Solid and Hazardous Waste Management

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Assess solid and hazardous waste streams and evaluate their impact on environmental and public health performance
• Apply Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) frameworks to plan and optimize waste systems
• Analyze waste characteristics to support selection of appropriate treatment, recovery, and disposal methods
• Design and evaluate core components of municipal solid waste systems, including collection, processing, and disposal
• Interpret regulatory requirements and apply them to support compliant waste management practices

Description

Managing solid and hazardous waste presents ongoing challenges driven by increasing waste volumes, evolving regulatory expectations, and the need to balance environmental protection with operational efficiency. Decisions related to waste handling, treatment, and disposal directly influence system performance, compliance, and long-term sustainability outcomes.

This course provides a structured approach to analyzing and designing waste management systems. It covers the full lifecycle of solid and hazardous waste, including generation, characterization, collection, processing, resource recovery, and final disposal. Key treatment and management methods such as recycling, composting, energy recovery, landfilling, and hazardous waste handling are examined in the context of practical application.

Through applied frameworks and real-world considerations, this course supports the development of informed, defensible decisions in waste management planning and operations. The focus is on building the capability to evaluate options, manage risk, and implement effective, compliant waste management strategies.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• Engineers and engineering technologists working in environmental, civil, or municipal disciplines
• Technical professionals involved in waste system planning, design, operation, or regulatory compliance
• Professionals working in municipal, industrial, or consulting environments related to waste management
• Early-career through senior practitioners seeking to strengthen applied waste management capabilities

Introduction and overview

• Background and Purpose
• Historical trends, Waste related problems, Terminologies
• Introducing Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) Plan and Waste Management Hierarchy
• Review of Regulatory Context and Legislation

Solid Waste Generation

• Waste generation rates and waste composition
• Physical, chemical and biological characteristics of Municipal Solid and Hazardous Waste
• Classification and sources, and methods of estimation of generation rate

Collection and Transport

• Solid Waste Collection and Transport Systems
• Analysis and Design of Waste Collection Routes

Source Separation and Recycling, Materials Recovery Facilities

Composting

• Important Factors and their Optimum range
• Composting Technologies

Final Disposal

• Engineered Landfills; Landfill leachate and gases
• Bioreactor Landfills
• Anaerobic Digestion
• Incineration 

Hazardous Waste Management

Questions and Answers

Concluding Remarks and Final Adjournment