Solid Waste Management

Sample Questions

UNIT 1: Concept of Sustainable Development and Solid Waste-related SDGs [6 marks]

1. Explain the role of solid waste management in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs). [For unit 1: Read the highlighted section of the research article provided]

UNIT 2: Introduction to Solid Waste Management [12 marks]

1. Discuss the concepts of Zero Waste management.

2. Explain the significance of Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) in modern waste
management practices
3. Discuss the 3Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and its role in effective solid waste
management.
4. Define Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) and discuss its contribution to sustainable
waste management.
5. Explain the concept of Solid Waste Management (SWM) and describe its key functional
elements
6. Analyze the role of various stakeholders in achieving sustainable waste management.
7. Identify the major challenges in solid waste management today and their potential solutions in
Nepal

UNIT 3: Sources/Types and Characteristics of Solid Waste [16 marks]

8. Define municipal solid waste. What are the major sources of municipal solid waste?
9. Classify solid waste based on its sources and types.
10. Discuss biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste with examples.
11. Explain the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of municipal solid waste.
12. Discuss why waste characterization is important in solid waste management. Describe its key
parameters.
 Solid Waste Management

UNIT 4: Solid Waste On-site Handling, Separation, Storage, and Processing [16 marks]

13. What are the key factors to consider in the onsite storage of solid waste?
14. Discuss different types of storage containers and their suitability for different waste types.
15. Explain the importance of waste segregation at the source.
16. Discuss composting and anaerobic digestion with their importance.
17. How does incineration help in waste management? Mention its advantages and disadvantages.
18. Describe best practices for waste handling and separation at the household level.

Unit 5: Collection, Transfer, and Transport of Solid Waste [20 marks]

19. What are the different types of waste collection systems?

20. What are the common vehicles used in primary waste collection?
21. What are the main differences between the haul container system (HCS) and the stationary
container system (SCS)?
22. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the haul container system?
23. What are the different types of vehicles used in HCS?
24. What is a transfer station (T.S.), its merits, demerits, and uses?
25. What factors need to be considered when designing a transfer station?
26. What are the different types of transfer stations?
 Solid Waste Management

Table : Definition of term for the activities involved in the collection of solid wastes

Hauled container system:

Thcs = Time required per trip, which also corresponds to the time required per container, is equal to the
sum of pick-up, at-site and haul times and given by the following equation:

Thcs = PThcs + q + m+ nx

where,
 Solid Waste Management

PThcs = pick-up time per trip for hauled – container system, h/trip

q = at-site time per trip, h/trip

m= empirical haul constant, h/ trip

n = empirical haul constant, h/ km

x = round- trip haul distance, km/trip

PThcs = the time spent picking up the loaded container, the time required to redeposit the container after
its contents have been emptied and the time spent driving to the next container.

PThcs = pc + uc + dbc

where, pc = pick-up time per trip, h/trip

uc = time required to unload empty container, h/trip

dbc = average time spent driving between container locations, h/ trip( determined locally)

Haul time (hhcs): the time required to reach the disposal site, starting after a container whose contents are
to be emptied has been loaded on the truck plus the time after leaving the disposal site until the truck
arrive the location where the empty container is to be re-deposited . Time spent at the disposal site is not
included.

hhcs = m + nx

Where, m= empirical haul constant, h/ trip

n = empirical haul constant, h/ km

x = round- trip haul distance, km/trip

Md = The number of trips that can be made per vehicle per day with a hauled – container system, including
a factor to account for off-route activities, is determined using equation,

1 W L  t1  t2 
Md = Thcs
 Solid Waste Management

Where, Md = no. of trips per day, trip /d

L= length of the working day, h/d

W= off-route factor, expressed as a fraction

t1 = time from garage to the first container location, h

t2 = time from garage to the last container location to garage, h

Assuming that the number of containers to be emptied per week is known, the time required per week
can be estimated by,

Dw = Nw [PThcs + q + m+ nx]/ {(1- W ) * L }

If weekly number of trips is unknown, it can be estimated as follows:

Nw = Vw /Cf

Nw = number of trips per week, trip/ wk

Vw = weekly waste generation rate , Yd3 / wk

C = average container size carried per trip, Yd3 / trip

f = weighed average container utilization factor

Stationary Container

Tscs = PTscs + q + m+ nx

Where,

Tscs = Time required per trip, for stationary container system,

PTscs = pick-up time per trip for stationary container system, h/trip

q = at-site time per trip, h/trip

m= empirical haul constant, h/ trip

n = empirical haul constant, h/ km

 Solid Waste Management

x = round- trip haul distance, km/trip

PTscs = the time spent in loading the collection vehicle, beginning with the stopping of the vehicle prior to
loading the contents of the first container and ending when the last container to be emptied have been
loaded.

PTscs = Ctuc + (S-1) (dbc)

Where,

Ct= Number of container emptied per trip, h/trip

uc= average time required to unload container, h/container

S = Number of container pick up locations per trip,

dbc = average time spent driving between container locations, h/ location( determined locally)

Haul time (hscs )= the time required to reach the disposal site, starting after last container on the route
has been emptied or the collection vehicle is filled plus the time after leaving the disposal site until the
truck arrives at the location of the first container to be emptied on the next collection route . Time spent
at the disposal site is not included.

hscs = m +nx

Where, m= empirical haul constant, h/ trip

n = empirical haul constant, h/ km

x = round- trip haul distance, km/trip

The number of containers that can be emptied per collection trip is related directly to the volume of the
collection vehicle and the compaction ratio that can be achieved. This number is given by:

C t = Vv z / V C f

Where,
 Solid Waste Management

Vv = volume of collection vehicle, m3 /trip

Vc = container volume , m3 / container

z= compaction factor

f = weighted container utilization factor

The number of trips required per day, trips/d

Mdc = Vd/ Vv Z

Where,

Mdc = number of collection trips required per day, trips/d .

Vv = volume of collection vehicle, m3 /trip

Vd = daily waste generation rate, m3 /d

z= compaction factor

L = length of the working day

L
t1  t2   M dc PTSCS  q  m  nx
1W
 Solid Waste Management

Problem on Hauled-Container Collection System

Solid waste from an industrial park is to be collected in large containers, some of which will be
used in conjunction with stationary compactors. Based on traffic studies on similar parks, it is
estimated that the average time to drive from the garage to the first container (t1) and rom the
last container to the garage (t2) each day will be 15 and 30 minutes respectively. If the average
time required to drive between containers is 6 minutes and the one-way distance to the disposal
site is 30 km (speed limit: 88km/h), determine the number of containers that can be emptied per
day, based on a 7-hr working day.

Solution: pc = pick-up time per trip, h/trip

(a) Determine the pick-up time per trip, PThcs uc = unloading/depositing time for
empty container, h/trip
PThcs = pc + uc + dbc

= 0.5 + (6/60) = 0.6 h/trip dbc = avg time spent driving

between container locations,
h/trip

pc + uc q
 Solid Waste Management
(b) Determine the time required per trip, Thcs

Thcs = PThcs + q + m + nx q = at-site time per trip, h/trip

= 0.6 + 0.129 + 0.016 + 0.011 × 30 × 2 m = empirical haul constant, h/trip

= 1.40 h/trip n = empirical haul constant, h/km

x = round trip haul distance, km/trip

(c) Determine the number of trips per day, Md

1W L  t1  t2  W = off-route factor = 0.17 (assumed)
Md = Thcs
L = length of working day, h/d = 7 h

t1 = time from garage to first container

= [(1-0.17) × 7 – (0.25+ 0.5)]/ 1.40 location, h = 15/60 = 0.25 h
= 3.11 trips/d
t2 = time from last container location
Md (actual) = 3 trips/d to garage, h = 30/60 = 0.5 h

(c) Determine the actual length of the working day

3 = [(1-0.17) × L – (0.25+ 0.5)]/ 1.40

L = 6.75 h (essentially 7 hrs)

 Solid Waste Management
Problem on Stationary-Container Collection System

Solid wastes from commercial area are to be collected using a stationary-container collection
system having 5 cubic meter containers. Determine the appropriate truck capacity for the
following conditions:

 Container utilization factor = 0.70

 Average number of containers at each location = 2
 Collection vehicle compaction ratio = 2.5
 Container unloading time = 0.15h/container (uc)
 Average drive time between container location = 0.15h
 One way haul distance = 25km
 Speed limit = 88 km/h
 Time from garage to first container location = 0.35h
 Time from last container location to garage = 0.25h
 Number of trips to disposal site per day = 2 (Mdc)
 Length of working day = 8h

Solution:

(a) Determine the time available for each trip, Tscs L = 8h

L = [(t1 + t2) + Mdc (Tscs)]/(1- W)
W = 0.15 (assumed)
Tscs = [{8× (1-0.15)} –(0.35+0.25)]/ 2
t1 = 0.35 h
Therefore, Tscs = 3.1h
t2 = 0.25 h

Mdc = 2

(b) Determine the pick-up time per trip, PTscs q = 0.15

Tscs = PTscs + q + m + nx
m = 0.016
PTscs = 3.1 – [0.15 + 0.016 + 0.011×25×2]
m = 0.011
= 2.38 h/trip
x = 25 km
 Solid Waste Management
(c) Determine the number of containers emptied per trip, Ct

PTscs = Ct uc + (S-1) dbc

PTscs = 2.38 h/trip
2.38 = Ct × 0.15 + (0.5Ct – 1) × 0.15
uc = Container unloading time = 0.15
Ct = 11.24 = 11 containers/trip hr/container (for scs)

dbc = 0.15 h

Ct = number of containers emptied per trip,

container/trip

S = number of container pick-up locations

per trip, locations/trip

= Ct /2 (as 2 containers/location)

[ 1 location = 2 containers

Therefore, S locations = 2S containers

So, Ct = 2S , i.e. S = Ct /2]

(c) Determine the required capacity of the collection vehicle, Vv

Ct = (Vv × z)/ (Vc × f)

Ct = 11 containers/trip
3
Vv = 15.4 m
z = compaction ratio = 2.5
3
16 m or nearest standard size can be used.
Vc = container volume, m3/container = 5 m3

f = weighted container utilization factor = 0.7

 Solid Waste Management
Unit 6: Resource Recovery and Solid Waste Treatment [20 marks]

27. What are the functions of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF)?

28. How materials can be recovered from the drop-off center and buy-back center.
29. What types of materials are typically recovered from drop-off centers and buy-back
centers?
30. What are the differences between clean MRF and dirty MRF?
31. What are the different unit operations in solid waste treatment?
32. What is recycling, and why is it important in solid waste management?
33. What are the benefits of recycling for the environment, economy, and society?

Unit 7: Final Disposal of Solid Waste [25 marks]

34. What are the environmental and health risks associated with open dumping?
35. What are the different types of landfills, and how do they differ?
36. What are the different methods of landfilling?
37. Draw a sectional view of a sanitary landfill
38. What factors need to be considered when selecting a landfill site?
39. What are the different phases of landfill gas generation?
40. What factors affect landfill gas generation?

UNIT 8: Public Health, Environmental and Safety Issues [8 marks]

41. What safety measures should be followed during the storage, transport, treatment, and
disposal of healthcare waste?
42. What are the different types of personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for waste
management tasks?
43. What are the potential risks associated with improper use of PPE in waste management?
44. How can efficient solid waste management practices help mitigate the effects of climate
change?
45. Discuss the impact of improper waste disposal on climate change and water pollution.
46. What are the environmental consequences of improper disposal of solid waste?