Status of solid waste generation and management practice ... · Status of solid waste generation...

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 6, No 6, 2016

© Copyright by the authors - Licensee IPA- Under Creative Commons license 3.0

Research article ISSN 0976 – 4402

Received on January 2016 Published on May 2016 1173

Status of solid waste generation and management practice in Kolkata

municipal corporation, West Bengal Sk Ajim Ali

Research Scholar, Department of Geography, AMU, Aligarh

[email protected]

doi:10.6088/ijes.6112

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a general over view of the current Solid Waste (MSW) management in

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), West Bengal. Solid waste management is one of the

most challenging issues in urban cities at present scenario, which are facing a serious

pollution problem due to the generation of huge quantities of solid waste. The KMC

generates more than 3520 MT solid waste per day. As a group, households are the single

largest generators of Municipal waste in Kolkata. On an average maximum solid waste

generated from commercial around 36.37% and market area and minimum from institution

around 6.32%. It has been projecting that KMC will generate near about 8805 MT solid

waste per day in 2035. But on an average has been estimated that approximately only 700 ton

of these generated waste are collected and stored in every day. So, there exist a huge gap

between waste generation and waste disposal, which create several environmental problems.

The main objective of this paper is to discuss on existing situation of current Solid Waste

Management (SWM) in KMC. This paper is basically based on secondary sources of data

which is collected mainly from manual on Kolkata Municipal Corporation. It was found that

the solid waste management in KMC appears to be inadequate and needs to be upgradation.

Higher priority needs to be assigned to the management of solid waste by local authority and

system approach needs to be adopted for optimizing the entire option of SWM. Orga (2003)

stated that “Municipal bodies are unable to provide a 100% efficient system and even are not

able to reach the efficiency of 60%”. This is not because the municipality is not doing their

work properly or due to work negligence, but it is due to old conventional working methods

which need to be upgraded with modern technologies.

Keywords: KMC, Solid waste, waste management practice, sources and quantities,

recommended waste management practice

1. Introduction

The term solid waste usually relates to all kinds of waste, whether generated during the

extraction of raw materials, the processing of raw materials into intermediate and final

products, the consumption of final products, or other human activities, including residential,

institutional, commercial, agricultural, and special i.e. health care, household hazardous

wastes, sewage sludge. It generates at a rate of 450–500 g per capita per day in developing

countries. According to a United Nations Conference on Human Settlement report, one third

to one-half of solid waste generated within most cities in low- and middle-income countries

Waste disposal and management is intended to reduce adverse effects of waste on health, the

environment or aesthetics. Solid waste management has become a considerable issue, in

addition other environmental problems, especially for densely populated cities in developing

countries. In my study I mainly confine my view on current status of solid waste

Status of solid waste generation and management practice in Kolkata municipal corporation, West Bengal

Sk Ajim Ali

International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 6 No.6 2016 1174

management in KMC which is a primitive megacity of West Bengal. This area is situated at

the bank of river Ganga. Therefore, augmentation of the solid waste management facilities in

term of collection and disposal is the issue of concern. But their operation & maintenance in a

sustainable manner by urban local bodies would require huge capital investment, introduction

of latest technologies which are cost effective. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in waste

management and introduction of appropriate waste management practices are needed in order

to prevent urban waste causing environmental pollution and health hazards.

2. Significance

Modernization, technical advancement and increase in global population created rising in

demand for food and other essential. This has resulted to rise in the amount of waste being

generated daily by each household. The problems associated with handling of Solid Waste

have increased at an alarming rate over the past few years. The focus of the study is on the

current status of solid waste management practices in KMC in order to make suitable

recommended sustainable management practices. So that KMC can make plan for unwanted

or useless materials generated from combined residential industrial and commercial activities

around it.

3. Objectives

The key objectives of the present study are –

1. To study the present source and quantities of solid waste and their generation around

Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

2. To highlight the physical and chemical properties of Municipality refuse.

3. To focus an overview on current waste management practices.

4. To emphasize on Public- Private Partnership (PPP) in waste management by initiating

appropriate waste management practice in order to prevent urban waste causing

environmental pollution and health hazards.

5. To suggest and make recommended methods in aim of sustainable waste

management.

4. Methodology

The study has been accomplished mainly through secondary data. The secondary data has

been collected from various Government and Non-government sources. Numerous reports of

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and West

Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) have been consulted for the purpose. Apart from

these a number of articles from various journals related to the topic have been considered.

Lastly, the secondary data has been computed, compiled and represented through cartograms

followed by analysis and interpretation.

4.1 Study area (Description of KMC)

The State of West Bengal has 20 districts among which the city of Kolkata holds a place of

significance both in the field of administration and commercial activities. The city is under

the administrative jurisdiction of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The Kolkata Municipal

Corporation has a total area of 205 sq. km (census 2011) with a geographical extension of

22°27'N to 22°39'N latitude and 88°14'E to 88°26'E longitude. The territorial jurisdiction of

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has been divided into 15 Boroughs consisting of 141


Sk Ajim Ali


municipal wards. Spatially the city can be divided into North, East, Central and South

Kolkata. The district of Haowra lies to the North-West, North 24 Parganas on the Northern

and North-Eastern side and South 24 Parganas on the South-Eastern and South-Western side.

The River Hugli flows through Western part of the city. It is 120 km from Bay of Bengal and

stands on the eastern Bank of River Hooghly (Figure 1).

Table 1: KMC at a glance

Area 205 sq km

Climate Humid during summer and

pleasant in winter

Maximum temperature 40oC

Minimum temperature 10o C

Average rainfall 1605 mm

Total population 44,96,694 (as per 2011)

Population density 24,429 sq km

Vehicular population 1.05 million

Floating population 60,00,000 per day

No. of Borough 15

No. of Wards 141

Solid waste generation and

disposal per Day

3520 MT/D (as per 20113-

14)

Source: KMC, 2011

KOLKATA

N

INDIA

WEST BENGAL

KOLKATAKMC WARDS

Figure 1: Location Map of the study area. (Maps not to scale)


Sk Ajim Ali


4.2 Current Waste Generation Status at KMC

4.2.1 Source and quantities of solid waste in KMC

Kolkata is one of the three metropolitan cities in India. With an area of 205 sq km and a

population of about 4496429, it generates around 3520 MT/D of Municipal Solid Waste

(MSW) at a rate of about 0.90- 1.10 kg per capita per day. Major sources of Municipal Solid

Waste in KMC are Residential areas, commercial and market areas, office, institution, street

sweeping etc. (table 1)

Table 1: Major source of SW Generation.

Source: WBPCB, 2010

Household waste

Commercial & market waste

Street sweeping waste

institutional waste

Figure 2: Source of waste generation in KMC

Major sources of SW

Waste

generation

rate (%)

Household

waste 34.20

Commercial and

market waste 36.37

Street sweeping

waste 22.81

Institutional

waste 06.62

Total 100


Sk Ajim Ali


Field survey was carried out by KMC in 2010 to assess the municipal waste generation in

each of the 15 Borough on the basis of waste collection from various collection points.

Borough I to IX is classified as Cluster – I and X to XV as Cluster – II. KMC generates

approximately 1.10 kg/cap/day. The rate of generation varies from borough to borough and

ward to ward. In Borough I to IX the average generation of waste was2711 MT/ day in the

year 20011 and in Borough X to XV average waste generation from all sources assessed as

809 MT/ day. It is estimated that in 2011total average waste generation was 3520 MT/ day in

KMC. Annually sources and quantity of solid waste in different borough of KMC has shown

below (table 2).

Figure 3: Different sources and their quantity of waste generation

Table 2: Quantity of SW in KMC.

Source: Kolkata Municipal Corporation (2011)

A report from KEIP, Kolkata has estimated the amount of generated waste from various

sources during a year from January 2010 to January 2011 has shown below (table 3)

Source of waste Weight (kg)

House 3110091

Market 674450

Play ground 1495

Park 12479

Institution 47461

Office 17512

Shopping mall 31207

Hospital 51321

Bhavan/Complex 82861

Factory 21160

Total 4050037


Sk Ajim Ali


Table: 3. SW Generation in Kolkata during January 2010 to January 2011.

Figure 4: Rate of solid waste generation in KMC

Source: KEIP & KMC (2011)

Forecasting of Municipal Solid Waste Generation (future aspect)

The quantity of municipal waste generation will be in metric tons. The future population and

waste generation are calculated from the formulation taken 2011 as a base year are shown in

(table 4).

Table 4: Waste generation projection.

Month Waste generated (ton)

January 10 107144

February 10 106944

March 10 138238

April 10 135540

May 10 150301

June 10 136890

July 10 142532

August 10 146232

September 10 140984

October 10 148157

November 10 134469

December 10 140453

January 11 153443

SL No. Year population Quantity (MT/ D)

1 1981 9194000 1839

2 1991 11021900 2755

3 2001 13114700 3934


Sk Ajim Ali


Source: Das and Bhattacharyya (2014)

Figure 5: Waste generation projection

4.3 Methodology for calculating 2035 projections

Projections for urban municipal solid waste generation in 2035 were made by factoring

expected growth in population and estimated per capita waste generation. The population

data collected from census of India as per the report of technical group on population

projections constituted by the national commission on population to the office of the

Registrar general & Census commissioner of India. The population projection is calculated

by forecasting method. The population growth in Kolkata from 2011 to 2035 shall have a

growth of 33% in 24 years at a rate of 1.4% of annum. This growth rate is considered in the

model from 2011 to 2035 to predict the MSW generation. The MSW data collected from

various municipalities as per the office records and survey work. It is estimated that the

amount of waste generated in Kolkata will increase at a per capita rate of approximately 1.4%

annually is considered for estimate of MSW from the year 2011 to 2035. The population

versus increase of municipal solid waste generation of year wise from 1981 to 2035 is

obtained from forecasting method.

4.4 Physical and chemical characteristics of refuse

The variation in both geographic origin and composting technology, the properties of MSW

composts generated in various regions are likely to be different. KMC is no exception from

this case as it depends on many factors such as the nature of local activities, food habits,

cultural tradition, climatic conditions, season and socio-economic factors. Waste composition,

moisture content, waste particle size, waste density, temperature and pH are important as

these affect the extent and rate of degradation of waste. These are determined on components

of solid wastes. The physical and chemical characteristics help in deciding the desired

frequency of collection, steps needs to be taken during transportation and methods of disposal.

4 2011 14112536 4939

5 2021 16105614.85 6442

6 2031 17870628.33 8042

7 2035 1873775.4 8805


Sk Ajim Ali


Variation of physical properties and chemical composition of waste in KMC during 1995 and

2010 are shown in following (table 5 and table 6).

It is shows from table 5 that there is an increasing trend in coal consumption and it is due to

increase utilization in domestic gas, stove and other equipments. But there is noticed an

increasing trend in utilization of biodegradable fraction, and with it paper, plastic, metals and

inert materials are increasing day to day.

Figure 6: Photo 1: Increasing trends of waste.

Figure 7: Photo 2: Physical properties of waste (Mixed waste).

Table: 5. MSW Composition in Kolkata.

Parameters 1995 2010

Biodegradables 44.29 50.56

Green coconut

shells 8.51 4.5

Paper 4.64 6.07

Plastic 3.22 4.88

Metals 0.43 0.19


Sk Ajim Ali


Note: - Nil, All values are in % by wet weight.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1995 2010

Figure 6: Composition of generated waste

Source: NEERI (2010)

Table: 6. Variation of chemical characteristics of MSW in Kolkata.

Note: All values are in % by dry weight, except pH, C/N ratio and calorific value.

Source: NEERI (2010)

It is found from table 6 that only Carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio has in the suitable range for

composting. On the other hand Moisture Content (MC) has been increasing in waste and it is

Glass and

crockery 1.72 0.34

Coal 3.10 -

Inert 26.82 29.60

Others 7.27 3.83

Parameters 1995 2010

Moisture 61.57 46

Ph 6.33 8.07

Loss on ignition 46.78 38.53

Carbon 25.98 22.35

Nitrogen as N 0.88 0.76

Phosphorousas P2O5 0.58 0.77

Potassium as K2O 0.93 0.52

C/N ratio 29.53 31.81

Calorific value kJ kg-1 2717 5028


Sk Ajim Ali


due to admixture of higher proportion of fresh and unprocessed water containing materials

like vegetables, fruits and food waste.

4.6 Present waste management practice at KMC

All activities and operations in terms of solid waste management in KMC area are performed

under four heads. Such as

1. Garbage sweeping

2. Garbage collection

3. Transportation of garbage and

4. Disposal of garbage as waste

Major sources and generation of such garbage and waste are discussed above. The

expenditure of Kolkata Municipal Corporation for various khat of solid waste management is

INR 39416.61 lakhs annually (in 2011), in which more than 70% are expended for waste

collection and only 5% are used for final disposal (Table 7).

Table 7: Expenditure in various stage of SWM in Kolkata

Source: KMC (2011)

4.7 Garbage collection procedure

Kolkata Municipal Corporation is responsible for collection the waste or garbage from

different wards ok KMC, the Municipal authority is collecting this garbage in regular manner

from different waste bins. The total number of waste bins in Kolkata is 664 (as per KMC,

2011). Garbage is accumulated in these bins from adjacent area. For garbage collection

procedure, 250 persons are engaged. They are engaging in sweeping the roads and collecting

the garbage and transferring the waste into the bins. The collection of waste is frequently

done those areas where the number of labor or sweepers is more. Currently, different

collection methods are being applying in KMC, such as

1. House to house collection,

2. Collection from roadside storage area and

3. Collection from community bins etc.

But this collection of waste is not in an adequate way. A large percentage about 19% to 21%

remain uncollected either in the place of originates or around the bins. These lead to a

number of health hazards or environmental problems.

Stage of SWM Expenditure

(%)

Waste collection 70 – 75

Waste transportation 18 – 20

Waste disposal 5 - 7


Sk Ajim Ali


4.8 Transportation of garbage

Collected garbage or waste needs to be transported to specific disposal site. For this purpose,

different types of vehicles are used in KMC which starts from small dumper and end into big

dumper. For transporting this garbage to disposal sites, tri cycle cart, tractor, hand load and

pay loader are involved. The distribution of departmental vehicles in KMC from 1986 to

2011 is given below (table 8)

Table 8: Distribution of departmental vehicles in KMC

Year No. of Departmental Vehicles

D.P

(Big) D.P (Small) Hand load Pay loader

1986 - 1990 0 1 32 0

1991 – 1995 0 2 31 6

1996 – 2000 11 6 22 8

2001 – 2005 31 7 7 13

2006 - 2011 31 0 0 1

Source: WBPCB (2011)

KMC provides daily collection facilities, but overflow bins are the common features

throughout the Municipality. The main cause of these problems is frequency of waste

collection, location of waste bins and distance from disposal site.

4.9 Disposal of waste

Normally the collected waste is transported into the disposal site and disposed it. In KMC

the disposal site is DHAPA which is located to eastern metropolitan bypass. The average

distance of each Borough from DHAPA is summarized below (table 9). Bulldozers are used

at DHAPA disposal site to areal extend and level the waste.

Table 9: Average distance from different Borough to DHAPA

Borough 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Distance

(km) 9 7.5 5 7.5 7 7 3.5 6.5 9.5 7 8 3 10 11.5 13.5

Source: KEIP (2005)


Sk Ajim Ali


Figure 7: Borough No. and their distance from DHAPA Disposal site.

From collection to disposal site, there is no segregation of biodegradable, non- biodegradable,

inert and other waste which is not healthy for either environment or inhabitants. As, there is

no practice of waste segregation at source, toxic metals like zinc, nickel, lead and arsenic get

dumped in DHAPA and leach into the soil. Waste water in the canal around DHAPA shows

that concentrations of total dissolved solids, biological oxygen demand and concentrations of

zinc and carbon are high.

4.10 Problems Associated with Solid Waste Management in KMC

1. Municipal solid wastes stack up on the roads due to improper disposal system. People

clean their own houses and throw mixed waste to their immediate surroundings which

affect the community including themselves.

2. Dumping of waste allows biodegradable materials to decompose under uncontrolled

and unhygienic conditions. This produces bad odors, breeds, various types of insects

and infectious organisms besides spoiling the aesthetics of the site which brings many

diseases like malaria, diarrhea, cholera, dengue etc.

3. Industrial solid wastes are sources of toxic metals and hazardous wastes, which may

spread on land and can cause changes in physicochemical and biological

characteristics thereby affecting productivity of soils.

4. Various types of wastes like cans, pesticides, cleaning solvents, batteries (zinc, lead or

mercury), radioactive materials, plastics and e-waste are mixed up with paper, scraps

and other non-toxic materials which could be recycled. Burning of some of these

materials produces dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls, which have the

potential to cause various types of ailments including cancer.

4.11 Suggestion

To overcome such problems and recommend for a Sustainable Managing plan of Solid Waste

involves various steps which are summarized below:

1. Segregation of mixed waste at the source.


Sk Ajim Ali


2. Collection at the source with different segregated material in different package. (coded

with different color)

3. An optimization of load release and collection point (both primary and secondary).

4. Improvement in transportation system compatible to the type of load.

5. Selection and identification of transportation route with improved capacity of carrying

with the utilization of MIS and GIS methods.

6. Upgradation of disposal ground as per the solid waste-land fill guideline of CPCB with

the application of sanitary landfill system and improved version incineration.

7. Adoption of a systematic disposal technique suitable to the type and quality of waste

generated.

8. Possible marketing of the product (if any) from the disposal ground.

9. Organizing awareness and motivation camp in the locality.

10. Involvement of the community.

5. Conclusion

The KMC should make certain modifications and improvements to solid waste management

services which have been practicing. This is not sufficient to mitigate the present and future

problems related to solid waste management in Kolkata. To achieve a target of 100%

collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal, Municipal Corporation would first need to

prepare a macro plan which would identify the quantity of waste generated in the whole

municipality and the broad strategy to be adopted to manage the system. This should be

followed by a micro or locality-based plan, which would provide details as to routes, timing,

equipment, and manpower deployment.

6. References

1. Stirrup, F.C.9, (1965), Public cleansing, refuse disposal, Percamon Press, Oxford.

2. Mather, A.S., (1986), Land use, Longman Group Limited, U.K.

3. Karley, N.A., (1993), Solid Waste and Pollution. People’s daily graphic October 9,

pp.5.

4. Chouhan, B., M. And Reddy, B.K, (1996), Bio- energy scenario in India. IREDA

News. 7(1).

5. Thomas, S. And Siddhartha, K., (2007), Biosphere A Geography of Life. Kisalaya

Publication Pvt. Limited, New Delhi.

6. Santra, S.C., (2010), Environmental Science. New Central Book Agency (P) Ltd, 2nd

Edition, Reprint: Delhi.

7. Majid Husain., (2012), Geography of India. Tata McGraw Hill Private Limited, 7

West Patel Nagar, New Delhi.

8. Garg, A. and Singh, N., (2013), E-waste vis-a-vis human health and environment.

Interdisciplinary Environment review, 14(14) pp 187- 198.


Sk Ajim Ali


9. Banerjee, M. and Dasgupta, S., (2014), Case study on some positive initiative for

solid waste management in west Bengal. International journal of humanistic and

social science studies. 1(3) p. 247.

10. Verma, A. Bhonde, B.K., (2014), Optimization of Municipal Solid Waste

Management of Indore City using GIS. International Journal on Emerging

Technology, 5(1), pp 194- 200.

11. Adamu, I. H., Rozilah, K. And Bala, I. (2015), Resource Potentials of Composting the

Organic Wastes Stream from Municipal Solid Wastes Compositions Arising in

Nigerian Cities. Journal of Geosciences and Environmental Protection, 3(4), pp 10-

15.

12. David, O.O. and Myem, U.M., (2015), Municipal Solid Waste Generation and

Characterization: A Case Study of Ota, Nigeria. International Journal of

Environmental Science and Toxicology, 3(1), pp 1- 8.

13. Singh, A.K, (2015), Municipal Solid Waste in Varanasi: An Issue of Governance. The

Geographer, 62(1), pp 63- 69.

Status of solid waste generation and management practice ... · Status of solid waste generation...

Documents

Transcript of Status of solid waste generation and management practice ... · Status of solid waste generation...