Characterization and management of municipal solid waste: a case study of Varanasi city, India

Abstract

The paper aims to characterise the waste generated in municipality of Varanasi, the most populated city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Municipal Solid waste (MSW) is a heterogeneous waste and composition of the waste varied from place to place. The objective of the paper was to study the amount of solid waste generated during one year (2012-2013) of study period at four different places in Varanasi and evaluation and recommendations made on data collected in order to improve the current Solid Waste Management System of Varanasi City. The research gathered data from two main sources namely: secondary and primary sources. The three main techniques employed in gathering the primary data were: preliminary field investigation, questionnaire survey and face-to-face interview. Characterization of municipal solid waste shows Varanasi waste comprise maximum food waste (31.9 %) followed by plastic (22%), textile (10.6%), paper (9.6%), glass (6.7%), cardboard (6.2%), ash (5.3%), leather (5.7%) and minimum metals waste (2.8). Surveys showed that per capita MSW waste generation rate is 800 MT per day, 0.217kg/person/day. Sample from Ordalibazar showed the highest amount of energy content according to Modified Dulong Formula with a value of 254524.46 KJ/Kg followed by Daphi 167545.84 KJ/Kg, Nakhighat 96455.80 KJ,/Kg Puranapull 16147.11 KJ/Kg. Orderlybazar site have highest energy capacity compared to other sites and we can obtained more methane from NakiGhat site. Thus, on the basis of this study we may conclude that solid waste management and recycling is major issue of Varanasi district. We can reuse various types of waste depending upon the nature of waste. We can also make alternate use of that waste like energy production.