Question

Delhi has a massive municipal solid waste management problem, with the massive landfills at Ghazipur, Okhla and Bhalswa at the centre of the issue. Delhi generates 11,332 tonnes of solid waste every day according to the latest estimate by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), even as the civic body said that 4,360 tonnes of this garbage ends up at the city's three landfill sites. , Hindustan Times, 22 February, 2023

1. What is the cause for the issue mentioned above?
2. Mention the three different methods of treating waste of the given type?
3. How can an individual reduce waste generation?
4. How can Delhi manage its waste following the example of Indore?

Answer 1

1. The massive waste management problem is caused by rapid population growth and fast urbanization. Changing consumer lifestyles lead to a high use of disposable packaging and single-use items. Additionally, a lack of strict waste segregation at home causes massive amounts of mixed garbage to accumulate daily at landfill sites.
2. Three methods of treating waste are as follows:
   1. Composting: Biological decomposition of organic wet waste into nutrient-rich manure.
   2. Incineration: High-temperature burning of non-recyclable dry waste to reduce its volume.
   3. Sanitary Landfilling: Safe disposal of remaining waste in engineered ground pits to protect groundwater.
3. An individual can significantly reduce waste by strictly practicing the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. This includes choosing reusable cloth bags instead of plastic bags and avoiding single-use items. Segregating household waste into wet and dry bins also ensures materials are recycled properly.
4. Delhi can copy Indore’s successful model by enforcing 100% source segregation of waste at the household level. The city should set up organized, door-to-door garbage collection using tracking technology to ensure timely pickups. Finally, building decentralized biomethanation and composting plants will help process all organic waste locally instead of dumping it in landfills.