ENERGY OPTIONS FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CLASS-I TOWN IN TAMIL NADU, INDIA

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1 International Journal of Environmental Science and Ecotechnology 1(1) January-June 2011; pp International Science Press ENERGY OPTIONS FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CLASS-I TOWN IN TAMIL NADU, INDIA J. A. John Paul 1, N. Karmegam 2 and Thilagavathy Daniel 3 * 1 Department of Biotechnology, Sri Kaliswari College, Sivakasi , Tamil Nadu, India. 2 Department of Botany, Government Arts College, Salem , Tamil Nadu, India. 3 Department of Biology, Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed University, Gandhigram , Tamil Nadu, India. Abstract: The tremendous increase in population accelerates the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. The difficulties in finding additional land for dumping of MSW have posed a challenge and have made people consider alternative ways for treating the solid waste. Estimation of the energy expenditure for collection, transportation and dumping of MSW are essential for the proper utilization of manpower. Estimation of the energy content of the MSW and the air required for composting and combustion and the methane that could be produced from the MSW of fifteen sanitary divisions of Dindigul Town can be calculated for resource recovery and minimization of air pollution. A new profile for sanitary manpower setup for effective collection and disposal, and, better management of the dumping yard for generation of compost and vermicompost in Dindigul Town has been worked out. The management strategy such as the energy expenditure from collection to dumping ( mj/d), estimation of energy content ( kj/kg), air required for composting ( m 3 /t), combustion ( m 3 /t) and methane production ( m 3 /t) and recommended plan of sanitary manpower for collection of MSW were prepared. Keywords: Energy management, Energy options, Manpower, Physical characterization, Resource recovery 1. INTRODUCTION The abundant organic waste in the less developed countries could therefore form an important source for resource recovery. According to Echlers and Steel (1965), the amount and characteristics of the various types of refuse differ with the time of year, the geographical location and the habitat of the contributing population. In developing countries like India composting is an effective way of utilisation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and bioconversion procedures promise to be effective in limiting solid waste. All types of society produce wastes but industrialisation and urbanisation have caused an ever-increasing affluence that has greatly compounded the problems of waste management. Hence, before a crisis occurs, newer and innovative programmes need to be worked out in addition to the already existing waste disposal options. In the innovative method, the waste will have to be considered as resources, but out of place. In the future, the increasing cost of raw materials, energy, transportation and land will make it feasible to reuse and recycle more resources from the MSW. In the present study a *Corresponding author: thilagavathidaniel@yahoo.co.in

2 12 / INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ECOTECHNOLOGY model of MSW management for Dindigul Town has been worked out and the study aims at fulfilling the following objectives: To calculate the energy requirement for waste clearance from the sources to the dumping yard and to suggest strategies for waste management at Dindigul municipality. 2.1 Study Area 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dindigul, which is the headquarters of Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu, South India, is the town selected for the present study. Towns having a population of over one lakh are categorized Class-I towns (Ladhar, 2000). Hence, Dindigul Town is categorized as a Class-I town. More than 65 percent of India s urban population are living in crowded Class-I towns. Dindigul is an important centre for vegetable and flower trade. In Dindigul percent of the people are literates, but percent of the people are non-workers. The Geographically Dindigul District lies between and N latitudes and and E longitudes. It is situated at an altitude of meter above the mean sea level (MSL). It has a population of 1,96,619 (according to 2001 census) living in 48 wards with 45,120 households. The total area of Dindigul Town is sq. km. These 48 wards, of the Dindigul municipality are divided into 15 sanitary divisions and the sanitary workers of the respective division assist in the disposal of the municipal wastes. The solid waste produced by the town at present is disposed of by dumping in the dumping yard, which is located 3 km away from Dindigul bus stand, but well within the town limit. The total area of the dumping yard is 11.4 acres, with 270 pits of 12 m 4.5 m 1 m size. 2.2 Physical Characterization To assess the individual components present within the mass of the heterogeneous waste mix of the MSW, a truck full of municipal solid waste was collected from each sanitary division (1 to 15) and transported to a corner of the dumping yard where the waste was segregated into different components by hand sorting and listed. 2.3 Energy Expenditure The energy required for the disposal of the MSW from the 15 sanitary divisions to the dumping yard was calculated for activities such as manpower required for sweeping the streets and collection, animal power required for drawing the bullock carts from the collection sites to the dumping yard, fuel energy required for the vehicles used for transporting the MSW from the collection sites to the dumping yard, and, the manpower required for driving the vehicles, loading, unloading, dumping and spreading the MSW in the pits in the dumping yard. The energy expenditure was calculated for all the fifteen sanitary divisions using the following conversion factors (Mittal et al., 1985). Adult man laborer /h Adult woman laborer /h Bullock /h Diesel /l = 1.96 mj = 1.57 mj = 7.02 mj = mj

3 ENERGY OPTIONS FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CLASS-I... / 13 As part of a management strategy for the future the following slight modifications were made: 1. Alterations were made in the manpower use for sweeping and collection, transportation and dumping; 2. Bullock carts used for transportation were removed and motorized vehicles were introduced; 3. New manpower was proposed for composting; 4. The energy expenditure for collection, transportation, dumping and composting was calculated for the proposed management strategy. 2.4 Energy Options The energy content of the MSW, the air required for composting, the air required for combustion and the quantum of methane that can be produced from MSW from all the 15 sanitary divisions were estimated following the methods of Peavy et al. (1985). 2.5 Energy Content The energy content of the MSW of Dindigul municipality was calculated on an ash free dry weight basis and the value is given as kj/kg for the components present in the MSW such as food wastes, paper, cardboard, plastics, rags, rubber, leather, plant residues, wood waste, miscellaneous organics, construction waste, ashes and dirt. The standard value of the energy content of the wastes was taken from Peavy et al. (1985) and the chemical content of the wastes was taken from Tchobanoglous et al. (1977). 3. RESULTS The physical configurations of the municipal solid waste in the sanitary divisions 1 to 8 and 9 to 15 of Dindigul Town are given in Tables 1 and 2 respectively. In all these fifteen sanitary divisions the food waste and the plant residues dominated the other wastes. The percentage presence of glass, metals, rubber and leather was negligible. Components Table 1 Physical Configuration of Municipal Solid Waste in the Sanitary Divisions 1 to 8 of Dindigul Town (in %) Sanitary divisions Food wastes Paper Cardboard Plastics Table Cont d

4 14 / INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ECOTECHNOLOGY Table 1 Cont d Glass Metals Rags Rubber Leather Plant residues Wood wastes Miscellaneous organics Construction wastes, ash and dirt Table 2 Physical Configuration of Municipal Solid Waste in the Sanitary Divisions 9 to 15 of Dindigul Town (in %). Components Sanitary divisions Food wastes Paper Cardboard Plastics Glass Metals Rags Rubber Leather Plant residues Wood wastes Miscellaneous organics Construction wastes, ash and dirt The current energy expenditure statement for collection, transportation and dumping of the MSW generated in Dindigul Town is given in Table 3. The energy spent on manpower for sweeping and collection ranged from to mj/d in the fifteen sanitary divisions of Dindigul Municipality. The total energy spent on transportation, i.e., animal power for bullock carts, fuel for vehicles and the manpower involved, was mj/d. The energy spent on manpower for dumping was mj/d. The total energy spent on collection, transportation and dumping was mj/d.

5 ENERGY OPTIONS FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CLASS-I... / 15 Table 3 The Current Energy Expenditure Statement for Collection, Transportation and Dumping of MSW of Dindigul Town (in mj/d) Sanitary divisions Man power Transportation Man power Total of Dindigul Town for sweeping Animal Fuel for Man for Energy and collection and collection power for Vehicles power dumping expenditure bullock carts used Sullage Grand total Energy that will be required for collection, transportation, dumping and composting of the MSW of Dindigul Town in the future is given in Table 4. The energy expenditure for sweeping and collection will be mj/d and that for transportation, dumping and composting will be , and mj/d respectively. The total energy expenditure per day will be mj/d for collection, transportation, dumping and composting of the MSW of Dindigul town. Table 4 The Proposed Energy Expenditure Values for Collection, Transportation, Dumping and Composting of MSW of Dindigul Town (in mj/d) Sanitary Man power Transportation Man power Man power Total division of required For required required required for Energy Dindigul Sweeping and Fuel for Man power for dumping compositing required Town collection vehicles Table Cont d

6 16 / INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ECOTECHNOLOGY Table 4 Cont d Sullage Grand total The results of the estimation of the energy content of the MSW, the air required for composting, the air required for combustion and the quantity of methane that can be produced from the MSW of Dindigul Town are given in Table 5. The energy content of the MSW, comprising various components, varied from kj/kg to kj/kg in the fifteen sanitary divisions. So, the air required for composting and combustion will be m 3 /t and m 3 /t respectively for the MSW of Dindigul Municipality. The methane that can be produced from the MSW of Dindigul Municipality will be m 3 /t. Table 5. Estimation of the Energy Content of MSW, the Air Ccontent Required for Composting and Combustion and the Methane that could be Produced from the MSW of Dindigul Town Sanitary divisions Energy content Air required Methane that could of Dindigul Town of MSW (kj/kg) For composting For combustion be produced (m 3 /t) (m 3 /t) (m 3 /t) Average

7 ENERGY OPTIONS FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CLASS-I... / 17 The number of sanitary workers for waste collection, the quantum of MSW to be collected per head per day and the area to be covered by each sanitary worker per head per day at present and in the future are given in Table 6. The number of sanitary workers engaged at present for the sanitation work is 278 and, in the proposed plan, it is reduced to 273. The quantity of waste collected per head per day varied from to kg/head/d and, in the proposed plan, it will vary from to kg/head/d. The area covered by each worker in the 15 sanitary divisions and the proposed area to be covered are also given in Table 6. Table 6 Number of Sanitary Workers for Waste Collection, Waste to be Collected and Area to be Covered at Present and in the Future at Dindigul Town Sanitary Sanitary workers for Waste collection/h/d Area covered/h/d divisions of waste collection (no.) (kg) (ha) Dindigul Current Future Current Future Current Future* Town * Suggested based on the quantum of wastes generated in the given area of the respective sanitary divisions. 4. DISCUSSION The physical composition of the municipal solid waste in the fifteen sanitary divisions showed a high proportion of food wastes and plant residues. It reflects the practice of eating fresh vegetables and fruits. Due to the presence of vegetable markets, the plant residues are high in the sanitary divisions 3 and 4. Low amounts of glass, plastic, metal and rubber items were essentially due to their reclamation at the source. In developing countries like China and India, paper is being recycled and not thrown in to garbage hence, organic matter from kitchen, plant and animal origin is more (Hanxue et al., 2000). Plastics are the major compounds that pollute the environment, but comparatively its presence was very less. The same type of observation has been made by Khatib et al. (2002) in Karachi, Pakistan, and Kaseva and Gupta (1996) in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania.

8 18 / INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ECOTECHNOLOGY The current and the modified profile of the sanitary manpower, the energy to be expended on collection, transportation, dumping and composting of MSW of Dindigul Town has been worked out. The energy spent can be reduced from mj/d to mj/d i.e., mj/y. Though the reduction of energy expenditure looks meager, it should be noted that the new calculation involves the energy expenditure for one more new section i.e., composting section and the fuel energy for the proposed composting yard. There is a need to recognize the difficulties experienced in managing waste in developing areas and to understand the reasons for those difficulties (Henry et al., 2006). Hence, in this new profile, animal power used for transportation has been replaced by motorized vehicles in order to improve the solid waste management system and also to eliminate the manpower required for driving the bullock carts and the maintenance of bullocks. The number of sanitary workers to be involved in the waste management, the quantum of MSW to be collected/head/d and the area to be covered by each sanitary worker/d are suggested based on the quantum of wastes generated in the given area of the respective sanitary divisions of Dindigul Town. For example, the area covered in sanitary division 3 is less, but the waste production is comparatively very high because of the commercial profile. Hence changes are recommended in the existing pattern. Estimation of the energy content and the air required for composting and for combustion was calculated for the wastes drawn from all the fifteen sanitary divisions. Lawson (1992) reported the energy potential of MSW and explained the scope of the biological and thermal processing of MSW. The air required for composting is greater than the combustion, and this is due to the high moisture in the organic fraction of MSW. The main environmental impact in an incineration plant is due to the residues such as gaseous emissions (Domingo et al., 2002). If the wastes are composted, m 3 of air per day can be utilized more but the carbon monoxide production from the combustion can be avoided and, in turn, air pollution can be reduced. 5. CONCLUDING REMARKS The present dumping yard is located within the municipal limit, but the location of the proposed dumping yard is 5 km away from Dindigul bus stand, i.e., outside the municipal limit. An effective and an efficient recovery start through waste recovery separation techniques at the port of origin. The total wastes produced from each household should be separated into degradable organic wastes and non-degradable recyclable and non-degradable landfill wastes (Liu-Xiaofeng et al., 1999) at the house level (Fehr and Calcado, 2001). Within the sanitary divisions four new sub depots may be constructed following suitable safety measures. These wastes should be separated further in the sub depots and the degradable organic wastes and non-degradable wastes should be transferred to the compost yard and the dumping yard respectively, through the proposed new routes. The proposed route is drawn in such a way as not to cross with the main roads, so that the pollution caused by the refuse transport could be reduced (John Paul, 2005). 70 to 80 percent of the components of MSW are organic in nature (Kale, 1998). The organic fraction of the MSW can be utilized for methane production and, after that, the slurry

9 ENERGY OPTIONS FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CLASS-I... / 19 can be subjected to vermicomposting. Due to higher moisture and nutrient content the option of incineration process for energy recovery is reduced and the refuse is more suitable for composting than for energy recovery (Porcel et al., 1997). Hence the organic fraction of MSW produced in less developed countries is recommended for composting and vermicomposting. References [1] Domingo J.L., Schuhmacher M., Agramunt M.C., Llobet J.M., Rivera J., Muller L., PCDD/F Levels in the Neighbourhood of a Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator after Introduction of Technical Improvements in the Facility. Environ. Internatl. 28, [2] Ehlers V.M., Steel W.E., Refuse Sanitation. Municipal and Rural Sanitation. McGraw-hill. [3] Fehr M., Calcado M.R., Divided Collection Model for Household Waste Achieves 80% Landfill Diversion. J. Solid Waste Technol. Manag. 27, [4] Hanxue Q., Guanquan L., Xila Z., The Strategy and Development of Solid Waste Disposal in China. In: Ground Water Status-Ground Water Updates (Eds.: Sato, K., Iwasa, Y.). Springer-Verlag, Tokyo. [5] Henry R.K., Yongsheng Z., Jun D., Municipal Solid Waste Management Challenges in Developing Countries-Kenyan Case Study. Waste Manage. 26, [6] John Paul J.A., Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Characterization, Microbial Activity, Vermicomposting and Management in Dindigul Town. Ph.D., Thesis Submitted to Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed University, Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu, India. [7] Kale R.D., Earthworm: Nature s Gift for Utilization of Organic Wastes. In: Earthworm Ecology (Ed.: Edwards, C.A.). CRC Press, CLC, Florida. [8] Kaseva M.E., Gupta S.K., Recycling-an Environmentally Friendly and Income Generating Activity Towards Sustainable Solid Waste Management Case Study-Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 17, [9] Khatib R., Usmani N.F., Husain S.S., Evaluation of Recyclable Materials in Municipal Waste from Karachi. Biol. Waste, 31, [10] Ladhar S.S., Management of Solid Waste in Punjab. In: Environmental Protection (Eds.: Thukral, A.K., Virk, G.S.). Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India. [11] Lawson P.S., Municipal Solid Waste Conversion to Energy. Biomass Bioener. 2, [12] Liu-Xiaofeng, Yinzhang L., Kexin L., Liu X.F., Liao Y.Z., Liu K.X., Lu Y.L., Technology of Comprehensive Disposal and Utilization of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). J. Environ. Sci. 11, [13] Mittal V.K., Mittal J.P., Dhawan K.C., Research Digest on Energy Requirements in Agricultural Sector, Co-ordinating Cell, AICRP on Energy Requirements in Agricultural Sector. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. [14] Peavy H.S., Rowe D.R., Tchobanoglous G., Solid Waste: Definitions, Characteristics and Perspectives. Environmental Engineering. McGraw Hill, Singapore. [15] Porcel O., Aguilar F.J., De Revilla J.J., Diz J., The Physical-chemical Components of the Municipal Solid Waste of the City of Cordoba. J. Solid Waste Technol. Manag. 24, [16] Tchobanoglous G., Theisen H., Eliassen R., Solid Wastes: Engineering-principles and Management Issues. McGraw Hill International Students Edition, New York.

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