Essay About Solid Waste

1 INTRODUCTION

The non-hazardous waste gotten from household, commercial and industrial sources is called Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). These wastes (MSW) can come from any of the following sources:

• Household

• Commercial

• Institutional

• Industries.

1.1 Household

This type of solid waste comes from single-and multiple-family homes, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day use recreation areas.

1.2 Institutional

Solid waste gotten from public works (such as street sweepings and tree and brush trimmings), schools and colleges, hospitals, prisons, and similar public or quasi-public buildings. Infectious and hazardous waste gotten from this source is usually managed separately from MSW.

1.3

The primary source of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is the household sources, which accounts for 55 to 65 percent of the total Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated. This is closely followed by the commercial sources (EPA, 2011) while Commercial and Institutional Waste locations accounts to about 35 to 45 percent of total MSW (EPA, 2011) generated globally. The industries contributes a very miniature part of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) since most industries recycle and manages most of its own solid residuals by recycling, reuse, or self-disposal in industrial waste landfills. Nevertheless some industrial waste still end up in MSW landfills sites.

2. QUANTITY OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE

The quantity of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is highly influenced and determined by the following factors;

• The nature of materials disposed

• Technological changes

• Product packaging

• Changes in population

• The Purchasing power of an Individual

1.4 Generators Of Municipal Solid Waste