Know your waste and sustainable waste management practices
Solid waste is the unwanted and unusable material that includes:
Solid waste generated from households, commercial premises, marriage palaces, hotels, dhabas, offices, and industries (industrial waste).
Construction and demolition waste.
Agricultural waste, such as crop residue, animal waste, and food waste.
E-waste, such as old computers, televisions, and mobile phones.
Hazardous waste, such as medical waste, batteries, and paints.
To manage the solid waste sustainably, we divide it into five types
Biodegradable / Wet Waste which Decomposes naturally over a period of time. It comprises of kitchen waste and horticulture waste
Non-Biodegradable/ Dry Waste which Do not decompose naturally. About 60% of it can be recycled, while 10% forms the inerts like construction and demolition waste and 30% is the non-recylable ones like the single use plastics.
Sanitary waste like Used diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence sheets
Domestic Hazardous Waste like Chemical products: paint drums, pesticide cans, tube lights, broken thermometers, expired medicines, used syringes, used batteries
E-waste like Electrical equipment, batteries, waste solar photo-voltaic panels
This waste can be harmful to the environment and human health if it is not disposed of properly. It can pollute air, water, and soil, and it can also attract pests and rodents.
Duties as a Waste Generator
Minimize the waste generation at individual/ household level
Segregate at source and store the waste in 3 separate streams i.e. Wet/ biodegradable, Dry/non bio-degradable, Domestic hazardous and E-waste
Wrap securely the used Sanitary Waste like diapers, sanitary pads etc. and give them separately
No littering on streets, open public spaces
Handover the segregated waste to the authorized waste collector
Not to burn or burry the solid waste/horticulture/plastic etc
No dumping of waste/any other materials in drains or water bodies
Usage of Eco-friendly alternatives in place of Single Use Plastic items
In-situ waste management at household/RWA level
Principals of Waste Management
Waste Reduction at Source
Refuse:
Refuse to take plastic bags & other single use plastics from vendors/ shopkeepers
Reduce:
Stop usage of single use disposable items (plastic carry bags, plastic & thermocol cutlery)
Reuse:
Re-use of used items instead of buying new ones such as containers, cans, jars, cloths
Repair/ Refurbish/ Remodel/ Renovate:
• Repair or upcycle products whenever possible.
• Turn old clothes into bags, rags Try DIY ideas
• Repurpose old drums as compost bins, wood crates into shelves, metal cans as plant ................pots.
Recycle:
• Segregate dry waste items and give to recyclers
• Things like cans, bottles, paper, and cardboard can be remade into new products. ...............nMaking new items from recycled ones takes less energy and fewer resources than ...............nmaking things from new materials.
• Aluminium cans, cardboard, Electronics, Glass, Paper, Metal, Plastic Bags, Steel Cans ...............ncan be recycled.
Steps of Waste Management
Source Segregation of Waste i.e. Wet, Dry, Sanitary, Domestic Hazardous & E-waste
Door to Door scheduled collection & transportation in a segregated manner till Waste processing facilities.
Processing of Wet & Dry waste
Safe disposal of hazardous waste
Door to Door Demonstration of Source Segregation
Door to Door Collection
Wet Waste Processing: Composting
Home Composting
Community Compost Pits
Dry Waste Management: Material Recovery Facility
Advantages of Solid Waste Management
Waste management is an essential tool in protecting the environment & safeguarding human health by
Reducing Harmful greenhouse/ carcinogenic gas emissions
Reducing Air, water, soil pollution
Reducing Toxic gas explosions in landfills
Reducing Waste added to landfills
Reducing Sanitation workers Exploitation
Employment & income generation
Resources conservation
Waste to Wealth
Your Role: Waste Management ‘Sustainability Leader’
At Individual level
• Develop an understanding for importance of waste management with source segregation
• Start waste segregation at home
• Refuse to use plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items and adopt Eco-friendly .......malternatives
• Carry your own cloth bag and own steel water bottle
• Practice Not to litter/ Not throw waste in water bodies/ No waste burning
• Start practicing home composting
• Re-use waste items and Donate surplus used items to needy people
• Respect Waste Collectors
• Create awareness in family members, house workers, friends, relatives and neighbors for .......mpractical solutions
At School/ Community level
• Create awareness
• Engage in talks/ discussions
• Promote cleanliness and support sanitation workers/ safaiwalas.
• Motivate to eliminate single-use-plastics, promote Zero waste events.
• Organize camps to collect items such as used clothes, bags, footwear, bottles, books, .......mfurniture and other usuable items to donate them to needy people.
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