Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND MATERIAL RECOVERY IN AN URBAN AREA IN INDIA- A CASE STUDY OF GREATER VISAKHAPATNAM MUNICIPAL CORPORATION (ANDHRA PRADESH), INDIA

D. Vijaya Kumar and M. Umadevi

Abstract

Present status of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management in Urban Visakhapatnam in India is not satisfactory and deserves improvement. The rate of per capita generation of MSW and total quantity of waste generated was estimated as 0.425 Kg/person/day and 108.482 T/day respectively. Overall, 59 grab samples were collected from representative locations and analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics. Time and motion studies of solid waste collection vehicles reveal significant variations in time taken for a trip, distance traveled per trip, weight transported per trip, cost per trip and unit cost i.e. cost to transport 1.0T of waste by 1.0 Km and this offers ample scope for route optimization. Nearly 600 rag pickers and 200 Kabadiwalas (scrap dealers) recover 18-30 T of materials like paper, plastics, metals, etc. values of compostable matter(TCM 80-85%) render composting yard and compost to market yards, decentralized composting adopting a novel method of “Compost Parks” wherein vacant spaces in public places like parks, educational institutions, office complexes, etc. is suggested. A pilot vermin composting unit constructed at Rabindra Sarover Lake, one of the heritage places in Kolkata, India successfully demonstrates the feasibility of Compost Parks.