---
title: "Methods of solid waste disposal"
subject: "Sanitary Engineering"
chapter: 10
key: "semester_6/sanitary_engineering:solid-waste-disposal-methods"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/sanitary_engineering/solid-waste-disposal-methods
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Methods of solid waste disposal

Sanitary Engineering · Chapter 10: Solid Waste Disposal

- Asked in: 2076 Bhadra, 4 marks; 2071 Magh, 4 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [methods of solid waste disposal ||Notes 🤩😎||#solidwastemanagement](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJxNqNBD_vw) —  Biology with Tanya 
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/sanitary_engineering/solid-waste-disposal-methods
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/sanitary_engineering/chapter-10

## Question

Describe briefly the various methods of solid waste disposal.

## Short answer

Major disposal methods include open dumping (uncontrolled, polluting), sanitary landfill (engineered with cover and leachate control), incineration (high-temperature volume reduction), composting (aerobic organic decomposition), anaerobic digestion (biogas production), pulverisation (grinding for volume reduction), recycling/reuse (material recovery), and banned sea/river dumping. Selection depends on waste type, land, cost, and climate.

## Answer

Solid waste is finally disposed of by one or more of the following methods, chosen according to waste type, land availability, cost and climate.

1. **Open dumping:** waste is thrown on open land without treatment. It is the cheapest, but causes odour, flies, rats, disease and water pollution; not recommended.
2. **Sanitary landfill:** waste is spread in layers, compacted and covered daily with soil, with leachate and gas control. Methods: trench, area and ramp (depression). It is the most widely accepted method of final disposal, including in Nepal.
3. **Incineration:** controlled burning at 800-1000 °C reduces the volume by 80-90% and kills pathogens; heat can be recovered. It is costly, causes air pollution and is unsuitable for wet waste; it is used for hospital waste.
4. **Composting:** biological decomposition of organic waste into compost (windrow, Bangalore, Indore, vermicomposting). It gives a soil conditioner but needs segregation.
5. **Biogas / anaerobic digestion:** organic waste is digested in the absence of air to give methane-rich biogas for cooking and electricity, plus slurry used as manure.
6. **Pulverisation (grinding):** waste is ground into small pieces and used as landfill cover or in compost; this reduces its volume.
7. **Recycling and reuse:** paper, glass, metal and plastics are recovered and reused, reducing waste (3R: reduce, reuse, recycle).
8. **Dumping into sea/river:** once used in some coastal cities (disposal by dilution), but now banned because it pollutes water; dumping waste into rivers is not allowed in Nepal.
9. **Feeding to animals (hog feeding):** food waste is fed to pigs after cooking; used in some places.

```text
 waste -> segregation -> organic -> composting / biogas
                      -> recyclable -> recycling
                      -> residual -> landfill / incineration
```

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which method suits hospital waste?
   A. Open dumping
   B. Composting
   C. Incineration
   D. Hog feeding
   Answer: C. It kills pathogens at 800-1000 °C. (Key point: Hospital waste)

2. What is biogas digestion?
   A. Aerobic composting
   B. Burning
   C. Grinding
   D. Anaerobic digestion producing methane-rich gas and slurry
   Answer: D. Organic waste digested without air yields biogas. (Key point: Biogas)

3. Which method is banned in Nepal?
   A. Dumping into river or sea
   B. Landfill
   C. Recycling
   D. Composting
   Answer: A. It pollutes water. (Key point: Banned)

4. What does 3R mean?
   A. Reject, remove, recover
   B. Reduce, reuse, recycle
   C. Reuse, repair, return
   D. Rake, reduce, route
   Answer: B. Waste reduction through reuse and recycling. (Key point: 3R)

## Related in Sanitary Engineering

- [Importance and methods of waste management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fsanitary_engineering%3Aimportance-waste-management-methods) — Sanitary Engineering, chapter 1, asked 7×
- [Incineration: merits and demerits](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fsanitary_engineering%3Asolid-waste-incineration) — Sanitary Engineering, chapter 10, asked 7×
- [Composting: methods, merits, demerits](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fsanitary_engineering%3Asolid-waste-composting) — Sanitary Engineering, chapter 10, asked 5×
- [Sanitary landfill: merits and demerits](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fsanitary_engineering%3Asanitary-landfill-merits) — Sanitary Engineering, chapter 10, asked 4×

## Related in other subjects

- [Solid waste management system and techniques](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenvironment_and_pollution_control%3Asolid-waste-management-techniques) — Environment and Pollution Control, chapter 5
- [Physical and chemical characteristics of solid waste](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenvironment_and_pollution_control%3Asolid-waste-characteristics) — Environment and Pollution Control, chapter 5
- [Treatment and disposal of hazardous waste](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenvironment_and_pollution_control%3Ahazardous-waste-management-techniques) — Environment and Pollution Control, chapter 5