Solid Waste

 SOLID WASTES 

• Solid wastes refer to everything that goes out in trash. 
• Municipal solid wastes are wastes from homes, offices, stores, schools, hospitals, etc., that are collected and disposed by the municipality. 
• The municipal solid wastes generally comprise paper, food wastes, plastics, glass, metals, rubber, leather, textile, etc. 
• Burning reduces the volume of the wastes, although it is generally not burnt to completion and open dumps often serve as the breeding ground for rats and flies. 
• Sanitary landfills were adopted as the substitute for open-burning dumps. 
• In a sanitary landfill, wastes are dumped in a depression or trench after compaction, and covered with dirt everyday. 
• Landfills are also not really much of a solution since the amount of garbage generation specially in the metros has increased so much that these sites are getting filled too. 
• Also there is danger of seepage of chemicals, etc., from these landfills polluting the underground water resources. 
• A solution to all this can only be in human beings becoming more sensitive to these environment issues. 
• All waste that we generate can be categorised into three types – 

(a) bio-degradable, 

(b) recyclable and 

(c) the non-biodegradable. 

• It is important that all garbage generated is sorted. 
• What can be reused or recycled separated out; our kabadiwallahs and rag-pickers do a great job of separation of materials for recycling. 
• The biodegradable materials can be put into deep pits in the ground and be left for natural breakdown. 
• That leaves only the non-biodegradable to be disposed off. 
• The need to reduce our garbage generation should be a prime goal, instead, we are increasing the use of non-biodegradable products. 
• Just pick any readymade packet of any ‘good quality’ eatable, say a biscuit packet, and study the packaging – Note that at least one layer is of plastic. 
• We have started packaging even our daily use products like milk and water in polybags!! In cities, fruits and vegetables can be bought packed in beautiful polysterene and plastic packaging –  Contribute heavily to environmental pollution. State Governments across the country are trying to push for reduction in use of plastics and use of eco-friendly packaging. 
• We can do our bit by carrying cloth or other natural fibre carry-bags when we go shopping and by refusing polythene bags.