Solid Waste Minimization Hierarchy of Waste Management for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Solid wastes are produced in nature by various sectors ranging from industrial to domestic activities. The objective of this research study is to identify and evaluate solid waste minimization hierarchy of waste management for properly managing solid waste including minimizing generation and treatment that have been generated, and disposing of waste residuals. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the ‘present’ without compromising the effectiveness, efficiency and values of further generations to meet their own needs. This article discusses about case study on generation of solid wastes and potential waste management strategies for a group or generic industrial processes. All manufacturing and industrial processes generate wastes in the form of liquids, solids or gases. Some wastes are considered as hazardous. The waste minimization hierarchy of waste management is duly ranked from most desirable to least desirable. 1. Eliminating waste generation –Most desirable, 2. Reducing waste generation- Most desirable, 3. Reuse, recover or recycle waste materials- Most desirable, 4. Treating waste to diminish quantity and to detoxify the hazardous and non-hazardous solid wastes --Least desirable, 5. Disposing of waste residuals- Least desirable. Waste minimization includes only elimination, recovery, reduce, reuse and recycle hierarchies. Waste minimization does not include treatment of wastes as well disposal that is point number 4 and point number 5 because, these are traditional waste control strategies involves treatment and disposal which are called endof- the pipe solutions and found to be costly as well as involve control of high discharge standards. Modern waste control strategies involves point number 1, point number 2 and point number 3 which are not requiring end-of- the pipe solution for the waste management problems. Solid and hazardous waste generation is the sum of material recovery and discards. In this research paper review on solid waste mininmization hierarchy of waste management is presented for possible commercial exploitation in to industries. Report on waste audit conducted for an industry is presented for recovering two-third of municipal solid wastes (MSW) by recycling and composting processes for an airport industry.