This book presents reviews, examples and case studies of innovative applications in solid and hazardous waste management. The economics of waste management have since become a significant research area in their own right, and two chapters address these issues. In addition, dedicated chapters cover specific categories of waste such as biomedical and institutional waste, plastics and e-waste. The book subsequently discusses newer analytical methods like SEM, EDX, XRD and optical microscopy, along with selected "older" methods for sampling and characterizing different types of waste. The various applications of mathematical tools like linear optimization, various software/models like WISCLeach, and DRASTIC, and tools like remote sensing and GIS are illustrated in many of the chapters. Lastly, since composting is one of the most popular treatment methods for managing the organic component of municipal solid waste, the book provides an overview of composting and the fundamentals ofmicrobiology that are essential to understanding waste-related biological processes. The book was primarily written for students and practitioners in the field who are already familiar with the basics. All chapters were prepared by practicing experts and scholars in the field, and are intended to help readers better understand and apply these principles and practices in their own endeavours.
Key topics covered in the book:
o The circular economy and the economics of solid waste management o Various remote sensing and GIS applications for managing municipal solid waste, coal fires in mines, changes in land use and land cover in industrial areas, etc. o Treatment and management of different types of solid waste: institutional (including biomedical), residential, e-waste, plastic, and ash from thermal power plants o Sampling and characterization of municipal waste and compost o Fundamentals of microbiology o Overview of environmental regulations, especially those pertaining to solid and hazardous waste management
Interest in solid and hazardous waste management is relatively recent, i.e., in the last three decades, and is driven by regulations in most countries. It began with industrial hazardous waste followed by municipal solid waste, and subsequently by many other categories of waste.This book presents numerous examples and case studies of innovative tools, treatment methods and applications in this growing area of research and development. It describes in detail laboratory methods of measuring the biodegradation of specific organic fractions, like floral waste, and also discusses the treatment of yard and food waste by anaerobic digestion and landfill leachate using constructed wetlands. Case studies are provided that show how remote sensing (RS) and GIS were used to develop an integrated solid waste management plan for a city and to evaluate the environmental impacts of stone quarrying activities.The book also features chapters discussing the implications of natural radioactivity in beach placers and their impact on groundwater and other parts of the environment, as well as the twelve principles of green chemistry and their application in the reuse and recycling of solid waste. Moreover, it includes examples of waste to energy, like refuse derived fuel and biofuel generation and an evaluation of their potential, and covers topics such as life cycle assessment as a tool for developing integrated solid waste management systems and an overview of municipal solid waste management rules, illustrating the importance of technological inputs in the development of regulatory frameworks.Written by leading practitioners and scholars in the field, the book enables readers to understand and apply these principles and practices in their endeavours.
