COMMITTEE DRAFT UGANDA 
STANDARD  
  CDUS 1662  
First E dition  
2017 -mm-dd 
 
 
 Reference number  
CDUS 1662: 2017  
© UNBS 2017   
  
Waste management — requirements  
 CDUS 1662 : 2017  
ii © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct applicat ion 
© UNBS 2017   
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from U NBS.  
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala  
Uganda  
Tel: +256 41 7 333 2 50/1/2/3  
Fax: +256 41 4 286 123  
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  CDUS 1662: 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  v 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Requirements of w aste storage sites  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 3 
4.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
4.2 Temporary waste storage sites  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  4 
4.3 Permanent waste storage sites  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  4 
5 Types of wastes  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 4 
5.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  4 
5.2 Hazardous waste materials  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  4 
5.3 Non-hazardous waste  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  5 
6 Waste management  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  5 
6.2 Hazardous waste management  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  5 
6.3 Non-hazardous waste management  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 6 
7 Waste management planning  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
8 Waste Prevention  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 6 
9 Waste Storage  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  7 
10 Waste transportation  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  7 
11 Waste treatment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 8 
11.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  8 
11.1.1  Thermal treatment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 8 
11.1.2  Chemical treatment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  8 
11.1.3  Biological treatment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  8 
11.1.4  Physical treatment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 8 
12 Waste disposal  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 8 
12.1  Conditions for both on -site and off -site disposal facilities  ................................ ...............................  8 
12.1.1  General site conditions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  8 
12.1.2  Hydrological conditions ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  8 
12.1.3  Area rain fall or net precipitation conditions  ................................ ................................ .......................  9 
12.1.4  Soil conditions and loading considerations  ................................ ................................ .......................  9 
12.1.5  Drainage areas  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 9 
12.1.6  Presence of special conditions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  9 
12.1.7  Air quality  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  9 
In addition to t he recommendations for treatment and disposal applicable to general wastes, the 
following issues specific to hazardous wastes should be considered:  ................................ ..........  9 
12.2  Commercial or government waste contra ctors  ................................ ................................ ..................  9 
13 Monitoring of waste  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  9 
14 Waste management options  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  10 
14.1.1  Reduce  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  10 
14.1.2  Reuse  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  10 
14.1.3  Recycle  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  11 
15 Waste trea tment technologies  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  11 
15.1  Composting  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  11 
15.2  Incineration  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  11 CDUS 1662 : 2017  
iv © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 15.3 Plasma gasification  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  11 
15.4  Energy recovery (Waste to Energy)  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 12 
15.5  Pyrolysis  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  12 
15.6  Sanitary Landfills  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  12 
 CDUS 1662: 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  v 
 Foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade , Industry and 
Cooperatives established under Cap 327 , of the Laws of Uganda , as amended .  UNBS is mandated to co -
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquir y Point on TBT  Agreement  of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of key stakeholders 
including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
The committee responsible for this document is Technical Committee UNBS /TC 16, Petroleum , Subcommittee 
SC 3, Petroleum Management and Health Safety Security and Environment.  CDUS 1662 : 2017  
vi © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Introduction  
Waste management refers to all the activities and actions required to manage waste from its generation to its 
final disposal. This includes amongst other things, collection, stora ge, transportation, treatment and disposal 
of waste together with monitoring and regulation. It also encompasses the legal and regulatory framework that 
relates to waste management encompassing guidance on recycling.  
Waste can be generated during the extra ction of raw materials, processing of raw materials into intermediate 
and final products, the consumption of final products, or other human activities, including municipal 
(residential, institutional, industrial and commercial), agricultural, and social (h ealth care, household 
hazardous wastes, sewage sludge),mining  and petroleum. Waste management is intended to reduce adverse 
effects of waste on health, the environment or aesthetics.  
 COMMITTEE DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  CDUS 1662: 2017  
 
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  1 
 Waste management — requirements  
1 Scope  
This Committee Draft Uganda sta ndard covers the management of hazardous waste and non - hazardous 
waste. Th is standard covers amongst other things, collection, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal 
of waste.  It also includes provisions for monitoring and regulation of waste.  
The standard applies to activities that generate, store, or handle any quantity of waste across a range of 
industry sectors.  
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content 
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated 
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
National Environment Act 1995  
US ISO 14001, Environmenta l management systems — Requirements with guidance for use (2nd edition)  
Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act 2013  
The National oil and gas policy 2008  
National Environment  (Petroleum waste management regulations)  
The Petroleum refining c onversion transportation Act 2013  
Occupati onal Health and Safety Act, 2006  
National Environment (Waste Management) Regulations  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.  
ISO and IEC maintain termi nological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:  
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp  
3.1 
biological treatment  
process of transforming waste into another form or reducing the toxicity or Biological Oxygen Demand (BO D) 
through a biological process   
2 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 3.2 
chemical  treatment  
process of transforming  waste into another form or reducing the toxicity  through a chemical process  
3.3 
composting  
natural biological process, carried out under controlled aerobic cond itions (requires oxygen). In this process, 
various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, break down organic matter into simpler substances. The 
effectiveness of the composting process is dependent upon the environmental conditions present within th e 
composting system i.e. oxygen, temperature, moisture, material disturbance, organic matter and the size and 
activity of microbial populations.  
3.4 
energy recov ery (Waste to Energy)  
conversion of non -recyclable waste materials into useable heat, electrici ty, or fuel through a variety of 
processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolization, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas (LFG) 
recovery. This process is often called waste -to-energy (WTE).  
3.5 
hazardous waste  
shares the properties of a hazardous  material (e.g. ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity), or other 
physical, chemical, or biological characteristics that may pose a potential risk to human health or the 
environment if improperly managed. Wastes may also be defined as “hazardou s” by local regulations or 
international conventions, based on the origin of the waste and its inclusion on hazardous waste lists, or 
based on its characteristics.  
3.6 
incineration  
disposal method in which solid organic wastes are subjected to combustion s o as to convert them into residue 
and gaseous products.  
3.7 
landfill  
place to dispose of refuse and other waste material by burying it and covering it over with soil, especially as a 
method of filling in or extending usable land.  
3.8 
monitoring and regulat ory review framework  
part of the environmental management plan which establishes baseline before any waste management 
installations . Air and water monitoring systems shall be installed at waste storage /treatment/disposal facilities 
to monitor any environm ental risks arising from activities at the facility. Reports shall be submitted to 
respective authorities at pre -defined intervals during construction, operations  and post -closure phases of the 
project.  The respective authorities shall indepe ndently audit the facility at least once a year until the end of the 
post-closure monitoring period.  
3.9 
non-hazardous (solid) wastes  
any garbage or refuse. Examples of such waste s include domestic trash and garbage; inert construction / 
demolition materials; refuse, su ch as metal scrap and empty containers (except those previously used to 
contain hazardous materials which should, in principle, be managed as a hazardous waste); and residual 
waste from industrial operations, such as boiler slag, clinker, and fly ash.  
3.10 
physi cal treatment  
process of transforming waste into another form or reducing the toxicity through a physical process such as 
filtration, flotation, gravity separation, adsorption, and other techniques.  CDUS 1662 : 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  3 
 3.11 
plasma  gasification  
process in which the waste ’s molecular bonds are broken down as result of the intense heat in the vessels 
and the elemental components.  
3.12 
recycling  
process of converting waste materials into  reusable materials and objects  
3.13 
resource recovery  
systematic diversion of waste, whi ch was intended for disposal, for a specific next use. It is the processing of 
recyclables to extract or recover materials and resources, or convert to energy.  
3.14 
sludge 
material from a waste treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility, and other 
discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial 
operations needs to be ev aluated on a case -by-case basis to establish whether it constitutes a haz ardous or a 
non-hazardous waste  
3.15 
thermal treatment  
application of he at to waste  
3.16 
vermin -composting  
process that relies on earthworms and microorganisms to help stabilize activ e organic materials and convert 
them  into a valuable soil amendment and source of plant nutrients.  
3.17 
waste 
any solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material that is being discarded by disposal, recycling, burning or 
incineration. It can be  a by-product o f a manufacturing process or an obsolete commercial product that can no 
longer be used for intended purpose and requires disposal.  
4 Requirements of waste storage sites  
4.1 General  
Facilities that generate and store wastes shall practice the following:  
a) establish a waste management framework at the outset of activities based on an understanding of 
potential Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) risks and impacts and considering waste 
generation and its consequences;  
b) establish a waste management hierarchy t hat considers prevention, reduction, reuse, recovery, 
recycling, removal and finally disposal of wastes;  
c) avoid or minimize the generation of waste materials, as far as practicable, and where waste 
generation cannot be avoided but has been minimized, recove ring and reusing waste;  
d) where waste cannot be recovered or reused, treating, destroying, and disposing of it in an 
environmentally sound manner; and  
e) establish a monitoring and regulatory review framework during operation and post closure.   
4 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 4.2 Temporary was te storage sites  
Temporary waste storage sites shall meet the following requirements:  
a) ensure that impacts on the environment are avoided or minimised as far as practicable;  
b) ensure that there is no risk to human health as a result of waste;  
c) prevent the loss  of properties of recycled waste as a result of improper collection and storage ; 
d) prevent littering;  
e) minimise the risk of fire from stored waste;  
f) undertake a waste inventory and monitor waste management;  
g) ensure ease of waste disposal ;and  
h) ensure segregation /identification/classification of waste.  
4.3 Permanent waste storage sites  
Permanent waste storage sites shall meet the following requirements:  
a) radioactive wastes are stored so as to avoid any chance of radiation exposure to people, or any 
pollution;  
b) the r adioactivity of the wastes decays with time, providing a strong incentive to store high -level 
wastes for about 50 years before disposal;  
5 Types of wastes  
5.1 General  
Waste from the different activities can be hazardous or non-hazardous  
5.2 Hazardous waste  materials  
Hazardous wastes include those identified as either potentially harmful to human health or the environment, 
typically with the potential to lead to long term contamination. It is likely that the majority of these wastes will 
arise during the ope ration of construction vehicles, plant and equipment, and utilisation of potentially 
hazardous raw materials.  
The following hazardous wastes shall be produced as a result of different activities:  
a) spent solvents and oily rags;  
b) packaging with residues of ha zardous substances (e.g. paints, solvents or coatings) ; 
c) clinical wastes from first aid facilities or on -site clinics;  
d) oily residues or spent filters from surface water treatment system;  
e) fluorescent tubes;  
f) chemical containers;  CDUS 1662 : 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  5 
 g) used lubricating oil;  
h) sludge f rom cleaning out refuelling tanks;  
i) used batteries (such as nickel -cadmium or lead acid); and  
j) lighting equipment, such as lamps or lamp  ballasts.  
5.3 Non-hazardous waste  
This type of waste is likely to consist primarily of:  
a) waste from vegetation clearance a long the pipeline construction corridor and landfill facility;  
b) surplus excavated spoil from the pipeline construction  corridor and landfill facility;  
c) material excavated from the micro -tunnelling operations;  
d) packaging (paper, plastic, metal and wood) from c onstruction materials received at the construction 
sites;  
e) welding  waste  and metal  swarf  resulting  from jointing  of pipeline  sections;  
f) surplus, damaged and out -of-specification construction materials, including concrete and other inert 
materials;  
g) food waste ; 
h) empty gas bottles and canisters; and  
i) other general wastes from construction, businesses, industry and households.  
6 Waste management  
6.1 General  
The general waste management practi ces shall include the following:  
a) waste minimisation and prevention;  
b) identi fication and segregation of waste materials at source  
c) recycling and reuse of suitable materials;  
d) treatment and disposal of specific waste streams ; 
6.2 Hazardous waste management  
In addition to the waste management practices applicable to general wastes, th e following issues specific to 
hazardous wastes shall be considered:  
a) understanding potential impacts and risks associated with the management of any generated 
hazardous waste during its complete life cycle;  
b) ensuring that contractors handling, treating, and  disposing of hazardous waste are reputable and 
legitimate enterprises, licensed by the relevant regulatory agencies and following good international 
industry practice for the waste being handled;   
6 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 c) ensuring compliance with applicable local and international  regulations ; 
d) hazardous waste shall  be stored so as to prevent or control accidental releases to air, soil, and water 
resources in area location where  
e) preparing and implementing spill response and emergency plans to address their accident al release  
f) avoidi ng underground storage tanks and underground piping of hazardous waste and  
6.3 Non-hazardous waste management  
The following waste management practices shall apply to non -hazardous wastes;  
a) use of organic bags instead of plastic  will greatly reduce the amoun t of waste you bring into your 
house ; 
b) buy food that has less packaging ; and  
c) carry out  vermin composting.  
7 Waste management planning  
Facilities that generate waste shall characterize their waste according to composition, source, types of wastes 
produced, g eneration rates, or according to local regulatory requirements.  
Effective planning and implementation of waste management strategies shall include:  
a) review of new waste sources during planning, siting, and design activities, including during equipment 
modi fications and process alterations, to identify expected waste generation, pollution prevention 
opportunities, and necessary treatment, storage, and disposal infrastructure;  
b) collection of data and information about the process and waste streams in existing facilities, including 
characterization of waste streams by type, quantities, and potential use/disposition;  
c) establishment of priorities based on a risk analysis that takes into account the potential EHS risks 
during the waste cycle and the availability of infrastructure to manage the waste in an environmentally 
sound manner;  
d) definition of opportunities for source reduction, as well as reuse and recycling;  
e) definition of procedures and operational controls for on - site storage; and  
f) definition of options / pro cedures / operational controls for treatment and final disposal  
8 Waste p revention  
Processes shall be designed and operated to prevent, or minimize, the quantities of wastes generated and 
hazards associated with the wastes generated in accordance with the following strategy:  
a) substituting raw materials or inputs with less hazardous or toxic materials, or with those where 
processing generates lower waste volumes;  
b) applying manufacturing process that convert materials efficiently, providing higher product outpu t 
yields, including modification of design of the production process, operating conditions, and process 
controls;  CDUS 1662 : 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  7 
 c) instituting good housekeeping and operating practices, including inventory control to reduce the 
amount of waste resulting from materials that  are out -of-date, off - specification, contaminated, 
damaged, or excess to plant needs;  
d) instituting procurement measures that recognize opportunities to return usable materials such as 
containers and which prevents the over ordering of materials and  
e) minimiz ing hazardous waste generation by implementing stringent waste segregation to prevent the 
commingling of non -hazardous and hazardous waste to be managed  
9 Waste s torage  
Hazardous waste shall be stored so as to prevent or control accidental releases to air,  soil, and water 
resources . The following shall be put into consideration : 
a) waste shall be store d in closed containers away from direct sunlight, wind and rain  to prevent 
commingling or contact between incompatible wastes, and allow for inspection between c ontainers to 
monitor leaks or spills ; 
b) where liquid wastes are stored, secondary containment systems sh all be constructed with materials 
appropriate for the wastes being contained and adequate to prevent loss to the environment. For 
volumes of waste greater  than 220 liters, the available volume of secondary containment shall be at 
least 110 percent of the largest storage container, or 25 percent of the total storage capacity 
(whichever is greater), in that specific location;  
c) provision of  adequate ventilation  where volatile wastes are stored;  
d) hazardous waste storage activities sh all also be subject to special management actions, conducted by 
employees who have received specific training in handling and storage of hazardous wastes;  
e) provision of readily availabl e information on chemical compatibility to employees, including labeling 
each container to identify its contents;  
f) limiting access to hazardous waste storage areas to employees who have received proper training;  
g) clearly identifying (label) and demarcating t he area, including documentation of its location on a facility 
map or site plan;  
h) preparing and implementing spill response and emergency plans to addre ss their accidental release ; 
i) avoiding underground storage tanks and underground piping of hazardous waste  ;and 
j) conducting periodic inspections of waste storage areas and documenting the findings  
10 Waste transportation  
On-site and Off -site transportation of waste shall  be conducted so as to prevent or minimize spills, 
releases, and exposures  to employees and the public. All waste containers designat ed for off -site 
shipment shall be secured and labelled with the contents and associated hazards, be properly loaded on 
the transport vehicles before leaving the site, and be accompanied by a shipping paper   
8 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 11 Waste  treatment  
11.1 General  
Treatment of waste is a method which reduces the  volume, mass and/or toxicity prior to disposal. Common  
methods of treatment are thermal, physical, chemical,  and biological processes.  
11.1.1  Thermal treatment  
Combustion can transfor m the waste into ash (and  gases) and therefore reduce the volume of waste to be  
disposed. A further example of thermal treatment is the  incineration of waste to extract/remove contaminants.  
This requires the use of an incinerator that is optimized  to have a controlled burn and temperature to facilitate  
complete combustion of contaminants and which  is equipped to control emissions.  
11.1.2  Chemical treatment  
An example of chemical  treatment is the addition of lime to acidic mine waters  to neutralize the water  and 
precipitate metals.  
11.1.3  Biological treatment  
Land farming and  phytoremediation are examples of biological  treatment that involve reduction of contaminant  
concentrations from impacted soil by microorganisms and plants  
11.1.4  Physical treatment  
Where as biological, thermal, and chemical treatments often  destroy the toxic chemical constituents of waste,  
physical treatment does not. Instead, physical  treatment typically results in a waste stream that  is easier to 
manage. For example, the removal of  suspe nded particles in water within a settling pond  may result in the 
release of cleaner decant water.  The sludge remaining within a settling pond may  need to be managed further 
as a waste product that  is generated within the physical treatment process.  
12 Wast e disposal  
Disposal is the final waste management alternative to be considered after incorporating all practical source 
reduction, recycling, and treatment options.  
12.1 Conditions for both on -site and off -site disposal facilities  
The following factors sh all be considered when evaluating both on site and offsite disposal facilities  
12.1.1  General site conditions  
Area -wide topographical, hydrological, and geological features, as well as sources of usable water, should be 
reviewed. Also, current and probable  future activities around the disposal site should be evaluated.  
12.1.2  Hydrological conditions  
A hydrological review should identify the location, size, and direction of flow for existing surface water bodies 
and aquifers characterized as an Underground S ource of Drinking Water(USDW)  CDUS 1662 : 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  9 
 12.1.3  Area rainfall or net precipitation conditions  
Historical rainfall and distribution data should be evaluated to establish soil loading conditions for land 
spreading, speed of reserve pit drying, net evaporation rates, an d ph overtopping potential.  
12.1.4  Soil conditions and loading considerations  
Soil conditions should be checked since they will affect decisions on loading for land spreading and liners for 
pits. For example, in high clay content and permafrost areas, line rs may be unnecessary for reserve pits. In 
other areas, liners may be appropriate.  
12.1.5  Drainage areas  
Natural or existing drainage pattern should be determined. Drainage devices needed to control water flow into, 
onto, or from facility systems should be  identified.  
12.1.6  Presence of special conditions  
Environmentally sensitive conditions such as wetlands, historical or archaeological sites, protected  habitants, 
or the presence of endangered species should be identified. Proximity to urban areas also aff ects disposal 
decisions  
12.1.7  Air quality  
The potential air quality impact of solid waste management facilities should be considered  
In addition to the recommendations for treatment and disposal applicable to general wastes, the following 
issues specific to hazardous wastes should be considered : 
12.2 Commercial or government waste contractors  
In the absence of qualified commercial or government -owned waste operators  (taking into consideration 
proximity and transport ation requirements), the following shall  be considered:  
a) facilities generating waste shall: 
a) have the technical capability to manage the waste in a manner that reduces immediate and future 
impact to  the environment ; 
b) have all required permits, certifications, and approvals, of applicable government  authorities  and 
c) have been secured through the use of formal procurement  agreements  
b) project sponsors shall : 
a) install  on-site waste treatment or recycling processes ; and  
b) as a final option, constructing facilities that will provide for the environmental sound  long-term 
storage of wastes on -site or at an alternative appropriate location up until external commercial 
options become available . 
13 Monitoring  of waste  
When significant quantities of hazardous wastes  are generated and stored on si te, monitoring activi ties shall  
include :  
10 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 a) regular inspection of all waste storage collection and storage areas for both hazardous and non 
hazardous for evidence of accidental releases and to verify that wastes are properly labelled and 
stored . 
b) inspection of vessels for leaks, d rips or other indications of loss;  
c) verification of locks, emergency valves, and other safety devices for easy operation (lubricating if 
required and employing the practice of keeping locks and safety equipment in standby position when 
the area is not occup ied); 
d) checking the operability of emergency system;  
e) documenting results of testing for integrity, emissions, or monitoring stations (air, soil vapor, or 
groundwater);  
f) documenting any changes to the storage facility, and any significant changes in the quant ity of 
materials in storage;  
g) regular audits of waste segregation and collection practices;  
h) tracking of waste generation trends by type and amount of waste generated, preferably by facility 
department;  
i) waste at the beginning of generation of a new waste str eam, and periodically documenting the 
characteristics and proper management of the waste, especially hazardous wastes;  
j) periodic auditing of third party treatment and disposal services including re -use and recycling facilities 
when significant quantities of  hazardous wastes are managed by third parties. Whenever possible, 
audits should include site visits to the treatment storage and disposal location;  
k) regular monitoring of groundwater quality in cases of hazardous waste on site storage and/or pre -
treatment and disposal; and  
l) keeping manifests or other records that document the amount of waste generated and its destination.  
During record keeping, the following shall be considered:  
a) name and identification number of the material(s) composing the hazardous waste;  
b) physical state (i.e., solid, liquid, gaseous or a combina tion of one, or more, of these); and 
c) quantity (e.g., kilograms or liters, number of containers)  
14 Waste management o ptions  
14.1.1 Reduce  
The easier method of waste management is to reduce creation of waste materials thereby reducing the 
amount of waste going to landfills. Source reduction  can be done through recycling old materials like jar, bags, 
repairing broken items instead of buying new one, avoiding use of disposable products like plastic bags , 
reusing second hand items, and buying items that uses less designing.  
14.1.2 Reuse  
Recoverable materials that are organic in nature, such as plant material, food scraps, and paper products, can 
be recovered through composting and digestion processes to d ecompose the organic matter. The resulting 
organic material is then recycled as mulch or compost for agricultural or landscaping purposes. In addition, CDUS 1662 : 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  11 
 waste gas from the process (such as methane) can be captured and used for generating electricity and hea t 
(CHP/cogeneration) maximising efficiencies. The intention of biological processing in waste management is to 
control and accelerate the natural process of decomposition of organic matter.  
14.1.3 Recycle  
The materials from which the items are made can be reprocessed into new products. Material for recycling 
may be  collected separately from general waste using dedicated bins and collection vehicles, a procedure 
called kerbside collection. In some communities, the owner of the waste is required to separate t he materials 
into different bins (e.g. for paper, plastics, metals) prior to its collection. In other communities, all recyclable 
materials are placed in a single bin for collection, and the sorting is handled later at a central facility. The latter 
method  is known as single -stream recycling.  
The most common consumer products recycled include aluminum such as beverages cans, copper such as 
wire, steel from food and aerosol cans, old steel furnishings or equipment, rubber tyres, polyethylene and PET 
bottles , glass bottles and jars, paperboard cartons, newspapers, magazines and light paper, and corrugated 
fiberboard boxes.  
PVC, LDPE, PP, and PS (see resin identification code) are also recyclable. These items are usually 
composed of a single type of material, making them relatively easy to recycle into new products. The recycling 
of complex products (such as computers and electronic equipment) is more difficult, due to the additional 
dismantling and separation required.  
15 Waste treatment technologies  
15.1 Comp osting  
Composting, normally used for organic farming, occurs by allowing organic materials to sit in one place for 
months until microbes decompose it. Composting is one of the best method s of waste treatment  as it can turn 
unsafe organic products into safe  compost.  
These activities are performed at a resource recovery facility.  Resource recovery is not only environmentally 
important, but it is also cost effective.  It decreases the amount of waste for disposal, saves space in landfills, 
and conserves natural resources.  
Resource recovery (as opposed to waste management) uses LCA (li fe cycle analysis) attempts to offer 
alternatives to waste management. For mixed MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) a number of broad studies have 
indicated that administration, source separation and collection followed by reuse and recycling of the non -
organic f raction and energy and compost/fertilizer production of the organic material via anaerobic digestion to 
be the favoured path.  
15.2 Incinerat ion 
This method is useful for disposal of residue of both solid waste management and solid residue from waste 
water management. This process reduces t he volumes of solid waste to 20 % to 30 % of the original volume. 
Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are sometimes described as "thermal 
treatment". Incinerators convert waste materials into hea t, gas, steam, and ash.  
Incineration is carried out both on a small scale by individuals and on a large scale by industry. It is used to 
dispose of solid, liquid and gaseous waste. It is recognized as a practical method of disposing of certain 
hazardous wa ste materials (such as biological medical waste). Incineration is a controversial method of waste 
disposal, due to issues such as emission of gaseous pollutants . 
15.3 Plasma gasification  
Plasma is a primarily an electrically charged or a highly ionized gas . Lighting is one type of plasma which 
produces temperatures that exceed 12,600 ° F. With this method of waste disposal, a vessel uses  
12 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 characteristic plasma torches operating at +10,000 °F which is creating a gasification zone till 3,000 °F for the 
conversi on of solid or liquid wastes into a syngas .This form of waste disposal provides renewable energy and 
an assortment of other fantastic benefits.  
15.4 Energy recovery (Waste to Energy)  
Energy recovery from waste is part of the non -hazardous waste management hierarchy. Using energy 
recovery to convert non -recyclable waste materials into electricity and heat, generates a renewable energy 
source and can reduce carbon emissions by offsetting the need for energy from fossil sources as well as 
reduce methane genera tion from landfills. Globally, waste -to-energy accounts for 16  % of waste management.  
The energy content of waste products can be harnessed directly by using them as a direct combustion fuel, or 
indirectly by processing them into another type of fuel. Thermal treatment ranges from using waste as a fuel 
source for cooking or heating and the use of the gas fuel (see above), to fuel for boilers to generate steam and 
electricity in a turbine. Pyrolysis and gasification are two related forms of thermal treatment  where waste 
materials are heated to high temperatures with limited oxygen availability. The process usually occurs in a 
sealed vessel under high pressure. Pyrolysis of solid waste converts the material into solid, liquid and gas 
products. The liquid and g as can be burnt to produce energy or refined into other chemical products (chemical 
refinery). The solid residue (char) can be further refined into products such as activated carbon. Gasification 
and advanced Plasma arc gasification are used to convert org anic materials directly into a synthetic gas 
(syngas) composed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The gas is then burnt to produce electricity and 
steam. An alternative to pyrolysis is high temperature and pressure supercritical water decomposition 
(hydrothe rmal monophasic oxidation).  
15.5 Pyrolysis  
During pyrolysis, the molecules of objects are subjected to very high temperatures leading to very high 
vibrations. Therefore, every molecule in the object is stretched and shaken to an extent that the molecule 
starts breaking down. The rate of pyrolysis increases with temperature. In industrial applications, temperatures 
are above 430  °C (800  °F). Fast pyrolysis produces liquid fuel for feedstocks like wood. Slow pyrolysis 
produces gases and solid charcoal. Pyroly sis hold promise for conversion of waste biomass into useful liquid 
fuel. Pyrolysis of waste plastics can produce millions of litres of fuel. Solid products of this process contain 
metals, glass, sand and pyrolysis coke which cannot be converted to gas in the process  
15.6 Sanitary Landfills  
The image shows a cross -section of a municipal solid waste Sanitarylandfill . 
The sanitary Landfill is the most popularly used method of waste disposal used today. This process of waste 
disposal focuses attention on buryi ng the waste in the land without polluting the environment and underground 
water. Landfills are found in all areas. There is a process used that eliminates the odors and dangers of waste 
before it is placed into the ground. While it is true this is the mos t popular form of waste disposal it is certainly 
far from the only procedure and one that may also bring with it an assortment of space . 
This method is becoming less these days although, thanks to  the lack of space available and the strong 
presence of met hane and other landfill gases, both of which can  cause numerous contamination problems. 
Many areas are reconsidering the use of landfills  
Some materials may be banned from disposal in Municipal Solid Waste Land Fills (MSWLFs), including 
common household i tems like paints, cleaners/chemicals, motor oil, batteries and pesticides. Leftover portions 
of these products are called household hazardous waste. These products, if mishandled, can be dangerous to 
your health and the environment. Many MSWLFs have a hous ehold hazardous waste drop -off station for 
these materials.  CDUS 1662 : 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  13 
 
 
Figure xxxx showing a cross -section of a municipal solid waste landfill  
1.   
14 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Bibliography  
1. Basic Environmental Engineering, New age International  Publishers, R.C G aur 
2. Waste classification, Dr. Johan Schoonraaad  
3. Handbook of solid waste management, 1994. George Tchobanoglous, Frank Kreith  
4. Waste treatment and disposal. 1998, Paul T. Williams  
 CDUS 1662 : 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  15 
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Products that conform to Uganda standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and condit ions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 CDUS 1662 : 2017    
 
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