In the Name of God

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In the Name of God

• Solid Waste Pollution in Caspian Region Iran
• Gh.A.Omrani
• M.Safa
• 12 September 2006

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Region Description

• Caspian region (including Golestan, Mazandaran
  and Guilan provinces) occupies about 58678 square
  kilometers and has a population of 6270192 people
  (according to the census of 1375). This part of
  the country is remarkably significant because of
  its tourism attraction as a consequent of the
  existence of Caspian Sea and invaluable forests
  and grasslands, the exclusive product of
  agricultural crops like rice, tea, etc.

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Characteristics of Solid Waste Problems in
Caspian Region

• Lack of hygienic conditions in different stages
  of solid waste management in most urban and rural
  areas of northern states of Iran (Golestan,
  Mazandaran and Guilan provinces) is one of the
  most environmental and hygienic problems of that
  regions. So, having a local national strategy and
  action plan is a priority for present and future.

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• Caspian Sea beaches, even in remote regions, are
  littered with the nondegradable flotsam and
  jetsam of industrial and also public society.
• However, the root causes of solid waste problems
  in this region are actually related to the
  profligate generation of solid waste and the mass
  production and mass consumption of products
  without consideration for their final disposal.

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• Solid waste problems in Caspian region are
  aggravated by the malfunctioning of traditional
  waste management systems due to rapid development
  and the concentration of the population.
• Widespread pollution, emanating from the
  agricultural chemicals, and industrial and urban
  wastes, pose a real threat to the health of the
  Caspian Sea.
• There can be no solution to the problems of solid
  waste until the entire flow of the processes of
  production consumption and disposal are
  considered as an integrated system.

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• An old vehicle for solid waste collection in a
  village of Mazandaran province

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• Since hazardous wastes need to be disposed off in
  a secured manner in view of their characteristic
  properties such as, toxicity, corrosivity,
  ignitability, reactivity and persistence the
  waste generators find it difficult to dispose
  their hazardous wastes without causing
  environmental disturbance, as very few
  appropriate disposal facilities are available.
• I.R. of Iran has historical background of
  recycling and waste reduction. Prevention of food
  lavish and respect to customs and religious
  directions to not mix rice and bread residuals
  with other garbage is one of the samples about
  our national and Islamic believes.

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Solid Waste Composition

• Quantity and quality of generated waste in this
  region depends on many factors such as foremost
  traditions and cultural habits the living
  standards seasons of the year and regional
  tourism potential.
• For example in tourism seasons, quantity of
  generated solid wastes may be 2 0r 3 times more
  than normal conditions.

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Table 1- Average solid waste generation in
Caspian Sea Coastal Zone

• Municipal solid waste disposal and recycling in
  Iran, Mohammad Ali Abdoli, Iranian Municipalities
  Rural Municipalities Organization
  publishing,2000.

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Table 2- Physical composition of residential MSW
in Caspian Sea Region

• Municipal solid waste disposal and recycling in
  Iran, Mohammad Ali Abdoli, Iranian Municipalities
  Rural Municipalities Organization
  publishing,2000.

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Iran Waste Legislation Review

• After the victorious revolution by the Islamic
  movement in 1979 special attention was paid to
  the issue of the environment. Article number
  Fifty of the constitution of I.R. of Iran, has
  given the main stand of authorities and people on
  the issue. According to this Article, in the
  Islamic Republic of Iran, It is considered a
  public duty to protect the environment where the
  present and future generations are to have a
  thriving social life.

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• Therefore, economic and any other activities,
  which result in pollution or irremediable damage
  and destruction of the environment is prohibited.
• In order to combat against solid waste pollution
  in Iran, Waste Management Act was approved by
  Islamic Consultative Parliament in May 2004.
• For different type of solid wastes, the country
  tightened regulations and penalties for waste
  generators, contractors and executive management.

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• Based on Article 7 of Waste Management Act,
  executive management of Industrial and special
  wastes is the responsibility of their generators.
  In this Article also it has been stated that
  executive management in urban area is by
  municipalities and in rural area is by rural
  municipalities ( which is called Dehyari in Iran
  ).
• Article 12 of this Act also states
• "Landfill sites should be determined ( based
  on environmental directives and standards) by
  Ministry of Interior with cooperation of DOE and
  Ministry of Agriculture Jihad ".

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Main Issues and Strategies

• There is a growing concern all over the world for
  the management and disposal of solid wastes
  generated from various sources. Waste and
  pollution management approaches can be described
  as important strategies. At the municipal rural
  level these strategies generally have relied on
  disposal practices (predominantly landfilling,
  Incineration and recycling).

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• Landfills
• Many of the final disposal sites in Caspian
  region lack a proper management of carried- in
  waste or other environmental controls. They are
  often just open dumping sites with no measures to
  minimize environmental pollution. On the other
  hand, there is insufficient land for waste
  landfilling in this region.
• Therefore, converting existing landfills (or even
  open dumping) to sanitary landfills is essential
  in that it not only reduces the adverse effects
  on the environment and society, but also properly
  maintains the waste stream that ends in final
  disposal in a sustainable manner.

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• Unmanaged landfill ( Mazandaran Ramsar city )

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• Composting plants
• Composting is one of the options which is used
  for the intermediate treatment of municipal solid
  waste in northern provinces of Iran (Caspian
  region).
• There are two major reasons for this
• 1-Organic wastes, including garbage, account for
  more than 60 - sometimes over 70 - of solid
  waste in this region.
• 2-This option not only reduces the volume of
  waste, but also produces compost, which can be
  used as a soil conditioner (or may be alternative
  fertilizer).

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• However, proper precautions should be exercised
  to avoid soil (and water resources) pollution
  from the compost. Hazardous materials have little
  chance of finding their way into compost if the
  raw materials for the compost are wastes that
  have been properly separated at source.
• Because wastes generated in Caspian coastal
  region are mainly mixed and used to produce
  compost, that compost will without doubt include
  heavy metals and other hazardous materials, even
  if every effort has been made to remove these
  materials as part to the pretreatment process.

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• With this regard, it is advisable to limit or
  even cease the application of compost made from
  mixed waste on crop fields and rice paddy, which
  absorb heavy metals well. On the other hand,
  bio-composting made from organic portion of
  source separated solid waste is strongly
  recommended.
• Household bio-composting and vermi composting
  are another options of suitable utilization of
  this approach especially in this region. A home
  compost pile is an easy and inexpensive way to
  dispose of organic waste in an interesting and
  environmentally friendly way.

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• Incineration
• There is not any major and specific studied plan
  for incinerators utilization in Iran.
• It seems utilization of incinerator in Caspian
  region because of high percentage of garden
  putrescible wastes high percentage of solid
  waste humidity and difficult operation
  maintenance (as a result of high technology)
  isn't suitable and logic for rural and municipal
  solid waste.

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• It is advisable for hazardous waste in the
  region, when the related monitoring and
  operational standards are completely considered.
• The design and evaluation of incineration
  systems, as with most aspects of hazardous waste
  management, should be driven by laws and
  regulations to assure environmental and human
  health protection.

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• Medical / Health Care Wastes
• Releases of infectious, toxic and hazardous
  components ( of health care waste ) to the
  environment during the years, posing long- term
  health risks to the public and endangerment to
  the environment.
• Medical wastes require proper management, since
  even small quantities can have a serious impact
  in the environment and human health.
• In Caspian region, infectious wastes are often
  treated in the municipal solid waste flow, which
  is quite dangerous.

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• The following consideration should be taken into
  account for this sensitive zone
• The public should be made aware of the risks
  involved.
• Hospitals must ensure the segregated management
  of infectious waste.
• Using incineration for medical (health care)
  waste because of dioxins furans emissions
  bottom ash fly ash which often contain heavy
  metals and other hazardous materials
  difficulties in waste collection and separation
  and is not advisable. But can be used for
  hazardous waste portion of medical waste.

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• One of the important approaches for decreasing
  medical wastes risk, in Caspian region, is steam
  sterilization which is categorized to microwave
  systems and steam boilers( Autoclave systems).
  This should be done under specific regulation and
  standards. After converting the infectious
  pathological waste into urban grade waste, it
  could be transported to a local landfill.

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Community Participation

• Public private partnership is the essential
  solution to improve the quality and quantity of
  solid waste recycling in Caspian region. For this
  purpose, waste related education and awareness
  programs are needed as well.
• Community- based solid waste management in this
  region is an important approach whereby members
  of a community themselves manage such activities
  as waste collection, resource recovery (e.g.
  biocomposting) and also sale of recycled
  products.

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Recommendations

• 1-Formulation of executive plans for waste
  pollution reduction in Caspian region.
• 2-Appointment of implement agencies,
  coordination, securing needed management
  instruments and approval of timetables of the
  plans.
• 3-Coordination between the activities of the
  related organizations concerned with solid waste
  management and its pollution reduction in Caspian
  region.

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• 4-Following up and accelerating the
  implementation of projects and removal of
  obstacles.
• 5-Selection three cities with their rural areas
  (in 3 provinces) as pilots for implementing the
  proper solid waste management, is recommended.
• 6-Utilization of suitable biogas plants in animal
  husbandry in Caspian region is recommended. This
  approach will reduce cattle dung manure
  problems.

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Thank You