How not to burn trash

Waste is a problem, a burden, a threat. But what if waste could be an opportunity, a benefit, a solution? What if we could transform waste from a risk to a resource and use it to contribute to sustainable development and a circular economy? This is the vision of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and the United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS), which provides a holistic and harmonized approach to managing all kinds of resources, including those derived from waste.?

We need to rethink and reshape our relationship with waste. It was brought into stark focus again through the Brahmapuram waste plant fire on 2 March 2023 in Kochi, India. The fire spread to a large area of the waste plant, reaching a height of 10 meters and creating a huge column of smoke visible from several kilometres away. The fire may have been caused by the heat released by the chemical decomposition of the waste, resulting in billows of smoke and fog that engulfed parts of the city, causing severe environmental and health impacts.?

The Brahmapuram waste plant is spread over 110 acres of land near the major IT parks of Kochi city. The plant was inaugurated in 2008 with a capacity of 250 tonnes per day, but it suffered breakdowns and became an overfilled waste dumping site. The fire affected 90 percent of the plant's region, involving more than 10,000 tonnes of waste.

Short-term and long-term health effects?

After many days of continuous efforts, the fire was controlled, with 90 percent of the affected area being extinguished by 11 March 2023. It will have serious health consequences for the residents of Kochi, especially those living near the waste plant. According to local media reports, the fire emitted poisonous smoke that contained carbon monoxide, dioxins, furans, and heavy metals, known to cause various health problems. The smoke also reduced the visibility and air quality in the city, creating a hazardous situation for the people and the environment.

The smoke from the fire could have also contained particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. The fire could have also generated leachate, a liquid that seeps through the waste and collects at the bottom of the landfill. Leachate can contain heavy metals, organic pollutants, pathogens, and nutrients that can contaminate the soil and groundwater. The fire could have also affected the biodiversity and ecosystem of the area by destroying vegetation, wildlife, and soil quality.?

The short-term health effects of the fire included breathing difficulties, cough, wheezing, allergic reactions, vomiting, nausea, and eye irritation. These effects were more pronounced in those with a history of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, bronchitis, or COPD. Many people had to seek medical attention or use inhalers to cope with the symptoms. Some people also reported feeling dizzy, tired and depressed due to the smoke.

More alarming are the long-term health effects of the fire, which could be more severe and chronic. Exposure to the toxic substances in the smoke could increase the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and reproductive problems. These effects could manifest after months or years of exposure, affecting the quality and longevity of life. The fire could also have psychological and social impacts, such as anxiety, stress, trauma, and stigma.

The total population impacted by the fire is estimated to be around 2.5 million in Kochi city and its suburbs. Within a week, the smoke also spread across several nearby districts. The exact number of people who were ultimately exposed to the smoke and its health effects is difficult to determine, as it depends on various factors, such as the duration, intensity, and frequency of exposure, the distance from the fire, the wind direction and speed, the personal health status and susceptibility, and the availability and accessibility of health care and monitoring.

Carbon monoxide, dioxins, furans, and heavy metals

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can bind to hemoglobin in the blood, reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and causing tissue hypoxia. CO exposure can cause symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, confusion, and irritability. High levels of CO exposure can lead to vomiting, loss of consciousness, brain damage, heart irregularity, breathing difficulties, muscle weakness, and even death.

Dioxins and furans are a group of highly toxic and persistent organic pollutants that can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones, and cause cancer. Dioxins and furans can also affect the skin, liver, and blood. The most sensitive indicator of dioxin and furan exposure is chloracne, a severe form of acne that can persist for years.

Heavy metals are metallic elements that have high density and toxicity. Some of the heavy metals detected in the smoke from the fire include lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and chromium. Heavy metal exposure can affect various organs and systems, such as the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the renal system, the gastrointestinal system, and the hematopoietic system. Heavy metal exposure can also cause neurological disorders, reproductive problems, and cancer.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies have set standards and guidelines for these substances' safe levels of exposure and toxicity. For example, the WHO recommends that the daily intake of dioxins and furans should not exceed 1 to 4 picograms per kilogram of body weight per day. The levels of exposure and toxicity of these substances in the Brahmapuram fire are not yet known and may vary depending on the source and composition of the waste, the temperature and duration of the fire, the meteorological conditions, and the distance and direction of the smoke plume.

Flaws and failures of the waste management system

Over 8000 landfill fires like the Brahmapuram occur yearly in the USA alone.? The landfill fire in Alabama, which started burning in late November 2022, sent flames above the tree line and blanketed the area in smoke, and is still burning for over three months. The fire was largely underground, making it difficult to put out. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)? found synthetic compounds and high levels of cancer-causing chemicals in the smoke and said it could be several more weeks before the fire is completely out.?

In March 2022, firefighters in India’s capital battled a fire at a landfill site. May 2022 was also the worst for waste and recycling facility fires, with the most reported fires in the USA. These fires have exposed the flaws and failures of the waste management system generally seen in many places. The government, the waste management authorities, the media, and the public have roles and responsibilities concerning the fire, but none have fulfilled them adequately. The government has been slow and ineffective in responding to the fire, which has been burning for over a week.?

Waste to wealth

The Brahmapuram waste plant fire and thousands of similar fires worldwide are not only a disaster but also an opportunity to rethink and reform the waste management system. It has exposed the urgent need to rethink and reform our waste management system. It is time to explore alternative and innovative waste treatment and disposal technologies, such as waste-to-energy, biogas, and recycling.?

Waste-to-energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) is the process of generating energy in the form of electricity or heat from the primary waste treatment. Most WtE processes generate electricity or heat directly through combustion or produce a combustible fuel commodity, such as methane, methanol, ethanol, or synthetic fuels. WtE is a form of energy recovery that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane, by eliminating emissions from landfills.

Plastics can be converted into methanol through pyrolysis, which involves heating the plastic waste without oxygen to break it down into smaller molecules that can be distilled into methanol and other fuels. Pyrolysis is a promising technology that can reduce plastic pollution and produce clean energy, but it requires high temperatures, sophisticated equipment, and careful management.

Instead of seeing waste as a problem, a burden, or a threat, we should see it as a resource, an opportunity, a benefit, or a solution. We should transform waste from a risk to a resource and use it to contribute to sustainable development and a circular economy. This is where UNFC and UNRMS provide a holistic and harmonized approach.