Present Status: Some Observations in Solid Waste Management
Solid Waste management is an obligatory function of the Urban Local Bodies. However if this service is poorly performed it results in problems of health, sanitation and environmental degradation. With over 3.6% annual growth in urban population and the rapid pace of urbanization, the situation is becoming more and more critical with the passage of time. There are various deficiencies related to SWM which are seen in the cities mainly no storage of waste at source, non-segregation at source, no system of primary collection of waste, use of inefficient tools, inefficient system of secondary storage of waste, inadequate transportation of waste, no processing of waste, disposal of waste, lack of institutional and administrative involvement. The infrastructural development is not in a position to keep pace with population growing owing to the inefficient resources in most of the local bodies.
The following are some of the observations seen in cities:
- The citizens often complain that solid waste is never lifted from its place, it is observed that the bins are full and the waste is lying for days without being lifted it to the landfill site.
- The municipal authorities say that citizens often do not throw the garbage in the bins and it usually lies there outside the bins.
- The other reason for which is claimed by the authorities is that , there is shortage of manpower and equipments and machines which could do the needful.
- The current lifting capacity is much less as compared to the waste generated per day.
- The complete inventory of the bins and its locations etc ward wise and sector wise, on major roads is often not available with the authorities.
- The number of sweepers on a stretch of major and minor roads, in different wards is also missing. They may tell some figure but if some analysis is to be done on map, it is not available with the authorities.
- The data about the most waste generating areas and along roads is not available to them.
- Bins of different types are unnecessarily been provided on a stretch of various roads, which basically accounts to additional cost of diesel, manpower, equipment etc.
- The route planning is never prepared and is currently done as and when need arises.
- The redressal system is not existing, its just by a system on demand by the community.
How Municipalities can go Forward
Create a Phased Action Plan
Based on specific objectives to provide acceptable solid waste management service, and on existing financial constraints, a phased action plan may have two basic elements. One element of the plan being the creation of an efficient MIS and GIS system. Another element of the plan being provisions of planning and management arrangement as well as the improvement of the financial and institutional base upon which the solid waste service relies.
The plan should try to readily incorporate those actions which may realize a major improvement without major capital investment. Therefore, initial emphasis may be placed on actions such as the following: