Study of Municipal Solid Waste Management at Thanjavur City: Present Practice and Challenges

Abstract

Thanjavur is one of the oldest and fast developing cities in Tamilnadu with population of 2.16 lakhs in 2012, registering a growth of 5.3% over the last decade. Due to rapid growth of population in Thanjavur municipal corporation area and hanging life styles has resulted in increased waste generation. This city generates about 105 tons of municipal solid waste per day. The present method of practicing for solid waste does not follow any scientific processing techniques and disposal of solid waste. The solid waste collected is being transported to the Srinivasapuram (5km away from the city) disposal site where is being disposed off indiscriminately. This causes health hazards and urban environmental degradation. The present study critically characterizes the composition of solid waste and also provides the measures to deal with this waste in healthy environment so that it must prove a waste is wealth, refuse is resource and trash is cash.