Solid Waste Management in India
Source: Business Standard
GS III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
What you should know?
- News in Brief
- Solid Waste Management in India
Why in the News?
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) faced the ire of the Supreme Court which made it clear that it would ensure the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules in the national capital even at the risk of being called unfair.
News in Brief
- Rising levels of untreated solid waste in the capital city raise concerns about a potential public health crisis.
- The court also instructed the Centre to provide a report detailing immediate measures to prevent non-compliance with the 2016 rules from causing a severe emergency in the city.
- Also directed to immediately convene a meeting of municipal commissioners of corporations of Gurugram, Faridabad, and officers of Greater Noida Development Authority, along with the secretaries of the environment department of the state governments.
Solid Waste Management in India
Reason for Solid Waste: India, with its rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and increasing population, faces significant challenges in managing solid waste effectively.
Waste production in India
- Approximately India generates a staggering 62 million tonnes of waste annually.
- About 70% of this waste is collected.
- Out of the collected waste 12 million tonnes are being treated.
- The remaining 31 million tonnes end up in landfills.
Key Issues in the Solid Waste Management in India
- The volume of waste produced
- Rapid urbanisation is the major reason for increased solid waste volume in India.
- Urban areas face unique challenges due to concentrated populations, inadequate waste management infrastructure, and limited space for landfills.
- India’s population continues to grow, and urbanization is on the rise.
- As more people move to cities, the demand for goods and services increases, leading to higher waste generation.
- Industrialization and Economic Growth
- Production and consumption rise as a result of industrialization and economic development.
- Industries produce a lot of garbage, some of which includes dangerous elements.
- The waste stream expands due to the expansion of infrastructure, industrial, and building projects.
- E-Waste Explosion
- Electronic waste (e-waste) is a growing concern. With the proliferation of gadgets and appliances, managing e-waste becomes critical.
- Proper disposal of electronic items containing toxic components is essential.
- Informal sector
- While waste pickers play a crucial role in recycling, their efforts are insufficient to handle the entire waste load.
- The informal sector faces health risks and lacks proper infrastructure and support.
- Civic Responsibility
- There is still a lack of public knowledge regarding recycling, trash segregation, and safe disposal.
- People tend to combine different kinds of garbage, which makes proper management difficult.
- Waste Management Systems
- Existing waste management systems often struggle to keep pace with the rising volume of waste.
- Collection, segregation, transportation, and disposal processes need improvement.
- Many cities lack proper waste treatment facilities.
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