The world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with at least 33 percent of that managed in an environmentally unsafe manner.
According to estimates, by 2050, the global waste is expected to grow to about 3.40 billion tonnes, which will be more than double of population growth over the same period of time.
In India, due to rapid urbanisation, the country is facing massive waste management challenge. Over 377 million urban people live in 7,935 towns and cities and generate 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste per annum. Only 43 million tonnes (MT) of the waste is collected. From that, 11.9 MT is treated and 31 MT is dumped in landfill sites. Solid Waste Management (SWM) is one among the basic essential services which must be provided by municipal authorities in the country to keep urban centres clean. However, almost all municipal authorities deposit solid waste at a dumpyard within or outside the city haphazardly.
In these areas with polluted environments and ineffective waste management, abdominal diseases like Japanese Encephalitis, Jaundice, Cholera, Colitis, etc., are quite common.
The key to efficient waste management is to ensure proper segregation of waste at source and to ensure that the waste goes through different streams of recycling and resource recovery. But as mentioned above, 33% of the mis-managed waste is the one which doesn't even reach the appropriate channel. Rather, it accumulates in local dumps which end up becoming quite filthy and becomes a breeding ground for infections and diseases. Quite often, Municipalities and the concerned authorities don't even know about the existance of many such dumping grounds in and around the city.
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Krupali Patel (krupalipatel3013@gmail.com)
Sakshi Shah (20dit090@charusat.edu.in)