Environmental quality is a prime concern to sustain the development of Egypt. Solid wastes generated from human settlements are of the major environmental issues that concern and challenge Egypt today. SWM is a crucial public service issue affecting both environment and health. SWM in Egypt have always been, and will continue to be one of the most pressing challenges facing the Egyptian authorities for the coming decades unless appropriate solutions are derived.
The intention of this search is to implement Quality Improvement Techniques in Environmental Engineering Field to analyze the Egyptian Waste Management problem and find applicable solutions according to the current situation givens. The main focus is on municipal solid wastes excluding hazardous wastes from it.
SWM problem in Egypt can be summarized as the absence of a regular waste collection service; waste is dumped in open spaces, on access roads which are invaded by animals and waste pickers so, wastes are scattered and serve as breeding grounds for disease vectors and with the leachate from decomposing garbage nearby water sources and soil which results in food contamination, all this have serious environmental consequences. Alexandria, the second capital of Egypt is taken as practical case study of this search.
The field of solid waste management is as old as human beings age. Since that waste is a product that is commonly developed due to human living. This sector has been of such concern for all cultures all along the history because of its significant effects on both the human health and his surrounding environment. The effects on health appears in terms of disease spread like cholera and plague; that were really developed due to poor means of handling solid wastes at this time. While the significant effects that could affect the environment appear in terms of land degradation and soil contamination.
But a huge gap has occurred in the development and improvement of this field between developed and developing countries along time. In developing countries like Egypt, the situation is deteriorated in terms of inadequate waste collection service resulting in poor waste collection coverage efficiency that led to waste “garbage” spread on the access roads of the cities. [...]
Table of Contents
1. CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1. MOTIVATION
1.2. RESEARCH IMPORTANCE
1.2.1. Academic Importance
1.2.2. Practical Importance
1.3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.4. STRUCTURE OF THE STUDY
2. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. SOLID WASTES DEFINITION
2.2. CLASSIFICATION OF SOLID WASTES
2.2.1. Municipal Solid Waste
2.2.2. Green and Agricultural Organic Waste
2.2.3. Construction and Demolition Waste
2.2.4. Industrial Waste
2.2.5. Medical Waste
2.2.6. Radioactive Waste
2.2.7. Water Way Dredging Residue
2.2.8. Sewage Sludge
2.2.9. Hazardous Waste
2.2.10. E- Waste
2.3. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMNT (MSWM)
2.3.1. Waste Characteristics
2.3.2. History of SWM (People Culture)
2.3.3. MSWM Legal Framework
3. CHAPTER 3 OVERVIEW OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEM IN EGYPT
3.1. CURRENT SITUATION
3.2. THE PRESENT SWM PRACTICES IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS
3.2.1. Urban Area Method
3.2.2. Rural Area Methods
3.3. DATA ABOUT WASTES
3.3.1. Quantitative Data
3.3.2. Qualitative Data
3.4. MONETARY ASSESSMENT OF THE SWM PROBLEM
3.5. EGYPT’S WORLDWIDE MSWM POSITION
3.5.1. MSWM History in Developed Countries
3.5.2. Egypt and the World
3.6. THE EGYPTIAN EFFORTS REGARDING SOLID WASTES MANAGEMENT
3.7. PROBLEM CONFIGURATION
3.7.1. Problem Definition
3.7.2. Problem Summary
3.7.3. Problem General Assessment
4. CHAPTER 4 ALEXANDRIA CASE STUDY
4.1. ALEXANDRIA Governorate
4.2. BACKGROUND OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
4.3. THE CURRENT SITUATION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
4.4. THE CASE STUDY
4.4.1. Basic Quality Improvement Process (BQIP) Chart
4.4.2. Need for MSWM Improvement in Alexandria
4.4.3. Brain Storming of the MSWM Problem in Alexandria
4.4.4. Problem Definition of the MSWM Problem in Alexandria
4.4.5. Cause and Effect Analysis of the MSWM Problem in Alexandria
4.4.6. Pareto Analysis of the MSWM Problem in Alexandria
4.4.7. Gain Management Support for the MSWM Problem in Alexandria
4.4.8. Identify People to Tackle the Project and
4.4.9. Allocate Responsibilities for the MSWM Problem in Alexandria
4.4.10. Process and Problem Analysis for the MSWM Problem in Alexandria
4.4.11. Gather Data for the MSWM Problem in Alexandria
4.4.12. Suggest Solution for the MSWM Problem in Alexandria
4.4.13. Confirm Optimality of the Solution Suggested for Alexandria
4.4.14. Create the System which will hold the Gains of the MSWM Problem in Alexandria
4.4.15. Monitor and control the New Situation of the MSWM in Alexandria
4.4.16. Continuous Improvement
5. CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1. CONCLUSION
5.2. RESULT FOUND FROM CURRENT SITUATION
5.3. THE SOLUTION IN BRIEF
5.4. THE BENEFITS
5.4.1. In the legal and institutional framework
5.4.2. In the Collection and Transfer
5.4.3. In the Processing and Disposal
5.5. RECOMMENDATIONS
5.6. FUTURE WORK
6. REFERENCES
Research Goals and Core Themes
The research focuses on the optimization of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) in Egypt, specifically targeting the Alexandria Governorate. The primary objective is to develop a cost-effective, culturally acceptable, and environmentally sustainable waste management model that transitions from the current inadequate practices to a self-sustaining system utilizing local expertise and innovative financing, rather than relying on expensive and unsuitable foreign technologies.
- Application of Quality Improvement Techniques (BQIP) in environmental engineering.
- Comprehensive analysis of the waste collection chain, including the role of the informal sector.
- Evaluation of the current legislative and institutional framework regulating solid waste in Egypt.
- Case study development for Alexandria as a representative model for improvement.
- Integration of waste as a resource to generate revenue and employment opportunities.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. MOTIVATION
The generation of solid waste is inevitable. It was not important in former times but it has become an issue as soon as people started to settle in communities. Ever since, SWM has been of great concern to municipal authorities worldwide. In the middle ages, badly managed waste was responsible for millions of deaths in Europe. In the 18th century, inappropriate waste management was the cause of the outbreak of diseases like the plague and cholera, which claimed more than 380,000 lives in Hamburg. Approximately 590 to 880 million tons of methane are released into the atmosphere every year, 90 % of the gases generated are due to the decomposition of biomass as a result of indiscriminate waste management, among other causes.
Consequently, the ozone layer and the ecosystem are continually being destroyed. In short, today indiscriminate waste management is one of the biggest threats to ecosystems in the world. Cities, often overwhelmed by the continuous influx of new arrivals, have frequently been unable to keep up with the provision of basic services. Between one third and two-thirds of the SW generated goes uncollected, piling up on streets and in drains, contributing to flooding and the spread of disease. In addition, urban and metropolitan domestic and industrial effluents are often released into waterways with little or no treatment. [1] In order to achieve sustainable development, policy makers in Developing Countries have to cope with the above-mentioned issues.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides the motivation for the study, emphasizing the environmental and health impacts of poor SWM, and outlines the objectives and structure of the thesis.
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW: This section defines solid waste, provides classifications, and reviews the history and legal frameworks governing waste management in Egypt.
CHAPTER 3 OVERVIEW OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEM IN EGYPT: This chapter assesses the current situation, identifies statistical gaps, and presents a SWOT analysis of the waste sector in Egypt.
CHAPTER 4 ALEXANDRIA CASE STUDY: This chapter applies quality improvement tools to analyze the specific waste challenges in Alexandria and proposes a strategy for improvement.
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This chapter summarizes findings, provides recommendations for advanced service implementation, and suggests areas for future research.
Keywords
Municipal Solid Waste Management, Alexandria Governorate, Quality Improvement, Informal Sector, Environmental Engineering, Waste Collection, Sustainability, Waste Hierarchy, Legal Framework, Waste Characteristics, Cost-effectiveness, Waste-to-Energy, Public Awareness, Resource Management, Urbanization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The work focuses on analyzing and improving the Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) system in Egypt, using Alexandria as a practical case study to develop a sustainable improvement strategy.
What are the primary challenges addressed?
The central challenges include inadequate waste collection coverage, reliance on unsuitable foreign technologies, lack of financial resources, and the inefficient integration of the informal sector.
What is the ultimate research objective?
The goal is to design an efficient, self-sustaining waste management system that meets public health and environmental standards while turning waste into a resource for the local economy.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The study utilizes the Basic Quality Improvement Process (BQIP) chart, combined with fishbone diagrams for root cause analysis and SWOT analysis for systemic evaluation.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the definition and classification of wastes, an assessment of the current Egyptian situation, an in-depth case study of Alexandria, and the proposal of an integrated "Door-to-Door" collection model.
How is the study characterized by its keywords?
The study is characterized by its emphasis on sustainable engineering, quality tools for environmental management, economic viability, and the strategic integration of existing local actors.
Why is the "Curbside Collection Model" considered problematic in Alexandria?
It was found to be inappropriate due to dense waste characteristics, high equipment costs, and failure to account for local cultural factors, leading to high theft rates of equipment and low financial returns.
How does the proposed solution involve the informal sector?
Instead of hiring them as traditional labor, the proposed model integrates the informal sector by assigning them specific underserved areas where the formal private sector cannot operate due to equipment limitations.
What role does the "Commercial Utility" play?
It is a proposed facility designed to generate revenue through educational trips to processing plants and awareness seminars, aimed at establishing a separate and sustainable budget for SWM.
- Citation du texte
- Heba Fahmy (Auteur), 2014, Quality Improvement of Municipal Solid Wastes Management in Alexandria Governorate, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/285558
