Abstract:
Data on solid waste generation rates, waste composition, and waste characterization are the basic information to plan and implement solid waste management systems. In this paper preliminary assessment of solid waste management systems has been done at Mariam site condominium. Later, analysis of the generation rate and identification of the compositions of household’s waste has been done for three days of a week for four representative blocks from twenty block of the residence. Solid waste generation rate survey indicates that 380.45kg/day, 11,413.5kg/month and 136,962kg/year of wastes were generated on average basis. Municipal solid waste from the study has been normally sorted into seven categories, namely, food, paper, plastics, glass, textiles, metal and yard waste. The composition analysis of the wastes tells that 72.43%, 5.47%, and 5.11% 3.27%, 8.4%, 7.065% and 4.095% respectively. Finally the wastes are characterized through proximate and ultimate property analysis. The proximate analysis showed high moisture content and this directly related to the trend of high consumption of fresh vegetables. The energy content of the waste on ash free dry basis calculated is 12,196.22kj/kg. The compositional analysis as well as the result of proximate and ultimate analysis clearly showed that the materials generated from municipal houses are mainly biodegradable and it is ideal for the preparation of compost or anaerobic digestion which ultimately diverts organics from entering the MSW stream. Since organics are the largest components of municipal solid waste, the greatest reduction in waste collection and disposal can be achieved by diverting this component of the waste stream.