Seasonal variation in composition and characteristics of solid waste and its potential environmental hazard: a study in Silchar, Assam, India

The waste management practices in India are in very poor condition. Several studies on the waste management scenario of the country depict the improper and unsatisfactory waste management practices in cities and towns. In view of this, the present study was undertaken to observe seasonal variation in physicochemical characteristics of solid waste along with the possible environmental hazard from the open dump yard. The paper presents that organic fraction is the major burden of the dump yard in all seasons. The PI was recorded in the range of 0.28-0.81. Igeo value of Pb (9.28 ± 1.59), Cu (10.36 ± 0.12), Mn (17.31 ± 0.33), and Ni (10.60 ± 0.42) was recorded a high potentiality of accumulation in the surrounding environment. However, the Igeo value of As (-2.66 ± 0.24) and Cd (-1.82 ± 0.63) was evaluated negatively.