Assessment of 150 TPD mechanical biological treatment (MBT) based municipal solid waste treatment and disposal facility

Abstract

The present study assessed a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) based solid waste treatment and disposal (SWTD) facility of an Indian Municipality. The non-biodegradable and the biodegradable fractions are separated from the mixed waste by trommel screens. The biodegradable fraction is used to make compost. The nonbiodegradable fraction is recovered as a segregated combustible fraction (SCF)/solid recovered fuel (SRF), whereas the inert fraction is disposed of at the dump site. The compost produced from the biodegradable fraction had a lower percentage of total potash and organic carbon than the prescribed standards. The SCF/SRF of the trommel screen of 80 mm and 32 mm openings were found to have 4672.94 and 2728.26 kcal/Kg energy content, 60.43 and 57.69% volatile content, 3.31 and 7.80% ash content, and 6.81 and 4.38% fixed carbon content. The recovered SCF/SRF meets the fuel specification prescribed by the Indian Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules 2016. However, the facility needs to address the issues and challenges related to the implementation and operation. The outcomes and learnings of the study are guiding sources for the researchers, waste treatment and disposal plant operators, designers, and policymakers of developing countries.