Best Practices in C&D Waste Management
In our previous blog, we highlighted the importance of C&D waste management in improving the SWM system and the SS performance. The present article provides the best practices of C&D waste management.
It broadly builds upon 5 components namely - C&D waste collection, on-site segregation, reuse & recycling, disposal and waste minimization, which are elaborated below.
1.100% C&D waste collection system
100% C&D waste collection should be ensured from both the small generators and bulk generators. Therefore, identification of C&D waste generators and providing a robust collection mechanism is important.
⦁ For the small generators, intermediate collection points may be provided, and the generators may be informed about the same. Ideally, one collection point per population of 25,000 people should be provided. These collection points should not be clubbed with municipal solid waste dumping points, as it might lead to contamination of waste.
⦁ For the bulk waste generators such as builders, the municipality should provide dedicated C&D waste containers as a part of the building permit system. The size and number of the containers can depend on waste generation estimates. After the waste containers are full, ULB may pick them up or the builder can transfer it to ULB according to the by-law of the city.
⦁ In all cases, vehicles conveying C&D waste should be covered to stay away from dust, air contamination, and the spilling of garbage on the streets. Besides, both the generator and the ULB should maintain the records of the quantum of waste being transported.
2. On-site segregation
The C&D waste should be segregated on-site into 5 categories (as given below) to enable recycling of waste.
3.Reuse & recycling.
The majority of C&D waste materials are durable and therefore, have a high potential for reuse. The indicative measures for reuse and recycling are provided below.
⦁ Reuse of rubble, brickbats, broken plaster/concrete pieces, stone slabs, timber, conduits, piping railings, etc. to the extent possible and depending upon their condition
⦁ For building activities, such as levelling
⦁ For road construction as an undercoat of lanes where the traffic does not constitute of heavy moving loads
⦁ Sale/auction of materials that cannot be used at the site due to design constraints or changes in design
⦁ Recycling of plastics, broken glass, scrap metal, etc. through recycling industries
4. Disposal
After recovering the useful materials of C&D waste, the small unusable fraction of waste stream should be disposed of properly in a sanitary landfill and should not be mixed with other MSW. The hazardous fraction of C&D waste needs to be dumped in a hazardous waste landfill.
⦁ Larger unusable pieces can be sent for filling up low-lying areas
⦁ Fine materials, such as sand, dust, etc. can be used as cover material over the sanitary landfill
⦁ Precautions must be taken to ensure that eco-sensitive areas like wetlands are not used as dumping sites.
5. Waste minimization
Most importantly, efforts must be made to reduce the generation of C&D waste through efficient building designs and improved construction practices.
Contributed by-
Aniruddha Pandav, Manager & Komal Jadhav, Project Coordinator — Social Lab Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Social Lab Environmental Solutions is a waste management consultancy company providing end-to-end consultancy services to the ULBs on solid waste management and plastic waste management. Our core expertise includes capacity building, waste assessment, IEC campaign design & implementation, scheme compliance documentation, GPS collection route designing, and monitoring, and providing technical advisory and market linkages for efficient wet and dry waste management.
To know more about us and the sector updates, please visit our website (www.social-lab.in) and follow us on social media (https://linktr.ee/Social_Lab).
