Question

Classify each of the following disposal methods as organic or inorganic.

1. Dumping into the sea.

2. Sanitary land filling.

3. Incineration.

4. Composting.

5. Ploughing in fields.

6. Hog feeding.

7. Grinding and discharging into sewers.

8. Salvaging.

9. Fermentation or biological digestion.

Answer 1

1. Dumping into the sea:

Ocean dumping refers to the dumping of materials like garbage, construction and demolition debris, sewage sludge, dredge material, and waste chemicals in the ocean. Materials in the ocean are often dumped on the continental shelf. In some cases, ocean dumping is regulated and controlled, while some dumping occurs haphazardly by ships and tankers at sea, or illegally within coastal waters. Most states also have a number of laws and regulations to control operations.

2. Sanitary landfill :

Sanitary landfill, method of controlled disposal of municipal solid waste (refuse) on land. The method was introduced in England in 1912 (where it is called controlled tipping). Waste is deposited in thin layers (up to 1 metre, or 3 feet) and promptly compacted by heavy machinery (e.g., bulldozers); several layers are placed and compacted on top of each other to form a refuse cell (up to 3 metres, or 10 feet, thick). At the end of each day the compacted refuse cell is covered with a layer of compacted soil to prevent odours and windblown debris. All modern landfill sites are carefully selected and prepared (e.g., sealed with impermeable syntheticbottom liners) to prevent pollution of groundwater or other environmental problems. When the landfill is completed, it is capped with a layer of clay or a synthetic liner in order to prevent water from entering. A final topsoil cover is placed, compacted, and graded, and various forms of vegetation may be planted in order to reclaim otherwise useless land e.g., to fill declivities to levels convenient for building parks, golf courses, or other suitable public projects.

3. Incineration :

Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organicsubstances contained in waste materials.Incineration and other high-temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas and heat. The ash is mostly formed by the inorganic constituents of the waste and may take the form of solid lumps or particulatescarried by the flue gas. The flue gases must be cleaned of gaseous and particulate pollutants before they are dispersed into the atmosphere. In some cases, the heat generated by incineration can be used to generate electric power.Incineration with energy recovery is one of several waste-to-energy technologies such as gasification, pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion. While incineration and gasification technologies are similar in principle, the energy produced from incineration is high-temperature heat whereas combustible gas is often the main energy product from gasification. Incineration and gasification may also be implemented without energy and materials recovery.In several countries, there are still concerns from experts and local communities about the environmental effect of incinerators.

4.Composting :

Another method of treating municipal solid waste is composting, a biological process in which the organic portion of refuse is allowed to decompose under carefully controlled conditions. Microbes metabolize the organic waste material and reduce its volume by as much as 50 percent. The stabilized product is called compost or humus. It resembles potting soil in texture and odour and may be used as a soil conditioner or mulch.Composting offers a method of processing and recycling both garbage and sewage sludge in one operation. As more stringent environmental rules and siting constraints limit the use of solid-waste incineration and landfill options, the application of composting is likely to increase. The steps involved in the process include sorting and separating, size reduction, and digestion of the refuse.

5. Ploughing into fields :

Disposal waste into fields

• Not very commonly used
• Not environment friendly in general

6. Hog feeding :

It is the oldest method of solid waste (particularly kitchen waste) management practiced in many countries especially in countryside. Properly controlled waste can be converted into the wealth. Previously hogs were used as scavengers of raw garbage. They were feed with kitchen waste. But it leads to the spread of several bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases to other animals and human beings. This problem is overcome by steaming of garbage for ½-1 hours before feeding to the hogs. This method is applicable in the cities covered with rural areas where hog farming is possible. In many Terai regions of Nepal, hogs are still fed with human excreta and raw garbage.

7. Grinding :

waste like plastic or is crushed into small pieces.

8. Slavaging :

Materials such as metal, paper, glass, rags, certain types of plastic and so on can be salvaged, recycled, and reused.

Salvage may refer to:

• Marine salvage, the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo and sometimes the crew from peril
• Water salvage, rescuing people from floods.
• Salvage tug, a type of tugboat used to rescue or salvage ships which are in distress or in danger of sinking.

9. Fermentation :

Sludge digestion is a biological process in which organic solids are decomposed into stable substances. Digestion reduces the total mass of solids, destroys pathogens, and makes it easier to dewater or dry the sludge. Digested sludge is inoffensive, having the appearance and characteristics of a rich potting soil.

• Biodegradable Waste – convert to compost
• Recycle whatever is possible
• Hazardous wastes – dispose it by suitable methods
• Landfill or incinerate the rest

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