Title: Physico-chemical characterisation and quantification of municipal solid waste in high-altitude Srinagar City of North-Western Himalayas

Authors: Jasir Mushtaq; Abdul Qayoom Dar; Naved Ahsan

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir-190006, India ' Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir-190006, India ' Department of Civil Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), New Delhi-110025, India

Abstract: The present study was conducted in the high-altitude Srinagar City, Kashmir during (2018-2019) for physicochemical characterisation and quantification of MSW. A total of 2,000 kg of MSW sample was analysed for two seasons (winter and summer) with 40 samples (n = 5) for each category. The average generation of MSW was assumed (0.48 kg capita^-1 day^-1); it was estimated that 868 Mt day-1 of MSW generated with a population of 1.81 million during 2019. The findings of MSW characterisation of all the socio-economic groups showed a high bulk density in winter (490.42 kg m^-3) and summer (463.75 kg m^-3), respectively. Further, results revealed organic waste 54.30%, followed by 23.75% of inert content, and recyclable waste 16.65%. Chemical characterisation showed 47.45% of moisture content with low calorific value (LCV) of 1,307.50 Kcal kg^-1 and the C/N ratio of 23.55. Besides, necessary recommendations with eco-friendly options were proposed for the MSW treatment.

Keywords: high-altitude; characterisation of municipal solid waste; MSW; calorific value; greenhouse gas; GHG; compositing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2022.128216

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2022 Vol.30 No.3, pp.284 - 302

Received: 19 Apr 2020
Accepted: 03 Jul 2020
Published online: 12 Jan 2023 *

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