Environmental Issues

Nowadays, solid wastes have gained interest of people. It is seem to be perceived as one of the major future problems. The planning, implementation and coordination of solid wastes is reeling and tottering. Figures show that the amount of wastes produced with in the New York city daily is twenty two thousand tons and seven million tons yearly. These figures are expected to increase at a pace of four to six percent annually mere because of the industrial development, modern conveniences and increased consumer buying. A budget of about one hundred and seventy to one hundred and eighty dollars is needed to collect and dispose solid wastes. In other words huge spending is needed to now and in future to satisfy people by providing them with a clean and healthy environment. An impeding problem confronted today is the deterioration of ways for disposing off waste products. (McDougall et al, 57)

The results of a research survey conducted from China, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand show that currently, about seven thousand tons of wastes are discarded through incineration and about sixteen thousand tons through landfill. Although, there are many plans for using more incinerators, however, there seem no plans for the development of landfill areas in the city. In the coming few years the solid waste products are expected to increase to about seven tons daily. Effective management of this could only be done by shifting it in the suburbs of the city.  (World bank, 25)

Solid wastes may be defined as discarded solids arising from animal or human life and activities. Besides certain natural solids like leaves and snow etc are also included in it. Initiatives and public interest towards the eradication of solid wastes came with the internal desire to live in a clean and healthy environment. Community pays very little attention to the solution of solid waste problems.  It is necessary for a community to take into consideration that how should it resolve the solid waste problem. A survey conducted by world bank in 1999 shows that these days rather than rural area the cities of Asian countries are responsible for creating about eight million tones of municipal solid waste on daily basis. It was found in the survey that the humidity of waste in the Asia has a high ration of about 60-70. This has lead to the attainment of a minimum calorific value 4,000-5, 8000 KJkg. Estimates show that currently about fourteen thousand people work in the Department of Sanitation. About eighty percent of these are concerned with performing the duties of street cleaning and collections of waste materials form streets these employees are called uniformed station men. (Warith, 10)

The process of the transferring of solid wastes starts from their collection. Firstly, solid wastes are collected from the residential and public areas. In New youre about one thousand two hundred trucks are used for the purpose. This process is practiced for six days in a week. This collection is necessary for cleaning the streets and renewal of snow. After the collection of wastes the second step is the disposal of solid wastes. This is a very crucial process. This process is performed through two methods that is incinerators and Landfills (Warith, 10)

Mustafa defined Incinerators usage aggravates the fortuities to health and environment. This is because it involves certain industrial wastes chemicals, organics and building material. Incinerators are hubs for rodents and vermin. A survey was conducted to find out the composition of Landfills under his supervision and it was found that in India and Thailand about 70-90 of Landfills are composed of open areas where solid wastes are dumpedAhn et all in 2002 stated that about 25 of Landfills are responsible for the excretion of anthropogenic methane emission and about 20 of the entire global anthropogenic methane emission.

The third step of the waste transferring process is Landfills. Landfills are also known as final resting place of solid wastes. These are usually operated through few people because they are surrounded by many hazards. They are perfumed with dust and scanty smell. The roads near the landfills consist of furrow and groove which makes the driving risky and perilous. Automobiles usually get slip over it. Landfills attract rodents, sea gulls and pigeons. These animals bring certain viruses and bacteria with them for example Salmonella and Histoplasma.  These are also heat sensitive and are easily set to fire. (McDougall et al, 58)

Surveys conducted by WHO in 2002 showed that Landfills are fire sensitive and it frequently erupts in them. It is necessary to initiate new plans and modify the existing facilities for disposing off long range environment and health effects. Getting rid of certain dangerous and perilous chemicals dumped in the landfills is necessary. Dumping of such chemicals in the landfills must be stopped. Health risks to those working on Landfills, sanitation through ground water and the risks involved in the future usage of Landfills affects the healthy environment and cause long lasting affects on human health. (Mostafa Warith, 10)

The job of disposing off solid wastes is a highly risky profession. Yet very scarce knowledge and guidelines prevails in it. It is therefore necessary to undertake certain precautions. Some of these are as follow. Safety education courses must me taught to every one from the top level to the operational level. The tools used by the sanitation workers must be designed and measured on the engineering standpoint to assist them work in their capacity. The working conditions must be assessed regarding the hazards and risks it involves. the basic work procedures of solid waste disposal must be changed to hasten mechanization and containerization. Solid wastes must be tested in order to evaluate community and work exposures to organisms and chemicals in terms of biological effect. (Warith, 15)

Survey conducted by National Geography in 2002shows that Landfills are considered by majority to consist of fast-food packaging, polystyrene foam and disposable diapers. Estimates show that most of the people think that about seventy five percent of  landfills are comprised of twenty to thirty percent of fast-food packaging, thirty to forty percent of polystyrene foam and twenty five to forty five percent of disposable diapers. However one can not take these as accurate measures. The real estimates can only be assessed through the processes of sorting garbage. A survey conducted in 1973 showed that people are disposing of large amount of beef. America is believed to be facing worlds largest crises of solid waste management and eradication. At least seventy percent of its solid wastes are being dug in to landfills. It has about five thousand five hundred landfills scattered at different areas. (Warith, 15)

With the arrival of 20th century the number of solid wastes greatly increased. This affected world economy at an unexpected level. Although, different methods have been invented to get rid of solid wastes, yet landfills are considered to be one of the most possible way of discarding and reducing solid wastes. Development of landfills have turned problematic due to it high investment needs,  the opposition of the community of the account of preserving environment from the odors, dust and furrows caused in the vicinity of the landfills. Disposal of wastes via landfills must be prohibited because large area is needed for it. But with the urbanization of the world the land has become a precious resource so it should be preserved rather than used for the purpose of landfills. (Leao et al, 4)

With the increase of solid wastes and the demand for its proper management certain legislation and regulations are invented or put into practice to provide proper guidelines for managing wastes. Consequently, certain techniques have also been introduced for disposing waste material. Reduction of waste production, increase in waste recovery and reduction in the use of landfills are the foundations followed during proper waste management. Presently, different methods are being applied around the world to mange solid wastes. Yet it is true that none in the world has succeeded in the proper management of wastes. Countries are still optimistic that they will achieve there aim of reducing their waste production however the truth is that their optimism doesnt seems to be realizing. A survey conducted by World Bank in 1999 showed that the per capita generation waste is also increasing, particularly in developing countries. It is necessary to use new methods for disposing of wastes however it seems that these are largely disposed off via landfills.  (Leao et al, 4)

Management of solid wastes is also very necessary. It is necessary to find out certain systems containing acceptable and accurate amalgamation of activities relating to solid wastes. The most usual of these activities are landfill, incineration, recycling and composting. According to the model developed by Chang the reduction of net present value of costs minus benefits are needed for appropriately managing the solid waste containing area and the capacity it has. Daskalopoulos suggested the technological utilization for the management and cure of wastes in the circles of economic and environmental criteria. (Simone Leao et al, Pg 5)

The United Nations Conference on Environmental Development ended with an emphasis on reducing waste production and increasing the recycling and reusing of solid waste. Up till now different models have been developed for the proper management of solid wastes however Landfills are considered to be the most potential and optimum method of disposing of solid wastes. (Leao et al, 10)
It is a question of great importance to how government controls and manages the excessive solid wastes produced by the industries nowadays. Previously the actions adopted to dispose off solid wastes have resulted in great aggression among the public as well as have badly affected the society. People are demanding the use of modern and up to date technology to collect process and dispose off solid wastes. Landfills are turning out to be another problem in the provision of healthy and fresh environment to the society. Previously landfills were built to serve as a method less expensive and with in budget to dispose off solid wastes. Unfortunately, it did not turn out quit effective and was responsible for causing unhealthy environment. (Campbell, 2)

Landfills are necessary and important for the disposal of waste material unless certain models are implemented for the reusing and recycling of waste products. Societal assessment done by Environmental Protection Agency of  the United States show that in 2000 about two hundred and sixteen million tons wastes were produced in Us every year. This shows that solid waste production is taking place at a faster pace as compare to the population. (Campbell, 3)

Studies show that strategies necessary to install a solid waste material management plan must be based upon these Wastes must be collected and disposed off in an appropriate composition. The areas which are considered to serve as landfills in future must be predicted. The tools and equipments important for the development and functioning of recycling centre must be noted. (Campbell, 3)
It is very much important to properly manage solid wastes if these are not properly managed this large quantity solid wastes will greatly effect the environment and the human health. This an important issues to be resolve being currently faced by the society. It is the biggest problem or issue to be resolved by those concerned with the profession of managing wastes nowadays. pollutants in the waste materials can affect both environment and health by amalgamating in the water under the land. ( Campbell, 4)

WHO in its report revealed that Landfills are responsible for certain chemical reactions as a consequence of which certain chemicals dissolve in the water which is injurious to health. Currently, to avoid such infiltration of water landfills are planned in such a way that the purification of ground water is easily monitored and controlled. In this way public is providing with clean and uncontaminated water. To avoid violent outburst of landfills it is necessary to control methane gas. (Campbell, 5)

It is produced in high quantity during the disintegrating and decaying of solid wastes. This gas is responsible for causing certain violent outburst of fire at the landfill will destroy the surrounding crops of landfills. Similarly, the security of those working on the landfills is also a matter of attention. Working at landfills is hazardous to so it is necessary for the government to minimize this risk. Appropriate management of landfills is also necessary any kind of sterility or shabby operation at the landfill can cause bad smell, environmental pollution which will offend the public resulting in their aggression. (Campbell, 6)

The estimates of World Bank show that in 1999 about eight million tones of solid waste materials were produced in Asian countries. Mostly, these wastes were disposed off by openly discarding them. The important task of managing waste is not appropriately conducted in the developing countries. Solid wastes are collected only from one portion of the city a very large portion of the city wastes remain neglected. An inquiry and examination conducted among variety of institutes in Asia revealed that proper management of landfills can be gained through the under scored methods. To rehabilitate the dumping placearea is the best choice. A case study was conducted in this regard and it showed that the process of recycling and disposing off solid waste material is now working satisfactorily. The application of western way of solid waste management plans do not turn fruitful in Asian countries. This is merely because they cannot afford the manufacturing of luxurious containment Landfills. The wastes of developed countries consist of recyclables and lower biodegradable organic wastes however those of developing countries consist of coal and wood. These are mostly utilized for cooking and heating. (Visvanathan et al, 2)

An inquiry and examination conducted among variety of institutes in Asia revealed that proper management of landfills can be gained through the under scored methods. To rehabilitate the dumping placearea is the best choice. It will help in rehabilitating the open dumps via landfill mining where resource recovery might serve as a source of energy, recycle and reuse of metals, plastic and glass wares, use of compost as fertilizer for agriculture and as a cover material for future landfills. This rehabilitation of dumping place will help in the reestablishment of an engineered landfill. Using aerobic and anaerobic for treating solid wastes before their arrival to the landfill also assist in reducing the quantity of disposable waste. Moreover these treatments will also reduce leach ate treatment, gas management, and geotechnical problem of landfill settlements. Therefore, it is suggested that properly trained and experienced workers must perform the operations of landfills. (Visvanathan et al, Pg 3-4)