Documentary: Highest Integrated Solid Waste Management Project | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Key Highlights

• The project's primary objective is to address the escalating waste management issues in the region.
• Past lack of a well-defined waste management strategy resulted in the accumulation of garbage heaps and related accidents.
• The municipal committee is now actively engaged in efforts to maintain cleanliness in the city and manage waste efficiently.
• The ISWMP represents a praiseworthy initiative aimed at tackling the waste challenges faced by Ladakh.
• By 2025, urban areas in India are projected to produce 0.7 kg of waste per person per day, a substantial increase from 1999.
• India presently generates 62 million tons of waste annually, with a 4% average annual growth rate, as reported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• The generation of municipal solid waste is forecasted to reach 165 million tonnes by 2030 due to evolving consumption patterns and rapid economic development.

Highest Integrated Solid Waste Management Project (ISWMP)

• An ISWM Plan encompasses a Management System that includes Policies (e.g., regulatory, fiscal measures), Technologies (fundamental equipment and operational aspects), and Voluntary measures (such as awareness campaigns and self-regulations).
• The Management System addresses all stages of waste management, from generation to disposal, encompassing collection, transfer, transportation, sorting, treatment, and final disposal.
• Data and insights on waste characterization and quantification, along with assessments of existing solid waste management systems, form the basis for developing a tailored and location-specific management system.

Waste Treatment Methods

Landfills:

• Non-recyclable and non-biodegradable waste is typically disposed of in landfills.
• Modern landfills incorporate liners and other protective measures to reduce environmental contamination.

Incineration:

• Some regions utilize incineration to burn waste, which decreases its volume and can generate energy.
• However, this method raises concerns regarding environmental and air quality impacts.

Composting:

• Organic waste like kitchen scraps and yard waste can be composted to create nutrient-rich soil.

Initiatives Related to Waste Management

Swachh Bharat Mission for Solid Waste Management:

• Central assistance is extended under the Swachh Bharat Mission for solid waste management, encompassing plastic waste management in urban and rural areas as per scheme guidelines.
• The Central Government launched Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0) in 2021, aiming to create "Garbage Free Cities" by ensuring all Urban Local Bodies achieve at least a 3-star certification, covering aspects like door-to-door collection, source segregation, and scientific waste processing.

Solid Waste Management Rules 2016:

• These rules replaced the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000, emphasizing waste segregation at the source and placing responsibility on manufacturers for the disposal of sanitary and packaging wastes, among other measures.

Waste to Wealth Portal:

• It is designed to identify, develop, and deploy technologies that can treat waste to generate energy, recycle materials, and extract valuable resources.

Challenges for Solid Waste Management

Rapid Urbanization:

• The rapid expansion of urban areas leads to increased waste production, straining existing waste management systems.
• Unplanned urbanization often results in insufficient infrastructure and services for waste collection and disposal.

Diverse Waste Streams:

• Solid waste comprises a variety of materials such as plastics, paper, glass, metals, and organic waste, each necessitating specific treatment methods, making waste management a complex task.
• Improper disposal of hazardous waste poses environmental and health hazards.

Limited Recycling and Reuse:

• Despite the potential for recycling and reusing materials, many regions struggle to establish efficient systems due to a lack of awareness, infrastructure, and incentives.
• Valuable resources are lost when recyclable materials end up in landfills.

Way Forward

Integrated Waste Management Systems:

• Developing comprehensive systems that integrate source reduction, recycling, composting, and responsible disposal to minimize environmental impact.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR):

• Implementing policies that hold manufacturers responsible for the end-of-life management of their products, encouraging eco-friendly product design and packaging to reduce waste generation.

Waste-to-Energy with Environmental Safeguards:

• Establishing waste-to-energy facilities with advanced emission control technologies to minimize air pollutants, while ensuring strict environmental regulations and monitoring to protect public health and the ecosystem.

Circular Economy Practices:

• Promoting the principles of a circular economy that focuses on waste minimization, resource maximization, and closing material loops, encouraging product design that considers the entire lifecycle from production to disposal.