MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT THROUGH VERMICULTURE

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT THROUGH VERMICULTURE

By Dr. Ashok Kumar Panigrahi

PPBSA, Ranipatna, Balasore (Orissa) 756001 India  E-mail ID drakpanigrahi@yahoo.com

Key words: MSW, waste disposal, biodegradable, waste segregation, CPCB, SPCB, epidemic outbreak, better environment, vermi technology, epigeic worms, worm cast, vermi compost,  Municipal Solid Wastes:

According to NEERI, Municipal Solid Waste generation in India is roughly about 200grams in small towns and 900grams in large towns.

The rate of solid waste generation has out paced the rate of population growth. For example in the city of Mumbai,

                                                   year 1981                    year 1991             growth

1. v     Population :                     8.2 millions                12.3 millions            49%

v     Solid Waste :                 3,200 tones                    5,355 tones              67%

Municipal solid waste generation in this country as estimated by 2 different central agencies are as under

1. i. EPTRI (1995) for 23 major Indian cities      -     11 million tones
2. ii. CPCB   (1997) for the same number of cities -  18 million tones

Types     of     M S W   -

 It is to note that  13%  to  20%  of all wastes generated are recyclable

Biodegradables                                                      Non biodegradables

1.                                                    Building & construction materials

Waste green/dry leaves + plant parts                      Coal briquettes

1. Animal dung.                                                            Plastics & polythenes

Human faeces (fresh/decomposed).                       Glass wanes

1. Metals
2. Ashes.                                                                     Biomedical wastes

Hotel and canteen refuses.

Daily vegetable market refuses.

House hold refuses.

Dead animal bodies.

Physico-Chemical Characteristics of MSW in India

                                                        % of wet weight in tones

Sl.No    Components                      1971-1973               1995

                                                       (40 Cities)            (23 Cities)

1. Paper                                   4.14                         5.78
2. Plastics                     0.69                         3.90
3. Metals                                  0.50                         1.90
4. Glass                                    0.40                         2.10
5. Rags                                    3.83                         3.50
6. Ashes etc.                            49.20                       40.30
7. Total compostible matter41.24                  41.80
8. Calorific value(K.Cal/Kg)  800-1100                   < 1500
9. Carbon-Nitrogen ratio         20-30                      25-40

Source: a. Bhide & Sudaresan (1983); b.EPTRI (1995)

State of Facts

According to NIUA (1989) MSW Collection efficiency for average Indian Cities…….72 %

Inadequacy of infrastructure for MSW transportations……………………………         70 %

Unscientific disposal of MSW in India cities (Pachuri & Sridharan, 1998) …………  Most

Changes of out break of epidemics owing to faulty management of MSW…………Very Most

Examples of disastrous consequences of unscientific MSW management

      I )  Surat (1994 )  ……………………………..Plague epidemic

      II ) Delhi ( recent ) ………………………...…Dengue epidemic                     

Lacunae and Loop holes

1. Policy gaps:-    Roles and responsibilities of CPCB and SPCBs not clearly defined, Lack of clear directives on technology implementations, Lack of organized repacking sector Unwillingness by the local bodies( Municipalities and NACs) to impose taxes for bettering the environment.

 2. Knowledge, Information & Data gaps- Want of a National inventory, Lack of Scientific approach in MSW management, Non identification least cost effective MSW management technique, No Practice of segregation of waste components into recyclables and non recyclables,

No waste to energy projects, No attempt to build awareness on MSW management – Collection and disposal.

Recommendations

1. Enforcement of uniform scientifically proven technique in MSW collection – segregation- disposal-re use under the supervision of environment monitoring agencies.
2. The entire system of MSW management- collection, transportation, segregation, treatment, disposal and re use must be made – more mechanised and less manual.
3. Recyclables must suitably be segregated and managed to yield revenue.
4. There should be proper co-ordination and co-operation between the environment monitoring agencies, local government bodies (municipalities, NACs) and the waste recycling unit(s).
5. Waste to energy projects must be implemented on priority basis.
6. Biodegradable solid wastes must be converted to high quality vermi compost for organic farming, safe food production and revenue collection.
7. Roles of CPCB and SPCBs must be clearly defined and they must be made accountable for out break of epidemics and other health oriented problems.

1.       8.   Adequate awareness building on MSW disposal and management must be made compulsory.
2.       9.   Local government bodies like the corporations, municipalities and NACs must be made

            accountable for providing the citizen with healthy environment.

     10. Citizen must be empowered to demand better environment and better living.

MSW management to yield quality vermi compost
 1. Heap method of decomposition on open yard of biodegradable MSW –with the principle, greater  

1.      the height quicker is the process of decomposition. Separation of nondgradables should be   

     ensured before the decomposition process is initiated. Decomposing bacteria may used to quicken 

     the process.

2.  Windrow method of vermiculture in shade; less the height better vermi composting.

3.  Worm inoculation and moisture maintenance is to be made manually, efficiently and effectively

4.  Worm inoculation @ 2Kg of diverse epigeic worms like, Eisenia foetida (60%), Eudrilus eugenie   

     (30%) and Perionyx excavatus (10%) for every quintal of decomposed MSW laid in wind rows.

5.  Harvesting and packeting of worm cast laden vermi compost should be made after physical

     examination of abundance of granular materials (at least 75-80%) in the compost (about 3 months     

     after laying or  when actually ready for harvesting). Well formed vermi compost is good for crops.

Note: The above process of MSW management can be adopted in all tropical countries world wide. Quality vermi compost enhances soil fertility substantially and can replace chemical fertilizers.