A waste management model for small towns

Introduction:

  • India faces major environmental challenges associated with waste generation and inadequate waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal.
  • Current systems in India cannot cope with the volumes of waste generated by an increasing urban population, and this has impact on the environment and public health.
  • The challenges and barriers are significant, but so are the opportunities.
  • Waste management rules in India are based on the principles of “sustainable development”, “precaution” and “polluter pays”.
  • These principles mandate municipalities and commercial establishments to act in an environmentally accountable and responsible manner restoring balance, if their actions disrupt it.
  • Vengurla is one of the only towns in India to convert a landfill into a waste management park, called the Swachh Bharat Waste Park.

How waste is managed in Vengurla

Conclusion:

  • The state government conferred Vengurla the Vasundhra Award, 2017 for its green initiatives and shortlisted it as a successful model for 100 per cent solid waste management under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. 
  • 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 system. 

Source:Downtoearth

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