Integrated solid waste management can be planned for big or medium-sized cities. Although the principles used are the same, some of the waste system elements are more applicable in particular sized communities as shown in Table 11.1.

Table 11.1 Applicability of waste management components in different sized cites

Waste management component Big cities (population above 200,000) Medium cities (population 100,000–200,000) Small cities (population less than 100,000)
Reduction at source Highly applicable Highly applicable Highly applicable
Sorting at household level

Applicable.

Applicable, if the cities are close enough to manufacturers willing to take the materials recovered.

Applicable, sorting would probably be limited to separating compostable wastes.
Reuse of items Highly applicable Highly applicable Highly applicable
Recycling Highly applicable

Applicable if linked to big cities

Can be promoted through small-scale recycling (paper for example)

 Applicable and can be promoted through small-scale recycling (paper for example)
Composting

Applicable and can be scaled up at material-processing and energy-recovery facilities

Can be scaled up by using the private sector/small-scale enterprises with subsidy

 Applicable and can be scaled up by using the private sector/ small-scale enterprises with subsidy Applicable and can be scaled up by creating awareness and by organising small-scale enterprises

Last modified: Tuesday, 23 August 2016, 11:16 PM