Waste management

Waste management or waste disposal, include all the activities required to manage waste from its collection to disposal. Other activities are collecting, transporting, handling, supervising, regulating and discarding of waste and other legal procedures. We cannot imagine our environment with the waste chunks all around us spreading diseases and damaging environment. Waste management practices performed efficiently and consistently can benefit immensely. There are various pros and cons of waste management.

Let’s have a look at some pros and cons of waste management.pros of Waste Management Keeps the environment clean: The process of waste management helps keep the environment clean though we all as individuals need to participate in keeping our surroundings clean to achieve the goal. Waste management units work to collect the garbage and waste materials from public areas and transport to the landfill sites and other disposal units for its disposal. The odor and gases from the garbage are eliminated before disposal thus the whole process results in keeping the environment clean.

Conserves energy: The process of waste management includes recycling. Recycling of the products helps in reducing the production of new products and raw materials. Recycling also helps conserve energy as the process of recycling utilizes less energy.

Reduce air pollution: Waste management helps reduce pollution and global warming. It reduces the intensity of gases like carbon dioxide and methane emitted from waste.

Generate employment opportunities:Huge amount of manpower is needed in all the sections of waste management. From collection to the final stage of disposal there are several job opportunities in waste management sectors.

Sustainable use of resources: Minimum use of energy and resources is planned in the process of waste management. The waste management concept life-cycle of the product aims the efficient use of resources.

Health: Exposure to waste can effect human health and cause several diseases. Waste management activities include collecting the waste from the landfills around us and transporting to the areas where the waste can be disposed in a safe manner saving us from several health hazards.

Inter-generational Equity: Effective waste management practices will provide following generations strong economy and clean environment.

Cons of Waste Management

Finance: The amount of waste generated is in very large amounts and so the management of it and the overall process needs a lot of planning and implementing of the various tasks. Secondly, lot of manpower and new technologies are needed to manage the various kinds of waste materials. The complete waste management system and the process of reducing, recycling and reusing in an effective manner needs a lot of funding and investment.

Health of workers: The process of waste management includes waste of course that attracts many insects, pests, bacteria and microbes, etc that can cause harm to anyone’s health. The landfills are highly prone to bacterial and fungal growth that may cause various diseases making it an unsafe place for workers involved. Harmful gasses are released in the process of burning disposal that spread widely endangering human health. The sites may get contaminated due to inefficient waste management effecting human health.

Inefficient waste management: Waste management in developing countries experience fragile waste collection services and inefficiently managed dumpsites. The waste management practices are not uniform in underdeveloped, developing and developed countries. Waste management units are unable to keep pace with increasing amount of waste generation.

Conclusion

Irresponsible discarding of waste and not considering its negative impact on environment and others is wrong. We all are a part of nature and it’s our duty to prevent nature from the hazardous effects of waste. As managing waste is a massive process it begins by keeping your surroundings clean and the rest will be taken care of by waste management units...

Solid waste management has become a major problem in many underdeveloped, developing and developed countries. The chief causes of increase in municipal solid waste are overpopulation, industrialization, economic growth and urbanization.

Waste management is a global issue but its consequences are more pronounced in developing countries. In India, solid waste management system has failed to keep pace with social and economic development in several regions. The inefficiency in management of municipal solid waste can adversely affect public health, environment and our economy.

Chief Factors Influencing Solid Municipal Waste in India

Over population

Over population is the obvious cause for major issues of our country. Increase in population results in increase in solid municipal waste. High population leads to increasing demand of basic resources which leads to waste generation.

Urbanization

Increasing population, declining employment opportunities in rural areas and migration from rural areas to enjoy the benefits of urban economic and social growth result in urbanization are some of the other reasons. Urbanization is the major cause for global warming. Industrialization in urban areas produces large amount of waste in the process of production of goods and disposal of goods after use causing waste. In many cities, overcrowding has overwhelmed the capacity of municipal authorities to manage waste.

Luxurious Life

The materialistic perception and the need of luxury products have increased immensely to lead a comfortable and luxurious life regardless of whether it is needed or not. This results in more waste generation.

E-waste

As the technology advances, the demand for new technology raises e.g. mobiles, TV’s, play stations, refrigerators etc. As a result old gadgets and electronics become trash.