Management of urban and industrial waste could be a tricky task in any developing country, especially in a country like India where the rate of urbanization is too rapid. The resources of the planet are finite and the rate at which the wastes are produced by the human race, it can directly impact the food production. The key constituents of metropolitan wastes are domestic wastes, Industrial wastes and waste water. However, most of the Potentially Toxic Substances (PTS) have eluded the filtering system.
Sewage sludge are rich in nutrients and have the potential to improve the soil structure. The waste sludge applied on the soil can influence the land positively and is a economical manure. However, excess concentration of metals like copper, cadmium, nickel, chromium, zinc and lead or organics like dioxines, PCB's and endocrine disrupts may be detrimental for land application. Solid wastes, based on sources, can be classified as domestic, trade, commercial, industrial, agricultural and mining wastes. Urban solid wastes comprises bio degradable wastes, rubbish, combustible and non-combustible, ashes and residues, large wastes, demolition and construction rubble,dead animals, hospital wastes, refuse and sewage remains. The management of Urban Solid Wastes are challenging, if the wastes are not segregated at the source. The local bodies (especially in Tamil Nadu and Chennai) have failed miserably in the waste management. It is not a technology failure. The environmental awareness is virtually absent in India. Polluter, those without influence, pays is the reality. Urban solid wastes pollute the soil as land fillings and gases like Carbon Di Oxide, Carbon monoxide, Methane and H2S are created. Leach ate from a land fill can pollute ground water if water moves through the fill material precipitation and infiltration. Most solid wastes contain significant salt content that can cause salinity and alkalinity. Whilst the alternative utilization of urban and industrial waste and environmental friendly management of the urban solid wastes are to be explored, there is a crying need of creating awareness among the people about the waste generation. If the waste generated can be reduced, it can easily be managed. The mantra to manage any waste is "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle".
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AuthorAaqarsh Aiyyar is a quality and productivity specialist with Asian Sustainability and Quality Bureau (ASQB) Archives
January 2017
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