Waste management practices

Solid waste management practice rests on five core techniques. Source segregation separates waste by type (organic, recyclable, hazardous, and so on) at the point of generation, which is the foundation that makes every downstream technique more effective. Composting breaks down organic waste biologically and can proceed either aerobically (with oxygen, generally faster and less odorous) or anaerobically (without oxygen). Vermicomposting uses earthworms specifically to accelerate the breakdown of biodegradable waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer. Biogas generation captures the methane produced as organic waste decomposes anaerobically and uses it as a fuel rather than releasing it. Incineration burns waste at high temperature, reducing its volume, though (as the chapter notes elsewhere) burning mixed waste that includes hazardous material can itself release toxic gases such as dioxins if not properly controlled. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Ismail, an Indian soil biologist and ecologist from Tamil Nadu, is the chapter's real-world case study for vermicomposting: he received a D.Sc. in Zoology from the University of Madras for his research on the role of earthworms in soil ecology and waste management, has worked extensively on vermicomposting as a sustainable ecological practice, and has been i …