Course Duration: 5 days

Course Description
This course provides an in-depth understanding of the principles, practices, and technologies involved in the management of municipal solid waste (MSW). It covers the entire waste management cycle from generation and collection to treatment, recycling, and final disposal, within the context of environmental sustainability, public health, and urban development. The course also addresses policy, regulatory, and financial aspects, with a focus on both developed and developing country contexts.

Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
1.Understand the sources, composition, and characteristics of municipal solid waste.
2.Evaluate different waste collection, transport, and treatment technologies.
3.Analyse the environmental, social, and economic impacts of waste management options.
4.Apply the waste management hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle) in real-world settings.
5.Develop integrated waste management plans that are sustainable and community-inclusive.
6.Interpret and apply relevant policy, legal, and institutional frameworks.

Course Modules
Module 1: Introduction to Municipal Solid Waste Management
∙Definition and scope of MSWM
∙Types and sources of MSW
∙Waste generation rates and composition
∙Key drivers: urbanization, consumption, and policy shifts

Module 2: Waste Generation and Characterization
∙Techniques for waste sampling and analysis
∙Estimating generation rates
∙Seasonal and spatial variability in waste generation
∙Waste stream analysis for planning

Module 3: Collection and Transportation of Waste
∙Collection systems: door-to-door, communal, curbside
∙Equipment and technologies used
∙Route planning and optimization
∙Informal waste collection sector and its integration

Module 4: Waste Treatment Technologies
∙Mechanical and biological treatment (MBT)
∙Composting, anaerobic digestion, and vermicomposting
∙Thermal treatment: incineration and waste-to-energy (WTE)
∙Landfilling and sanitary landfill design

Module 5: Recycling and Resource Recovery
∙Principles of recycling and material recovery
∙Source separation vs. centralized recovery
∙Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
∙Circular economy and upcycling concepts

Module 6: Environmental and Health Impacts
∙Leachate and landfill gas management
∙Vector control and occupational health issues
∙Environmental impact assessments (EIA) in MSWM
∙Monitoring and mitigation strategies

Module 7: Legal, Institutional, and Policy Framework
∙Global and national policies on MSWM
∙Regulatory compliance and enforcement
∙Institutional roles and stakeholder analysis
∙Financing models and public-private partnerships (PPP)

Module 8: Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM)
∙ISWM planning and implementation
∙Stakeholder engagement and community participation
∙Gender and social inclusion in waste management
∙Tools for planning and decision-making (e.g., GIS, LCA)

Module 9: Emerging Trends and Innovations
∙Smart waste management and digital tools
∙Zero-waste cities and sustainable urban metabolism
∙Climate change and MSWM
∙Case studies of successful waste management systems

Teaching Methods
∙Lectures and multimedia presentations
∙Case study discussions
∙Group projects and role plays
∙Field visits to waste management facilities
∙Guest lectures by industry experts or practitioners

Assessment Methods
∙Quizzes and assignments
∙Group project presentations
∙Participation in class discussions and activities

Target Audience
∙Environmental professionals
∙Urban planners and municipal officers
∙Engineers and public health officers
∙Students and researchers in environmental studies
∙NGOs and community organizers in waste sector