Future Perspective of Solid Waste Management Strategy in India

Abstract

Increased industrialization in the wake of green revolution coupled with population explosion has paved its way to enormous solid waste generation. Inadequate techniques and paucity of technical expertise have led to generation of heterogenous categories of waste. The per capita waste generation is escalating, continuously challenging the global sustainability. Most of the waste produced in India is directly disposed of to the landfills without any proper sorting and segregation, which later produces greenhouse gases, posing risk to human health and environment. Thus, there is a need to implement strict laws, increase awareness, and utilize innovative as well as latest techniques in order to cope up with the growing threat of solid waste. Integrated solid waste management is a critical aspect of environmental hygiene which can be incorporated into environmental planning. Environment friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and social acceptability are major attributes which sum up to achieve efficient waste management system. Moving toward “zero-waste production” and “waste prevention” aims at reduction of gaseous emissions, solid residues, and pollution, contributing to the protection of climate and environment. Green technology approach is the stepping stone to waste management that seeks solutions that are environmentally and ecologically benign. Recycling and composting are the easy to go techniques which are helpful in minimizing the volume of the waste generated and producing valuable products with multipurpose utility. Waste valorization is an attractive concept gaining increased popularity due to the rapid increase in waste residues generation.