Spatial Classification and Environmental Treatment Protocols of Solid Waste Sources—A Case Study of Shengzhou, China

Abstract

The focus of waste management is to control pollution produced directly from the sources, rather than removing it from soil, water and other such polluted bodies. This study defined solid waste source (SWS) as a space where solid waste is directly produced and proposed a method for measuring the solid waste generated by SWSs. Then, taking Shengzhou, China, as an example, empirical research was conducted on the spatial classification and treatment protocol of SWSs. The results show that (1) A hierarchical spatial system of SWSs can be constructed, which consists of 3 classes, 3 subclasses and 14 types. (2) The main forms of solid waste in Shengzhou are domestic waste, industrial solid waste and agricultural solid waste. According to the total amount of solid waste produced, all SWSs can be divided into five levels: maximum, large, medium, low and none produced. (3) In view of the main SWSs with a large amount of solid waste produced, three methods—combining energy-saving, emission reduction and resource utilization; multiple steps of classification, transportation, storage and treatment; and the use of piggeries with waste-absorbing land—are proposed to realize the control of solid waste pollution at-source.