WASTE MANAGEMENT

              

Waste management (or waste disposal) includes the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes the collections, transport, treatment and disposal of waste, together with monitoring and regulation of the waste management process and waste-related laws, technologies, economic mechanisms.

Waste can be solid, liquid, or gaseous and each type has different methods of disposal and management. Waste management deals with all types of waste, including industrial, biological, household, municipal, organic, biomedical, radioactive wastes. In some cases, waste can pose a threat to human health.

 Health issues are associated throughout the entire process of waste management. Health issues can also arise indirectly or directly. Directly, through the handling of said waste, and indirectly through the consumption of water, soil and food. Waste is produced by human activity, for example, the extraction and processing of raw materials.

 Waste management is intended to reduce adverse effects of waste on human health, the environment, planetary resources and aesthetics.

Waste management practices are not uniform among countries (developed and developing nations); regions (urban and rural areas), and residential and industrial sectors can all take different approaches.

• Proper management of waste is important for building sustainable and liveable cities, but it remains a challenge for many developing countries and cities.

•  A report found that effective waste management is relatively expensive, usually comprising 20%–50% of municipal budgets. 

• Operating this essential municipal service requires integrated systems that are efficient, sustainable, and socially supported.

•  A large portion of waste management practices deal with municipal solid waste (MSW) which is the bulk of the waste that is created by household, industrial, and commercial activity.

•  Measures of waste management include measures for integrated techno-economic mechanisms of a circular economy, effective disposal facilities, export and import control and optimal sustainable design of products that are produced 

 Environmental and health impacts of waste dumping

• Waste dumps have adverse impacts on the environment and public health .

•  Open dumps release methane from decomposition of biodegradable waste under anaerobic conditions.

•  Methane causes fires and explosions and is a major contributor to global warming . 

• There are also problems associated with odour and migration of leachates to receiving waters . Odour is a serious problem, particularly during the summer when average temperatures in India can exceed 45°C .

•  Discarded tyres at dumps collect water, allowing mosquitoes to breed, increasing the risk of diseases such as malaria, dengue and West Nile fever.

•  Uncontrolled burning of waste at dump sites releases fine particles which are a major cause of respiratory disease and cause smog .

•  Open burning of MSW and tyres emits 22 000 tonnes of pollutants into the atmosphere around Mumbai every year. 

• The impacts of poor waste management on public health are well documented, with increased incidences of nose and throat infections, breathing difficulties, inflammation, bacterial infections, anaemia, reduced immunity, allergies, asthma and other infections.

      

conclusion

Population growth and particularly the development of megacities is making SWM in India a major problem. The current situation is that India relies on inadequate waste infrastructure, the informal sector and waste dumping. There are major issues associated with public participation in waste management and there is generally a lack of responsibility towards waste in the community. There is a need to cultivate community awareness and change the attitude of people towards waste, as this is fundamental to developing proper and sustainable waste management systems. Sustainable and economically viable waste management must ensure maximum resource extraction from waste, combined with safe disposal of residual waste through the development of engineered landfill and waste-to-energy facilities. India faces challenges related to waste policy, waste technology selection and the availability of appropriately trained people in the waste management sector. Until these fundamental requirements are met, India will continue to suffer from poor waste management and the associated impacts on public health and the environment.