Abstract
Quantitative evaluation of some salient features are absolutely necessary in order to assess the impact of co-recycling of municipal wastes in agriculture onto the different components of environment, and future waste generation needs to be estimated to predict the quantity of nutrient (nitrogen) available for application in waste-fields. Such co-recycling of wastes is a unique feature in Titagarh Waste Farming Area where the entire nutrient is recycled through solid waste and treated effluent has been estimated and the probable metal loads are also simultaneously estimated to foresee the expected hazard the environment may encounter in future and necessary safeguards to be undertaken in this regard. Attempts have been made to forecast the expected wastes (solid and liquid) generation and their potential as nitrogen contributor and the probable metal loads are also simultaneously estimated to foresee the expected environmental hazard. Total plant available nitrogen (PAN) and metal load concentration in compost generated in 30 years considering the future generation of solid waste and also quantity of compost, and total nitrogen and metal load in wastewater (WSP effluent) generated in 30 years has been calculated. Considering an average value of both PAN and individual metal load, estimation of application rates of nitrogen as well as different metals have been made per year per hectare (250 MT of solid waste used per hectare) and on the basis of load limit of different metals the possible years of application of solid waste without causing significant adverse environmental impact have also been predicted.