SOLID-WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA - OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

In India, the collection, transportation and disposal of MSW are unsci entific and chaotic. Uncontrolled dumping of wastes on outskirts of to wns and cities has created overflowing landfills, which are not only i mpossible to reclaim because of the haphazard manner of dumping, but a lso have serious environmental implications in terms of ground water p ollution and contribution to global warming. Burning of waste leads to air pollution in terms of increased TSP and PM10 emissions, which is equivalent to vehicular emissions at times. In the absence of waste se gregation practices, recycling has remained to be an informal sector w orking on outdated technology, but nevertheless thriving owing to wast e material availability and market demand of cheaper recycled products . Paper and plastic recycling have been especially growing due to cont inuously increasing consumption levels of both the commodities. Compos ting-aerobic and anaerobic, both the options are available to the coun try for scientific disposal of waste in future. However, country also needs something in terms of policy and guidelines to enable the munici pal corporations to run the waste services efficiently. (C) 1998 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.