages
Rapid to implement
Require little operation and maintenance

Disadvantages
May cause indiscriminate disposal

(b) Family pit disposal

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 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…

3. Hog feeding
The feeding of garbage to hogs has been practiced for many years in different
parts of the world.

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 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…

4. Incineration

Incineration is a process of burning the

combustible components of garbage and refuse.

Two types of incinerators-

the open and the closed systems.

Disadvantages Incinerator
Air pollution can be expected.
Initial cost is high during construction.
Operating cost is relatively high.
Skilled employees are required for operation and maintenance.
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There may be difficulty in getting a site
 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…

5. Composting
In composting, biodegradable materials break down through natural processes and
produce humus.

Advantages

Environmental friendly
Beneficial for crops

Disadvantages

Proper management and experienced personnel are required for large- scale operations.
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 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…
5. Composting

Types of Composting

1. Windrow
Refuse mixture is configured in long rows (windrows) that are aerated by
convection air movement and diffusion, or by turning periodically through
mechanical means to expose the organic matter to ambient oxygen.

2. Static pile
A stationary mixture is aerated by a forced aeration system installed under the pile.

3. In-vessel composting
Composting takes place in enclosed containers in which environmental conditions
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can be controlled.
 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…

6. Sanitary landfill

The items that cannot be reused, recycled or converted to energy or make use for
any other purpose, which is known as “residual waste” has to be disposed in an
environmental friendly manner.

In order to dispose them in an environmental friendly manner a sanitary land fill

can be used.

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 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…

6. Sanitary landfill
There are different levels of layering of waste to facilitate the decomposition of the materials as well as
trap toxic gases released from the process.

The first layer is the liner system.

The process entails the application of compact and well dense clay to prevent the seeping in or out of liquids.
It is for this reason that this clay is completely impervious.
The second layer is the drainage system.
The drainage system takes care of the liquid produced from the decomposition of some waste materials. Due to
the toxicity of this liquid, it should not seep past the liner layer. Moreover, rainfall may also seep from the top
surface to the landfill and also needs to be drained away.
The third layer is the gas collection system.
Extraction pipes in this layer that trap methane gas and transport it to treatment plants to treat the gas and
thereafter, use it to produce electricity and to power various processes.
The fourth layer contains the trash itself.
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Disposal of Solid Waste cont…
Depositing of refuse
6. Sanitary landfill
&
Compacting the refuse in thin layer

Covering the refuse with soil

&
Compacting the soil

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Sri Lanka’s first sanitary landfill in Dompe Simple landfilling process
 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…

6. Sanitary landfill
Generally, about 20-40 years is taken to fill the landfill depending on its capacity.
Once the landfill is full, it can be covered and the land could be used for some
productive purpose such as simple land-intensive projects (Ex: open spaces, nature parks
and golf courses

Sri Lanka has several sanitary landfills.

• There are two engineered landfills. Dompe Sanitary Landfill and Arawakkalu
Sanitary Landfill.
• There are semi engineered landfills at Sandatenna in Nuwara – Eliya and Ampara.

• Few new sanitary landfills are also constructing.

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 6. Sanitary landfill

Landfill Gas Recovery

The waste deposited in a landfill gets subjected, over a period of time, to

anaerobic conditions and its organic fraction gets slowly volatilized and
decomposed according to the process similar to that taking place in an
Anaerobic Digestion system.

This leads to production of landfill gas containing methane, which can be

recovered through a network of gas collection pipes and utilized as a source of
energy.

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 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…
7. Recycling
-is the process of converting unwanted waste into useful material

Products That Can Be Recycled Products That Cannot Be Recycled

• Paper: office paper, magazines, newspapers and • Plastic bags

junk mail • Takeaway coffee cups
• Cardboard • Disposable nappies
• Green, clear and brown glass bottles and jars • Polystyrene (foam)
• Juice and milk cartons • Bubble wrap
• All plastic bottles and containers • Syringes or medical waste
• Steel (tin) and aluminium cans and empty • Dead animals
aerosol cans • Oils
• Ceramics
• Light bulbs
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 Disposal of Solid Waste cont…

8. Disposal of Dead Bodies

Cremating
Disposal into water bodies
Ground Burial

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