Waste management starts from home. It is a simple process that requires one individual in the house hold to take the initiative to segregate his waste into organic, recyclable, hazardous and electronic. The effort entails placing four small bins in which the categories of waste mentioned above are disposed off respectively. Your recyclables can all be mixed, in one container, but caution should be taken to discard organic waste, hazardous waste and e waste separately in different waste containers.
Most people use a bin liner to dispose off their waste as this insures that the process is not messy. In order to start reducing waste at source, bin liners should not be used to dispose of organic waste, this process only adds to ever growing challenge of managing waste. Organic waste can be disposed of without using a bin liner straight into the dustbin, and the dustbin can be cleaned after it has been emptied. This simple process will save you money and reduce your houses carbon footprint. Similarly when disposing paper wastes make sure that only the necessary paper waste is being disposed off. Paper can be used as rough paper for kids to scribble on or as a note pad elongating the life of the paper and again saving you money. Before disposing your electronic waste make sure that it is in a condition that it cannot be used or repaired. If you have no uses of it donate it to a library or to someone who needs it. When disposing hazardous waste such as batteries, insure that all life of the battery has been utilized, and buy batteries that are rechargeable.
An average Indian family generates about .5 kgs of waste on a daily basis. This waste is 60% organic, 20% recyclable and 20% inert in nature. Most households do not segregate their waste at home, as a result when the waste is disposed off it is mixed and contaminated requiring segregation to be done manually. Indian waste also contains a high level of moisture, mostly due to the large organic content and eating habits of the people. It is well know that the Indian waste management sector is unorganized in nature adding to the ever growing challenge of managing waste in India. Most individuals involved in the field have little knowledge of proper waste management practices and the collection process does not allow them to store waste in different compartments in their carts. It is also well know and documented that most organic waste in India is not treated and finds its way to the landfill site, hence it becomes imperative that we take steps to reduce waste generation of waste from our homes.
Most people use a bin liner to dispose off their waste as this insures that the process is not messy. In order to start reducing waste at source, bin liners should not be used to dispose of organic waste, this process only adds to ever growing challenge of managing waste. Organic waste can be disposed of without using a bin liner straight into the dustbin, and the dustbin can be cleaned after it has been emptied. This simple process will save you money and reduce your houses carbon footprint. Similarly when disposing paper wastes make sure that only the necessary paper waste is being disposed off. Paper can be used as rough paper for kids to scribble on or as a note pad elongating the life of the paper and again saving you money. Before disposing your electronic waste make sure that it is in a condition that it cannot be used or repaired. If you have no uses of it donate it to a library or to someone who needs it. When disposing hazardous waste such as batteries, insure that all life of the battery has been utilized, and buy batteries that are rechargeable.
An average Indian family generates about .5 kgs of waste on a daily basis. This waste is 60% organic, 20% recyclable and 20% inert in nature. Most households do not segregate their waste at home, as a result when the waste is disposed off it is mixed and contaminated requiring segregation to be done manually. Indian waste also contains a high level of moisture, mostly due to the large organic content and eating habits of the people. It is well know that the Indian waste management sector is unorganized in nature adding to the ever growing challenge of managing waste in India. Most individuals involved in the field have little knowledge of proper waste management practices and the collection process does not allow them to store waste in different compartments in their carts. It is also well know and documented that most organic waste in India is not treated and finds its way to the landfill site, hence it becomes imperative that we take steps to reduce waste generation of waste from our homes.
A few days of rains have left the streets of MUMBAI, filled with water and garbage. The infrastructure is not capable of handling even 6mm of rain spread over two days. The fact is that city drains are clogged with garbage and refuse are rarely cleaned. Every morning the dedicated workers of MCD sweep the cities dust and garbage off the road and into the open drains. Sanitation is one of the most pressing issues that the country as a whole faces today. The task is monumental in stature and the public will is confined mostly to lip service.
If India really wants to bring about productive change and up lift the quality of life for its populations, it will have to look beyond cosmetic face lifts and solve the real pressing issues on hand.
A. Lack of Education & common sense amongst the masses
B. Lack of education among politicians
C. Minimum educational criteria for becoming a politician (College Grad)
D. Enforcement of laws and regulations without bias towards the rich or powerful
E. Building a sense of pride in the people towards the country
F. Rule of the Iron hand. At least till a certain level of civility is achieved and people start acting in accordance with law.
The list is never ending, but these are some pressing issues without which the country will grow, but not excel. If we were to draw out a root cause of most of these issues or challenges, it would lead us to the fact that people are not educated enough to make an aware decision. Add to this the social and cultural stigma’s and pressures that govern a lot of decision making process, which again are caused due to a lack of education, we arrive at a complex mix of religion, cast, economic stature, social stature, determining the decisions that we make as a nation.
Coming back to the issue of sanitation, and keeping your city clean; this pressing issue has a direct correlation with education, awareness, the pride we take in our country and neighbourhood and with the government enforcing laws and regulations and the citizens following it.
The time has come that we as Indians start addressing these pressing issues collectively to secure our place as a truly world class country. The time has not only to voice our opinions but also to insure that action is taken. The time has come join hands and clean our country!
If India really wants to bring about productive change and up lift the quality of life for its populations, it will have to look beyond cosmetic face lifts and solve the real pressing issues on hand.
A. Lack of Education & common sense amongst the masses
B. Lack of education among politicians
C. Minimum educational criteria for becoming a politician (College Grad)
D. Enforcement of laws and regulations without bias towards the rich or powerful
E. Building a sense of pride in the people towards the country
F. Rule of the Iron hand. At least till a certain level of civility is achieved and people start acting in accordance with law.
The list is never ending, but these are some pressing issues without which the country will grow, but not excel. If we were to draw out a root cause of most of these issues or challenges, it would lead us to the fact that people are not educated enough to make an aware decision. Add to this the social and cultural stigma’s and pressures that govern a lot of decision making process, which again are caused due to a lack of education, we arrive at a complex mix of religion, cast, economic stature, social stature, determining the decisions that we make as a nation.
Coming back to the issue of sanitation, and keeping your city clean; this pressing issue has a direct correlation with education, awareness, the pride we take in our country and neighbourhood and with the government enforcing laws and regulations and the citizens following it.
The time has come that we as Indians start addressing these pressing issues collectively to secure our place as a truly world class country. The time has not only to voice our opinions but also to insure that action is taken. The time has come join hands and clean our country!
