Municipal Solid Waste Analysis: Case Study on Gorakhpur City, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

City sanitation plans are strategic planning processes for city wise sanitation sector development. Exponential increase in population and rapid economic development led to an increase in generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) which impacts the sanitation of a city. Also, emission of toxic gases from MSW dumpsites are the main threat to the environment and public health. In the present study, data regarding solid waste management has been collected and studied the current scenario of the municipal solid waste system of Gorakhpur city, Uttar Pradesh, India. MSW composition, physical and chemical analysis has been performed and Methane gases (CH4) generated from MSW of the city is quantified using LandGEM 3.02. Waste composition shows that city generates paper (6.33%), organic matter (56.1%), wood (1.36%), textile (3.73%), plastic (1.11%), Rubber (0.56%), glass (1.6%) and inert material (29.17%).  With the same rate of MSW generation, CH4 emission will amount to 6.6X103 Mg/yr, 1.9x104 Mg/yr of CO2  and 4.33x101 Non methanic organic carbon (NMOC) by 2050.  MSW analysis resulted in high moisture content of 35 -40% and organic matter of 56.1%. Based on the physio chemical analysis, suitable waste to energy option that could be adopted are biogas generation and vermi composting from the biodegradable component of MSW. Rest 36% of non-biodegradable part of MSW could be converted to Reduced Derived Fuel (RDF).