Managing Municipal Solid Waste using New Technologies for Phulwarisharif, Patna

Abstract

In India, the rising population combined with rapid urbanization has led to a significant surge in waste generation. This growing volume of waste has placed immense pressure on existing systems, making it essential to adopt efficient, modern, and sustainable waste management practices. Strengthening these systems is crucial not only for maintaining environmental quality but also for protecting public health and ensuring long-term urban sustainability. Due to improper disposal of solid waste particularly by waste management organizations, the collected wastes resembling a hill at dumping site and become a problem for both the environment and for the public. Patna, the capital of Bihar, is among the fastest-growing Indian cities in terms of population density and urbanisation. Patna is currently facing significant challenges in managing its solid waste effectively. The increasing population, rapid urbanization, inadequate waste collection systems, and improper disposal practices have all contributed to growing environmental and public health concerns across the city. This study will analyse the issues related to SWM in Phulwarisharif, Patna and focuses on the effective solutions for recycle municipal solid waste in Phulwarisharif , Patna. This study will discussed proper techniques which help in reduce the amount of waste diverted to landfills by waste to energy approach, thus leading to a zero-waste city.

Introduction

Waste consists of discarded materials that are unusable, old, defective, or unwanted. Mixed waste—containing food, plastics, metals, diapers, and more—poses environmental and economic challenges. Poor collection systems result in waste accumulation on streets, drains, and open spaces, causing insanitary conditions. Much of this waste is biodegradable, highlighting potential for resource recovery rather than disposal.

Sources of Waste:

• Domestic: kitchen garbage, papers, garden waste

• Industrial: hazardous chemical waste

• Biomedical: hospital and infected waste

• Agricultural: fertilizers and pesticides

• Animal: excreta

• Nuclear: radioactive materials

Literature Insights:
Studies highlight gaps in solid waste management (SWM) in India, such as inadequate segregation, lack of civil participation, poor infrastructure, and low awareness. Approaches like composting, recycling, zero waste strategies, and integrated SWM frameworks are recommended. Many studies emphasize the role of public awareness, technology adoption, and sustainable frameworks for effective waste recovery.

Current Situation in Patna:

• Patna generates approximately 950 tons/day of solid waste, but only 200 tons/day reach secondary dumpsites.

• Waste transport issues include spillage, leachate contamination, and foul odor, worsened during monsoons.

• 42–47% of waste is food/biodegradable, with overall 52% compostables and 13% recyclables, suggesting composting and recycling are feasible.

• Calorific value ranges between 2200–2400 kcal/kg; moisture content averages 29.6%, ash 14.62%, and carbon–nitrogen ratio 19.58–36.29%.

Recommendations:

• Implement small-scale, efficient waste-to-energy technologies for municipal solid waste.

• Promote zero-waste and instant mixed waste disposal systems, such as the “DROSS-MAGIC” machine, which can handle unsorted MSW and recover resources efficiently.

• Encourage segregation at source, composting of biodegradable waste, and recycling of reusable materials.

Conclusion

The generation of total solid waste in PMC is about 950 TPD, which is presently a part of the Municipal Solid Waste, can be well managed by a simple approach \"waste to resource approach\". This may reduce the pressure on the resources as well as landfill. Storage systems are inadequate, and the available vehicles are outdated and frequently require maintenance. Additional budget allocation is needed to keep them operational. The existing static container system needs replacement, as several community dustbins are in poor condition and many disposal sites are not situated in suitable locations. Community landfills need to be eliminated and one or more new pilot disposal sites need to be developed appropriately with treatment and engineered processing facilities for developing a zero-landfill policy. The nature of the wastes indicates that pelletizing would be the most appropriate method and provide solid fuel pellets that can be used as solid fuels in furnaces and boilers. MMSW can be converted into RDF pellets. By testing the calorific value of the fuel pellets, it is observed that the gross calorific value of the fuel pellets is about 4450.18 kcal/kg so can be used as an alternative fuel and is a cheaper alternative of the fossil fuel by providing them with a cleaner and sustainable solution. The nature of the wastes also indicates that obtaining biomass and syngas would be an alternate option for generation of heat and electricity.

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Copyright © 2025 Deepika Bharti, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Sharma. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.