I. WASTE MANAGEMENTACTIVITIESbeen living in settled communities, solid waste, or garbage, has been an issue, and modern societies generate far more solid waste than early humans ever

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This manual was prepared by the Institute of Natural Resources; under the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority.

I. WASTE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIESWaste management is a term that is used to refer to the process of collecting and treating

wastes. It also offers solutions for recycling items that do not belong to garbage or trash.

Waste management should be embraced by each and every household. Every day, tonnes of

waste is disposed off at various landfill sites. This waste comes from homes, offices,

industries and various other agricultural related activities. These landfill sites produce foul

smell if waste is not stored and treated properly. It can pollute the surrounding air and can

seriously affect the health of humans, wildlife and our environment.

Effects of Poor Waste Management: Due to improper waste disposal systems particularly by

municipal waste management teams, wastes heap up and become a problem. People clean

their homes and places of work and litter their surroundings which affects the environment

and the community. This type of dumping of waste materials forces biodegradable materials

to rot and decompose under improper, unhygienic and uncontrolled conditions. After a few

days of decomposition, a foul smell is produced and it becomes a breeding ground for

different types of disease causing insects as well as infectious organisms. On top of that, it

also spoils the aesthetic value of the area when released to the environment and can cause

biological and physicochemical problems to the environment and may affect or alter the

productivity of the soils in that particular area.

1. Solid Waste

Solid waste management is a polite term for garbage management. As long as humans have

been living in settled communities, solid waste, or garbage, has been an issue, and modern

societies generate far more solid waste than early humans ever did.

Municipal solid wastes heap up on the roads due to improper disposal system. People clean

their own houses and litter their immediate surroundings which affect the community

including themselves. This type of dumping allows biodegradable materials to decompose

under uncontrolled and unhygienic conditions. This produces foul smell and breeds various

types of insects and infectious organisms besides spoiling the aesthetics of the site. The

methods of treated solid waste management are:

Composting: Due to shortage of space for landfill in bigger cities, the biodegradable yard

waste (kept separate from the municipal waste) is allowed to degrade or decompose in a

medium. A good quality nutrient rich and environmental friendly manure is formed which

improves the soil conditions and fertility.

Organic matter constitutes 35%-40% of the municipal solid waste generated in India. This

waste can be recycled by the method of composting, one of the oldest forms of disposal. It is

the natural process of decomposition of organic waste that yields manure or compost, which

is very rich in nutrients.

Composting is a biological process in which micro-organisms, mainly fungi and bacteria,

convert degradable organic waste into humus like substance. This finished product, which

looks like soil, is high in carbon and nitrogen and is an excellent medium for growing plants.

The process of composting ensures the waste that is produced in the kitchens is not

carelessly thrown and left to rot. It recycles the nutrients and returns them to the soil as

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nutrients. Apart from being clean, cheap, and safe, composting can significantly reduce the

amount of disposable garbage.

The organic fertilizer can be used instead of chemical fertilizers and is better specially when

used for vegetables. It increases the soil’s ability to hold water and makes the soil easier to

cultivate. It helped the soil retain more of the plant nutrients.

a. Bio Digester

Bio-Digester is a decomposition mechanized toilet system which decomposes Human

Excretory Waste in the digester tank using specific high graded bacteria further converting it

into methane and water, discharged further to the desired surface. The Bio-digester is total

maintenance-free system, which does not require any sewage system. The inoculums

bacteria used in these bio-digester procreate & generate new bacteria in an anaerobic

environment & does not require repeat dosing.

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nutrients. Apart from being clean, cheap, and safe, composting can significantly reduce the

amount of disposable garbage.

The organic fertilizer can be used instead of chemical fertilizers and is better specially when

used for vegetables. It increases the soil’s ability to hold water and makes the soil easier to

cultivate. It helped the soil retain more of the plant nutrients.

a. Bio Digester

Bio-Digester is a decomposition mechanized toilet system which decomposes Human

Excretory Waste in the digester tank using specific high graded bacteria further converting it

into methane and water, discharged further to the desired surface. The Bio-digester is total

maintenance-free system, which does not require any sewage system. The inoculums

bacteria used in these bio-digester procreate & generate new bacteria in an anaerobic

environment & does not require repeat dosing.

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2. Liquid Waste:

Water is indispensable in our daily life as we use it for various purposes like foodproduction, economic development, and for general well-being. There is no substitute forwater a unique natural gift to mankind without which life is impossible . Water is vital to theexistence of all living organisms, but this value resource is increasingly being threatened ashuman populations grow and demand more water of high quality for domestic purposes andeconomic activities. Rivers and their tributaries passing through the cities receive largeamount of liquid effluent released from industrial, domestic sewage, and run off fromagricultural fields causing undesirable alteration to the structure and functions of riverecosystems. It becomes polluted due to the unscientific disposal of the waste water hascaused immense environmental problems not only to the aquatic environment but also tohuman beings worldwide. Therefore treatment of liquid waste water is a challenge torejuvenate the river and stream back to its natural environment by appropriate strategy forrestoration of such areas.

a. Grey Water Recycling

Aim and objectives:The objective is to optimize and validate a system for reusing

greywater and to develop guidelines for the sustainable use of greywater in small-

scale agriculture and gardens in rural villages, peri-urban and urban areas of

Meghalaya.

The trend of urbanization and population growth places enormous pressure on our

water sources’ abilities to replenish themselves while meeting everyone’s need.

From the perspective of supply and demand, local demand exceeds local supply

leading to water scarcity in many places both global and regional. A report from

the United Nations has estimated that in the year 2025, 2.7 billion people will be

facing water shortage problems which mean that the affected population will be

1/2–1/3 of the total population. Facing the challenge of the gradual exhaustion of

water resources, many countries have actively developed greywater technologies

and policies, as well as have applied them to agricultural and residential uses.

Although Meghalaya is well known as the state which receives heaviest

rainfall in the world, but the present scenario has deteriorated rapidly due to

climate change and uneven rainfall distribution for the past few years. The current

situation poses threat to the available water resources of the state which may lead

to water scarcity in many parts of the state particularly the urban areas. Many

household, Government and private Bungalows/Quarters/Institutions/guest

houses, etc. do not have natural water sources and mostly depends on the water

supplied by the private sector to meet their different requirements such as

irrigation, gardening, domestic use, cleaning and sanitation purposes, etc. Of the

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2. Liquid Waste:

Water is indispensable in our daily life as we use it for various purposes like foodproduction, economic development, and for general well-being. There is no substitute forwater a unique natural gift to mankind without which life is impossible . Water is vital to theexistence of all living organisms, but this value resource is increasingly being threatened ashuman populations grow and demand more water of high quality for domestic purposes andeconomic activities. Rivers and their tributaries passing through the cities receive largeamount of liquid effluent released from industrial, domestic sewage, and run off fromagricultural fields causing undesirable alteration to the structure and functions of riverecosystems. It becomes polluted due to the unscientific disposal of the waste water hascaused immense environmental problems not only to the aquatic environment but also tohuman beings worldwide. Therefore treatment of liquid waste water is a challenge torejuvenate the river and stream back to its natural environment by appropriate strategy forrestoration of such areas.

a. Grey Water Recycling

Aim and objectives:The objective is to optimize and validate a system for reusing

greywater and to develop guidelines for the sustainable use of greywater in small-

scale agriculture and gardens in rural villages, peri-urban and urban areas of

Meghalaya.

The trend of urbanization and population growth places enormous pressure on our

water sources’ abilities to replenish themselves while meeting everyone’s need.

From the perspective of supply and demand, local demand exceeds local supply

leading to water scarcity in many places both global and regional. A report from

the United Nations has estimated that in the year 2025, 2.7 billion people will be

facing water shortage problems which mean that the affected population will be

1/2–1/3 of the total population. Facing the challenge of the gradual exhaustion of

water resources, many countries have actively developed greywater technologies

and policies, as well as have applied them to agricultural and residential uses.

Although Meghalaya is well known as the state which receives heaviest

rainfall in the world, but the present scenario has deteriorated rapidly due to

climate change and uneven rainfall distribution for the past few years. The current

situation poses threat to the available water resources of the state which may lead

to water scarcity in many parts of the state particularly the urban areas. Many

household, Government and private Bungalows/Quarters/Institutions/guest

houses, etc. do not have natural water sources and mostly depends on the water

supplied by the private sector to meet their different requirements such as

irrigation, gardening, domestic use, cleaning and sanitation purposes, etc. Of the

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many million liters water supplied by the civic body every day, more than half is

used for purposes other than drinking, and eventually flows down the drain which

mixes with sewage (black water).

Several treatment technologies have been developed and applied worldwide.

But nowadays phytoremediation as a green technology is one of the main

environmentally friendly technologies that scientists are using in their researches.

Phytoremediation is the direct use of green plants to clean up contaminated water,

soils, or sediments. Phytoremediation is a new, cost effective, aesthetically

pleasing, and low cost suitable solution for many environmental problems across

the world. Suitable plant species used for phytoremediation should have high

uptake of both organic and inorganic pollutants, grow well in polluted water, and

be easily controlled in quantity spreading dispersion. Furthermore, the plants

should not only accumulate, reduce, or volatilize the contaminants but also grow

fast in a range of different conditions and lends to harvesting easily.

Keeping in view the urgent needs to conserve and optimize the use of fresh

water, a little initial investment can help recover 90% of wastewater which can be

recycled to meet more than 75% of our daily water needs.

One of the new and innovative phytoremedial technology used in many parts

of the world is the Vetiver system which is applicable for wastewater treatment. It

is a green and environmental friendly wastewater treatment technology as well as

a natural recycling method. In the process of treatment, the Vetiver plant absorbs

essential plant nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and cations and

stores them for other uses. The end product has provided high nutrient material for

animal feed, mulch for gardens, roof thatching, and handicrafts (ropes, mats, hats,

and baskets) raw material for making pulp, and paper and material for organic

farming and recently extended to biofuel and carbon sequestration.

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b. Domestic Liquid Waste at Village

Aim and objective: To rejuvenate the domestic waste water by constructing engineeringtechnology with eco-friendly technique.

water pollution is the main problem because of uncontrolled urbanization which is due tosewage effluent disposed into water bodies and leads to the adverse effect on living organism.Domestic wastewater treatment has become a serious aquatic environmental problem for allover the world . Sewage water often contains pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria,viruses, fungi, algae etc., having the potential to cause diseases that can lead to immenseharm to public health. Due to such problems the main global agenda is environmentalmanagement, treatment and reuse of the wastewater is at stake. Therefore to bring up with thequicker solution treatment of domestic waste water by using engineering constructedtechnology with eco-friendly is a new treatment technology to clean up contaminatedenvironments through the use of microorganisms and macrophyte plants to degradeenvironmental pollutants or to prevent pollution so as to develop appropriate strategy forrestoration of such areas. The different technique for treated domestic waste water it include

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b. Domestic Liquid Waste at Village

Aim and objective: To rejuvenate the domestic waste water by constructing engineeringtechnology with eco-friendly technique.

water pollution is the main problem because of uncontrolled urbanization which is due tosewage effluent disposed into water bodies and leads to the adverse effect on living organism.Domestic wastewater treatment has become a serious aquatic environmental problem for allover the world . Sewage water often contains pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria,viruses, fungi, algae etc., having the potential to cause diseases that can lead to immenseharm to public health. Due to such problems the main global agenda is environmentalmanagement, treatment and reuse of the wastewater is at stake. Therefore to bring up with thequicker solution treatment of domestic waste water by using engineering constructedtechnology with eco-friendly is a new treatment technology to clean up contaminatedenvironments through the use of microorganisms and macrophyte plants to degradeenvironmental pollutants or to prevent pollution so as to develop appropriate strategy forrestoration of such areas. The different technique for treated domestic waste water it include

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the primary treatment (Treatment with sand and gravel ) and secondary treatment (Treatmentwith Phtoremediation and fallowed by Bioremediation and again replicate with sand andgravel) as depicted in the plan below. The effluent diverted from the different outlet it passedthrough a series of collection tank. The construction of waste water treatment is advisable atthe source of pollution before the effluent pass to the main river and stream.

a. Effluent From Washing of Clothes

Aim and objective: To treat the effluent from washing of cloths before it release tothe main river and stream.

The impact of soap and detergents can have poisonous effect of aquatic life if they arepresent in sufficient quantities and this includes the biodegradable detergent. Howeveruntreated or primary treatment effluents containing soap and detergents may pose aproblem. Soap and detergents make the water purification process difficult. This isbecause; the microorganisms which oxidize organic pollutants to harmless materialsare killed. To assure that products are safe for the environment, manufacturersevaluate the impacts of product ingredients in wastewater treatment systems, streams,rivers, lakes and estuaries. Scientific principles that are widely recognized by the

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technical and regulatory communities are used to assess the risk to the environment ofthese impacts. Therefore to bring up with the quicker solution treatment of domesticwaste water by using engineering constructed technology with eco-friendly is a newtreatment technology to clean up contaminated environments. The primary treatmentinclude primary treatment and secondary treatment. The primary treatment it includethe treatment with sand, gravel and activated charcoal and the secondary treatment itinclude treatment with Phtoremediation and bioremediation.

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technical and regulatory communities are used to assess the risk to the environment ofthese impacts. Therefore to bring up with the quicker solution treatment of domesticwaste water by using engineering constructed technology with eco-friendly is a newtreatment technology to clean up contaminated environments. The primary treatmentinclude primary treatment and secondary treatment. The primary treatment it includethe treatment with sand, gravel and activated charcoal and the secondary treatment itinclude treatment with Phtoremediation and bioremediation.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThe success and final outcome of this manual required a lot of guidance and assistance from many

sources which includes:

1. Technical and Procurement manual for installation of Biodigesters in Meghalaya

2. Meghalaya Schedule Of Rate 2013-14 (Building)

3. Meghalaya Schedule Of Rate 2012-13(Road and Bridges)

Documents

I. WASTE MANAGEMENTACTIVITIESbeen living in settled communities, solid waste, or garbage, has been an issue, and modern societies generate far more solid waste than early humans ever