| Abstract: | The public health and environmental pollution problems due to inadequate treatment and inappropriate disposal of liquid and solid wastes generated in small and medium towns (referred to as semi-urban areas) of India receive insufficient attention. A field study of four towns in the State of Tamil Nadu was conducted to evaluate the current waste management practices in such semi-urban areas (SUAs). The study reveals that financial barriers for waste management arise due to a combination of policy and technological constraints. Based on the results of a preliminary waste characterization study and other observations made during the field study, reed bed channels and a semi-mechanized aerobic windrow composting process for the treatment of wastewater and municipal solid wastes, respectively, are recommended as appropriate technological options. The recommended technologies utilize existing arrangements for waste disposal, and aid an integrated resource recovery and reuse strategy that takes advantage of the geographic location and socioeconomic characteristics of SUAs to achieve lower waste management costs. Financial viability of the recommended technological approach is demonstrated through a comparative evaluation of competing treatment systems, and an estimation of costs and recoverable benefits resulting from waste reuse. |
