900201: INTEGRATED WASTE MANGEMENT FOR

SMART CITY
ASSIGNMENT – 5

1. What are various chemical & biological characteristics of Solid Waste? (CO 1)

Ans : Chemical characteristics :

1. Energy Content

 Energy Content of solid wastes is net calorific value of wastes.

 It is the heat produced by a unit quantity of waste at constant volume and at constant pressure of one
atmosphere.

 The calorific value is determined experimentally using bomb calorimeter under controlled conditions.

 The calorific value is computed from temperature observations made before and after combustion of dry
sample in calorimeter

2. Ultimate Analysis

 Ultimate analysis of waste consists of determination of % of various chemical constituents like Carbon,
Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulphur & Ash.

 Ultimate Analysis is an important parameter for selection of various processes.

 C/N ratio is important factor for composting as it controls the biological conversion activity of wastes.

 The determination of Carbon & Hydrogen involves burning of samples to convert Carbon to Carbon dioxide
and Hydrogen to water.

3. Proximate Analysis

 Proximate analysis is carried out to determine the moisture content, volatile combustion matter, fixed carbon
and ash content.

 Volatile Combustion matter is loss of weight on ignition of dried waste sample at 950°C in a covered crucible.

 Fixed Carbon is the combustible residue that is left after volatile matter is removed from the waste.

 Ash Content is determined as the weight of residue of waste after combustion in an open crucible.

4. Fusing point of Ash

 Fusing point of ash is the temperature at which the ash resulting from burning of wastes forms a solid clinker
by fusion or agglomeration.

 Typical fusing temperature for formation of clinker from solid wastes range from 1100 to 1200°C.

Biological characteristics:
 Biological characteristics of waste include water soluble contents (like starch, sugar, amino acids etc.),
proteins, fats, cellulose, lignin content etc.

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 Out of them lignin content is important characteristic as it gives ides about the biodegradability of waste and
helps in selection of appropriate processing technique.

2. Describe various methods of collection of municipal solid wastes. What are the common types of vehicles
used in collection of MSW? (CO1,2)

 Ans : The four way’s in which the solid waste can be collected from the source.

1. Community Bin Collection System: In this the waste collectors collect the waste from community bins which
are placed at various specific locations through out the city. The collection vehicles will move around those
points where community bins are located.

2. Door To Door Collection System: In this the waste is collected from each household and from other sources
of waste. The collection vehicles move from locality to locality to collect waste.

3. Block Collection System: In this the waste generators are required to bring the waste to the collection
vehicles. This system has low to medium labor & vehicle productivity, but it minimizes the spread of waste on
road.

4. Kerbside / Alley Collection System: This is the most common collection method in industrialized
countries/wealthier communities of some developing countries. Waste generators place the waste containers
on the kerb or in the alley on a specific day (or specific days) for collection by external actors.

Common vehicles used in collecting the municipal solid waste are:

1. Handcarts (open box type, closed box type, cart with separate bins) most commonly used for garden wastes.

2. 2. Pedal Tricycles (Flat base, square base, open, closed, base with separate bins) for house-to-house
collection.

3. 3. Motorized tricycles most commonly used nowadays for door-to-door collection system.

4. Tractor trailers

5. Trucks trailers (flat base, square base, open type, closed type) equipped with or without hydraulic/mechanical
hoisting system generally of small capacity is also used for collection of solid wastes.

3. Enumerate various ways in which in waste is stored and handled on site after it is generated. (CO 1)

Ans : Some ways in which waste is stored and handled are given as :

 Separate bins must be used for storage of waste at source after proper segregation, different coloured container
bins can be used to properly identify the segregated waste like blue colour container for recyclable items,
green colour container for biodegradable items and a plastic black colour trash bag for domestic hazardous
waste.

 Segregated recyclable items like newspapers, old utensils, glass bottles etc. should be sold to kabadiwallahs

 Normally bins which are used to store waste may be made of plastic or metallic bins with or without lids and
of different capacity.

 Generally, food waste/biodegradable waste is stored in bins which are non-corrosive in nature and having lids.

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 The wastes are stored in household itself but for multistory buildings, provisions can be made for storage of
waste in community bins, under this separate community bins must be kept for recyclables and
biodegradables.

 In slum areas where it is not possible to have house to house collection system, there also a provision for
community bins.

 Shops, offices etc. must also store the waste in similar way in their establishments until it is collected.

 In shopping complexes, provision for community bins must be kept.

4. Result of physical analysis of 100 kg sample of solid waste is as shown in table below. (CO1,3,4)

Components Percent by Mass basis Moisture Content Typical Density kg/m3

Garbage 25 70 290
Paper 25 6 85
Cardboard 5 5 50
Plastics 10 2 65
Tins 4 3 90
Leather 5 10 160
Glass 10 2 200
Dirt etc. 10 8 480
Garden 6 60 100
Waste

i) Estimate the moisture content of this sample.

ii) Estimate volume and density of this sample.

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