Municipal solid waste management. A case study

This paper presents and reviews various aspects of solid waste management from storage of refuse to its proper disposal. Data have been compiled on waste generation rates and refuse composition for various cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Current refuse disposal practices have been evaluated and any constraint associated with these methods outlined. A cost-effective model has been used to evaluate the economic feasibility of direct haul and of hauling by way of a transfer station. Optimization techniques have been used to compare the economic feasibility of local and regional disposal facilities. Groundwater samples collected from various disposal sites have been analysed to determine the impact of land disposal practices on groundwater quality.