Author – Prashant Singh, Co-Founder & CEO of Blue Planet Environmental Solutions
Urbanization is now a worldwide phenomenon, but its effects are particularly noticeable in emerging economies. Urbanization is caused mainly by the high pace of population growth, shrinking prospects in rural areas, and migration from the stagnating and low-paying agricultural industry to more lucrative urban avenues. Slums, tenements, and informal housing have all grown around the fast-expanding cities of the developing world due to unanticipated immigration.
Urbanization directly influences trash generation, and improper trash management degrades the urban environment and poses health risks. The enormous burden of managing solid waste in India will become more challenging as urbanization, lifestyle change, and rising consumerism all increase. Each year, 62 million tonnes of trash are produced in India. A total of 43 million tonnes (70%) are collected, 12 million of those are processed, and 31 million are disposed of in landfills.
For effective waste management, segregation is essential for several reasons, as it must play a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability and public health. Besides, waste segregation helps conserve resources and promote recycling. Thus, individuals and communities can create a more sustainable and cleaner future by adopting responsible waste segregation practices.
As a responsible citizen, you win half the battle when you regularly separate waste at home. This behaviour will significantly lessen the difficulties of the municipal government managing the waste. The best aspect is that it only requires a little of one’s time and money. All you need is awareness and the motivation to take action. Separating home waste through effective waste segregation is a simple yet powerful practice that can significantly contribute to environmental protection, resource conservation, and sustainable waste management. It empowers individuals to be responsible consumers and caretakers of the environment, positively impacting the planet for current and future generations.
Segregating home wastes
Household wastes can be categorized into 4 types of wastes which are as follows;
Liquid waste: Liquid waste appears in the form of liquid matter like wastewater, used oils, gases and hazardous liquids from the house.
Solid waste: They include things like food, paper, plastics, and other wastes. These wastes are also referred to as trash or garbage.
Organic waste: General household garbage is also called organic waste. Organic waste includes leftover food, yard garbage, rotten meat, and leaf manure. . Organic waste helps with landfill methane production everywhere.
- Hazardous waste: Waste that poses serious risks to the environment or public health is referred to as hazardous waste. Some examples of this kind of waste include batteries, paints and solvents, pesticides etc.
Under the Waste Guidelines 2011, one should isolate paper, cardboard, plastic, metal and glass at source except if it is practically or financially unworkable. Under similar guidelines, we should execute the waste order; decrease, reuse, reuse, and other removal. By regulation, one ought to carry out this ordered progression, and isolation assists with reusing specifically.
Citizen social responsibility categorizes your household garbage at the top of the pile of personal duties. Some of the steps that can be done at the household level are as follows:
- Begin segregating waste in your own home at this point. This is one of the most minor demanding practices to follow.
- Save separate holders for dry and wet waste in the kitchen
- Save two sacks for dry waste assortment – paper and plastic, until the end of the family squander
- Keep plastic from the kitchen spotless and dry and drop it into the dry waste container.
- Send wet waste out of the home every day.
- Keep paper bags for tossing sanitary napkins.
Despite the developments in many areas, including that of social and economic, the solid waste management system needs improvement. Transitioning to more sustainable Solid Waste Management is necessary, which calls for new management practices and disposal facilities. Current SWM systems are ineffective, and waste harms the economy, the environment, and public health. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) created the Waste Management and Handling Rules in India, but implementation of the same still needs to be improved.
