Editorial Round-Up (24.12.16)

India’s Solid Waste Management System

Present Context: NGT imposed a ban on burning of waste in open places across the country and announced a fine of Rs 25,000 on each incident of bulk waste burning. While directing every state and Union territory to enforce and implement Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the green panel also asked the Union environment ministry and all states to pass appropriate directions in relation to the ban on short-life Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and chlorinated plastics within a period of six months.

Statistics Relating to Solid Waste:

With rapid urbanisation, the country is faced with a massive waste management challenge. Over 377 million urban people -- 31% of the population -- live in 7,935 towns and cities and generate 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste per annum. Only 43 million tonne is collected, 11.9 million is treated and 31 million tonne is dumped in landfill sites. Waste generation is estimated to reach 165 million tonne per year by 2030.

Defn. of SWM: Solid waste management refers to the supervised handling of waste material from generation at the source through the recovery processes to disposal.

Components of SWM:

* Collection

* Transportation

* Treatment

* Disposal

All of the above with monitoring and regulation.

Components of Solid Waste Stream: Organic, i.e. biodegradable and Inorganic, i.e. plastic, metal and electronic.

* Solid Waste Management Rules 2016: Important Provisions

* Applicability: Urban agglomerations, towns, notified industrial townships, areas under railway/airport/defence

* Segregation at source mandatory – biodegradable, non-biodegradable and hazardous

• ·        Delineates the responsibility of RWAs, gated communities, townships, hotels etc in this regard

* Generator has to pay ‘user fee’ to waste collector; fines for non-compliance

·        Some municipalities charge fee for waste management. New rules extends this power to all local bodies across India – they can decide upon the user fee that they want to levy.

* Manufacturer’s Responsibility

• ·        SEZs/Industrial Estate – Earmark 5% area for SWM
• ·        Manf of disposable products (tin, glass, plastics): Provide financial assistance for SWM
• ·        Sanitary napkins/diaper manf.: Provide separate pouches with products for proper disposal.

* Ministry Responsibility

• ·        Ministry of Urban Development have to come up with road map in implementing SWM in AMRUT and SCM
• ·        M. of Chemical and Fertilizer will promote marketing of compost
• ·        Central Monitoring Committee under Chairmanship of the Environment Secretary will monitor overall implementation of the rule.

Consequences of not managing waste properly:

* Public Health Consequences: Landfills are breeding ground for all kind of vectors etc

* Air, Water and Soil Pollution (Explain a little how, if required)

* Fire Hazard: Methane

* Opportunity to turn waste into wealth will be squandered.

Challenges in SWM:

* Poor health of Municipal Bodies: Organizationally and Financially

* Mindset of People: Even basic segregation is not done

* Unorganized vendors/markets/rag-pickers

* Slum Areas: Difficult to administer

* Rag pickers and waste collectors survive in the worst socio-economic conditions. Naturally their motivations for their work are not high.

* They can be got together under a cooperative society which will work for their and their family’s betterment.