Solid waste management can be grouped under three categories which include:
The commonly practiced technologies for SWM can be grouped into three major categories, i.e., bioprocessing, thermal processing and sanitary landfill. The bio-processing method includes aerobic and anaerobic composting. Thermal methods are incineration and pyrolysis. Sanitary landfill is generally used to dispose off the final rejects coming out of the biological and thermal waste processing units.
Methods of Solid Wastes Disposal:
i. Sanitary Landfills: In a sanitary landfill, garbage is spread out in thin layers, compacted and covered with clay or plastic foam.
ii. Incineration: The term incinerates means to burn something until nothing is left but ashes. An incinerator is a unit or facility used to burn trash and other types of waste until it is reduced to ash.
iii. Composting: Due to shortage of space for landfill in bigger cities, the biodegradable yard waste (kept separate from the municipal waste) is allowed to degrade or decompose in a medium. A good quality nutrient rich and environmental friendly manure is formed which improves the soil conditions and fertility.
iv. Pyrolysis: Pyrolysis is a form of incineration that chemically decomposes organic materials by heat in the absence of oxygen.