Environmental Management

Composition of Solid Waste

Submitted to:
Engineer Fatima Mahvish

Submitted by:
Amir Shehzad
2012 BT Civil 17
Department of Civil Engineering Technology
MNS UET Multan

Amir Shehzad

2012-BT-Civil-17

RanaAmirRA@live.com

Composition of Solid Waste

Solid Waste
Solid waste is a general term used for any garbage refuse, discarded materials and sludge
from waste water treatment plants. Examples of Solid waste are, waste tires or furniture and toys,
garbage and polythene bags etc.
According to reports, in 2002 Karachi alone produced about some 10,000 metric tons of solid
waste daily out of which only 30 to 40 percent was transported and dumped into open landfills while
the rest was either left unattended or was being burnt in-situ, which caused serious health issues. To
counter these health issues we have to study the composition of solid wastes because solid wastes
contains a variety of waste materials. And not all types of solid wastes can be burnt or buried or left
open for decaying.

Composition of Solid Waste

In field of environment management, Solid waste is broadly classified into organic and
inorganic.

Organic Solid Waste

Organic Solid Waste contains
Waste material like Food scraps,
leaves, grass, wood, Bones and shell
etc. it is observed that Low-income
countries have the highest proportion
of organic waste.

Inorganic Solid Waste

A large number of variety is
found in our environment which can
be classified as inorganic waste.
Usually wastes like Paper scraps,
cardboard, newspapers, magazines,
plastic bottles, plastic bags, broken
bulbs and glass, metal cans and tins, textiles waste, rubber, and disposable glasses and plates etc.
Paper is a major part of solid waste composition. Although paper is organic in nature, but
unless it is contaminated by food remains, paper is not classified as organic. So it is counted as
inorganic waste. According to a study, the global solid waste has a following composition.

Department of Civil Engineering Technology

MNS UET Multan

Amir Shehzad

2012-BT-Civil-17

RanaAmirRA@live.com

Global Solid Waste

50%
46%

45%
40%
35%
30%
25%

18%

17%

20%

10%

15%

5%

10%

4%

5%
0%
Organic

Paper

Plastic

Glass

Metal

Misc.

But Geography influences waste composition, and so does the economy of the area. As if only
in Pakistan, there are differences in percentage of composition of solid waste due to the economic
status of that are. According to International Environmental Society (IES), Karachi had following
solid waste composition in 2006.
Waste Type

Low Income Areas

High Income Areas

Food waste

11.86%

28.25%

Plastic and polythene

5.50%

10.54%

Glass

1.25%

8.85%

Paper and cardboard

15.60%

15.54%

Bones and shell

0.25%

4.62%

Metals

0.65%

4.75%

Leather and Rubber

6.43%

5.65%

Textile waste

20.25%

9.32%

Wood

5.57%

3.10%

Miscellaneous

32.64%

9.38%

Department of Civil Engineering Technology

MNS UET Multan

Amir Shehzad

2012-BT-Civil-17

RanaAmirRA@live.com

Solid Waste in Karachi

35.00%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%

Low Income Areas

High Income Areas

Similarly Whole Countys solid waste composition is depended upon its income. Following
are the charts of low Income counties and High income countries of the world for the composition of
solid waste produced now and after 10 years.

Low Income Counties

70%

64%

62%

60%
50%
40%
30%
17% 17%

20%
5%

10%

6%

8%

9%
3%

3%

3%

3%

0%
ORGANIC (%)

PAPER (%)

PLASTIC (%)
2015

Department of Civil Engineering Technology

GLASS (%)

METAL (%)

MISC. (%)

2025

MNS UET Multan

Amir Shehzad

2012-BT-Civil-17

RanaAmirRA@live.com

High Income Countries

35%
31%
30%

30%

28% 28%

25%
20%

17%

15%

18%

11% 11%

10%

7%

7%

6%

6%

5%
0%
ORGANIC (%)

PAPER (%)

PLASTIC (%)
2015

GLASS (%)

METAL (%)

MISC. (%)

2025

Comments
As Solid wastes can cause diseases by different aspects, so it is important to face this problem
and dispose them with keeping all those aspects in mind. But not all types of solid wastes can be
disposed by the same way. Some of the solid wastes can be disposed by burning, some by burying,
while some by simply disposing into rivers or sea. And for this purpose, understanding of the
composition of the solid waste is necessary. Without it the solid waste couldnt be disposed in perfect
way and could cause more severe health issues

Department of Civil Engineering Technology

MNS UET Multan