Refuge

Refuse is defined as any solid waste, other than human excreta, that is created by human habitation. It consists of trash (food waste), junk (paper, plastic, wood, metal trash cans, glass, etc.), and demolition products (bricks, pipes, machinery etc.). Garbage draws in rats, dogs, and other animals, aids in the spread of disease by attracting flies and dust, and attracts other animals. It also attracts rats, dogs, and other animals.

Methods of Refuse Disposal

There are several techniques advised for the removal of trash. These depend on the state of the economy, the availability of land, and the labor force. In rural areas, the cooked trash may be fed to animals, and the remaining waste may be disposed of in a manure pit or compound pit. The following techniques are employed for the disposal of trash:

Burning:

Burning or incineration are hygienic ways to get rid of refuge. When sufficient terrain is not available for composting, burning is the preferred approach. The best disposal method for toxic hospital waste is incineration.

These are the incineration techniques.

• Stones are used to line and cover open pits. They are filled with trash and burned.
• A trap at the bottom of a drum and ventilation openings all the way along its lower portion are supplied. Solid trash is placed there till it is full. After that, they catch fire.
• They employ an incinerator. This high temperature dry oxidation process transforms organic and flammable waste into inorganic fire-resistant matter, greatly reducing the volume and weight of waste.

The method is typically chosen to handle wastes that cannot be recycled, repurposed, or dumped in a landfill.

The following waste kinds should not be burned:

• Canisters for pressurized gas
• Reactive chemical waste in large quantities, silver salts, and photographic or radiographic wastes
• Plastics with halogens, such as PVC
• Waste with a high mercury or cadmium content, including lead-lined wooden panels, broken thermometers, and used batteries
• Sealed ampoules or heavy metal-containing ampoules.

Advantages

• Minimum land is needed
• Can be used regardless of the weather iii. creates a long-lasting, odorless residue
• The amount of trash is cut in half.
• The cost of moving the trash is kept to a minimum
• Clinkers, which are burned products, can be used to make cement, roads, etc.
• Hospital waste is quite dangerous, thus infection can be prevented.

Disadvantages

• Expensive to construct and maintain
• Requires knowledgeable staff and ongoing maintenance
• High demand for energy
• Burning trash results in a loss of much-needed manure for the neighborhood.
• Creates smoke.

Controlled tipping or sanitary landfill:

In 1912, the technique was introduced in England (where it is called controlled tipping). Heavy equipment (such as bulldozers) is used to quickly compact waste after it is placed in thin layers (up to one meter, or three feet) so that a garbage cell is formed (up to 3 meters, or 10 feet, thick).

All contemporary landfill locations are carefully chosen and prepared (such as being covered with impermeable synthetic bottom liners) to avoid groundwater pollution or other environmental issues. When the landfill is finished, it will be open. It is distinct from regular dumping, which involves placing the debris in a trench or other prepared area, appropriately compacting them, and then covering them with ground. Wells and water sources shouldn't be situated close by, e.g. Okharpauwa Landfill Site for waste disposal of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Advantage

• Small odor
• Low groundwater/water pollution
• Able to manage large amounts of waste for less money
• Prevent rodents and fly breeding
• Land that has been filled in can be used for other civic purposes.

Disadvantage

• Waste degradation takes time
• Completed landfill areas are prone to settlement and require upkeep.
• Has to be properly planned, designed, and operated
• Older, improperly constructed or maintained landfills have the potential to have a number of negative environmental effects, including the attraction of vermin and the production of liquid leachate. Gas, which is primarily made of methane and carbon dioxide, is another typical result of landfills and is created when organic waste decomposes anaerobically. This gas is a greenhouse gas that can cause odor issues and harm surface vegetation.
• More space is needed for pits.
• Due to the high concentration of organic contaminants and ammonia in waste leachate, there are dangers. However, the presence of toxic compounds might vary in concentration depending on the type of garbage that was dumped.

Composting:

Organic material that has broken down and been recycled as a fertilizer and soil improvement is compost. A vital component of organic farming is compost. Composting is a technique for disposing of waste and nightsoil or sludge together. Large amounts of organic matter decompose naturally through the action of bacteria, creating a rather stable hummus-like substance known as compost that has significant manure value for the soil. The main by-products are heat, water, and carbon dioxide. The heat generated during composting is at least 60 degrees Celsius.

Advantages:

• It poses neither a public annoyance nor a health risk.
• It produces manure that is useful for farming purposes.
• When the compost is sold, the economy benefits.
• Utilizing compost enhances soil aeration, structure, texture, and water-holding capacity.
• Compost helps sandy soils retain water while loosening clay soils.

Disadvantage

• Special precautions must be taken if human excreta are used.

Burial:

Small camps can use this technique. At the conclusion of each day, the trash is covered with 20 to 30 cm of dirt in a trench that is 1.5 on wide and 2 m deep. The trench is filled with earth and compacted, and a new trench is dug out once the level in the trench is 40 cm above ground level. After 4-6 months, the contents may be removed and applied to the fields. The trench will be filled in about a week if it is 1 m long for every 200 people.

Advantage

• Reduces offensive odor
• Prevents rodents and fly breeding

Disadvantages

• More space is needed for pits.

Manure Pit:

Digging "manure pits" by the individual householders can solve the issue of waste disposal in rural areas. After each day's dumping, the garbage, cow dung, straw, and leaves should be thrown into the manure pits and covered with dirt. When one is 16 feet deep and covered with earth after each day's dumping, nuch nits will be required.

Advantage

• When the compost is sold, the economy benefits.
• Due to space constraints, urban areas are not suitable for it.
• It produces manure that is useful for farming purposes.

Disadvantage

• It poses neither a public nuisance nor a health risk.

Earth worm plant (Vericompost, Vermiculture):

If you have a small garden or only produce a small amount of green waste, worm composting is the best way to quickly create compost. These earthworms are unique species, such as Asinia fetida and Udrilus uginial, among others.

Process of Vermiculture

• To find earthworms, dig in the garden or buy them.
• The number of worms will depend on the volume of composting material and the size of the container.
• The layer of dried cow dung or decomposed shelters is kept on top of a 2-.3 inch thick layer of straw, cotton clothing, dried leaves, jute, or paper that has been soaked with water and kept in a bucket. The green ingredients can be added once the container has been filled with bedding material and the worms have been added. This can include eggshells that have been crushed, grass clippings, and other organic waste from the home or yard. Fruit and vegetable peelings are also acceptable. Add these components each time.
• After being soaked, coated with jute, cotton clothing, or straw, and having an earthworm left on it.
• When you open the bin a few months later, you won't find any more bedding. Worm castings and brown color will be present in the compost. Place fresh bedding materials in the opposite half of the bin while pushing the finished compost to one side. Naturally, the worms will transfer from the finished compost to the fresh bedding.
• Use the completed compost in your garden as needed after that.
• Place the worm container in a location that is accessible from the kitchen but out of direct sunlight.
• Composting takes 60–70 days to make the first time, then 40–50 days.

Refuses used for making manure are

• Animal waste: rabbit, pig, cow, goat, buffalo, etc.
• Plants that have died or been wasted.
• City or home refugees
• Loss from the biogas plant.

Feed the kitchen scraps in small batches to the worms. Tea bags, coffee, tomato peelings, bread, eggshells that have been crushed, green leaves, and tea bags are some examples of this. Avoid serving meat because it may attract flies. Leave out grass clippings because they can heat up and hurt the worms.

Advantages

• There are many advantages of composting for both you and the environment. Composting is an environmentally friendly method of recycling organic waste from homes and gardens. As a result, less waste ends up in our landfills. The organic waste is recycled into the soil to feed your garden plants rather than decomposing in a landfill.

Disadvantage

• Due to the nature of the decaying material, worm compost bins might attract fruit flies. The flies swarm in large numbers and can be an inconvenience even though they are not harmful. By eliminating the use of fruit leftovers or burying them deeply within the worm bedding material, you can reduce the likelihood that your worm compost will attract fruit flies.
• Strong odors shouldn't emanate from a worm bin. One of the main reasons why worm bedding emits a rotten, unpleasant odor is excessive moisture. Use less wet food material and more dry material, like shredded paper. Because the growth of the helpful bacteria that aid in decomposition needs oxygen and fresh air, poor air circulation can also intensify unpleasant odors.
• Some people simply can't accept the idea of having worms in their home.
• The price of red wiggler worms and the difficulty in locating a source
• Keeping domestic animals away from the trashcan

Methods of Human Excreta Disposal

Feces and urine are examples of excreta. It is disposed of in the current sewage system alongside other liquid waste from factories, homes, businesses, etc. Excreta can be disposed of in a variety of ways. Some apply to sewered areas only, while others do not. The various excreta disposal techniques are categorized and described below:

• Service type (conservancy system)
  The service type or conservancy system and the latrines themselves are referred to as service latrines when nightsoil is collected and removed from bucket or container latrines by human agency. To the location of final disposal, the nightsoil is transported in "nightsoil carts," where it is disposed of by:
  • Composting
  • Burial in shallow trenches
    For the sake of human health, service-type latrines are a source of filth and stench.
    • While being transported, night dirt is in contact with insects.
    • Additionally, it is dumped in the residences in buckets or pails.
    • The workers gather and handle the night soil, which is immoral and unfavorable from a hygiene standpoint.
    • To complete this work, a lot of sweepers are needed, and they need to be replaced frequently.
    • The system comes to a complete standstill if the sweepers go on strike.
    • The use of human labor to collect nightsoil is no longer excused because it is incompatible with human dignity.
    • When this system malfunctions, it seriously affects people's health.
    • It may spread faecal borne illness throughout the neighborhood. Pollution of the air, water, and soil can always occur while traveling.
• Non-service type of latrines (sanitary latrines)
  In this procedure, waste products are transferred automatically rather than by humans who pass through the excreta. Sanitary latrines are also referred to as non-service types. A hygienic latrine meets the following requirements:
  • Surface or ground water should not be contaminated by excrement.
  • Excreta shouldn't contaminate the ground.
  • Flies, rodents, animals (such as pigs, dogs, cattle, etc.), and other transmission vehicles shouldn't have access to excreta.
  • Excreta shouldn't be an annoyance because of smell or unsightliness.
    Types of sanitary latrines
    • Bore-hole latrine
    • Dug well or pit latrine
    • Water-seal latrine
    • Septic tank
    • Aqua privy
    • Sulabh shauchalaya
    • Chemical closet
    • Trench latrine
      • Shallow trench latrine
      • Deep trench latrine

• Bore-hole latrine:
  The Rockefeller foundation first used borehole latrines in its 1930s hookworm control campaigns. Because of its limited capacity, a bore hole is essentially a family-type installation and is not advised for public use.
  
  Construction
  • To prevent the dirt from collapsing in in loose and sandy soils, the pit is lined with bamboo matting or earthenware rings.
  • For a bore hole, an auger is necessary.
  • The latrine consists of a circular pit that is dug vertically into the earth to a depth of 4-8 m (13-26 ft), most frequently 6 m, and has a diameter of 30–40 cm (12–16 inches) (20ft.).
  • Over the hole is a concrete squatting plate with a central aperture and foot supports.
  • For privacy, a suitable enclosure is built.
  • A bore hole of the following description works well for more than a year for a family of 5–6 persons.
  • The squatting plate is raised when the bore hole's contents are 50 cm (20 inches) above ground level.
  • A new hole is dug & similarly used.
    By means of anaerobic digestion, the nightsoil is purified and eventually transformed into a harmless mass. According to estimates, sludge builds up at a rate of 2.1–7.3 cubic feet per 1,000 user days.
    
    Advantages
    • For the daily sweeping up of nightsoil, a sweeper is not required.
    • Fly swarms cannot breed in the pit because it is too dark.
    • There should be no risk of water pollution if the location is more than 15 meters (50 feet) from a source of water supply.
      
      Disadvantages
      • Due to the bore hole's limited capacity, it quickly fills up. As a result, it is not advised for public convenience.
      • It may be challenging to dig a hole deeper than 3 meters in many areas due to the high subsoil water and loose soil.
        Therefore, there isn't much use of the borehole latrine today. Improved innovations have rendered it obsolete.
         
• Dug well or pit latrine:
  In 1949–1950, the first dug well latrine or pit latrine was constructed in Singur, West Bengal. Compared to the above hole latrine, it is an improvement. A family of 4–5 people's pit will last for approximately 5 years.
  
  Construction
  • For the purpose of receiving the nightsoil, a circular trench measuring approximately 75 cm (30 inch) in diameter and 3–3.5 m (10–12 ft) deep is dug into the earth.
  • The depth of the hole may be lowered to 1.5 to 2 meters on sandy soil (6-7ft).
  • For a family of 5–6, it will last for roughly 5 years.
  • A new pit is built once the old one is full.
  • Anaerobic digestion is the same process that occurs in both borehole and dug well latrines.
  • The hole is covered with a concrete squatting plate, and a superstructure encloses the latrine.
  • As many pottery rings as are required to prevent the soil from caving in may be used to line the pit.
    
    Advantages
    • It is simple to build and digging the pit doesn't require specific tools like an auger.
    • Due to its larger cubic capacity, it lasts longer than a borehole.
    • Local materials can be used to build it.
    • Breeding flies shouldn't take place in a dark area.
      
      Disadvantage
      • There must be enough land.
      • It can be challenging to dig a hole deeper than three meters in some areas because the subsoil water is high and the soil is loose.
      • Simple pit latrines without improvements may smell.
         
• Water seal latrine:
  The hand-flushed "water seal" style of latrine is another advancement in the construction of hygienic latrines for rural communities.
  ​​​​​​​There are two different kinds of water seal latrines:
  • The Planning, Research & Action Institute, Lucknow, developed the PRAI type.
  • RCA type, created by India's Ministry of Health's Research-Cum- Action Projects in Environmental Sanitation. RCA type and PAT type water seal latrines both share many of the same components. Minor engineering details account for the variances. The RCA latrine, out of the two types, has been accepted as an appropriate design for the nation.
    
    ​​​​​​​The following is a description of the key components of an RCA latrine and how it is installed:
  • Location: The latrine and a source of water supply shouldn't be located closer than 15 meters apart. To avoid the possibility of bacterial contamination of the water supply, it ought to be located at a lower elevation. If at all possible, latrines should not be put in places that frequently flood.
  • Squatting plate: An essential component of a latrine is the squatting plate or slab. It should be constructed out of cement concrete or another impervious substance so that it can be washed, dried, and maintained clean. It was maintained dry; therefore, hookworm larvae won't be able to survive on it. The plate should be 3 feet (90 cm) square and have an outer edge thickness of 2 inches. There is a 1/2 inch slope leading to the pan. This enables the latrine to receive the water used for cleaning. The squatting plate comes with raised footrests for the users' comfort.
  • Pan: The pan collects the pee and nightsoil and washes the water. The pan is 17 inches in length, at least 5 inches wide at the front, and 8 inches wide at its widest point. The pan slopes consistently from the front to the black. A smooth finish is applied to the pan.
  • Trap: The pan is attached to the trap, which is a 3 inch diameter bent pipe. It provides the necessary "water seal" and holds water. The distance between the water level inside the trap and its lowest point on its concave upper surface is known as the water seal. The RCA latrine's water seal is 3/4 inch deep, preventing flies from entering and reducing odor-related annoyance.
  • Connecting pipe: A short section of connecting pipe with a bend at the end and a diameter of three inches is used to join the pit to the trap after it has been dug away from the squatting plate. Because the pit is located away from the squatting plate, a latrine of this type is known as the indirect type.
  • Dug well: The dug well or pit is typically covered, 30 inches in diameter, and 10 to 12 feet deep. A lining of earthenware rings or bamboo matting can be used to keep the pit from collapsing in loose soil or areas where the water table is high. When the first pit is nearly full, a second pit is dug and the connecting pipe's direction is changed into the second pit. The first pit could be emptied and used again once the second one is full.
  • Superstructure: For privacy and shelter, the desired type of superstructure may be offered. An appealing superstructure with a polished finish is preferred because it will likely be well maintained.
  • Maintenance: A latrine's lifespan will depend on a number of variables, including how well it is used and maintained. The latrine should only be used for the intended purpose and should not be utilized to dispose of trash or other material. The sitting plate needs to be cleaned, dried, and washed periodically. People should be instructed to use enough water to flush the pan after each usage. It takes 1-2 liters of water to flush the RCA latrine. Therefore, proper maintenance entails public health education, which is crucial for any latrine program to succeed.
    
    ​​​​​​​Advantages (Direct type latrine)
    • The direct kind is most appropriate for locations with hard, stable ground. ii. The direct type takes up less space and costs less to build.
    • A connecting pipe is not required for the direct kind.
    • Human excrement may be removed with less water.
    • without health risks and without contaminating groundwater or the surface.
    • After 1-112 years, the pit where the water was collected turns into manure vii. where sewer connections are possible
      
      ​​​​​​​Advantages (Indirect type latrine)
      • When the pit is full, a second pit can be used by simply turning the connecting pipe in a different direction.
      • It is appropriate for remote locations without access to sweepers.
      • Toilets that use water to flush are simple to use and maintain.
      • They are very well-liked and they clear the home environment of feces.
      • Fly and odor entry into the house through the waste pipe is prevented by the water seal.
        
        ​​​​​​​Disadvantage
        • For the removal of human excreta, enough water is needed.
        • If groundwater is contaminated by untreated wastewater discharged from leach pits, there may be health risks.
           
• Septic tank:
  Household sewage is admitted for treatment into this watertight masonry (concrete) tank. It is an acceptable method for getting rid of liquid and excreta waste from single homes, small communities of houses, and institutions that have access to water supplies but not sewage drainage systems.
  Design features
  ​​​​​​​Septic tanks are available in a variety of designs. Some have two chambers, while others have just one. For small installations, a single chambered septic tank has been found to be adequate. A septic tank's primary design elements are as follows.
  • The amount of users will determine the septic tank's capacity. For domestic septic tanks, 20–30 gallons or 212–5 cubic feet per person are advised. A septic tank should have a minimum capacity of 500 gallons.
  • It has a rectangular shape and a length. Typically, its length is twice as wide as it is.
  • Septic tanks have a depth of 5-7 feet. There is only 4 feet of liquid depth.
  • Air space: There should be a minimum of 12 inches of air space between the underside of the cover and the level of liquid in the tank.
  • There are pipes for an inlet and an outlet, both of which are submerged.
  • Bottom: The bottom of some septic tanks slopes inward toward the inlet end. This makes it easier to retain solids.
  • Cover: A concrete slab of an appropriate thickness and a manhole are built to cover the septic tank.
  • Retention time: 24 hours are the maximum time that septic tanks are intended to retain waste. A retention period that is too long will cause an excessive level of septicity in the effluent, whereas one that is too short will provide insufficient treatment.
  • Maintenance: Because they kill the bacterial flora in the tank, soap water and disinfectants like phenol should not be dumped into septic tanks. Once a year, the tank needs to be opened and the sludge removed.
    
    Working of a septic tank
    ​​​​​​​Sewage treatment takes place over the course of two stages. Anaerobic digestion occurs in the septic tank during the first stage of the process, and anaerobic oxidation occurs in the subsoil outside the septic tank during the second stage.
    • The heavier solids, such as grease and fat, rise to the surface to form "scum," while the lighter solids settle to the bottom of the tank to generate "sludge."
    • Under these conditions, anaerobic bacteria are working hard to dissolve the solid bulk into a fine solution.
    • A part of the solids are converted into liquids and gases, some of which bubble to the surface.
    • The term "effluent" refers to the fluid that intermittently exits the outlet pipe. A large number of bacteria, cysts, helminthes, and organic materials are present in the solution.
    • It is permitted for the wastewater to seep into the subsoil.
    • It is distributed using pipes with perforations or open joints that are buried in trenches that are 3 feet deep and then covered with soil.
    • At this stage, the organic matter in the effluent is attacked by aerobic bacteria found in the soil's top layer.
    • Thus, the organic matter undergoes oxidation and transforms into stable byproducts like nitrates, carbon dioxide, and water.
      
      Septic tanks can be placed close to buildings and are odor-free when operated appropriately. However, it is occasionally necessary to remove sludge. It has been discovered that the septic tank effluent contains numerous hookworm eggs and larvae. As a result, it shouldn't be dumped into a stream or river without first being properly disinfected. Five essential conditions must be met for the septic tanks to function effectively:
    • Ample water to transport waste to the tank.
    • Regular sludge removal should be done.
    • Since they harm the bacterial flora in the septic tank, disinfectants shouldn't be used.
    • The septic tank and the grit chamber both need ventilators.
    • There should be enough room between the scum and the cover plate.
      
      ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Advantages
      • It is suitable for either a single household or a small cluster of houses.
      • When there is no access to a public sewage drainage system, it is helpful.
      • Sewage is cleaned in two stages, which aids in the prevention of diseases that are spread through the feces.
        
        ​​​​​​​Disadvantage
        • Tanks with more than two compartments are expressive and don't offer much of a benefit over septic tanks with two or more chambers.
        • Large communities are not advised to use septic tanks.
           
• Aqua privy:
  In this type, night dirt is disposed of using the same septic tank method' basic tenets. A watertight chamber with water inside makes up this privy. The septic tank portion of a latrine seat that is designed to resemble a funnel is employed. The toilet flood's drop pipe dips its short length into the water. The tank's shape might be either round or rectangular. The number of users determines the tank's size. For a small family, a capacity of one cubic meter is advised, with at least six years of cleaning time.
  
  ​​​​​​​Advantage
  • When there isn't a lot of water available, this toilet is used.
  • In train stations, they have been employed.
  • Aqua loos are made for public restrooms as well.
    
    ​​​​​​​Disadvantage
    • Gases are released into the toilet after the scum is disturbed.
    • Scum is visible from the top and is therefore unpleasant to see.
    • The retention time is insufficient, and occasionally the feces may also escape into the effluent.
       
• Sulabh Shauchalaya:
  The "Sulabh Shauchalaya" model is a low-cost pour-flush, water seal kind of latrine that was developed by a Patna-based company. In essence, it is an enhanced version of the hand-flush latrine. It consists of a water-seal trap and a pan with a unique design. It is joined to a pit that is 3 feet square and that deep. Excreta are broken down by bacteria and turned into manure. Very little water is needed for the procedure.
  
  ​​​​​​​Advantage
  • It serves as a manure source.
  • Very little water is needed.
  • Low price