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A. Aich and S. K. Ghosh
Decomposition of waste in dumps produces an intermediary toxic liquid
“leachate.’ Leachate contains significant concentration of toxic chemicals with various organic and inorganic substances. Rain water percolating through the waste
dumps accelerates the formation of leachate. Leachates from waste dumps have
also serious effects on environment. The subsequent movement of the leachate into
the surrounding soil, groundwater or surface water causes considerable pollution
problem.
Surface and groundwater contaminations take place when waste or leachate from
it reaches water bodies. Residues from waste can change the water chemistry, which
can affect all levels of an ecosystem. The health of animals and humans are affected
from the contaminated water. Surface water and groundwater tests of the nearby water
sources/water bodies and the monitoring of the ambient air quality are required to
be done at regular interval to assess the pollution level.
Study conducted by All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIHPH),
Kolkata in the year (2000), found that the water samples of tube wells near the
Dhapa MSW dumping ground of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) contained
high TDS (total dissolve solid) concentration ranging from 800 to 1070 mg/L, chloride content 290–415 mg/L (desirable 200 mg/L), hardness from 625 to 710 mg/L
(desirable 300 mg/L). Calcium and magnesium concentrations were also high in the
range of 75 and 30 mg/L, respectively (Aich and Kahali 2000). The most alarming
was the presence of phenolic compound which was much above the permissible
limit of 0.001 mg/L. They also found high BOD, COD, phenolic compound, and
presence of heavy metal like chromium, zinc, nickel, cobalt, cadmium, and copper
in pond water near Dhapa dumping ground (Aich and Kahali 2000). Air movement
near waste dumps causes foul odor and air pollution too.
Scientists have predicted very alarming impacts of climatic change on developing
countries (NRC 2010). World Health Organization (WHO) has observed that 22
types of diseases could be prevented/controlled in India by improving municipal
solid waste management (MSWM) system. Scientific management of MSW may
save huge financial resources currently spent on medical services and the health of
our young population, reduce greenhouse gas emission and also can conserve natural
resources.
Value recovery from the municipal solid waste (MSW) can make an useful contribution to the municipal exchequer, and at the same time reduce GHG emission.
Unfortunately in India, instead of value extraction from MSW, majority of it get rid
of in most unscientific way in open dumps (GOI, Planning Commission 2014). India,
having total population 12.1 billion, has 7935 urban centers, 468 class 1 cities with
over 1,00,000 population and 53 metropolitan cities with over 1 million populations
(Census, GOI, 2011). As per 2011 Census, 31.16% population of India, i.e., 377
million people live in 7935 urban areas with 4041 municipal authorities. It is estimated that by 2050, 50% of the population will be living in urban areas in India. By
2031, the number of metropolitan cities in India is expected to increase to 87 (GOI,
Planning Commission 2014). As per the Census 2011, there are 7935 towns in the
country which was 5161 during 2001 Census, registering a growth of 53.75%.
A. Aich and S. K. Ghosh
Decomposition of waste in dumps produces an intermediary toxic liquid
“leachate.’ Leachate contains significant concentration of toxic chemicals with various organic and inorganic substances. Rain water percolating through the waste
dumps accelerates the formation of leachate. Leachates from waste dumps have
also serious effects on environment. The subsequent movement of the leachate into
the surrounding soil, groundwater or surface water causes considerable pollution
problem.
Surface and groundwater contaminations take place when waste or leachate from
it reaches water bodies. Residues from waste can change the water chemistry, which
can affect all levels of an ecosystem. The health of animals and humans are affected
from the contaminated water. Surface water and groundwater tests of the nearby water
sources/water bodies and the monitoring of the ambient air quality are required to
be done at regular interval to assess the pollution level.
Study conducted by All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIHPH),
Kolkata in the year (2000), found that the water samples of tube wells near the
Dhapa MSW dumping ground of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) contained
high TDS (total dissolve solid) concentration ranging from 800 to 1070 mg/L, chloride content 290–415 mg/L (desirable 200 mg/L), hardness from 625 to 710 mg/L
(desirable 300 mg/L). Calcium and magnesium concentrations were also high in the
range of 75 and 30 mg/L, respectively (Aich and Kahali 2000). The most alarming
was the presence of phenolic compound which was much above the permissible
limit of 0.001 mg/L. They also found high BOD, COD, phenolic compound, and
presence of heavy metal like chromium, zinc, nickel, cobalt, cadmium, and copper
in pond water near Dhapa dumping ground (Aich and Kahali 2000). Air movement
near waste dumps causes foul odor and air pollution too.
Scientists have predicted very alarming impacts of climatic change on developing
countries (NRC 2010). World Health Organization (WHO) has observed that 22
types of diseases could be prevented/controlled in India by improving municipal
solid waste management (MSWM) system. Scientific management of MSW may
save huge financial resources currently spent on medical services and the health of
our young population, reduce greenhouse gas emission and also can conserve natural
resources.
Value recovery from the municipal solid waste (MSW) can make an useful contribution to the municipal exchequer, and at the same time reduce GHG emission.
Unfortunately in India, instead of value extraction from MSW, majority of it get rid
of in most unscientific way in open dumps (GOI, Planning Commission 2014). India,
having total population 12.1 billion, has 7935 urban centers, 468 class 1 cities with
over 1,00,000 population and 53 metropolitan cities with over 1 million populations
(Census, GOI, 2011). As per 2011 Census, 31.16% population of India, i.e., 377
million people live in 7935 urban areas with 4041 municipal authorities. It is estimated that by 2050, 50% of the population will be living in urban areas in India. By
2031, the number of metropolitan cities in India is expected to increase to 87 (GOI,
Planning Commission 2014). As per the Census 2011, there are 7935 towns in the
country which was 5161 during 2001 Census, registering a growth of 53.75%.