Ecoparks as a Model of Sustainable Solid
Waste Management
P. Lakshmi Narayana Prasad and J. Karthikeyan
Abstract Municipal solid waste is an unavoidable consequence of human
civilization and has to be effectively and efficiently managed. Improper management
of MSW poses potential risks to environment and public health. Tirupati is a world
famous place of pilgrimage in the state of Andhra Pradesh and has a residential population of around 400,000. Nearly 60,000–80,000 pilgrims arrive at Tirupati per day
from different parts of India and abroad to have a Darshan of Lord Venkateswara.
Status of solid waste management in Tirupati town is far from satisfactory. Mode of
collection of solid waste is mixed; a combination of house to house collection and
hauled container system. Nearly 219 t of MSW is collected and transported in tractor
trailers, Compactors, Autos, dumper placers and tippers to a disposal site located
18 km away where solid waste is disposed by open dumping without any scientific method of disposal and technical supervision. Improper disposal of solid waste
in open dumps poses pollution of water, soil and air environments. Some wastes
are being composted at Tukivakam and three onsite In-vessel composting. Analysis of municipal solid waste indicates that major portion of the waste comprises
of compostable matter (TCM 68%) and therefore composting of solid waste after
segregation is suggested as an appropriate method of solid waste processing. Vermicomposting appears to be a better method of composting biodegradable organic
fractions in Municipal Solid Waste. To offset the cost of transportation of solid
waste to compost yard and compost to market yards decentralized composting is
suggested. A novel method of “Compost Parks” are suggested as a means of decentralization wherein vacant spaces in public places within the limits of ULBs such as
parks, educational institutions, hospitals, etc. are suggested to be used as composting
yards. MSW within the close vicinity of such spaces can be brought and biodegradable fraction subjected to composting in appropriately designed compost pits and
the remaining fraction is transported to the transfer station for subsequent disposal.
The composted material can be used for gardening/lawns in the same park or even
P. Lakshmi Narayana Prasad (B)
RWS&S Department, Department of Civil Engineering, S. V. U. College of Engineering,
Tirupati, India
e-mail: prasadpln10@gmail.com
J. Karthikeyan
Department of Civil Engineering, S. V. U. College of Engineering, Tirupati, India
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
S. K. Ghosh (ed.), Solid Waste Policies and Strategies: Issues, Challenges
and Case Studies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1543-9_13
143
Waste Management
P. Lakshmi Narayana Prasad and J. Karthikeyan
Abstract Municipal solid waste is an unavoidable consequence of human
civilization and has to be effectively and efficiently managed. Improper management
of MSW poses potential risks to environment and public health. Tirupati is a world
famous place of pilgrimage in the state of Andhra Pradesh and has a residential population of around 400,000. Nearly 60,000–80,000 pilgrims arrive at Tirupati per day
from different parts of India and abroad to have a Darshan of Lord Venkateswara.
Status of solid waste management in Tirupati town is far from satisfactory. Mode of
collection of solid waste is mixed; a combination of house to house collection and
hauled container system. Nearly 219 t of MSW is collected and transported in tractor
trailers, Compactors, Autos, dumper placers and tippers to a disposal site located
18 km away where solid waste is disposed by open dumping without any scientific method of disposal and technical supervision. Improper disposal of solid waste
in open dumps poses pollution of water, soil and air environments. Some wastes
are being composted at Tukivakam and three onsite In-vessel composting. Analysis of municipal solid waste indicates that major portion of the waste comprises
of compostable matter (TCM 68%) and therefore composting of solid waste after
segregation is suggested as an appropriate method of solid waste processing. Vermicomposting appears to be a better method of composting biodegradable organic
fractions in Municipal Solid Waste. To offset the cost of transportation of solid
waste to compost yard and compost to market yards decentralized composting is
suggested. A novel method of “Compost Parks” are suggested as a means of decentralization wherein vacant spaces in public places within the limits of ULBs such as
parks, educational institutions, hospitals, etc. are suggested to be used as composting
yards. MSW within the close vicinity of such spaces can be brought and biodegradable fraction subjected to composting in appropriately designed compost pits and
the remaining fraction is transported to the transfer station for subsequent disposal.
The composted material can be used for gardening/lawns in the same park or even
P. Lakshmi Narayana Prasad (B)
RWS&S Department, Department of Civil Engineering, S. V. U. College of Engineering,
Tirupati, India
e-mail: prasadpln10@gmail.com
J. Karthikeyan
Department of Civil Engineering, S. V. U. College of Engineering, Tirupati, India
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
S. K. Ghosh (ed.), Solid Waste Policies and Strategies: Issues, Challenges
and Case Studies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1543-9_13
143