Waste is unwanted material. It may be a substance or part of a substance that has been utilized and discarded In the urban context waste management poses a serious challenge as cites look for eco-sensitive ways of handling the waste they generate. There are several different types of waste-

Waste can be classified on the basis of its characteristics-

Solid-May be bio-degradable or non-biodegradable in nature, Recyclable or Non-recyclable in nature.

Liquid-Water used in washing, bathing etc. Water used for industrial purposes.

Gaseous-Fumes emitted from vehicles smoke given out while cooking.

On the basis of its source-

Household Waste-Waste generated by households. Includes food, paper, glass, packaging of consumer goods etc.

Industrial Waste- Waste products created by industrial processes. These products may hazardous or inert in nature.

Waste from Hospitals-The quantity of waste generated by this source isn’t large in quantity but the special nature of this waste makes its proper disposal very important. The waste could be in the form of used syringes, gloves etc .

Methods of disposing waste-

1. Landfill-This refers to the burying of waste in an area designated for the purpose of waste management. The area is usually an abandoned quarry and may be a distance away from residential areas. Poorly designed landfills are considered to be a Bio-Hazard as the release methane into the atmosphere. Methane is a greenhouse gas and it kills surface vegetation.
2. Incineration-It is a disposal method that involves the combustion of waste. It converts the waste into heat, ash, steam or gas. This process of waste management sometimes results in the formation of fumes that are toxic.
3. Composting-This method of waste management that is used to dispose of bio-degradable waste. It aims to accelerate the natural process of decomposition. The by-product of composting is used for agricultural or landscaping purposes.
4. Waste to Energy –This process involves the conversion of waste matter into a solid, liquid or gaseous product that can in turn be used to produce electricity or a fuel for cooking and heating.

Waste Management concepts-

1. Waste hierarchy- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. This concept states that we should reduce our consumption first, try and reuse the product as much as possible and finally once the first two stages of hierarchy are no longer an option we should recycle the product for further use.
2. Extended Producer Responsibility-This concept states that the producers of a particular product are to be held responsible for the entire life-cycle of the product and its packaging .That is the producers should ensure that their products can be disposed in a eco-friendly manner.
3. Polluter Pays Principle- According to this principle the waste generator pays a fee that increases with an increase in the waste generated by him.


Harmful effects of Poor Waste Management

1. Biodegradable waste if allowed to decompose in an uncontrolled manner leads to the formation of green house gases like methane.

2. Leaching of waste from landfills leads to soil contamination. Solid contamination affects the health of people and the eco-system.

3. Leaching also contaminates groundwater. This contaminated water is consumed by people who live in the surrounding area of a land fill and cause severe health problems.

4. Incineration of waste leads to the formation large quantities of ash which contains toxic substances and needs to be dumped in a landfill. Thus incineration, instead of solving a waste disposal problem can in fact compound it.

Waste Management in India

India’s growing urban population has also resulted in a growing waste management problem. Municipal authorities are struggling to find effective solutions. This can have a disastrous effect on the quality of life enjoyed Indian cites and more seriously can lead to the outbreaks of disease (For. E.g. the plague in Surat).

One possible solution to India’s waste problem lies in a community based program that educates societies and residential area’s on topics like garbage segregation and composting. Municipal authorities have no waste recovery system in place. Hence it becomes essential that they work with Ragpickers and other members of the informal sector. Such a “low-tech” approach could be economical in nature and could ensure that millions are not deprived of their only source of income.