Setting It Up: Basic Services

Waste Collection

Waste collection and removal are serious health issues. A table summarizes the main
collection systems. Criteria and design of handcarts follows in a short summary.

Collection Systems

Source:
Involving micro- and small enterprises in Municipal solid waste management:
Guidelines for municipal managers. Hann, Hans Christiaan, Coad, Adrian, and Lardinois,
Inge. 1998. International Training Center of the ILP, SKAT, WASTE. Turin, Italy. pp 90.

KEY POINTS CONCERNING MAIN COLLECTION SYSTEMS

System

Description

Advantages

Disadvantages

SHARED: Residents can bring out waste at any time

Dumping at
Residents and
Low capital costs
designated location other generators
are required to
dump their waste at
a specified location
or in a masonry
enclosure.

Loading the waste

into trucks is slow
and unhygienic.
Waste is scattered
around the
collection point.
Adjacent residents
and shopkeepers
protest about the
smell and
appearance.

Shared container

If containers are not

Residents and

Low operating

other generators
costs
put their waste
inside a container
which is emptied or
removed.

maintained they
quickly corrode or
are damaged.
Adjacent residents
complain about the
smell and
appearance.

INDIVIDUAL: The generators need a suitable container and must store the
waste on their property until it is collected.

Block collection

Collector sounds
horn or rings bell
and waits at
specified locations
for residents to
bring waste to the
collection vehicle.

Economical. Less
waste on streets.
No permanent
container or
storage to cause
complaints.

If all family
members are out
when collector
comes, waste must
be left outside for
collection. It may be
scattered by wind,
animals and waste
pickers.

Kerbside collection

Waste is left
outside property in
a container and
picked up by
passing vehicle, or
swept up and
collected by
sweeper.

Convenient. No
permanent public
storage.

Waste that is left

out may be
scattered by wind,
animals, children or
waste pickers.
If collection service
is delayed, waste
may not be
collected or some
time, causing
considerable
nuisance.

Door to door
collection

Waste collector
knocks on each
door or rings
doorbell and waits
for waste to be
brought out by
resident.

Convenient for
resident. Little
waste on street.

Residents must be
available to hand
waste over. Not
suitable for
apartment buildings
because of the
amount of walking
required.

Yard collection

Collection labourer
enters property to
remove waste.

Very convenient for The most expensive

residents. No waste system, because of
in street.
the walking
involved. Cultural
beliefs, security

considerations or
architectural styles
may prevent
labourers from
entering properties.

Frequency of collection:
Some communities are accustomed to a collection seven days a week, whilst other collection
agencies are striving for just once each week. If fly breeding is to be controlled, the waste
should be collected twice a week in hot climates. Other factors to consider are the odours
caused by decomposition and the accumulated quantities. If residents are accustomed to daily
collection it may not be politically feasible to reduce the frequency to twice a week.
In some cities waste is collected on the day of rest (Sunday or Friday). Some collect waste at
night, perhaps for cultural reasons or because of the weather or traffic congestion.

Handcarts and Small Collection Vehicles

Source:
Involving micro- and small enterprises in Municipal solid waste management:
Guidelines for municipal managers. Hann, Hans Christiaan, Coad, Adrian, and Lardinois,
Inge. 1998. International Training Center of the ILP, SKAT, WASTE. Turin, Italy. pp 94-95

Three common types of primary collection vehicles are:

the handcart which is pushed by the operator as he walks along.
- very limited capacity in terms of volume and capacity
- carries 0.25 to 1 cu.m. with a maximum range of 1 km
- very cheap
- operated by one person
the pedal tricycle with a tray or box in front of or behind the operator.
- loads up to 1.5 cu.m.
- range greater because of higher speed when empty
- lifetime about 2 years

- no negative impact on environment

animal-drawn cats, often pulled by donkeys.
- common around the world; until recently Cairo Municipality used donkey
carts
- carry up to 1.5 cu.m. and range of up to 7 km.
- cost of feeding and caring for animals added factor
- negative impact on environment is excreta
Simple, motor powered vehicles should be considered where longer distances require larger
payloads and higher speeds, or where slopes are based on small motorbikes.
A wide variety of trucks are used for collection. Factors to consider in selecting include:
the weight of waste that the truck can actually carry
cost of purchase and operation, including fuel and maintenance
delays in obtaining spare parts
suitability of the vehicle for the local roads considering width, congestion, and surface
conditions
ease of loading and unloading
Note: Use same make and models as in other sectors.
Criteria for design of handcarts
How much to carry?
If material is required to be moved over 500 meters, it will be preferable to minimize the
unproductive travelling time and maximize load. A labourer can push 150 kg of waste in a
well-designed and maintained cart.
If the cart is used for street sweepings, it is appropriate for the capacity to be less because:
- the waste takes more time to collect so it may not be possible to collect the full 150 kg
during the day.
- there may be community storage containers at frequent intervals so that it is not necessary to
carry the waste over a long distance.
How is the waste transferred:
Too often one sees labourers tipping the contents of their carts onto the ground and then
scooping the waste up into another container for transfer. This practice is inefficient (wasting
time), unhealthy (forcing the labourer to touch or have close contact with waste), polluting
(often some of the waste is left on the ground or is scattered by the wind).
There are two simple ways of avoiding this problem:
- use a split-level site so that waste can be tipped directly from the cart into
the bulk container.
- containerize the refuse in a number of bins that are small enough so that

they can be lifted and tipped into the bulk container.

General design features:
- The size of the bins should be large enough that big items of waste cannot bridge across the
rim and prevent the efficient utilization of the bins capacity.
- Bins that are rectangular may be difficult to pack if the dimensions of large items are larger
than the smaller horizontal dimension of the bin.
- Square and rectangular bins may be easily deformed and develop dangerous jagged
projections at the corners.
- Bins that are circular do not fit together well, considerable space is lost between bins.
- Wheels:
- Number: If the cart has only two wheels, the operator is always required to
apply a lifting force, adding to fatigue and possible back injuries. At least
three wheels are suggested. But carts with three wheels may roll by
themselves if left on sloping ground. Four wheels make the cart more stable
allowing easier crossing of a hole in the road.
- Size: Large wheels are better on rough surfaces, and, with poor bearings,
cause less rolling resistance. However, larger wheels are heavier and more
expensive, and may obstruct the removal of containers.
- Contact surface: A wide rim is necessary on soft ground. A contact surface
- pneumatic tire or solid rubber tire - reduces the difficulty of pushing on
stony or rough ground, but - Bearings: Simple journal bearings are rarely
lubricated as they should be. Ball or roller bearings are more expensive and
must be protected from dust.
- Durability: Bicycle wheels are generally not strong enough for this kind of
duty. Motor cycle wheels have proved well suited, but they are likely to be
more expensive.
Note: It is important to design and specify all items of equipment carefully - even simple
equipment such as brooms, other tools, and carts. These items are used in large numbers and
so the impact or a more efficient design or durable design can be very significant in economic
terms.