ABSTRACT
Solid waste, both domestic and industrial, is referred as refuse. Refuse disposal is more a problem of cities than of rural areas. Much industrial waste is similar in composition to domestic and commercial refuse although some industries produce toxic or flammable wastes which require special disposal facilities. A variety of environmental hazards is associated with the mishandling or mismanagement of refuse. Refuse collection workers are at risk of infections in the waste, and also of injury by sharp objects. The correct design and operation of collection vehicles and transfer stations are of the utmost importance. The three main methods of treating and disposing of refuse are: sanitary landfill, incineration and composting. An advantage of incineration is that it can be carried out relatively close to the centre of a city, thus saving in transport costs. The major alternative to landfill and incineration is composting.
