How to manage city’s ‘solid’ waste

Recommendation for improving the performance of urban waste management

Legal frame work - clear definition of authority's responsibility
Due to ambiguity of roles as well as overlapping scope of work, none of the players sincerely carry out their tasks. The municipal authority's employees, street sweepers etc don't carry out the waste regularly. Residents end up hiring services with additional payment. Hence, the authority has to work out the network properly, beginning from collecting the waste from the premises itself. This would ensure its pick-up on regular basis.

Policy framework for segregation at source
Creating transparent policies is necessary for the disposal system of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. This needs to be done consistently through a regulatory mechanism at every stage of handling, from dwelling unit to housing colony to the neighbourhood and the city. A low ratio of number of access points (every premise) versus the number of households served, will work out to be highly efficient in favour of municipal authorities.

Prohibiting use of low-quality plastic bags
Plastic bags of lower quality should be strictly banned, as some of the plastic components don't get decomposed. Use of plastic bags below 20 microns and their use in packaging eatables must be strictly banned.

Mandatory planning of SWM system
As the approval for water supply and drainage needs to be taken from the authorities, an approval for solid waste also needs to be worked upon, which has to be brought to the notice of local authorities for further approval.

Encouraging recycling
Waste-to-energy technology can be propagated and can gain a foothold as a method to manage urban waste. The waste-to-energy policy can be encouraged through recycled products. The other benefit would be the development of 'cottage industries', which would safe guard the livelihood of various stakeholders involved in the waste trade, most importantly the rag pickers.

Handling practice
Segregation of waste at the source will necessitate providing different devices as per the waste collection. The occupational health hazards of rag pickers arise from poverty. The ones handling medical waste using their bare hands and feet are the most vulnerable. Can gloves and mask be provided as a basic kit to them?

Decentralising and amalgamating SWM design at sector level
At the city level, each town planning scheme, which usually covers approximately 100 hectares, should earmark a site where the organic waste gets collected and further decomposition takes place. Municipal parks and public gardens can take up this process of composting for organic waste digestion.
The decentralised composting system reflects positively on the following dimensions:

_ It reduces the cost incurred on the collection, transportation and disposal of waste by the municipal
authority.

_ It is well-suited for our waste stream, climate, social and economic conditions.

_ Decentralized composting system is labour-intensive and less costly compared to the centralized ones.

_ It helps to enhance income and job opportunities for the poor, socially-deprived informal workers and small entrepreneurs.

_ Improves community participation in source-separation, thereby
reducing the volume of solid waste at the source more effectively with this option.

_ Low cost, easily available local materials and low technology.
While Ahmedabad boasts of effective solid waste management practices, it needs to invest in some alternative approaches. From isolated efforts of individual departments to interrelated issues and solutions, one can move from a problem to a solution.