ABSTRACT
Rapid development, growing population and transforming lifestyle have significantly enhanced the generation of waste residues, especially in the larger cities. United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulations describe solid waste as “garbage or refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial mining, agricultural operations and from community activities”. Inappropriate waste disposal degrades our natural environment by contaminating water, soil and air and poses risk to human life. The escalating generation of solid waste and its management are among the most significant challenges being faced by the world today. In developing countries like India, these services (solid waste management) are mainly provided by municipal authorities. High management cost and lack of understanding of effective management techniques, policies and treatment methods are the key issues to be focused upon. Furthermore, waste disposal is the most ignored part of solid waste management practices, and existing methods are not up to the mark. The present chapter provides an overview of solid waste as problem, sources, management/disposal and treatment practices, waste-to-energy generation technologies based on literature and studies carried out so far.
