Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and its Impact on Soil Properties in and around the Achan Dump Site in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

Abstract

Solid waste disposal may result in soil pollution with implications for ground water quality. Deteriorating soil quality and decrease in vegetation are grave consequences of open waste dumping which have resulted in growing public concern. The effect of waste disposal on soil quality of Achan, Srinagar was studied. The objective of the study was to determine the physical and chemical properties of the soil samples collected from all the sides of the dumping site and at different distances. The results of the physical properties showed that bulk density was lower at the dumpsite and increased with increase in distance. Soil moisture content, pH, EC, OC, organic matter, CEC were higher at the dump site and decreased with increase in distance. Exchangeable cautions (Ca, Mg, and Na), DTPA micro nutrients and heavy metal concentration were higher at the dumpsite and decreased with the increase in the distance. All the parameters were found to be significantly different in different sampling sites except soil pH and nitrogen.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

The population of the world is increasing and thus the need for food and other commodities is also increasing. This results in increase in waste from their production and use. Population growth and economic development lead to the enormous amount of solid waste generated by the dwellers of the urban areas. These wastes are termed as municipal solid waste (MSW). Municipal solid waste (MSW) commonly know as trash or garbage consists of every day items that are used by us and then thrown away, Such as product pacing, clothing, bottles, food scarps, newspapers, batteries etc These wastes are mixed with MSW which poses a threat for health and also have an  adverse effect on the environment . Urban MSW is usually generated from human settlements, small industries and commercial activities. MSW is produced at an alarming rate, which may have negative effect on the environment and on human health, if not properly managed.

Solid waste is an important and emerging problem.  It was estimated that 0.5-4.5 kg per person per day solid waste is produced in different regions of the world. The total municipal waste generated in India is 68.8 million tons per year or 188.500 tons per day. Per capita waste generation in Indian cities ranges from 0.2 to 0.6 kg. Solid waste composition varies sustainably with socio-economic conditions ,location, season, waste collection and disposal methods and many other factors. The increasing amount of municipal solid waste generated each year in several industrialized countries has raised concerns about the economic viability and environmental acceptability of current disposal methodologies.

In developing countries open dumpsites are common, due to the low budget for waste disposal and lack of skilled manpower. It poses serious threat to ground water resources and soil. The soil is contaminated by heavy metals which adversely effect human health, animals and soil productivity. Over the last many years, heavy metals have considerably damaged the soil quality and fertility in consequence of increased environmental pollution from industrial, agricultural and municipal sources. Although heavy metals occur naturally at low concentrations, but they are considered soil contaminants due to their widespread occurrence, as well as their acute and chronic toxicity. Contaminants like Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn can alter the soil chemistry

II. METHODOLOGY

The study area is the municipal solid waste landfill site Saidapora Achan of district Srinagar, Kashmir. The georgical coordinates of the area are 3405’24”N latitude 74047’24:E Longitude. The landfill site has been established in the year 1985 comprising of 606 kanals of land.

This is the only landfill site available with SMC as on date for disposal of city garbage. The site is being used as municipal solid waste dumping site since 34 years. The waste collected from all the generation points in the city is collected and disposed off in this land fill site. Earlier it was developed as Landfill Scientific dumping site by Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd. Further Scientific working of the site is under construction.

The climate of Srinagar city is mild, and generally warm and temperate. The rainfall in Srinagar is significant, with precipitation even during the driest month. Winters are cool, with day time temperature averaging to 2.5 0C (36.50F), and drops below freezing point at night. Moderate to heavy snowfall occurs in winters. Summers are warm with a July daytime average of 24.1 0C (75.4 0F). The average annual   rainfall is around 720 millimetres (28 inch). Spring is the wettest season while autumn is the driest. The highest temperature reliably recorded is 38.3 0C (100.9 0F) and the lowest -20.0 0C (-4.0 0F)

Srinagar city waste is disposed of fat Saidapora Achan dump yard in the form of heap. On an average, 400 metric tons of solid garbage is produced every day in Srinagar and dumped at the Achan dump by vehicles of SMC. The observations made on the site are:

1. A large number of rag pickers collected recyclable waste from the dumpsite.
2. the compost produced at dumping site is marked in packed form and is being sold in 20 Kg’s bags at the rate of Rs. 3/ per Kg.
3. The foul order was strong and could be inhaled even at long distances.
4. Large number of flies, birds and stray dogs.
5. This damp yard has fencing, weigh bridge, leachate treatment tank, small compositing processing pad and sieving shed.

A. Characterization of Soil Samples

A total of twenty samples were collected at a specific distance (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 metres) from all directions ( South, North, East, West) from Municipal Solid Waste dumping site in the month of September-November 2022 and were characterized for physical and chemical properties of the soil.

Dumping of municipal solid waste on soil at dumping site, Achan Srinagar is on eof the means by which the soil quality is degraded. Gas and leachate generation are inevitable consequences of practice of solid waste disposal in landfills’ The following observations were recorded

1.  The physical properties of the soil around the dumping site indicated that the bulk density of the soil increased as the sampling distance increased from the dumping site and moisture per cent was found to be more at the dumping site from all the sides
2. The minimum and maximum values of pH (7.87-8.53) indicated that the soil was alkaline in nature, EC was high near the dumpsite and decreased as the sampling distance increased. Organic carbon content was high near the vicinity of the dumping site and decreased along with distance from the dumping site.
3. Nitrogen content was found to be high at the dumpsite soil samples and decreased as the distance from the dumping site increased
4. Major cations as Calcium Mg and Na  concentration were found higher at dumping site and their concentration decreased as the sampling distance increased from all the sides of the dumping site.
5. Micro nutrient and heavy metal concentration were also found to be high near the dumping site soil samples and decreased with the increase in the distance from the dumping site
6. Cadmium and chromium were no detected in any of the soil sample
7. By performing the statistical analysis using  OP STAT, it  is concluded that there is  a significant difference  (p-value less than  0.05) between most of the parameters of soil at all sampling sites

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Copyright

Copyright © 2023 Dr. Bashir Ahmad Pandit. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.