Sustainability of Waste Management System: Waste Generation and Collection

Abstract

Waste means any substance or object, which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard. Waste generation begins at the point in time when it is being discarded. After that, generation cannot be prevented or reduced. Solid waste includes, among others, municipal, agricultural, mining, industrial, commercial solid waste, construction and demolition waste, electronic waste, and sludge generated during wastewater treatment. Solid waste is generated in all the stages of the life cycles of different products and materials. The largest volumes of waste are usually generated during mining and quarrying of raw materials, as well as from construction and demolition activities. Municipal solid waste (MSW) is the most commonly known, very heterogeneous waste which is defined as solid waste originating from households and similar kind of waste generated in commerce, offices, public institutes, and municipal services. Generation rate of waste from different business fields is varying according the volume of the business activities and specific waste generation of producing a unit of each product. Municipal solid waste generation rate is affected mostly by the population and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Waste collection systems consist of the waste collection bins on the yards of the houses or enterprises, loading of the waste to the collection vehicles, and further transportation to the waste treatment or disposal facilities. Waste can be collected as separate fractions or mixed waste straight from the households or other sources, or from regional collection points. If waste is not being collected, it is considered as littering, which should be avoided. Collection systems are commonly not working properly in developing counties. Waste generation phase defines the amount and composition of waste that has to be treated, recovered, and disposed. Waste collection phase has good potential to separate recyclables and recoverables from disposable waste. Thus, these phases are very important for the sustainability of waste management.