In the bustling metropolitan regions of India, the rapid pace of urbanization has given rise to a pressing environmental concern – the proliferation of solid waste. As these densely populated areas experience unprecedented growth and development, the consequential increase in solid waste generation poses significant challenges to the delicate balance of the local ecosystems. The improper disposal and management of solid waste not only contribute to environmental degradation but also threaten public health and overall well-being. This introductory paragraph aims to shed light on the environmental challenges precipitated by solid waste in India’s metropolitan regions and sets the stage for a comprehensive exploration of the concerted efforts and strategies employed to mitigate and overcome this critical issue. From governmental initiatives to community-driven campaigns, a multifaceted approach is essential to tackle the intricate web of challenges posed by solid waste in these dynamic urban landscapes.
Answer
India generates close to 55 million metric tonnes of municipal solid waste every year, of which only 74% gets treated (SBM Urban, 2022). Indicating a huge requirement of land to dispose of untreated and uncollected waste from cities. As by 2050 almost 50% of the Indian population will be living in urban areas, these solid waste will pose a serious environmental problem in every state in India.
Environmental challenges from Generation of Waste:
- Household & commercial solid waste- primarily plastic waste leading to clogging of sewage lines results in urban flooding in most of the major cities in India.
- Untreated industrial solid waste mixing with water bodies- water pollution, spread of toxic material and loss of aqua biodiversity.
- Eg; Industrial Sludge from the cities on the bank of Ganges causing most of the Ganga Pollution.
- Open community bins are not maintained properly- soil pollution,air pollution, breeding ground of flies and other vectors and spread of disease.
- With the emergence of e-commerce and changing patterns of consumer preferences- excessive amounts of plastic packaging aggravate these plastic pollution.
Environmental challenges from collection and transportation and segregation:
- Segregation of waste at source is not practiced in most of the cities–most of the waste going to landfill sites without recycling and polluting nearby water bodies,soil and air.
- Non-covered transportation of solid waste– causing air pollution, water pollution and by attracting these stray cattle again disperse these.
Environmental challenges due to Process & Dispose:
- Open waste burning releases toxic gasses which affect the nearby area, it aggravates air pollution and relates to climate extremes like heat waves, flash flood etc. And non burnt particles polluting the nearby water bodies , soils and residential areas.
- Annual greenhouse gas emissions from Municipal Solid Waste in India are expected to go up to 41.09 million tonnes by 2030.
- Unscientific Landfill sites poses potential threat to-
- Groundwater Pollution
- Deterioration of ambient air quality
- Soil pollution and soil degradation
- Spreading of organic and metallic toxicity
Steps Taken to overcome challenges due to Solid waste in Urban Area.
Government Initiative:
- Government of India launched Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) objective to scientifically process all the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in the country and SBM-U 2.0 has been launched with a vision of Garbage Free Status for all cities through 100% source segregation, door to door collection and scientific management of all fractions of waste, including safe disposal in scientific landfills.
- remediation of all legacy dumpsites and converting them into green zones.
- The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than 75 micron.
- Introduction of Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR)– responsibility of Producers, Importers and Brand-owners to ensure processing of their plastic packaging waste through recycling, re-use or disposal.
- Waste brings into part of the Circular Economy, Waste to energy Plants in different cities.
- Various other steps have been taken by the Government:
- City Solid Waste Action Plans (CSWAP)
- Various manuals and advisories in planning, designing and operation and maintenance.
- Garbage Free Star Rating Protocol to assess the City’s Municipal Solid Waste Management
by 3rd party verification. - Various capacity building & IEC initiatives
B. Others Initiatives:
These initiatives came into all the 3Rs Reduce,Reuse,Recycle.
Despite these efforts, the challenges of solid waste management in India remain substantial, and there is a need for continued investment, infrastructure development, and community involvement to effectively address the issue. Sustainable and eco-friendly solutions, along with stricter enforcement of regulations, are essential for the success of Swachh Bharat Mission and Waste Free Cities in India.
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