From Abudance to Excess: Remaining Solid Waste Management for a Sustainable Future in India

Abstract

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

 India is a land of rich culture but despite this fact, it has some problems with solid waste management (SWM). The country’s economic growth and urbanization have resulted in a tremendous increase in daily solid waste generation rates; over 62 million tonnes (Mt) per year. This amount poses great risks to public health, the environment as well as sustainable development.

II. SOLID WASTE GENERATION IN INDIA

Every day, each city and town of India produces an enormous quantity of garbage. Soon after collection these heaps grow into huge mounds that are filthy beyond imagination. Open dumps can be found all over the country which emit poisonous gases into our breathing space. Simultaneously plastic bags along with other discarded materials block drains causing water logging on streets. People have to wade through mountains of litter while going about their daily affairs.

This clearly shows that something needs to be done immediately about the solid wastes crisis in India. Therefore, sustainable methods should be adopted throughout the country so as to protect environmental integrity and public health at large.

III. WASTE GENERATION AND ITS COMPOSITION

 According to estimates, India generates about 62 million tons (Mt) of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) annually which is equivalent to approximately 450 grams per person per day [1]. However this number will go up significantly over time due mainly population increase coupled with improved living standards plus altered consumption habits among others.

From a Wealth of Items to too Many: Adjusting spending habits

The growth of India’s economy has changed the way people spend their money as they now strive to acquire abundance. This used to be an offshoot of cultural richness, but it has since become a synonym for excessiveness. With more income at their disposal than ever before, consumers are demanding packaged products; easy-to-make meals that can be found in stores or restaurants and electronic devices among other things which have only served to produce more single-use items and consequently generate more waste. These disposable incomes have fuelled demand for goods like packaged commodities, convenience foods as well as electronics thereby leading not only to the explosion of one-time use materials but also increasing refuse creation. Municipal solid waste (MSW), the main subject under discussion here is made up of various types such as household garbage; commercial rubbish originating from businesses or offices; construction dust that arises due to urban sprawl associated with continuous city expansion among others. The diverse nature of this refuse when mismanaged poses great threats against India’s future.

IV. A FALTERING SYSTEM :THE FAILURES WITHIN CURRENT METHODS

 India’s present SWM practices fail to keep pace with growing amounts of trash. Waste collection and transportation infrastructure especially in small towns or rural areas remains wanting, leading to overflowing bins along streets which breed diseases thus making them physical reminders that the system is not working well enough.

The Expense We Pay: Public Health and Environmental Consequences

The impacts of wrong SWM are broad and serious. Not gathering garbage results in the creation of spawning sites for mosquitoes and other vectors of diseases that pose a great risk to public health. There are numerous diseases which are spread through vectors such as dengue fever, malaria or chikungunya – they all flourish in unhygienic places with bad sanitary conditions and overflowing dumpsites. Besides, open incineration of waste (which is a popular method used for disposal) emits dangerous pollutants like dioxins into atmosphere thus causing respiratory problems among people already suffering from some kind of respiratory illness due to polluted air.

Moreover, leachate produced by poorly managed landfills pollutes water bodies together with soil. This disrupts ecosystems while also endangering biodiversity; at the same time rendering drinking water sources or any other type of water resource (used for irrigation even swimming) around such areas unfit for use due to contamination with harmful chemicals originating from landfill sites. The environmental consequences associated with incorrect solid waste management systems serve as vivid evidence that human well-being is intrinsically linked up with the state of nature around us all over the world.

V. CALL FOR CHANGE: THE IMMEDIATE NEED

It is true that India needs a solid and sustainable SWM system. We cannot go on with business as usual. This current one is about to crumble, and if we do not act immediately, the results will be catastrophic. Shifting towards a circular economy which ensures minimal waste creation, recovery of resources for reuse and designing products for durability and disassembly is paramount. Therefore this requires all round efforts such as public sensitization campaigns; establishment of infrastructure facilities; advancement in technology among others besides putting in place good policies that can work well when implemented.

This essay examines the present situation regarding solid waste management in India while looking at what challenges are there but also what opportunities lie ahead. It shall consider existing policy framework, government & civil society initiatives as well as potentiality of adopting holistic “waste hierarchy” based approach that gives priority to reduction, reuse and recycling of wastes. By identifying major problems posed by status quo and outlining areas where change is possible or being attempted, it seeks to contribute into wider debate around sustainable swm practice in india with reference to key challenges and opportunities thereby providing necessary impetus for action at national level so that together we can find new ways of dealing with garbage which is rapidly becoming unmanageable thus paving way towards healthier environment for our children ‘s future.

VI. PROBLEMS OF EXISTING APPROACHES

The present Solid Waste Management (SWM) system in India has several challenges which are limiting effective waste management. They include the following:

1. Insufficient Source Segregation of Waste: At the point of generation, it is important to separate different types of waste for recycling and composting purposes. However, this principle is hardly followed within India because many people are not aware about it or there are no facilities for collecting segregated waste.
2. Collection and Transportation Inefficiency: Waste collection infrastructure is mostly undersized especially in small towns and rural areas where such services barely exist at all. Consequently, garbage accumulates along streets and drains which breed unhygienic conditions that attract pests like mosquitoes.
3. Limited Treatment & Disposal Facilities: Indian landfills still account as the main method used for disposing off wastes. Nevertheless, majority if not all these dumping sites are mismanaged thereby causing various forms pollution e.g., air pollution due to burning garbage or water contamination through leachate seepage into nearby water bodies etc. Furthermore, their sizes keep increasing as more space is needed for accommodating increasing quantities without considering other land uses.
4. Informal Waste Sector: Waste workers who pick recyclables form a significant part of solid waste management industry but they do not operate under any formal structures. They lack necessary safety gear and often work under dangerous conditions.
5. Environmental and Health Effects: Failure to manage solid waste properly has severe impacts on human health and the environment. Methane emissions from rotting organic matter in open dumps or burning plastics cause air pollution. Leachate contaminates ground and surface waters, thereby leading to water pollution. Waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid may be caused by polluted water sources. Moreover, uncollected garbage or overflowing landfills serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever and malaria among other vector-borne diseases.

VII. POLICY FRAMEWORK AND INITIATIVES

 India’s government understands the significance of SWM efficiency. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has created numerous policies together with regulations like those contained in Solid Waste Management Rules (2016). These legislations require separation at source; composting of biodegradable wastes; establishment waste processing plant; extended producer responsibility (EPR) for hazardous materials among others. Additionally, campaigns such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aim to create public awareness regarding their roles towards cleanliness thereby changing behaviors on how we manage our wastes.

1. Infusing more funds into SWM: Injecting additional financial resources into solid waste management programs can help in implementing them successfully. Such funds may come through different ways including;
2. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Governments have the responsibility of ensuring that their citizens live in a clean environment by making policies which favor Public-Private Partnership arrangements for waste management services provision.
3. External grants and donor support: Local governments should seek external grants or donations from well-wishers who are interested in supporting sustainable waste management initiatives at community level.
4. User fees and charges: Local authorities can impose user fees on services such as garbage collection so as to generate revenue for financing this activity within their respective areas of jurisdiction.
5. Carbon credits: Carbon trading allows companies that emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide (CO2) to offset these emissions by investing in projects that reduce CO2 emissions elsewhere. Revenue generated from such ventures can be used towards improving SWM activities.
6. Development banks and financial institutions: International development banks like the World Bank or African Development Bank could provide low-interest loans or credit facilities to support SWM infrastructure development projects in developing countries with weak financial systems.

VIII. WAYS TO FUND SWM PROJECTS

 Financing always proves to be a problem when it comes to the adoption of effective solid waste management systems. Here are some potential solutions:

1. User Charges: User charges can serve as an incentive for reducing waste and promoting responsible handling.
2. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): The government can partner with private institutions to harness their resources and expertise in building and running waste processing plants.
3. Green Bonds: Green bonds should be released specifically for financing projects related to sustainable waste management, thereby attracting more investments into this sector.

IX. STRICT IMPLEMENTATION OF LAWS

 It is important that we robustly enforce our current rules on garbage segregation, collection, treatment and disposal. This may entail among others;

Fines should be imposed on individuals or households that do not segregate their garbage as required by law..

Local authorities must be held accountable for ensuring efficient collection and safe disposal of wastes within their jurisdiction.

Regulatory agencies need more powers to effectively monitor compliance with solid waste management regulations (SWM).

Conclusion

India still has a lot to do about solid waste. Nevertheless, there are many ways the country can adopt in order to achieve this; among them being reducing garbage through different methods like recycling, involving members of the public, improving infrastructure as well as technology related investments and creating collaboration platforms between government agencies with NGOs or private enterprises towards sustainable development goals (SDGs) for SWM systems in India which will result into healthier environment that preserves cleanliness for tomorrow’s children.

Copyright

Copyright © 2024 Mohit Rajput , Rajeev Singh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.