Garbage, garbage everywhere and not a spot that does not stink! This has been the most popular refrain throughout Gurugram and the same echoes resonated in the many WhatsApp Groups across South City1, along with dirty pictures of garbage strewn all over our colony.
While waiting for the MCG to resolve its ongoing spat with the solid waste management concessionaire, we held our collective breaths as the foul smell of the openly dumped garbage assaulted our senses. We denounced and blamed the MCG, Ecogreen, SCRWA and whoever came in line to be criticised for the highly ineffective management of our solid Waste. We fumed as the garbage collection from our homes became erratic to the point that there were noxious fumes arising from it. We ranted and raved, filed complaints and berated the civic authorities for shirking their responsibility. What is strange is that we were unanimous in absolving ourselves, the Waste Generators, of all responsibility. After all, it was in the very recent past that we belted out frenzied slogans of, “My Waste, my responsibility” and “Mera Kachra, Meri Zimmedari”
The simple act of segregation of the Waste generated in our homes goes a long way in keeping it off sidewalks, roadsides and ultimately, landfills. As shown above, 50%-60% is organic waste which can be biodegraded/composted. About 30% is Dry waste which is recyclable as is the 2%-5% of electronic waste. That leaves us with only 10%-15% of reject waste which can be treated scientifically at landfill sites.
According to a report by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2021, Waste in India is a multi-billion-dollar goldmine.
The Revenue from waste is as shown below:
• Recycling of dry waste can generate Rs 11,836 crore annually.
• Making compost and bio-CNG from wet waste results in Rs 2,000 crore annually
• Construction and Demolition Waste gives rise to Rs 416 crore annually
• Treated sludge can generate Rs 6,570 crore annually
• Wastewater can yield Rs 3,285 crore annually
However, all of the above is only possible if we segregate the Waste we produce because the recyclable potential of any kind of Waste plummets if it goes as “mixed Waste”.
Yet another and extremely vital driving force to take responsibility for our Waste is the alarming fact that the toxic leachate emanating from the Bandhwari Landfill is contaminating the soil and groundwater. Consequently, there is an exponential rise in diseases including cancers in its vicinity.
We in South City-1, are only about 13km away from Bandhwari. For this very reason, it is imperative to ensure that our segregated Waste does not end up getting mixed and reaching the landfill. The easiest solution would be to deal with the biodegradable component under our very noses without raising a stink about it.
We also need to consciously reduce the amount of Waste we produce. Plastic garbage- bin liners should not be used at all and we should axe the consumption of tissue paper instead of the trees used for its production.
If we wish to embark on the road to saving ourselves from extinction, let us start by taking these simple measures at our own homes, for as the adage goes, “Every journey begins from home”.
