Municipal Solid Waste: A challenge and our role to minimize

Do we ever wonder what happens to the garbage which is discarded from our homes or drained water? Never, A busy common man with thousands of responsibilities on shoulder would never find time to worry on these little things. Its obvious, after all its a waste which is not useful to us at all. 

In India urbanization has raised waste generation to such an extent that if not managed properly it may go as high as 161000 tons per year as per the study report. Handling such a huge quantity of waste would be cumbersome and uncontrolled disposal would occupy large amount of space as large as 1400 sq. km equivalent to the total area of  Hyderabad+Mumbai+Chennai by 2041

As per Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1999 by  Ministry of Environment and Forest of India, the wastes from the houses has to be collected and segregated as bio-degradable (includes papers, vegetables, food leftover) and non-biodegradable (includes plastics, glasses and other inert materials). This biodegradable waste is processed by composting, vermi composting and non-biodegradable, non recyclable i.e. inert waste is disposed in secured engineered landfills. In simpler words landfill is engineered designed pits where these wastes are dumped and finally it is covered with liners, clay soils and vegetation on top.

The waste water has to be treated in sewage treatment plant where this waste water is purified with series of operations and then discharged in water bodies.

Well it is very difficult to ensure effective waste management as waste generated is more than tons a day resulting in uncontrolled dumping or burning of waste. Ineffective waste management may have following consequences:

Openly Dumped Waste

1.       Waste burned in atmosphere creates air pollution releasing Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Sulphur dioxide. Even eighth standard student will list down at list ill effects of inhaling each these poisonous gases. 

2.       Waste thrown haphazardly attracts many flies and insects and becomes source of their population.

3.       Waste generates septic condition and affecting hygiene of surrounding.

4.       Unpleasant sights and poor hygiene has negative impact on tourism and trade

Being citizen its our duty to contribute though a little to keep our city clean. Handing wastes to garbage man won’t serve the purpose we have to put little more efforts to stay in hygienic society. Question is how? Answer is as simple as the question.

3R Policy

Its Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This could be followed in the same order as mentioned, We should reduce waste generation after that waste should be reused and whatever cant be reused should be recycled. Well they say its easy to understand things with example so here are few:

Roadside tea vendors; they often serve tea with plastic cups and after use we throw carelessly and walk away. Instead if he starts using glass cup he can very well wash it and reuse it. Using glass cups would be even cost economical yes it will take time to wash those cups.

At Office

• Aaaah!!! For rough work, in need of piece of paper, why to bother get new one from paper tray of closest printer. Isn’t it? Dear folks avoid using fresh A4 paper in office for rough work, Keep waste papers with you which you can use when needed for rough purposes and  yes page has two sides we can always use both sides of paper for printing.

• Entrepreneurs should allow people work from home if that works. Why? That can very well save a little fuel burnt in travelling and so Air Pollution.

  

 General

• Don’t throw chocolate wrappers on roads better keep it with yourself till you find trashcan.

• Walk or cycle instead of riding bike for closer commute. That would save your money and environment too.

• You don’t always need ATM slips after every transaction, right? Many times we get one and throw It to trashcan, avoid having one if not required.

• Avoid wastage of water

• Segregate waste by yourself biodegradable and non-biodegradable. In fact municipality should practice segregated garbage collection that would ease in management operations.

• Avoid using use and throw items like plastic paper plates even razors you can avoid.

• Don’t use plastic bags while buying items. Yes many of us feel if its free why not to get one. But ultimately after use it adds to garbage.

And many more ways we can reduce our waste generation. We should understand the fact “Waste is resource at wrong place” and keep our intensions in minimizing waste generation and reusing. I feel if we all start putting little efforts soon we will notice Greener and Cleaner Surrounding.