Utilization of household and industrial waste. Modern methods of waste disposal Systems for the processing of industrial and domestic waste

the beauty 17.09.2019
the beauty
  • Thursday, 16 April 2015 4:55
  • romario
  • Waste disposal is perhaps the main problem of modern mankind. Every day we produce so much garbage that would be enough for the whole city of the past.

    The ecological situation is so acute that scientists are literally screaming about the need to take control of this sphere of human life.

    Unfortunately, the current methods of waste disposal are often inefficient and do not result in the expected effect - cleanliness. environment.

    Nevertheless, according to experts, improvements in this area are observed. At the same time, today ordinary people begin to comprehend the need for sorting and recycling waste so that in the future their descendants do not drown in garbage.

    Residents of civilized European countries are accustomed from childhood to sort and throw away garbage exclusively in the places designated for this.

    A significant plus of this behavior is regular processing and recycling rubbish that has already been used once.

    Unfortunately, in our country, such benefits of civilization are just emerging. Waste sorting and its further processing is rather an exception to the rule than the norm.

    If you live in a suburban village and it is customary for you to sort your garbage by type and throw it into separate bins, you are a happy person.

    You can also organize the recycling of existing garbage with your own hands by putting into use several garbage cans for waste of a different nature.

    By organizing the removal of food waste and other garbage, you are helping to prevent an environmental disaster that has been looming for a long time.

    Try to start small. On average, one house in a medium-budget cottage village produces a large bag of garbage per day.

    All garbage ends up in a landfill, where, at best, it is recycled, and at worst, it is left for further independent decomposition.

    Waste disposal methods today

    There are several ways to dispose of waste, which are successfully used in Russia.

    • Waste disposal.
    • Garbage burning.
    • Composting.
    • Low and high temperature pyrolysis.

    Around each of the listed methods there are disputes about its effectiveness, efficiency and speed of work.

    The oldest method of getting rid of household and food waste is its burial. It is also the most dangerous and ineffective.

    Even food waste buried in a quarry or pit can accumulate a huge amount of decomposition and decay products, which can cause groundwater or air poisoning.

    What can we say about solid waste, the disposal of which in other ways leads to the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere. Special landfills are equipped for the disposal of hazardous waste.

    They, as people believe, are able to protect against the release of toxic substances into the soil, water and air that can poison all living things within a radius of several kilometers.

    However, time proves the inefficiency of this method of disposal and even its danger.

    Another recycling method that is not widely used in our country is composting. It is found in private households when disposing of food waste, but is much less commonly used in mass waste processing.

    However, composting is an efficient recycling method that results in compost that can be used in agriculture.

    Compost can be created both from purely food waste and from a stream of unseparated garbage. If you do this processing centrally, you can get good results.

    If we talk about the effective reduction of waste, then heat treatment shows itself most effectively. It allows you to neutralize most of the waste, while reducing their volume at times.

    Modern disposal by incineration also involves the use of combustion energy. This trend is spreading more and more, giving new opportunities in the future.

    Burning waste to generate heat and electricity is a method that can turn landfills into an energy source for the operation of systems central heating and various types of industries.

    A step above this method is plasma recycling of waste - a phenomenon in our country is so rare that it is hard to believe in it.

    Plasma recycling is the disposal of waste, which results in gas from organic compounds and slag from solid waste.

    Energy from processing in this way can be used in peaceful purposes which is happening in more developed countries in this regard.

    If the disposal of your own waste is important to you, try to find an organization in your area that sorts and recycles waste.

    In this case, the most that is required of you is to independently sort the waste into separate containers and order the waste collection regularly.

    Disposal and recycling of household waste is an urgent problem modern world. There are more and more landfills on earth, extensive littering threatens an ecological catastrophe. The solution to the problem is the processing of solid waste at specialized waste processing plants. Following the conditions of objective reality, humanity needs to improve the methods of waste disposal in order to achieve the most efficient processing of solid waste at minimal cost.

    3 Reasons Why Good Solid Waste Recycling Is Necessary

    Waste can be divided into the following kinds:

    • Household waste. This group includes human waste. The garbage that is thrown out of residential buildings and office buildings. Plastic products, food leftovers, paper, glass and other items. Many wastes are assigned to IV and V hazard classes.

    Question about plastic waste should be solved as follows: the garbage is subject to mechanical grinding, followed by chemical treatment with solutions, as a result of such manipulations, a mass is formed from which polymer products can be made again. Paper and food leftovers can turn into compost, rot and benefit the agricultural sector of the economy.

    • biological waste. This type of waste is produced by biological species (humans and animals). A large number of such materials are produced by veterinary clinics, hospitals, sanitary and hygienic organizations, catering enterprises and other similar institutions. Biological waste is destroyed by incineration. All materials of organic origin can be disposed of in this way.
    • Industrial waste. Such wastes are the result of manufacturing processes. Construction, operation of industrial equipment, installation and finishing works - all this leaves behind a huge amount of wood, paints and varnishes, heat-insulating materials, some of which can also be burned. For example, wood releases energy during combustion, which can also be used for social purposes.
    • radioactive waste. It is not uncommon for biomaterials and other wastes to contain radioactive substances that pose a hazard. This group also includes gases and solutions - that is, those wastes that cannot be used in the future. Some of this garbage can be destroyed by burning, but the rest can only be buried.
    • Medical waste. This is the garbage of medical institutions, 80% of which is non-hazardous household waste, and the remaining 20% ​​poses a risk to the human body. Like the processing of radioactive waste, the destruction of this type of waste has many restrictions and prohibitions in Russian legislation. The methods of its burning and burial are described in detail. For medical waste, as well as for radioactive waste, special burial grounds are created. Some destroy medical waste like this: they put it in bags and burn it. But many drugs belong to hazard classes I and II, so this disposal method is clearly not for them.

    All wastes are classified according to the degree of their danger to the environment. There are four hazard classes in total. The first class is garbage, which poses the most serious threat to the planet and all organisms living on it. If you do not process first class MSW in the manner prescribed by law, harm ecological system may be irreparable. Waste of the first hazard class: mercury, lead salts, plutonium, polonium, etc.

    Waste of the second hazard class can also greatly harm the environment. The consequences of such damage will continue to impact for a long time. The planet will recover within 30 years of being polluted by such waste. These include arsenic, selenium, chlorine, phosphates, etc.

    After waste of the third class of danger, the ecosystem is able to recover in a decade. Of course, recovery is possible only after the processing of MSW, otherwise the waste will not stop harming the environment. The third class includes zinc, ethyl alcohol, chromium, etc.

    The fourth hazard class is low-hazard waste (simazine, sulfates, chlorides). After they are removed from the infected object, the ecosystem needs to recover for three years.

    But waste of the fifth class is completely safe.

    Consider, why is it necessary proper recycling MSW:

    1. Waste pollutes the environment, which is already oversaturated with emissions from factories and vehicle emissions.
    2. Resources that are extracted from nature or created industrially are seriously limited, so it is advisable to recycle and reuse them.
    3. It turns out to be cheaper to use recycled raw materials, so the processing of MSW is economically beneficial.

    The most common methods of processing MSW

    Method 1Waste disposal.

    Landfills are created specifically in order to carry out the processing of solid waste on their territory. The flow of garbage enters these areas (up to 95%), and then the organic part decomposes spontaneously. In the area of ​​the landfill, special conditions are formed for an intensive biochemical process of dissociation. The resulting anaerobic environment promotes recycling enhanced by methanogenic microorganisms that form biogas (otherwise called "landfill gas"). What is the disadvantage of such polygons? Landfill gas toxins enter the atmospheric air and spread in the direction of the wind over long distances. And if they are mixed with industrial emissions, then the environment is even more dangerous.

    Given the accumulation of microorganisms that enhance the flow of chemical reactions, local fires can occur due to excessive overheating. At the same time, polyaromatic hydrocarbons are released into the environment, causing oncological diseases. Such emissions are thousands of times higher than the permissible concentrations of such substances in the air. Aqueous solutions formed in the air fall out in the form of precipitation, during the evaporation of which, as in the combustion of polymeric substances, dioxins are released. So through precipitation harmful chemical elements get into ground and surface waters.

    Since it is impossible to arrange such landfills within the city, plots are allocated for them outside of large settlements. If we calculate the cost of allocating territories, their arrangement in accordance with all the rules, transportation costs for transporting garbage to such a landfill for processing solid waste, we get a rather impressive figure. Add to that pollution atmospheric air associated with the release of products of combustion of motor fuel, wear and tear of suburban roads. The picture is not rosy.

    Due to the fact that the qualified arrangement of landfills for the processing of solid waste is associated with high costs, some people prefer to organize unauthorized dumps. In such places of unauthorized storage, there is no sealing, liquid waste directly enters the environment without passing through the neutralization stage, creating a high danger to the population. And these dumps only multiply and grow.

    Thus, it is very dangerous to store unrecycled waste at landfills, and therefore this method of disposal should be prohibited at the legislative level. And there are many reasons for this:

    • lack of bacteriological and epidemiological safety;
    • rapid spread of dangerous human body substances over large areas (penetration into air, water, soil);
    • release of dioxins during fire;
    • the high cost of land and landfill facilities, as well as the need for subsequent reclamation of the site;
    • a contradiction to the "Basics of the state policy in the field of environmental development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030".

    Method 2Garbage composting.


    This method of processing MSW is based on the fact that some of the garbage can be disposed of independently - through biodegradation. So, organic waste is able to be composted. Nowadays, there are special technologies for composting food waste and unseparated garbage.

    Mass composting is not widespread in our country, but is used by that part of the population that has private houses or summer cottages. However, in general, it is possible to organize the process of garbage composting centrally, by allocating special sites for this. The resulting compost can later be successfully used in the agricultural industry.

    Method 3Thermal processing of waste (MSW).


    Organics can also be easily destroyed thermally. Thermal processing of MSW is a consistent procedure for the effect of heat on waste in order to reduce their mass and volume, as well as neutralization. Such processing of MSW can be accompanied by the production of inert materials and energy carriers.

    Advantages of thermal processing:

    • Effectiveness in terms of neutralization (destroys pathogenic microflora).
    • Significantly reduces the volume of garbage (up to ten times).
    • Use of the energy potential of waste of organic origin.

    The most common method of thermal processing of MSW is incineration. This simple method has many advantages:

    • It has been tested many times.
    • Combustion equipment is available and commercially available, has a long service life.
    • Automated process, does not require the involvement of labor resources.

    If earlier garbage was simply burned, then modern technologies make it possible to use this process more efficiently, simultaneously extracting the fuel fraction from it. As a result of such techniques, the incineration procedure turns not only into the elimination of garbage, but also into the production of additional energy - electrical or thermal. The most promising this moment is a plasma combustion technology that provides a higher combustion temperature. As a result, useful energy is released, and the result is a completely harmless vitrified product.

    Method 4Plasma recycling of waste (MSW).


    Processing of MSW by the plasma method is a process of turning garbage into gas. This gas is subsequently used to generate steam and electricity. Non-pyrolyzable residues solid waste are one of the elements of plasma processing.

    The advantage of high-temperature pyrolysis is that this process destroys a wide variety of wastes without any preliminary preparation, without harming the environment. From an economic point of view, this is a very profitable technology, since no additional costs are required for drying, sorting and other procedures for preparing waste for disposal.

    The output is slag, which does not harm the environment and can even be reused.

    What equipment is used for the processing of solid waste

    The industrial world does not stand still, more and more equipment and waste disposal plants are becoming. The most common types of equipment for such enterprises include:

    1. Presses.


    Without pressing waste, it is impossible to imagine any plant for the disposal and processing of solid waste. After pressing, the waste is more convenient to store and transport. The presses can have different dimensions: from the most gigantic to relatively small ones that can fit in the territory of an ordinary store. In Russia, two types of presses are used:

    • Packing presses.
    • Briquetting presses.

    According to the method of loading the press are:

    • Vertical (front loading).
    • Horizontal (capable of compressing debris more tightly).

    While vertical presses are compact enough, horizontal presses are usually installed only in large factories, since they are difficult to fit in a normal room.

    According to the purpose of the press, there are universal (for all types of waste) and specialized (for only one type).

    2. Compactors.

    Compactors are considered very close to presses. From the name it is clear that they also make the garbage more compressed. Basically, this type of equipment compacts PET bottles, polyethylene films, aluminum cans, as well as paper and cardboard. For shopping malls this type of equipment is indispensable, because there is always a need to compress a large amount of garbage.

    Waste transportation companies unanimously claim that transportation and storage costs are significantly reduced by compacting waste with compactors. At the same time, it does not matter at all whether this compactor is mobile or stationary.

    Fixed and mobile equipment have their pros and cons. If mobile compactors are monoblocks, then stationary compactors contain a press and a replaceable container, which allows you to load much more waste than in a single monoblock. The continuous cycle of work also significantly distinguishes the stationary compactor from other waste equipment. Just have time to change containers.

    But the mobile compactor can be used in different places, while it does not need to be mounted and dismantled again every time. This is a hermetically sealed design, which allows it to work even with wet waste.

    3. Shredders.

    Shredders have a completely different type of work than presses and compactors. They help in the disposal of garbage by crushing it or crushing it. That is why Russian-speaking users call shredders crushers. Not a single solid waste processing plant can do without them. Shredders are designed for grinding:

    • glass;
    • tree;
    • plastics;
    • paper;
    • rubber;
    • metal;
    • organic and mixed waste;
    • dangerous substances.

    Some shredders only handle one type of waste, such as glass. But there are many models that are designed to grind a wide variety of garbage.

    4. Containers.

    We deal with this type of equipment every day. These are our usual waste containers, which we regularly use. The material from which the containers are made is usually plastic, although sometimes metal is also found. Containers can be used for separate storage of garbage or for mixed waste. Not so long ago, containers were stationary, now more and more often we see containers on wheels. From containers equipped with wheels, it is more convenient to transfer garbage to garbage trucks.

    5. Sorting lines.


    It is much easier and more efficient to process MSW in sorted form. As we have already said, different types of waste have their own disposal methods, and therefore it is so important to first separate one type of waste from others. To this end, waste sorting lines are now mandatory installed at waste processing plants. Sorting lines are designed to separate municipal solid waste into fractions for the purpose of their subsequent pressing, compaction and transformation into secondary raw materials, which can then be sold. Sorting lines have become an integral part of the waste recycling process.

    How a solid waste processing plant is completed

    A set of equipment for any plant is selected taking into account its specialization. There are enterprises of a wide profile that carry out the processing of various types of solid waste. But small plants usually deal only with a specific type of waste. It can be construction waste, tires and other rubber products, household waste, and so on.

    It is safest to invest in functional and powerful equipment that can serve a large area, working without interruptions and breakdowns.

    An example of such a complex is the waste incineration mini-plant MPZ-5000 (manufactured by Sifania (Russia)). It is designed to process a huge amount of municipal solid waste, for example, it will perfectly cope with five thousand tons of garbage per year. A mini-factory implies a set of equipment for burning garbage. The example we are considering is suitable for serving a small area with a population of about 25 thousand people. The set of equipment includes not only a waste incinerator, but also units for:

    • waste sorting;
    • shredding plastic bottles;
    • waste paper seals;
    • pyrolization of non-decomposable materials.

    The cost of the equipment is quite high. Its simplest standard equipment will cost the company ten million rubles.

    But this example is suitable for a small scale organization. For larger production, you can purchase a sorting station capable of passing through itself up to ten tons per hour. The productivity of such equipment is much higher than that of a mini-factory. This station is capable of separating 16 types of MSW from a mixed flow. Station maintenance requires at least 40 people. A good option for such equipment is the JSSORT complex. It has impressive dimensions. To install the entire station, you will need an area 40 meters wide and 80 meters long. Such equipment is capable of serving about 15 garbage trucks in one eight-hour working day.

    Such a set of equipment will cost three times more than a mini-factory. Its cost is about 30 million rubles. This includes the cost of building a suitable space for the station.

    A very profitable option for making money on waste disposal is a rubber products processing plant ( car tires) into fine crumbs. After the operation of specialized equipment, only rubber powder remains, crushed into granules, which is perfectly suitable for recycling.

    It is in demand in the production of:

    • asphalt;
    • road speed limiters;
    • materials for soundproofing;
    • mastic with anti-corrosion properties and other products of the construction industry.

    A set of equipment for rubber processing is capable of processing up to three tons of waste per hour. An imported mini-factory of this type costs about 25 million rubles.

    It should be noted that all processing enterprises have approximately the same set of components. The differences are mainly in the degree of their power and the level of process automation. The MSW processing plant includes the following equipment:

    • receiving conveyor;
    • inclined belt conveyor;
    • sorting line;
    • press machine for packing;
    • pyrolysis plant;
    • shredder for plastic;
    • glass container.

    Sometimes this set is complemented by a receiving shop with magnetic equipment for separating scrap metal.

    Consider the scheme of operation of a mini-plant for the processing of solid waste:

    • first of all, the waste stream goes through a magnetic receiver to sort the metal;
    • the vertical conveyor transports raw materials to the sorting line;
    • sorting complexes can be automated and separate waste using optical devices or semi-automated and use manual labor;
    • all waste paper is sorted and sent to packaging;
    • plastic products enter the grinding device;
    • glass waste is sent to a collection container;
    • all other waste goes to the receiving hopper, from where it subsequently enters the press for compaction. The further fate of such garbage is burial.

    If recyclables are packaged, they can be sold or recycled, depending on which direction is provided by the plant itself. For example, one of the divisions of the enterprise may be a workshop for the production of toilet paper.

    The main problems of MSW processing

    Problem 1.Lack of funds.

    Currently, waste is removed mainly at the expense of the population. But the tariffs for the neutralization of household waste established by regulatory enactments are prohibitively low. So much so that they are not able to compensate even for the transportation of garbage, not to mention its processing and disposal.

    Of course, the funds collected from the population are not enough, so the rest of the resources are allocated by the state. But for unknown reasons, the housing and communal services never have the opportunity to develop and modernize the waste disposal system. We still do not have separate collection, as is customary throughout Europe. Yes, and at the material level there is no incentive to sort. If you throw out all the garbage in one container or separate the waste by type, you still pay the same tariff for the processing of solid waste.

    Problem 2Secondary importance.

    MSW recycling is currently carried out by organizations whose main activity is the provision of various utilities.

    Only if specialized enterprises take over the collection and processing of waste, they will be able to carry out planning for more efficient waste collection, improve the equipment used, optimize income and costs for the processing of solid waste.

    Problem 3.The absence of responsible persons.

    All activities related to the disposal of household waste are dispersed among various departments. A single structure of hierarchy and responsibility in this matter has not been built. In European countries, things are different. There, the issue of household waste management is controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency. In our country, there is a similar authority - the Ministry of Natural Resources, however, the issue of MSW processing has not been transferred to the jurisdiction of this body.

    As a result, the existing ministries and departments deal with this area to varying degrees, but shift responsibility to each other, and the process of issuing draft laws in this area is delayed due to the lengthy approval procedure.

    Problem 4.Concentration in the hands of state bodies.

    Government agencies zealously hold on to the recycling of solid waste, although, as we have seen, they do not have enough funds, desire and understanding to organize the process at the proper level. European states show the effectiveness of involving private companies in this issue. In Europe, organizations have long collaborated with municipalities on waste collection and disposal. Perhaps, sometime in the future, our authorities will reach a similar level of cooperation, but for now, landfills are accumulating and continue to poison the environment.

    Foreign experience shows that private companies are very enthusiastic about solving this problem, as it is directly related to commercial gain. So, they are looking for the most efficient and cost-effective ways to process MSW. By building large factories and attracting foreign investment, commercial organizations work with great returns, and the result of their activities is evident.

    Problem 5.No community outreach.

    The fact that the population practically does not understand the benefits of separate waste collection is a sad flaw in the domestic management of this issue. After all, if citizens are informed about the problems of MSW processing, they may increase their awareness and desire to correct the situation, including on their own. After all, this planet is our home, where we live and plan to inhabit it for a long time to come.

    Problem 6.Lack of fixtures.

    The abundance of open access data allows many conscious citizens, despite the lack of centralized information, to come to an understanding of the problem of waste disposal. But even if people have a desire to throw garbage into separate containers, they are not given such an opportunity. The only equipment for collecting waste is an ordinary garbage chute. There is only one way out of the situation: weld all existing garbage chutes and establish a waste sorting system.

    It is more expedient to design new houses without garbage chutes, since in general this will not only provide the possibility of separate waste collection, but also increase cleanliness in the entrances.

    Problem 7.Recycling has not been arranged.

    In Russia, there are organizations that are engaged in the processing of solid waste. There are not as many of them as we would like, but even these units often experience problems with the disposal of secondary raw materials. And this is sad, because in fact, the use of scrap allows you to get significant economic benefits.

    To motivate the use of recyclable materials in production is again a state task. Moreover, we are talking not only about establishing obligations for enterprises, but also about developing a system of incentives, benefits, incentives that could encourage business representatives to establish markets for the sale of waste and its use.

    Thus, in the implementation of public procurement in European countries, benefits are often provided for organizations that manufacture products from recycled materials.

    Problem 8.Lack of planning.

    In order for the processing of solid waste and the use of recyclable materials not to become local and episodic phenomena, it is necessary to draw up detailed plans aimed at achieving the desired results. Thus, this plan for the use of waste should cover a long period during which the necessary measures are provided, as well as the timing of their implementation, sources of funding, goals and persons responsible for the implementation of such actions.

    All of the above problems actually arise due to the same factor: the task of competent processing of solid waste is not among the priorities at the state level. In addition, we still have not come to realize the most rational use of available resources. Therefore, environmental protection issues have not yet been resolved, and an effective waste disposal system has not been built.

    What are the prospects for the processing of solid waste in Russia

    The idea has not yet been developed in Russia rational use waste. AT recent times this direction is given a little more attention. But only the smallest. A number of waste processing enterprises have been created in our country, but their functioning has not yet been put on wide leg. The process is not adjusted, there is no competent interaction of such organizations with the state. In general, while such companies operate mainly in the central regions of the country - Moscow, St. Petersburg. But ideally, such activities should be carried out everywhere.

    The fact is that in large cities there are much more earning opportunities for waste processing enterprises. The waste disposal business is very profitable where there is an abundance of it, and there are sorely lacking areas for storage and slow destruction of waste. Not so on the periphery. Most often, garbage is taken out to lands that are located on the outskirts of cities and towns. This method harms the environment and is also economically unprofitable. While the processing of ordinary household waste is a profitable business, and at this time in the domestic economy, this niche is free.

    It should be noted that until the municipalities begin to perceive this problem as an urgent one, it is unlikely that anything will change dramatically. Foreign experience shows that a significant part of waste disposal issues can be solved by a simple action - the installation of containers for separate waste collection. This step will greatly simplify the processing of MSW.

    The criticism of this assumption is the judgment about the inertia and laziness of Russians who do not want to sort their waste at home. But polls public opinion this idea is not supported. For example, half of Moscow residents are already ready for separate waste collection. And this is without any propaganda and work with the population on the part of those in power. It is easy to guess that, subject to the actions of the state in this direction, a quick and effective transition to modern technologies for waste processing and the use of secondary raw materials is possible in our country.

    Expert opinion

    Solving the problems of MSW processing with the help of integrated management

    L.Ya. Shubov,

    Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor, member of the community of Russian experts on environmental management

    HE. Borisova,

    Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of RSUTS

    I.G. Doronkin,

    Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of RSUTS

    MSW recycling management consists of the following elements:

    • garbage collection;
    • export;
    • processing (preliminary preparation);
    • actual processing;
    • disposal;
    • burial.

    All these components are connected into a single system and are interconnected.

    To ensure the solution of the tasks of MSW processing, it is necessary to be guided by modern requirements for resource conservation and environmental management:

    • recycling of waste as sources of raw materials and energy;
    • reducing the cost of cleaning settlements;
    • transition from the method of MSW disposal to industrial utilization;
    • security environmental safety.

    Changes are not so easy to achieve, because they are associated not only with the establishment of an effective system of garbage collection and processing, but also with the improvement of the sanitary and hygienic state of the city, and this is already a matter of reforming the housing and communal services. At the moment, there are a number of tasks, among which the creation of a service market and the development of competition in the field of solid waste processing are not the last. Implementing all these innovations is not easy.

    At the moment, there is a serious shortage of specialists in the processing of solid waste. Universities annually issue diplomas to broad-profile environmentalists who do not yet own the technologies for the efficient processing of technogenic raw materials, it is difficult for them to find a solution to the problem with solid waste overnight.

    Some foreign organizations are rushing to the Russian market, offering a way out of the difficult situation with solid waste with the help of advanced technologies. But often it is only about burning garbage. A well-thought-out waste disposal system still does not arise. At best, industrial facilities appear chaotically, dealing with only one technology in the complex of measures necessary for the systematic destruction of waste. This is the road to nowhere.

    It is impossible to solve the problem of MSW recycling by building waste incineration plants. While one is being built, he is finishing his life cycle another. Therefore, unsystematic construction has already proved its inefficiency. In this direction, one cannot rely on one single method of processing - incineration.

    Practice shows that such a policy does not lead to a solution to the problem, but only contributes to increased environmental pollution.

    It is necessary to take an example from the European states. Here is what they have achieved so far in terms of MSW management:

    • Developed a recycling industry based on separate waste collection with the selection of usable elements.
    • We organized and continue to develop a system of specialized sorting facilities, enterprises for thermal and biothermal waste processing.
    • Developed a recycling system.

    Burning all garbage is simply unacceptable. The waste fraction that has already been freed from both hazardous and resource-valuable components is used for thermal processing. Such production can be called environmentally friendly.

    In our country, all MSW processing points are built haphazardly, out of touch with each other. The entire waste stream is sent there without prior sorting. Such actions create the threat of an emergency situation.

    If the issue of solid waste is resolved, then the problem of environmental security of the country as a whole will be partially resolved.

    There is an urgent need to build a system for processing solid waste for the Moscow region and the cities of the resort area. Until public policy in this matter will not be normalized, crime and corruption will continue to flourish. That is why the development of a science-based strategy for the processing of MSW is task No. 1.

    The strategy for optimizing the integrated management of solid waste is needed, first of all, to create an advanced efficient waste management system and the use of secondary raw materials. The task of such a program is to develop ways to introduce waste into industrial processing, plan a sequence of actions to massively reduce the flow of garbage that is currently being disposed of, reduce environmental risks and waste disposal costs. The strategy should look like a single document with understandable and clear terminology, containing a real model for optimizing the use of waste.

    Proper disposal of waste is a huge step towards improving the environment.

    There is more than one way to recycle waste.

    The main task of each of the methods is to complete the task, preventing the spread of harmful bacteria and microorganisms. At the same time, it is necessary to minimize the harmful substances released during the disposal itself.

    Consider the options for the destruction of waste and evaluate how effective each of them is.

    Waste disposal at landfills

    Landfills serve for the collection and processing of waste in a natural way. Many of them practice a very simple and understandable disposal system: as soon as a certain amount of garbage is collected, it is buried. Not only is this method outdated, it is a ticking time bomb, because there are materials that do not decompose for decades.

    Those few landfills that have workshops at their disposal work as follows: arriving cars are registered at the checkpoint. The volume of the body is also measured there to determine the cost of disposal; the level of radiation is measured. If it exceeds the allowable limits, the car is not allowed to pass.

    From the checkpoint, the car goes to the waste sorting shop. Sorting takes place manually: the machine feeds the garbage onto the conveyor belt, and the workers choose bottles, paper, etc. from there. The sorted materials are put into containers without a bottom, from which the garbage immediately enters the cage and under the press. When the process is completed, the remaining waste (not included in any of the categories) is also compressed and taken directly to the landfill. Since long-decomposing materials are sorted out, the remaining garbage can be covered with earth.

    Plastic bottles, cardboard and some other waste are bought by enterprises for production. For example, nets for vegetables are made from plastic bottles and containers, new products are made from glass bottles and fragments, cardboard - toilet paper.

    Materials accepted at landfills:

    • Household waste from residential buildings, institutions, enterprises engaged in the trade of industrial and food products.
    • Waste from construction organizations that can be equated to municipal solid waste.
    • Industrial waste of the 4th hazard class can be accepted if their amount does not exceed one third of the accepted waste.

    Waste, the import of which is prohibited to the landfill:

    • Construction waste of the 4th hazard class, which contains asbestos, ash, and slag.
    • industrial waste 1, 2, 3 hazard classes.
    • radioactive waste.
    • Landfills are arranged according to strict sanitary standards and only in those areas where the risk of human infection with bacteria through air or water is minimized. The occupied area is designed for approximately 20 years.

    Composting

    This processing method is familiar to gardeners who use decayed organic materials to fertilize plants. Waste composting is a disposal method based on the natural decomposition of organic materials.

    Today, a method is known for composting even an unsorted stream of household waste.

    It is quite possible to get compost from garbage, which could later be used in agriculture. Many factories were built in the USSR, but they stopped functioning due to the large amount of heavy metals in the garbage.

    Today, composting technologies in Russia are reduced to the fermentation of unsorted waste in bioreactors.

    The resulting product cannot be used in agriculture, so it finds application right there, in landfills - they are covered with waste.

    This disposal method is considered effective provided that the plant is equipped with high-tech equipment. Metals, batteries, and plastics are first removed from the waste.

    Advantages of incineration:

    • less unpleasant odors;
    • the number of harmful bacteria, emissions decreases;
    • the resulting mass does not attract rodents and birds;
    • it is possible to obtain energy (thermal and electrical) during combustion.

    Flaws:

    • expensive construction and operation of waste incineration plants;
    • construction takes at least 5 years;
    • when waste is burned, harmful substances enter the atmosphere;
    • incineration ash is toxic and cannot be stored in conventional landfills. This requires special storage.

    Due to the lack of city budgets, inconsistency with waste processing companies and for other reasons, the production of waste incineration plants has not yet been established in Russia.

    Pyrolysis, its types and advantages

    Pyrolysis is the burning of garbage in special chambers that prevent the access of oxygen.. There are two kinds:

    • High temperature - combustion temperature in the furnace over 900°C.
    • Low temperature - from 450 to 900°C.

    When comparing conventional incineration as a waste disposal method and low-temperature pyrolysis, the following advantages of the second method can be distinguished:

    • obtaining pyrolysis oils, which are subsequently used in the production of plastics;
    • the release of pyrolysis gas, which is obtained in sufficient quantities to ensure the production of energy carriers;
    • the minimum amount of harmful substances is released;
    • pyrolysis plants process almost all types of household waste, but the waste must first be sorted.

    High-temperature pyrolysis, in turn, has advantages over low-temperature pyrolysis:

    • no need to sort waste;
    • the mass of the ash residue is much less, and it can be used for industrial and construction purposes;
    • at a combustion temperature above 900 ° C, hazardous substances decompose without getting into the environment;
    • the resulting pyrolysis oils do not require purification, as they have a sufficient degree of purity.

    Each of the waste recycling methods has advantages, but everything depends on the cost of installations: the more efficient and profitable the disposal method, the more expensive its installation and the longer the payback period. Despite these shortcomings, the state is striving to implement projects for efficient and safe waste processing, realizing that these technologies are the future.

    The problem of waste disposal has been relevant at all times, but today this issue has become so acute that it raises the Shakespearean theme to a global scale: in fact, to be or not to be our planet?

    There are only two possible answers: either people turn to face the problem, or our beautiful Earth will perish under a pile of fetid garbage.

    Today, there are a huge number of industrial enterprises in the world. And only a few of them can boast waste-free production, the rest cope with waste as best they can or do not cope at all.

    About a third of all waste is recycled, that is, disposed of. The rest are forced to lie dead weight and pollute our atmosphere. And the longer we live with this garbage nearby, the less chance of survival for future generations. This question has already matured so clearly that it is time for everyone to think and ring the bells anxiously.

    Waste disposal is a complex measure. In order to qualitatively approach the solution of this problem, it is necessary to take into account the presence of different types of waste, and the processing of each of them should be approached individually.

    How much is processed in Russia

    In particular, Russian enterprises annually produce 3.5 billion tons of waste.

    Of these, 2.6 billion are industrial, 700 million tons are liquid waste generated by poultry and livestock farms, 42 million tons are, and 30 million tons are sewage treatment plant sludge.

    Classification of waste by type

    Depending on the origin, waste is divided into different types and classes. Let's name the most common ones, although this is a rather conditional division, in fact there are much more species and subspecies.

    Household waste

    This type includes waste generated in the process of human life. These are various food, paper, plastic and other wastes that citizens throw out of their homes and institutions. Ordinary, familiar to all garbage, found everywhere and everywhere, belongs to the fourth or fifth class of danger.

    biological waste

    Animals and man are species. Their waste products are great. These include public catering, sanitary facilities, veterinary clinics and the like. The main method of their disposal is. Liquid fractions are taken out on special machines.

    Industrial waste

    These include waste generated as a result of production and technological work. This type can also include construction waste, which appears as a result of the production of construction and finishing materials(paint and varnish, heat-insulating, etc.), during the construction of houses and structures, as well as during installation, finishing, facing and repair work.

    radioactive waste

    These are unusable gases, solutions, various materials and products, biological objects that contain radioactive substances in excess of the allowable amount.

    Depending on this indicator, the degree of their danger is determined.

    This group includes waste produced by medical institutions. Of these, about 80% is ordinary household waste, the remaining 20% ​​pose a threat to humans to one degree or another.

    Division by hazard class

    Waste is also classified according to its state of aggregation, that is, it can be liquid, solid and gaseous. According to the degree of danger, waste is divided into classes, there are four of them.

    The lower the class of waste, the greater the threat they pose to humans and the planet as a whole.

    • The first class includes extremely hazardous wastes that can disrupt the ecosystem on a catastrophic scale. The consequences of such an impact are irreversible.
    • The second class is represented by very hazardous wastes that pose a threat to the environment for a long period (about 30 years).
    • The third class is moderately hazardous waste. The ecosystem has been disturbed, but its restoration is possible only after 10 years, provided that the harmful source is eliminated.
    • Low hazardous waste is the fourth class. Their detrimental impact on the environment continues for 3 years.
    • Class 5 waste does not pose a threat to the environment.

    What danger does each species pose to the environment and humans

    Waste is one of the leading environmental issues worldwide. Alas, some countries still do not understand the danger that nature and man are in. The planet is literally littered with garbage.

    Municipal solid waste is diverse: cardboard and wood, metal and ordinary paper, textiles and leather, rubber, stones, glass. Especially dangerous is plastic waste, which does not decompose for a long period and can lie in the ground for tens or even hundreds of years. Rotting household waste is a favorable environment for the development of many pathogens.

    From year to year, the number of industrial enterprises is growing, respectively, the amount of waste is increasing, which leads to pollution and littering of nature.

    As a result, the quality of the environment is constantly deteriorating, and natural landscapes are increasingly subject to an irreversible process of destruction. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of land suitable for agricultural activities are dying under the rubble of rotting waste.

    Industrial waste negatively affects not only the atmosphere, but also the planet's water resources. Disposal of production waste in wastewater leads to pollution of the waters of the World Ocean, which, in turn, reduces biological productivity and negatively affects the climate of the Earth as a whole.

    Construction debris, consisting of the remains of wood, drywall, metal, concrete, etc., can damage the balance of the ecosystem. The decomposition time of such waste is quite long. For example, brick fragments can lie in the soil for up to 100 years.

    Radiochemical plants, nuclear power plants, research centers emit the most dangerous waste into the environment - radioactive. They are not only dangerous, they can lead our Earth to ecological disaster. The last sad experience in Chernobyl showed firsthand the global threat of this type of pollution.

    Despite the fact that Russia has accumulated enough of its own nuclear waste, radioactive waste from other countries is brought into the country for processing and further storage.

    The danger of medical waste is great. They can contain highly dangerous, self-reproducing pathogenic microorganisms, and if they are simply thrown into landfills, there is a risk of spreading bacteria, which as a result will lead to outbreaks of various epidemics.

    Man, being part of the ecosystem, is also subject to adverse effects. industrial waste. Per last years a number of diseases appeared - allergic, endocrine, toxic - caused by the action of chemical substances released by humans into the natural environment.

    Waste disposal methods in the Russian Federation

    The problem of waste disposal is relevant all over the world today, including in Russia. There are three main ways that are used for waste disposal in our country:

    • storage of garbage in specially designated landfills;
    • burning;
    • processing into secondary raw materials.

    In order to engage in this type of activity, you must have a license and conclude an agreement. Moreover, each type of waste has its own rules.

    Solid household waste and its disposal

    The nature of Russia is beautiful and diverse. However, today in the vastness of our vast Motherland there is not a single natural corner that has not been touched by a human hand. Traces of human carelessness can be found everywhere: bottles, bags, cans, cigarette packs, etc. lying around.

    80% of all household waste in Russia is simply taken to landfills. The cost of this method is the lowest. The official landfills of the Russian Federation, in which about 82 billion tons of waste are buried, are about 11 thousand. Their number is constantly increasing, thereby causing enormous damage to nature.

    Some of the garbage is incinerated and then buried. However, this method also has a number of disadvantages, since the harmful substances formed during the combustion process are very toxic, their release into the environment adversely affects human health.

    Food waste is placed in stores, where under the influence of a certain temperature they decompose, compost.

    Only 3% of household waste is exposed to industrial processing. This method of disposal today poses the least danger, but the whole problem lies in the construction of such enterprises, or rather, the need to invest in this industry.

    Recycling of industrial waste

    Industrial waste is generated literally at every stage of production. Recently, state authorities have seriously thought about introducing fundamental changes in the field of environmental management, when the correct processing and disposal of industrial waste generated by enterprises will be subject to strict accounting.

    Plants for processing industrial waste into secondary raw materials are already operating on the territory of the Russian Federation. So far, this industry has just begun its development, so today only 35% of this type of waste undergoes high-quality processing. The rest is still dumped in landfills or, even worse, in sewage, thereby causing irreparable damage to the planet. Unfortunately, this problem is global, and it must be solved at the global level.

    Disposal of radioactive and medical residues

    Numerous bans have been introduced in Russia on the conditions of handling, disposal, as well as on the import of these types of waste. However, to date, burial and incineration are the main methods of their disposal. There are special burial grounds in which solid and liquid radioactive substances are buried.

    Medical waste is first collected in special bags and then mostly incinerated, which is also unsafe. At this stage, special furnaces equipped with gas cleaning equipment have already begun to function, and alternative methods of combustion have also appeared (autoclaving, microwave and steam-heat treatment).

    Is the problem of waste disposal solvable?

    Despite the huge scale, the problem of waste disposal is solvable. Of course, every inhabitant of the planet must start the fight with himself. But still, the consciousness of people must be necessarily supported by measures taken at the state level. A comprehensive system is needed to deal with the responsible management of natural resources and waste management. Only an integrated approach to the problem on the part of the state, local authorities, as well as each individual inhabitant of the planet, can minimize the risks of the detrimental impact of waste on the ecosystem.

    People generate a huge amount of garbage every day, so it’s even strange that the problem of recycling has become relevant relatively recently. This industry has its own prospects, and some countries are so successful in this that they even import processed waste.

    World pollution problem

    Every day humanity generates a huge amount of garbage. Industrial and medical materials and leftovers, a huge amount of plastic, glass, paper, and everything else that is thrown away in the course of a simple life of an average person. Recycling and waste disposal covers only a small part of the waste. Everything else is in landfills and slowly poisons even if there is nothing toxic in this garbage. Nature can decompose paper, plastic, polyethylene far from immediately - it can take a small amount of time, or decades or even centuries. Technological progress has given mankind many new products, but it also contributed to the emergence of materials that are not subject to decay and rapid organic processing, even if it is necessary. And only recently people seriously thought about it and began to think about how to fix the situation that has developed literally over the past couple of centuries. Unfortunately, humanity has a long and difficult road ahead of it, which involves abandoning the existing model of mindless consumption.

    Solutions

    There are currently three most promising directions, which can help in getting rid of the problem, especially in the case of integrated approach. First, it is the development of biodegradable materials. A huge part of the garbage is packaging: plastic, bags, boxes, etc. Paper, cardboard and other new materials are a step towards a clean planet.

    The second measure is social responsibility. Waste sorting is the simplest thing an ordinary consumer can do for nature. After all, if you are already familiar with the composition of everything thrown away, then this will save a lot of time and effort. And sorted waste will be much easier to recycle.

    Finally, another measure directly related to the previous one is the promotion of reuse. Bags, paper, plastic and glass containers - all this can be given a second life, as well as delay the time when they end up in the trash.

    All these measures are good in their own way, although they can be both effective and show their uselessness - it depends on what policy the state will pursue and what methods will be used to reduce the amount of garbage.

    Waste classification

    There are several criteria according to which you can divide the garbage into several categories. Among them are the following:

    • by origin - household and industrial waste (processing, production, etc.);
    • by state - solid, liquid, gaseous;
    • according to - in Russia 5 categories are used.

    Garbage generated by enterprises attracts attention in the first place. First, what is not useful in one industry may be a valuable resource in another. Secondly, the disposal or processing of industrial waste is necessary due to the fact that they may contain substances hazardous to the environment and people. At the same time, household waste practically does not draw attention to itself, and in fact the average Russian family generates more than 400 kilograms of it per year. More than half of this mass is plastic and waste paper. At the same time, the separation and processing of household waste in the Russian Federation is not at all established.

    Disposal

    Different types of waste require different approaches. A large amount appears as a result of wood, the functioning of processing and chemical enterprises. The main problem is that recycling of industrial waste is not always possible, and then the only way to get rid of it is to bury it in a landfill or heat treat it.

    Separately, it should be said about the plastic that I found wide application in human life. Its disposal is difficult due to the fact that this substance is divided into many types, each of which requires a separate approach. In addition, thermal processing of plastic, that is, simply burning it, is often impossible, because during this process a huge amount of harmful elements is formed. At the same time, organic decomposition takes too long.

    Ways

    Each group should use its own methods, so that even before disposal, the garbage must be sorted:

    1. For waste organic in origin, biological processing is suitable. Paper, cardboard, food waste can be composted and left to rot. In the future, they can be used in agriculture. Sometimes even natural fabrics are processed using this method.
    2. The metal is perfectly remelted and reused. The main problem is only in its isolation from, for example, electrical appliances thrown into a landfill.
    3. Heat treatment of various types is suitable when it comes to waste wood processing. By burning raw materials, you can get a certain amount of energy.
    4. Plastic recycling is carried out using mechanical (grinding) and chemical methods. As a rule, new polymers are obtained in the future, which can be reused.
    5. Burial. The most hazardous production wastes are subjected to a special procedure, which involves their maximum isolation from the environment for a sufficiently long time. After some time, they naturally decompose or are taken out for further disposal activities.

    Efficiency

    It can become an additional source of both energy and raw materials. So, in the West, only a third of all garbage is buried, the rest somehow goes to work in order to be reused. In addition to saving on energy and material production, there is no accumulation of waste in the form of unsightly and hazardous landfills.

    In Russia, unfortunately, things are different. The waste separation system is in its infancy, there are practically no bins with multiple compartments anywhere. Only a small part is exposed to any actions, only plastic processing is more or less developed, but even it accounts for only 5-7%. The rest of the volume is disposed of in landfills.

    prospects

    Scientists offer many ways to make recycling waste less dangerous and more useful. The most viable technologies seem to be those that allow decomposing garbage into its original components with their subsequent reuse. These environmentally friendly methods are already being used in test mode in Europe and so far have not caused any complaints.

    Garbage and art

    Recycling and disposal of waste is a problem that has inspired many artists and sculptors to work, causing Canadian fashion designers to offer sewing clothes from waste materials. Paradoxically, it can even be worn, although it is very extravagant. An architectural company from the Netherlands proposes to create artificial islands from waste, where refugees from the islands could live. So there is no need to talk about the unequivocal harmfulness of household waste.

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