Air Pollution from Municipal Solid Waste Management Techniques

Abstract

The rapid development of cities, increasing population and improper disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) leads to human and environmental problem. Emission of various harmful inorganic and organic gaseous pollutants are unavoidable even when scientific methods of waste management are followed. The present study was undertaken to compare the ambient air quality at different types of solid waste management sites adopting different processes such as composting, mechanical waste management, open dumping, sanitary landfill. The study focused to assess the air quality with respect to a few selected inorganic gaseous pollutants and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) emitting from five municipal solid waste disposal sites within Kolkata metropolitan area (KMA) which adopt different management techniques. Air sample was collected by low-volume sampler and analysed according to CPCB standard methods and USEPA TO-17 methods for inorganic gases and NMVOCs, respectively. The study suggests that there are variations in pollutant emission across different waste management techniques. However, other local sources such as vehicular emission, residential emission also contribute to ambient level near management sites. Hence, to determine the contribution of the various waste management processes detailed sources apportionment study is required.