What is Waste Management?

Waste management means managing all activities from handling waste to its final destination for disposal. Waste management is mandatory for the health of human and good for the environment. These two basic elements are most important for good living long life. Development or developing countries are producing waste very fast compare to their disposal. Many types of waste are generated in the form of solid, gas and liquid. All types of manufactured waste go through various processes of waste management. Efficient waste management will lead us to make a safe and healthy environment.

The functioning of the waste management system in India mainly follows by three basic principles, namely; continuous development, Precautionary principle and Polluters pay principle. To India, waste management refers to the entire chain that goes through the entire process from the manufacture of waste to its collection and transportation as well as the processing and disposal.

Sources of Waste

The Sources of waste are broadly classified into four types: Industrial, Commercial, Domestic, and Agricultural.

Industrial Waste

These are the wastes created in factories and industries. Most industries dump their waste in rivers and seas which cause a lot of pollution i.e. Plastic, glass, etc.

Commercial Waste

Commercial waste is produced in schools, colleges, shops, and offices i.e. Plastic, paper, etc.

Domestic Waste

The household wastes which are a part of collected during household activities like cooking, cleaning, etc. Are known as domestic wastes i.e. Leaves, vegetable peels, excreta, etc.

Agricultural Waste

Various wastes produced in the agricultural field are known as agricultural wastes i.e. Cattle waste, weed, husk, etc.

Types of Waste

Commonly waste is classified into two types: Bio-degradable waste and Non-biodegradable waste. These two kinds of wastes are explained below:

Biodegradable waste

Biodegradable waste that comes from our kitchen and it includes food wastage, garden waste, etc. Biodegradable waste is also known as humid waste. This can be composted to obtain cowpats. Biodegradable wastes decompose themselves over a period of time depending on the material. This waste is becoming compost fertilizer, which made the land fertile and enhance the productivity.

Non-biodegradable waste

These are the wastes which include old newspapers, broken glass pieces, plastics, etc. Non-biodegradable waste is known as dry waste. Dry wastes can be recycled and can be reused. Non-biodegradable wastes do not decompose by themselves and hence are major pollutants.

New terminology ‘E-waste’

When we use electronic equipment for a long time and replace it / break it and throw the first one and take another new electronic device, this useless electronic device is called e-waste. For example: computers, mobile phones printers, photocopy machines, inverter, UPS, television, radio / transistors, digital cameras etc.

Around 200 to 500 lakh MT of e-waste is generated every year in the world. According to a survey conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi, The total amount of e – waste in India in the year 2005 was 1.47 lakh metric tons, which increased to about 8 lakh MT in 2012.^[1] The amount of e-waste generated in India has almost doubled in the last 6 years and it is increasing continuously. The biggest problem is that is the most of electronic product made of plastic, which is not easy to destroy easily so it creates a dangerous health problem and environment pollution.

We are all the part of this nature and it is our moral responsibility to protect our nature from the hazardous effects of waste. Waste management is a comprehensive process, it starts with keeping our surroundings clean and the rest will be taken care of by the waste management units. In this reference Indian government also runs a program Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on 2^nd October in the respect of ‘Rashtrapita Mahatma Gandhi Ji’.

Reference: [1] www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/ewaste-management-amendments-bill-2018-in-hindi-1522040664-2