1.

Introduction

Solid waste management is one of the major issues regarding in the

environment particularly in the metropolis of man developed and developing Asian
countries. The consequences of this management affect both the environment and
public health. Solid waste is a problem that must be properly managed in order to
protect the human health and environmental and preserve natural resource. Many do
not realize that solid wastes also make a definite impact on the climatic change. Solid
waste is defined as discarded solid fraction produced from domestic, commercial,
trade, industrial, agricultural, institutional, mining activities and public services.
Actually, mainly the population living in the urban area produces much more solid
waste than the rural one. Management of solid waste reduces or eliminates adverse
impacts on the environment and human health and improved quality of life. A number
of processes are involved in effectively managing waste for a municipality. These
include monitoring, collection, transport, processing, recycling and disposal.
Generally, municipal solid waste (MSW) gets disposed to dumps and landfills at the
most simple, convenient, inexpensive, and technologically less advances method.

1.1. Context of Yamethin Township

Yamethin is located within Mandalay region with a population of about

25000. Yamethin township is combined with six quarters such as Myo Ma, War Toe,
Shwe Si Gon, Aung Mingalar, Kyaung Tike Su, Lat Sae Kan. Solid waste
management in Yamethin was a public service provided by Yamethin Development
Committee. Based on data from Y.D.C, this town generated 10 tones of solid waste
per day at the rates of 0.82 lb. per person in one day.

1.2. Objective of the Study

The objectives of the study are:

 To analyze the generation of municipal solid wastes.

 To maintain a balanced SWM system which benefits the community
 To study the current policies and regulation in solid waste management.
1.3. Scope of the Study

This is a preliminary study on the current municipal solid waste management

activities in Yamethin Township. The good practices of 3R principles such as
collection, segregation, treatment, and disposal are also included in the environment
education program. Waste collection is a part of the process of waste management. It
is the transfer of solid waste from the point of use and disposal to the point of
treatment or landfill.

2. CLASSIFICATION OF SOLID WASTE

Solid waste can be characterized either on the basis of:

1. Waste Origin or

2. Waste composition

2.1. Types of Solid Wastes based on Origin

Here the solid waste is characterized on the basis of where it is coming from,
the types of solid wastes based on origin include:

1. Residential: Residential waste refers to wastes from dwellings, apartments, etc.,

and consists of leftover food, vegetable peels, plastic, glass, metals, paper, clothes,
yard waste, ashes, etc.

2. Commercial: Commercial waste refers to wastes consisting of leftover food,

glasses, metals, ashes, etc. These are generated from stores, restaurants, markets,
hotels, motels, auto-repair shops, medical facilities, etc.

3. Institutional: Institutional waste mainly consists of paper, plastic, glasses, etc.,

generated from educational, administrative and public buildings such as schools,
colleges, offices, prisons, etc.
4. Bio-Medical: Bio-Medical waste refers to the waste generated from medical
facilities such as clinics, hospitals and pharmacies. They may include human and/or
animal parts, blood, surgical instruments, needles etc.

5.Municipal: Municipal waste includes dust, leafy matter, building debris, treatment
plant residual sludge, etc. These are generated from various municipal activities like
construction and demolition, street cleaning, landscaping, etc.

6. Industrial: Industrial waste mainly consists of process wastes, ashes, demolition

and construction wastes, hazardous wastes, etc. due to industrial activities.

7. Agricultural: Agricultural waste mainly consists of spoiled food grains and

vegetables, agricultural remains, litter, etc. generated from fields, orchards, vineyards,
farms, etc.

8. Open areas: Open-areas waste includes wastes from areas such as streets, alleys,
parks, vacant lots, playgrounds, beaches, highways, recreational areas, etc.

2.2 Types of Solid Waste based on Composition

These are the types of solid wastes which are characterized on the basis of
what it contains, these include:

1. Garbage: This refers to animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling,
sale, storage, preparation, cooking and serving of food. Garbage comprising these
wastes contains putrescible (rotting) organic matter, which produces an obnoxious
odor and attracts rats and other vermin. It, therefore, requires special attention in
storage, handling and disposal.

2. Ashes and residues: These are substances remaining from the burning of wood,
coal, charcoal, coke and other combustible materials for cooking and heating in
houses, institutions and small industrial establishments. When produced in large
quantities, as in power-generation plants and factories, these are classified as
industrial wastes. Ashes consist of fine powdery residue, cinders and clinker often
mixed with small pieces of metal and glass. Since ashes and residues are almost
entirely inorganic, they are valuable in landfills.
3. Combustible and non-combustible wastes: These consist of wastes generated
from households, institutions, commercial activities, etc., excluding food wastes and
other highly putrescible material. Typically, while combustible material consists of
paper, cardboard, textile, rubber, garden trimmings, etc., non-combustible material
consists of such items as glass, crockery, tin and aluminum cans, ferrous and non-
ferrous material and dirt.

4. Bulky wastes: These include large household appliances such as refrigerators,

washing machines, furniture, crates, vehicle parts, tires, wood, trees and branches.
Since these household wastes cannot be accommodated in normal storage containers,
they require a special collection mechanism.

5. Street wastes: These refer to wastes that are collected from streets, walkways,
alleys, parks and vacant plots, and include paper, cardboard, plastics, dirt, leaves and
other vegetable matter. Littering in public places is indeed a widespread and acute
problem in many countries and a solid waste management system must address this
menace appropriately.

6. Dead animals: With regard to municipal wastes, dead animals are those that die
naturally or are accidentally killed on the road. Note that this category does not
include carcasses and animal parts from slaughter-houses, which are regarded as
industrial wastes. Dead animals are divided into two groups – large and small. Among
the large animals are horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, etc., and among the small ones
are dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, etc. The reason for this differentiation is that large animals
require special equipment for lifting and handling when they are removed. If not
collected promptly, dead animals pose a threat to public health since they attract flies
and other vermin as they decay. Their presence in public places is particularly
offensive from the aesthetic point of view as well.

7. Construction and Demolition Wastes: These are types of solid wastes generated
as a result of construction, refurbishment, repair and demolition of houses,
commercial buildings and other structures. They consist mainly of earth, stones,
concrete, bricks, lumber, roofing and plumbing materials, heating systems and
electrical wires.

8.Hazardous wastes: Hazardous wastes are defined as wastes of industrial,

institutional or consumer origin that are potentially dangerous either immediately or
over a period of time to human beings and the environment. This is due to their
physical, chemical and biological or radioactive characteristics like ignitability,
corrosivity, reactivity and toxicity. Note that in some cases, the active agents may be
liquid or gaseous hazardous wastes. These are, nevertheless, classified as solid wastes
as they are confined in solid containers. Typical examples of hazardous wastes are
empty containers of solvents, paints and pesticides, which are frequently mixed with
municipal wastes and become part of the urban waste stream. Certain hazardous
wastes may cause explosions in incinerators and fires at landfill sites. Others such as
pathological wastes from hospitals and radioactive waste also require special
handling. Effective management practices should ensure that hazardous wastes are
stored, collected, transported and disposed of separately, preferably after suitable
treatment to render them harmless.

9. Sewage wastes: The solid by-products of sewage treatment are classified as sewage
wastes. They are mostly organic and derived from the treatment of organic sludge
separated from both raw and treated sewages. The inorganic fraction of raw sewage
such as grit and eggshells are separated at the preliminary stage of treatment, as it may
entrain putrescible organic matter with pathogens and must be buried without delay.
The bulk of treated, dewatered sludge is useful as a soil conditioner but is invariably
uneconomical. Solid sludge, therefore, enters the stream of municipal wastes, unless
special arrangements are made for its disposal.

3. WASTE MANAGEMNET APPROACH

The solid waste management has a twofold approach. First is the minimization
of waste at the source and other is the control on environmental pollution during its
storage, conveyance and disposal. Prevention is always better than cure. If the
production of waste can be reduced at the source level it shall reduce the cost of
conveyance treatment, disposal and shall save the environment. The waste
minimization of techniques is group in four major categories for hazardous as well as
non-hazardous waste, as follows:

3.1. Inventory management and Improved Operation

 Incentivization (making stock registers) and tracing of all raw material.

  Purchasing of lesser toxic and more non-toxic production material.
 Implementation of employee’s training and management feedback.
 Improving material receiving, storage and handling practices.

3.2. Modification of Equipment

 Installation of equipment that produce minimum waste.

 Modification of equipment to enhance recovery or recycling options.
 Redesigning of equipment or production lines to produce less waste.
 Improving operating efficiency of equipment.
 Observing strict preventive maintenance programme.

3.3. Modifications in Production Process

 Selection of non-hazardous raw material.

 Segregation of waste for recovery.
 Identification and elimination of leakages.
 Optimization of reactions and raw material use.

3.4. Recycling and Reuse

 Installation of closed-loop systems.

 Recycling off side for another use.
 Exchange of wastes.

By adopting the above waste minimization techniques, the waste is minimized

at the source so that its handling and transportation charges are reduced and lesser
efforts are to be done in disposal.

4. Basic Collection System of Solid Waste

There are two theories of waste collection, primary collection and secondary
collection. Primary waste collection refers to the process of collecting waste from
generation sources and moving it to waste from generation sources and moving it to
waste storage sites, and it consists of door-to-door collection, curb side collection, bin
container collection and communal waste collection point. Under the primary waste
collection system, there is another collection method; on phone call for waste
collection to a respective office. A large number of waste generators, like industries
and embassies, use these services.

On the other hand, secondary collection is mainly performed with tipper trucks
that means a truck with a container part that can be moved to a sloping position so
that its loads can slide off at the back. This type of collection has two steps. The first
step is to collect waste from waste generation sources and transport it to the final
disposal site. Roadside space and street reservations are often used for secondary
waste collection stations, where containers are placed to store the waste from the
primary collectors.

4.1. Communal Collection System

Communal collection system includes following data.

(i) Household refuse only.

(ii) This does not include waste such as electrical items, clothes and DIY
waste.
(iii) Refrain from putting bulky items into the communal bins. (iv) Communal
recycling facilities are available for residents of flats, apartments and
sheltered housing accommodation to recycle mixed glass, cans, plastic
pots, tubs, bottle, trays, cardboard and paper.
(iv) Communal recycling facilities are available for residents of flats,
apartments and sheltered housing accommodation to recycle mixed glass,
cans, plastic pots, tubs, bottle, trays, cardboard and paper.
(v) Use the correct bins for recycling and waste; do not use the green
recycling bins for household waste and the blue recycling bins for general
refuse.

4.2. Bell Ringing System

Bell Ringing System include following data.

 (i) In the ringing system, a solid waste collection truck with one or two
workers for handling waste moves along a predetermined route, at regular
hours in making its daily rounds of collection and disposal.
(ii) Collection vehicle is provided with a bell and rung at specified points.
(iii) Residents from adjoining areas come to the vehicles and deposit the waste.
(iv) Sometimes the bell is used as an information system for the residents.
(v) When the truck is collected, it takes off to the dumping site.

4.3. Curb Side Collection

Curb side collection is a service provided to households for the disposal of

Refuse. In this service, trucks collect Waste and deliver it to either a Landfill or a
Recycling plant where it is processed for reuse. How this service is executed is left to
the municipalities, which means that polices for what is considered recyclable along
with when Refuse is collected will vary. In some cases, the service is overseen by a
department within the municipality or through a private firm under contract.

4.4. Door to Door Collection System

Door to door collection means collection of solid waste from the door step of
household, shop, commercial establishment, offices, institutional or any other
nonresidential premises and includes collection of such waste from entry gate or a
designated location on the ground floor in a housing society, multi storied building or
apartments, large residential, commercial or institutional complex or premises.

4.5. Street Sweeping or Street Cleaning

A street sweeper or street cleaner may refer to a person's occupation, or

machine that cleans streets. A street sweeper cleans the streets, usually in urban area.
Street sweepers have been employed in cities as "sanitation workers" since sanitation
and waste removal became a priority. A street-sweeping person would use a broom
and shovel to clean off litter, animal waste that accumulated on streets.
 Figure: Municipal Solid Waste Collection System

5. Collection of Municipal Solid Waste

Yamethin Development Committee (Y.D.C) has 4 daily transportation trucks,

only 3-wheel trucks and 21 labors. Dependence on the vehicles, machines and labors
can’t collect to each house so use the intersection point to collect waste. Current
collection system is carrying the domestic and institutional waste with trucks to the
final disposal place. Yamethin Development Committee use bell ringing system to
collect the trash all over the township. The one truck is 2route in one day and the
average duration for a single route is 3 hours. Average collecting houses are 5106
houses in one day with 3 trucks. Collection truck is provided with a bell and rung at
specified points.

Yamethin Development Committee arrange to collect the trash with Amplifier

system on the 6-quarters. From that quarters it gets rid of the trash minimize 10 ton in
one day so evert single person dispose of (0.41) kg. The municipal solid wastes that
collect from Y.D.C are organic wastes for 37%, paper for 13%, plastic, water bottle
and various kind of bottle for 22%, glass bottle and pieces of iron for 1% and other
solid wastes for 27%.
 27%
37%

1%

Organic wastes
22% Paper
Plastic, water bottle and various kind of bottle
13%
glass bottle and pieces of iron
Other solid wastes

Figure: Type of Wastes that collect from Yamethin Development Committee

6. Daily Collection of Municipal Solid Waste

At Yamethin, all the roar on the 6quarter thatcan enter trash transportation
trucks (FAW, TIPPER, SKAT) by using intersection point and pick up trash and the
separated area at the corner of road. The street that can’t enter trucks collecting with
3wheel trucks. At the main road of Yamethin, Ygn-Mdy road, Yan Aung Myin,
Maharsi, Thilawa collect the trash with big trucks and collect the street waste with
street trash labors.

Table.6.1. Route of Trash Transportation Trucks

Route Location

1 Thitsar, Uminnaing, Yanaungmyin, Taungnuutan, Maharsi, Seindarmouk,

Thilawa, Yanmyoaung
2 Thitsar, Sipintharyar, Sartike, Myittar, Manawhayee, Shwesigon 1,2,3,4,
Uminnaing, Minnanthu, Mingalarkyone
3 Ygn-Mdy road, Thilawa 1,2,3
4 Mingalarkyone, Myanandar, Minnathu, Thilawa, Yanaungmyin, Nayla,
Nawayat
5 Thudama 1,2,3,4, Thitsar, Supaungyone, Myittar, Butaryone, Thilawas,
Shwepyithar
6 Sipinthayae, Myittar, Thitsar, Shwemyintin, Yadanar
7. Discussion and Conclusion