Landfills in India And Health Risks Related To It India is a fast developing country with rapidly growing urbanization and industrialization. It is witnessing a growth in population expansion as well. This growth in different sectors is establishing a tremendous amount of pressure on the natural resources that India has a hold of. Further leading to heaps of untreated waste produced by the country. India currently produces a total of 62 million tonnes of waste every year, out of which only 43 million tonnes is collected and only 28% of the collected waste is treated correctly. The amount of waste generated in India annually is projected to increase in the coming years. This will lead to a shortage of resources, more area being covered as landfills and not to mention the health risks that this untreated waste associates with itself.

Land Under Landfill
The large amount of waste generated in India, which is dumped in Landfills, requires around 3,40,000 cubic meters of landfill space everyday. Meaning, the area covered as landfill every year estimates around 1240 hectares in India. This precious land filled with waste can actually be used for various other useful purposes. Considering the projected waste generation of 165 million tonnes by 2031, the land required for setting up landfill for the next 20 years could be as high as 66 thousand hectares. This is considering the 10 meters high waste piles that remain untreated in India.

Why does India generate so much Waste?
Majorly, this waste is the result of human activities, directly or indirectly. The municipal solid waste, which makes most of the waste generated in India, comprises household and commercial refuse which is usually a result of heavy consumerism pattern. With the growth of population and the emergence of urbanization, people from rural areas come to cities looking for opportunities, contributing to increased use of resources and consumerism patterns, hence leading to more waste generation. Industrialization also contributes to the increased heaps of waste. Setting up of different industries leads to production of harmful waste from factories and workspaces. Not only do these industries use up a large amount of resources, they also generate a large amount of waste. This waste is often left untreated which further leads to health risks and environmental degradation.

Which cities use the most land as landfills in India? When we look at the data presented by various studies, Chennai alone uses around 465.5 hectares of land as landfills. The capital city of India, Delhi uses 66.4 hectares of land as landfills. Cities like Greater Hyderabad, Mumbai and Ahmedabad also cover large land as landfills in India. These are also among the highest solid waste generating cities in India. We can also say that the amount of land required as landfill in the next 20 years is almost 90% of the area of Bengaluru today.

Health Risks associated with Landfills
Improper segregation or lack of segregation of the waste present at landfill sites is also an open ground for different kinds of diseases and health risks. The unsegregated waste in landfills accumulates a mixture of toxic waste along with other types of waste. This could be the waste generated by big factories or even the hazardous waste from common households including paints, batteries and even medical waste like used syringes, leftover medicines, etc. When this toxic waste is left in the waste heaps for a long time, they are exposed to the environment and the rag pickers. This ultimately leads to a number of health risks associated with landfills. Open waste heaps are breeding grounds for vectors, flies, rats, dogs, etc. As per WHO, 22 types of dangerous diseases can be prevented by improving the management of MSW alone.

Leachates A study states that landfills produce a significant amount of methane gas and leachate. Leachate is a contaminated laden liquid produced by excessive rainwater percolation through different layers of landfill. It is full of organic and inorganic pollutants. Leachates are a major cause of mobilization of waste landfills to the surrounding environment along with generating a number of diseases which are exposed to humans and animals.

Humans around the landfill sites
Apart from this, landfills have also been studied to increase the risk of certain types of cancer among people living near landfill areas including brain, leukemia and even bladder. Furthermore, a study also suggests that babies born to mothers living near landfill sites are exposed to a number of birth defects.
Chemicals released from waste produced at landfill areas can also be responsible for reducing immune system function and leads to an increased risk of infections. Children living near waste sites are hospitalized more often with acute respiratory infection as compared to children who live away from landfills.
Waste pickers who collect or dump waste in these landfill areas are exposed to health problems including PM10, breathing problems, bacterial infections, asthma, cardiovascular risk and other infections. Open dumping grounds are breeding places for mosquitoes, rats, cockroaches, flies and other pests which further cause common diseases like malaria, dengue, typhus, plague, histoplasmosis, etc.
Apart from such heath hazards, landfills also generate potential concerns regarding the flow of toxins in the food chain. They may experience many explosions and fires throughout the year as a result of lack of segregation. This leads to groundwater pollution, air pollution, vegetation damage and finally global warming.
However, with correct steps by the government to treat this waste, we can diffuse this ticking bomb that can cost many lives. If we adopt the zero waste approach while processing this waste, India can improve the state of waste that it generates every year. Not only this, correct treatment of waste will also decrease a number of health risks and ultimately free up hectares of precious land which can be used for various other useful projects.

Climate change is real! And the time to take action is now. 2020 was recorded to be the warmest year and there is plenty of evidence to back the fact that climate change and the rise in temperature is adversely harming our land, water bodies and natural flora and fauna.
To much surprise, climate change is not a new topic. It has been around for decades. But, with the worsening of environmental health, cases of its alarming effects have covered the front line issues now. Many government officials of various cities, towns and countries have been actively debating about climate change and looking for ways to tackle the situation. Apart from the officials who are taking big steps, we all have the ability to make small changes which would benefit the environment in many ways by reducing our carbon footprint.

What is Carbon Footprint?
Technically speaking, a carbon footprint is a measure of the total amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere as a result of an individual’s actions. It is usually measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Terms like greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases and global warming are closely related to carbon footprint. More the carbon footprint of an individual or a nation, the more the planet becomes hot thereby causing global warming which is responsible for climate change. If we decide to reduce our individual carbon footprint, even up to a small ratio, we can tackle this situation of climate change with ease. You can do so in many different ways. Here are 10 such ways that can help you to reduce your carbon footprint without having to go through a lot.

1. Unplug Your Device Some people tend to leave their device plugged to the charger for hours on stretch. You can easily help the environment by simply unplugging your device timely after it is fully charged. Fully charged devices that remain plugged for a long time consume a huge amount of energy. According to the national resource defence council, this type of energy wastage is responsible for draining about $19 billion in energy every year in the US alone. Not only this, you can also make sure to turn off the lights and other appliances when they are not in use.

2. Use Public Transport Choosing a public transport, bike or a cycle to work can drastically help the environment. Cycling and walking are the two most environmentally friendly ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only are they good for the environment, they are also good for your health. Cars emmitt a lot of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. If a large proportion of the population uses their own vehicle, the amount of these harmful gases will rise which will eventually lead to global warming and climate change.

3. Eat Local When you think green, you may think of all the green and fresh vegetables that one might consume in order to get good health. These organic vegetables are a great perk of saving the environment. Choosing locally produced food items reduces the carbon footprint created by shipping food from different far away places. Not only this, it can also reduce the cost of keeping the food fresh and cold while shipping it. Organic food is not sprayed with toxic pesticides and other environmentally detrimental chemicals as well.

4. Line Dry Your Clothes Line drying in the place of using a machine dryer is a simple yet efficient way of reducing the carbon footprint. This can minimize your carbon footprint in a great way. According to the world wildlife organization, one dryer load uses almost 5 times more electricity than washing it. This is equivalent to turning on 225 light bulbs for an hour.

5. Plant more trees Plant a garden. Surround yourself with greenery. Breath in fresh air and help nature grow. Reducing the carbon footprint also means giving back to nature what you take from it. Plants and trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release more oxygen, hence, tackling a major factor that drives global warming. Balcony gardens are great for urban dwelling as cities often need to reduce the “urban heat island” effect. Making more space for trees and plants can mitigate this effect in no time.

6. Trim your waste Do not choose ‘single use plastic’. Shift to products that do not cause any waste products or their waste product can be easily recycled. While purchasing products from stores, be careful about their packaging. Use reusable products. The waste that pollutes the environment or requires a large amount of energy to process or recycle can be eliminated if you go green. You can stop using the most common things like a disposable coffee cup or cutlery to reduce your carbon footprint.

7. Reduce/Eliminate Meat Consumption The food we eat has a significant impact on the environment. By eating fewer animal products, especially red meat, you can make a big difference. Even meat and dairy products use a lot of land, water and energy to produce. They also create a lot of greenhouse gases. The global livestock companies produce more harmful greenhouse gases than cars, planes, trains and ships combined.

8. Switch to Zero-waste shopping Reduce the amount of unrecyclable packaging when you seel or buy things from supermarkets or other venders. Make a shift to package free produce in order to reduce the amount of plastic you use unconciously. This way you can limit your use of single-use plastic and reduce carbon footprint. Try carrying your own grocessory bag whenever you decide to go shopping next time.

9. Buy Energy Efficient Appliances We all love shopping. But doing that in a way which would preserve the environment is much better. Electrical appliances which are not efficient can cause some serious damage to the environment. However, with the development in technology, many countries have started showing how effective the electrical product is. If you decide to buy a small light bulb or a big double door refrigerator, choosing an appliance with a high energy star rating can make your home eco friendly.

10. Use Less Water We see in the news everyday how many nations, localities or individuals suffer from the shortage of water. Use of less water when required without any wastage can solve a lot of water crisis in the world. By using less, you can help the environment more. Turn off the taps while brushing your teeth, have short showers, try to use as much less hot water as you can. It requires a lot of energy to process and deliver water at our homes. Reduce this cost and save the precious environment.

Conclusion By following a few ways and taking up some common practices into account, you can do a lot of benefit to the environment. The situation is crucial and the time is of great importance. Do your part to save the environment and reduce your carbon footprint starting today!

As the global temperature rises, the global sustainable food supply becomes of great importance. Food is a basic necessity of every living organism and naturally for humans as well. However, we sometimes fail to understand it’s importance for our fellow humans as well. Around 800 million people suffer from malnourishment in the world today. Even so the amount of food waste produced by humans keeps on increasing. Food waste is a major problem around the world, especially in developed countries like the United states of America and Europe. Food waste affects the environment negatively. Not only does it cause different types of pollution, but it also affects the economy, food security and health of a large part of the world population. Here are a few facts that you may not know about food waste production in the world.

1. Food waste in Europe alone can feed 200 million hungry people
   Europe is one of the largest food waste producers in the world. With a total population of around 748 million, Europe records a total of 88 million tonnes of food waste annually. This amount of waste can be easily used to fix the hunger problem of around 200 million people around the world.
2. Food waste generates 3.3 billion tons co2 annually
   Food waste is a major cause of emission of CO2 in the atmosphere. If food waste was put together to form a country, it would be the third largest producer of CO2 in the world. This CO2 released by food waste further harms the environment by increasing the global temperature causing global warming. This means that food waste is also one of the factors responsible for climate change.
3. 25% of world’s freshwater is used to grow water which is never eaten
   Water is another essential necessity of a living organism. The water which is used for producing the food that is wasted can be used by 9 billion people at around 200 liters per person per day. Not only are we wasting precious food resources, we are also wasting our water resources.
4. 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year The amount of food waste produced annually can be enough to feed around 3 billion people. This food can be either partially cooked and thrown or damaged during harvest before reaching the consumer. In any of the points, the food that is wasted results in major loss of the entire population of the world in one way or another.
5. Food waste results in loss of income for farmers and higher prices for consumers, affecting the economy Food waste amounts a total of 1 trillion US dollars. The wasted food takes away the hard earned money of farmers and demands a much higher price from the local people/ consumers. This does not benefit any of the two parties of the producer and the consumer. Moreover, the large amount of food waste may sometimes be responsible for the dip in the economic ratios of several countries.
6. Around 40-60% of fish caught are discarded as they don’t meet supermarket quality standards in Europe Fishing is a big business market in the world today. However, in the process of consuming fish as a food item, we humans sometimes exploit our resources. Fish and marine ecology is a big part of our environment. They help us maintain natural resources and also reduce the amount of CO2 present in the atmosphere. But, exploitation of fish causes an unnecessary reduction of fish species when they are discarded by the food market.
7. A north american produces around 100 kilograms of food waste annually This measure is more than their average weight which is around 70 kilograms. More the food waste of an individual, more the food waste of the world. Even one can affect many. If each North american produces about 50% less food waste than they usually do, the world hunger problem can see a sudden positive impact which can save the lives of many.
   The situation of food waste in the world is alarming and needs our attention at the earliest. By addressing the problem at hand we can be sure to protect our environment and preserve our natural resources. This comes in handy with all the other benefits that can be obtained by solving the food waste crisis including the resolve of food shortage, health and nutrition problems as well as economic drawbacks. The first step to take towards a better tomorrow is to start today.

India is in the midst of fighting a pandemic, due to which maintaining social distancing and staying indoors is crucial. But, when half of the country goes under lockdown, the waste produced inside each house increases. Every house produces some quantity of waste everyday. More the number of people in the house, more will be the waste generated. Many studies claim that there can be better ways to reduce the production of waste at home. Managing home waste in an organised way can ensure clean surroundings and happy neighbors. This way, not only the amount of waste produced is reduced but, people work at individual level to help the environment as well. As citizens of our country, it becomes our duty to ensure a clean and pollution free environment and the change must start from home. Home waste management can be done in various ways. To name a few, here a list of 8 such ways in which you can manage your home waste effectively.

1. Do not use plastic bags
Plastic is everywhere. From the toothbrush you use to the bottle of your favorite soft drink. However, plastic is one of the most harmful waste products in the environment. This is because plastic takes many years to degrade and ultimately harms the environment in the process. Even though the use of plastic is everywhere, there are many ways in which you can eliminate the use of plastic at home. You can start with using reusable bags instead of cheap quality plastic bags when you go grocery shopping. You can also shift to cloth bags. Another interesting way to limit your plastic use at home can be by asking the vendor or the person who is bagging your items, to not use double bags. Make sure the use of plastic is as little as possible.

2. Buy food with less packaging
When you buy food which is packed in plastic, you increase the plastic waste that will be produced at the end of the day. If you buy food that does not contain plastic wrapping you can make sure that you produce less waste at home. Apart from this, you can also buy food items in bulk so that you reduce too much use of plastic from your every buying experience. You can store the food in airtight containers to make them last long without worrying about producing a huge heap of waste.

3. Avoid packaged drinks
Just like food, water is another basic human necessity that can not be ignored. However, if you rely on bottled water as the source of your water needs, you may be producing a lot of plastic waste. Bottled water and other bottled drinks are a major source of plastic waste at home. As an alternative for buying plastic bottled drinks frequently, you can buy big containers of the same drink. For example, you can buy a 5 litre bottle of water rather than buying 18 small water bottles. This way, you can ensure that the plastic waste produced is less and you won’t have to make a lot of trips to the shop as well.

4. Donate old unused items
Throwing away old items that are not in use anymore, can cause a huge addition to your waste. What’s best is if you donate your old unused items to the ones who need them instead of throwing them away as waste. If you have old clothes, shoes, tools, electronics or other items in decent quality that you do not use anymore, donate them to an NGO or a trust that works for underprivileged people. Not only will you be helping the environment by reducing the amount of waste that you produce, you will also be helping the ones in your community who may actually need your help.

5. Reuse the things you can
Reusing a few items that are in good shape and can be reused properly, can save you from producing a huge amount of waste at home. Reusing is always a good option. The bottles, bags and boxes that you may have from your primary purchases can be reused in different ways. Such ways can be:
• Using the plastic bag as garbage bag
• Storing home filled water in reusable plastic bottles
• Storing clothes or other items in the cardboard boxes that you may receive on buying a new product
• Glass containers can also be used for storing purposes Along with this, make sure that you do not use plastic containers for a very long time as they may have degrading properties that can harm the stored item.

6. Handle hazardous waste properly
The waste that you produce on a daily basis can be segregated into various groups of plastic waste, food waste, etc. one of these groups is hazardous waste. This group usually contains waste that has some chemical content in them. This chemical content, when left in the usual waste, and thrown away in the same heap, can be very harmful for the environment. Not only the environment, but the animals who accidentally consume this waste can also be exposed to a number of harmful diseases. Some of these hazardous waste is:
• Paints
• Batteries
• Light bulbs
• Electronic items
• Medical waste
• Insect killing chemicals

7. Buy cosmetic in bulk
Skin care is a much adored subject for many people. If you are among those who love to take care of your skin, then you may be aware about the waste that skin care products can cause. Products related to skin care, hair care and other cosmetics can produce a considerable amount of waste given that you buy a lot of products for your daily skin care routine. Rather you can buy cosmetic products in bulk. This ultimately reduces the number of packaging waste that is produced by cosmetics produced, everytime you buy them. Furthermore, if you want to reduce the waste in your house in a large amount, you can also switch to using natural remedies for skin care. You can also choose switching to brands that promise packaging that does not cause a lot of waste.

8. Recycle to make compost
If you have the supplies that may be required to turn waste into compost, do not hesitate in taking the step. Compost conversion is a great way to manage your waste at home. If you have leftover food scraps or yard cuttings, you can easily make compost at home. This waste turned compost can be used in your garden to nourish and fertilize your land. You can even grow your favorite vegetable with the help of the compost you produce. You can use green items which break down easily like grass cuttings, vegetable peelings, tea bags, leaves, etc. You can also use brown items which take a little more time to break down including paper, sticks, branches, eggshells, etc.

Conclusion
Reduction of waste is a healthy practice when you decide to do it in an organised way. Doing little towards the environment can make a greater change tomorrow. Change starts at individual level and what better place than home. Waste can be reduced in considerable amounts if every household starts to follow some basic steps for the improvement of this issue. However, many still remain unaware about these ways. This time, make sure to not only follow these small steps to ensure healthy waste management at home, but also spread this knowledge with your family and friends.

Solid waste management models are intended to safeguard the environment and enhance living conditions in cities across the world. Inadequate solid waste management may have a wide range of consequences for cities and their inhabitants. Cities are aware of the numerous health, environmental, and other issues connected with poor solid waste management; yet, they confront several obstacles inadequately managing this garbage. There is no one solid waste management model that is appropriate for managing waste in all situations. However, here are some well-known creative and one-of-a-kind model and tactics that various countries have implemented:

● Sweden: Turning Waste Into Energy The Scandinavian country is one of the European territories with the strongest environmental protection culture, and as a result, it has one of the highest recycling rates. The effectiveness of Sweden’s waste management system is dependent on improving residents’ knowledge of the first step: separation. The Swedes sort their garbage into different coloured bags based on the kind of waste, and recycling companies sort it into recyclable and non-recyclable parts. Waste that cannot be recycled is burnt in plants that convert the energy produced by the combustion into enough electricity to power 250,000 households throughout the country. The technique has become so effective that the waste generated by Swedes is insufficient to supply all of the plants. The country must import garbage from neighbouring countries such as Germany or the United Kingdom. To maintain them fully functioning and provide energy in a more sustainable manner than fossil fuel combustion.

● Japan’s Way To Zero Waste Japan is one of the countries that take recycling very seriously. Aside from the environmental commitment, the technological necessity to manage the huge amounts of trash created by millions of people in its vast cities is critical here. And the Japanese have shown to be highly effective when it comes to reusing and recycling their waste. The government of the country supports and encourages water separation, and residents rigorously manage their own trash through a system of categorization and pick-up schedules that they flawlessly follow. The village of Kamikatsu, a tiny settlement in the mountains with limited access to the system accessible in major cities, is one illustration of the Japanese model’s effectiveness. As a result, households are responsible for sorting garbage into 34 categories, which they then transport to recycling centers. The municipality hopes to recycle 100 percent of its garbage by 2020; it now recycles 90 percent. Furthermore, Japan has a high rate of metal recycling. The medals for the Olympic Games in Tokyo are a wonderful illustration of this, as they were crafted of recycled metals.

● An Amusement Park Made of Trash – Uganda’s Waste Management Strategy Ruganzu Bruno, an artist and environmentalist, has constructed an amusement park for children living in Kampala’s slums. However, this is no ordinary amusement park; it was constructed completely out of trash. Bruno first gathered all of the garbage created by the inhabitants there and then refashioned the waste with their assistance to build swings and life-size board games. The artist’s ambition is to build more than 100 amusement parks in different regions of Uganda.

● A Success Story From WalesIn less than 20 years, the country has increased its recycling rate from 5% to 64% of household garbage. These numbers are the outcome of the government’s ambitious set of policies aimed at promoting the circular economy among its inhabitants. By 2050, there should be no trash in landfills or incinerators. Some of the solutions include reducing single-use items, requiring home trash separation, and involving industrial firms through a responsibility programme. The nation has also suggested building recycling factories capable of processing non-recyclable goods such as mattresses and diapers.

● Reutilization And Sustainability In The NetherlandsAnother example of sustainability is the Netherlands, which successfully applies sustainability concepts to mobility, building, and consumption. The building of two sections of a bike path constructed completely of recycled plastic in the towns of Zwolle and Giethoorn in 2018 is another obvious example of recycling materials in this nation. Plastic has been used to create highways in other parts of the world, but this was the first time they were totally built of plastic.

There are only three things that are guaranteed in life: death, change, and waste. Nobody can stop these things from happening in our life. However, with better management, we may better prepare ourselves. We shall discuss waste and waste management in this article.

Now, to answer the first question, what exactly is waste? Waste is any substance that is not required by the owner, producer, or processor. In general, waste is described as material that has reached the end of its useful life and is disposed of in landfills. The majority of organizations describe waste as “anything that does not add value.” In the eyes of the general public, anything that is undesired or unusable is trash or waste. However, there is no such thing as trash in the world, according to science. Almost every component of solid waste has some promise if converted or handled scientifically. As a result, we may describe solid waste as organic or inorganic waste materials created as a result of home or business operations that have lost their worth in the perspective of the original owner but may be of tremendous use to someone else.

Industrialization is unavoidable for every nation’s growth. It increases demand for a variety of commodities to improve habitat and living conditions, as well as production and consumption. This increases trash generation in several ways, many of which cause significant environmental contamination and deterioration. People with disabilities are more vulnerable to waste mismanagement. Waste is frequently seen as a threat in the absence of adequate disposal and management methods. It not only degrades the beauty of living spaces but also becomes a source of pollution and a serious threat to the health and survival of all species.

Efficient waste management is critical to every nation’s socio-economic progress and the health of its people. Meeting the aims of sustainable development is a tremendous global challenge. Waste management is also integral. Finding new solutions for successful waste management is tough since trash breakdown necessitates particular procedures that take time, energy, and money.

The new approach is to treat the problem at its base, beginning with the source of waste creation. It is increasingly acknowledged that we cannot afford to lose it as ‘waste.’ Instead, consider ‘waste’ to be a valuable ‘resource’ that may be transformed into several useful goods. This process of converting trash into a product that may be used for main purposes might be seen as a means of creating riches. As a result, the slogan “Waste to Wealth” was coined. Waste management, which results in the creation of substances and products that may be put to a primary use, is a new important employment sector that will help satisfy the livelihood needs of the great majority of India’s fast increasing population. Given the volume of trash produced, new waste conversion techniques have the potential to offer huge amounts of micro-entrepreneurship possibilities. The potential for waste-to-wealth entrepreneurship in India is enormous.

It has the potential to reintroduce useless, discarded waste products into economic use, resulting in: 1. A reduction of waste-induced pressure on the environment;

2. The creation of opportunities for income and employment generation in a relatively new area, thereby enhancing economic activity.
3. An impact on quality of life. Solid Waste Management Fundamentals 1. The four Rs: ● Refuse: Do not purchase anything that we do not require.
   ● Reduce – Lessen the quantity of waste produced. Change our way of life so that we produce as little waste as possible.
   ● Reuse – After thoroughly cleaning everything, reuse it to the greatest extent possible. Make secondary use of several articles.
   ● Recycle – Save items that can be recycled and donate them to rag pickers or garbage pickers. Recycle recyclable waste into manures or other valuable goods.
4. Segregation at the source: Separate organic or biodegradable solid waste from inorganic or non-biodegradable solid waste in separate containers. Recycle all of the components with the least amount of work and expense.
5. Different treatments for different forms of solid waste: Techniques that are appropriate for the particular type of rubbish must be used. For example, a method that is appropriate for general market trash may not be appropriate for slaughterhouse waste.
6. Treatment at the most convenient location: Solid waste should be processed as decentralized as feasible. Waste should ideally be handled at the point of generation, i.e. in each home.

Anything that may be used as a resource should be as clean and pure as feasible. To produce income, everything that is no longer useful in a specific place or for a specific individual or people should be disposed of without contaminating it with other “waste” or worthless things. This is referred to as ‘source segregation.’ To produce compost from ‘wet waste’ generated in homes, markets, educational institutions, hotels and restaurants, or religious sites, for example, it must be assured that it is free of ‘toxic waste’ such as batteries, paints, pesticides, mercury lamps, and other dangerous substances.

Henceforth, waste has great potential not just for providing jobs for the urban poor, but also for enriching the soil via composting and recycling, rather than spreading pollution as has been the case in the past. But, if a new paradigm for tackling waste management is not developed, increasing urban migration and high population density will make waste management a challenging issue to manage in the near future.

Waste management is one of the biggest challenges that the world is currently facing. There has been a considerable amount of rise in the amount of waste generated annually. The world generates around 2.01 tonnes of waste annually. Out of which, around 33% is not managed in an environmentally safe manner. Did you know that waste generated per person per day averages somewhere around 0.11- 4.54 kilograms?

Waste generation in India With a population of 1.3 billion, India generates about 65 million tonnes of waste annually. Out of this estimated amount, over 62 million tonnes is Municipal Solid Waste. This kind of waste includes organic waste, recyclable waste like plastic, wood, glass, paper, etc. A study notes that only around 75-80% of this municipal waste is collected, out of which only 22-28% is treated and processed. Experts have also stated that with the current rate of MSW generation, there could be an increase of 165 million tonnes of waste by 2031. Furthermore, the estimate could reach up to 436 million tonnes by 2050.

Waste generators of India
Metro cities of India including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, are among the top waste generating cities of India. Delhi alone generates around 30.6 lakh tonnes of waste annually, closely followed by Greater Mumbai which generates around 24.9 lakh tonnes of waste every year. Apart from Municipal Solid Waste, the other types of waste generated in India include industrial waste, bio-medical waste, sewage, Nuclear waste, agricultural waste and ewaste. These waste together make India a bigger waste producer than several other countries in the world. However, it is also noted that India is actually among the lowest per capita generators of waste.

Biggest Waste Producers of the World
Developed countries like USA, RUSSIA, BERMUDA, are bigger waste generators than developing countries like India. North America, as a collective region, generates the most waste with an average waste generation of 2.2kg per person per day. On the other hand, the collective regions of south asia, which includes India, is the second least waste generator in the world with an average waste generation of 0.5kg per person per day.

High Income vs Low/Middle-Income Countries This depicts a correlation between the income level and the waste generation of different countries. Compared to low or middle income countries, daily per capita waste generation in high income countries is estimated to increase by 19% by 2050. Total quantity of waste generated in low income countries can increase more than 3 times by that time. One of the major factors responsible for these figures could be the composition of waste generated by different regions.

Waste Composition More than 50% of the waste generated by the South Asia region and low and middle income countries is dominated by food and green waste. Around 57% of all municipal solid waste comprises of food waste. However, in higher-income countries, the large amount of non-organic waste and packaging waste dominates the composition of waste, resulting in the food waste generation of about 32%. Composition of waste also includes 10% of paper and cardboard waste, 8% of plastic waste and 2% of rubber and leather waste. 33% of the total waste generated globally is actually dumped openly. This open dumping is much more prominent in south asian countries like India. In India alone, 77% of the waste is disposed of openly. From this, only 18% is composted and 5% is recycled.

Waste Collection from these factors, waste collection efficiency also plays an important role in increasing or decreasing the quantity of waste generation in different countries. Low income countries collect around 48% waste in cities however, the percentage decreases to 26% outside urban areas of these countries. Europe, North America and Central Asia collect at least 90% of waste while sub-saharan Africa collects only about 44% of waste from different countries. Waste collection efficiency in India is still catching up. It ranges from 70-90% in major metro cities and 50% in smaller cities of India.

CO2 Emissions Due to Waste
Around 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the waste produced globally every year. Food waste alone is responsible for nearly 50% of these emissions. By 2050, these emissions are projected to increase to 2.38 billion tonnes if the generation rate remains the same. Even though around 34% of the total waste is generated by developed countries with high-income, more than 1/3rd of this waste is recovered by composting or recycling. For low/middle income countries, the mismanagement of waste is a major part of the problem. Around 90% of the waste in developing or poor countries is not disposed of correctly and leads to major emissions.

What could be the solutions?
developing countries do not have enough financial support to deal with the waste generation problems. By providing the correct amount of finance to the countries in need, the waste management system can improve. Waste management can also improve with the reduced production of plastic waste or the waste that stands out in the waste composition of that country. Setting up recycling programmes and spreading consumer awareness and steps for organic management can also be the initial step towards effective waste management.

Plastic has become a common element in our lives. Packaging, cosmetics, mobile phones, textiles, and even something as basic as a toothbrush contains plastic. We don’t quite realise the amount of plastic we commonly use, until we actually sit down to have a good look around us. Plastic is almost everywhere. So much so that the scientists say there may be more plastic than fishes in our oceans till 2050.

Plastic is a global problem. Around 500 million tons of plastic is produced annually worldwide. The seriousness of the issue is so vast that various countries are now trying to look for solutions that can improve the condition of our planet. But, we must realise that change starts with us. What we can do at an individual level can also project positive results. However, many of us may wonder where to start. If that is the case for you, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. To be a part of the change, you can follow these basic ways to ensure that you reduce the use of plastic.

1. Avoid single-use plastic Single-use plastic, also referred as disposable plastic, is commonly used for making items that can only be used once before becoming a waste product. These items may contain plastic plates, cutlery and other such items. Once you throw these items into waste, they may take years to degrade, causing harm to the environment in the process. However, this problem can be solved easily. Only if you decide to stop or significantly reduce the use of single-use plastic, you can help the environment. You can switch to a more natural approach like the use of steel cutlery, to avoid the use of single-use plastic products.
2. Buy items in bulk Buying more items in bulk when you go grocery shopping can help you reduce the use of plastic. This is because when you buy more items in bulk, you avoid the use of plastic packaging again and again. By doing so you also reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying the products many times. You can store the food items in an airtight container so that they remain fresh for a long time. The same goes for products other than food items. You can switch to buying a 5 litre water bottle instead of 20 small bottles. You can also buy your cosmetics in bulk. This can significantly reduce the plastic waste that you produce on a daily basis.
3. Switch to glass or steel containers A tupperware container is a common part of our day. But these containers are also made of plastic which may degrade the value of your food at some point in time. Tupperware containers may not be a great option for long term use. An alternative for tupperware containers is glass or steel containers. Because they do not contain plastic, their value does not degrade with time. Hence, they can be used for a longer period of time as compared to glass or steel containers.
4. Use wooden pegs instead of plastic This may be a very small step to reduce the use of plastic, but small steps like this one can also help the environment. Hang drying your clothes is chosen to be a much more eco friendly way than using an electric dryer. When you do hang your clothes to dry, you can make sure that you use wooden pegs instead of plastic ones. Adding such small changes in your daily routine can also be a major step towards reducing plastic use at individual level.
5. Put your plastic waste in the right recycling container While throwing away the waste, some people forget to segregate it as suggested on the recycle bins. However small this mistake may be, it can create problems in the landfill areas. Be sure to segregate your waste into the right groups before throwing it away. You should also make sure that you do not dump hazardous plastic waste along with your common waste. This hazardous waste can be harmful for the environment and the animals who may accidentally consume such waste.
6. Buy biodegradable toothbrush and wear natural fabric Toothbrushes take around 500 years to degrade and they are a very common piece of plastic waste found in the oceans. You can always switch from using a plastic toothbrush to bamboo toothbrush. Bamboo toothbrushes have been found to have great properties and they are completely safe for your oral hygiene. Similarly, you can also make a switch from wearing synthetic clothes to wearing clothes made with natural fabric. Synthetic clothes are processed with chemicals, so throwing them is ultimately harmful for the environment. Natural fabric clothes like cotton and jute are eco friendly and have more comfort level as well.
7. Say no to plastic straws Seeing the sudden interest surrounding the issue of plastic straws, many companies have also shifted from using plastic straws to paper straws. There are other alternatives available in the market today as well. These small changes can dramatically change the shape for our planet for good. People have also started using steel straws in the place of plastic straws. Such straws can be reused again and again as they are washable.
8. Choose to reuse There may be some items in your house that can be reused instead of being a part of the waste. These items can even be a plastic bag which can be reused as a garbage bag to store the garbage. If you already have hardly used plastic bags at your home, you do not have to buy garbage bags from outside. There are various such items that can be reused in your daily routine. They can range from a toothbrush being used for cleaning hard-to-reach places, to filling up an empty plastic bottle with water or other drinks.
9. Switch to cloth bags Cloth bags are a great way to reduce the use of plastic in your daily routine. When you start avoiding the use of plastic bags, you look for alternatives. The best alternative is a cloth bag. It can be reused many times and can be washed after use as well. You can even carry it around comfortably without causing any pollution. Other than cloth bags, paper bags and jute bags have also taken up space as eco friendly alternatives. You can choose to carry any of these to reduce the use of plastic when you go shopping next time.
10. Think before buying Buy smartly. If you decide to shop, you should make sure that you buy only what is required and what is better. If you buy more plastic produced products, it may ultimately result in producing more plastic waste. Before buying, make sure that you choose the brand carefully, compare the packaging method and buy for the long run. By keeping these points in mind, you can endure that you buy correctly without harming the environment.

11.Switch to biodegradable sanitary product You may not realise this but plastic produced and chemically coated sanitary products may be responsible for causing considerable amount of waste. Given that the need for sanitary products is of major importance, a number of alternatives have been provided to choose from. Switching to cotton pads or eco friendly sanitary products can be of great help. You can even try using a menstrual cup as an alternative to plastic sanitary products. Menstrual cups last for 5-10 years and can be used with every cycle.

12. Avoid microbead products Microbeads are manufactured solid plastic particles of less than one millimeter in their largest dimension. If washed down the drain, they may end up in bigger water bodies, creating a damaging effect on marine life, human health and the environment. Surprisingly, microbeads can be easily found in your most common daily use products like fashwashes or even toothpaste. Avoiding the products which may contain microbeads in them is crucial for the environment.

Conclusion: Other than following these basic ways for reducing the use of plastic in your daily routine, one major thing that you can do is, spread awareness. Many people are still unaware of the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and their personal health. By making a few changes to your daily habits and by informing your friends and family about the same, you can easily reduce the use of plastic and work towards a sustainable future.

Waste has become a challenge for the society because it is being continuously neglected in the field of the environment, which is becoming harmful for the health of living beings as well as the environment, resulting in surface water contamination and soil pollution. After all, many chemicals such as cyanides, mercury, and others are highly toxic and exposure can lead to disease or death. Effective waste management techniques are necessary, which include a synchronized system for managing trash production and disposal. Most waste management systems, such as landfills, incineration, and sanitary landfills, provide a range of environmental advantages, but they can have negative consequences, such as the release of huge amounts of greenhouse gases. As a result, the primary aims include reducing consumption in industrialized cities, expanding solid waste data collecting and analysis, and efficiently managing the growing volume of municipal solid trash.

Developed Countries
Most developed nations, such as Germany, are employing modern waste management systems that are proven to be highly beneficial in reducing waste and increasing the likelihood of recycling and reuse. By using such approaches, recycling was increased to 62 per cent by 2010, and landfilling was nearly reduced to zero. Similarly, the Netherlands adopts the idea of ‘Lansnik’s ladder’ (introduced in 1994), which advocates for the avoidance and recovery of useful components from the trash. By 1995, more than 35 waste categories were prohibited, and a landfill charge was implemented, increasing the recycling rate from 45 per cent to 50 percent between 2001 and 2009.

Developing Countries
Waste management issues are unique to the developing world because developing countries’ economies are often weaker than those of countries such as the United States. Individuals in these developing countries tend to buy fewer items with less packaging and generate less trash than Americans or inhabitants of other developed nations. In contrast to developed countries, developing nations frequently lack sufficient waste management policies or procedures, garbage collection services, or government agencies to effectively manage their wastes. The majority of developing countries lack any systematic mechanisms for managing solid waste. Garbage collection is barely done regularly. Rules differ from nation to country and from town to town, and a modest payment from an arrested illegal garbage dumper will frequently override enforcement of official regulations. Laws are often lenient, with garbage burning and open dumping permitted. A lack of money frequently prohibits towns in such nations from ever establishing a comprehensive waste management system in the first place. Developing nations, such as India, have used aerobic composting, anaerobic composting, or refuse-derived fuel to manage municipal solid waste. By 2012, over 70 composting facilities had been constructed in India, with the majority of them located in Maharashtra. Of the 57 communities that generate more than 200 TPD of municipal solid trash, 38 have composting units that handle about 4361 TPD of garbage. Six refuse derived fuel plants and sanitary landfills in eight locations have greatly aided in the effective management of municipal solid waste.

Conclusion Due to minimal technological requirements and economic inputs, including the informal sector might be viewed as a feasible approach to improve recycling rates and reduce trash intake into ultimate disposal sites in developing nations. However, further research and efforts should be undertaken to determine the best method for its engagement. Various pilot projects, including garbage pickers, have been undertaken in Latin America by cooperative organisations, with positive outcomes. However, in other parts of Asia and Africa, this practice is prohibited, posing a barrier to a formal selective collecting system. As a result, particular patterns should be created for each context, utilizing the activities already in place while adding the CE principles, keeping in mind that informal recycling cannot be the only system in operation; increasing waste collection and selective collection coverage of municipal areas, introducing awareness and information campaigns, and installing suitable treatment systems with regulatory oversight.

Almost all the environment related problems can be easily solved with the help of biomimicry. Biomimicry is the practice of using the nature inspired designs and strategies, and converting it into human made inventions and technology to solve human problems. Interestingly enough, this process was used to build thefirst flying machine as well. There is no problem that cannot be solved. You just have to look around, observe and learn from your surroundings. The same goes for waste management.

The problem of waste management is no different. One can take different approaches to manage the waste that we produce on daily basis. It can be composting, recycling, energy production, reusing, reducing, etc. Waste reduction is a very potent and efficient way of achieving the eco friendly disposal of waste. One of the greatest inspiration that the nature provides for managing the waste in an effective way is a Dung Beetle.

Dung Beetles are the unsung heroes of our environment. They help in cycling nutrients back to the soil when they bury the dung or carrion. By doing so, they prevent populations of parasitic flies from breeding in the fresh faeces of mammals. They also replenish carbon back to the island help the Mircobes to flourish. Hence, managing the waste in order to benefit the environment by reducing the carbon footprint.

Derived from the name of an Egyptian dung beetle god Khepri, XAPER introduces a similar process of biomimicry through its technology and machinery. XAPER inspires to follow the principle work ethics of a Dung Beetle. By being one of its kind patent composter, XAPER effectively segregates the mixed municipal waste with 0% waste approach. It is capable of composting (aerobic) wet waste and segregating dry waste simultaneously, resulting in 70% reduction in waste quantity near the source of waste generation. XAPER is designed for decentralized locations such as waste collection points, transfer points or in gated societies. This kind of waste management does not generate any kind of leachate and methane, which makes it better than standard practices of waste management.

XAPER uses the unsegregated waste from households and other spaces. This waste goes through the decentralized process, specially designed by Xaper, which divides this waste into the groups of recyclable, compostable and combustible waste. Each of these segregated waste group further break down into smaller components which are send out to re-cycling industry, compost facility and cement plants respectively. Therefore, XAPER works to achieve the goal of zero-waste approach.

By segregating the mixed municipal solid waste into recyclable, compostable and combustible components, XAPER helps in the mass and volumetric reduction of waste. Not only does XAPER has environmental advantages, it also provides various socio-economic advantages.

Where the local bodies spend about Rs.3500/- per ton on waste collection, processing, transportation and disposal excluding land cost, each XAPER installation of 10 TPD capacity produces saving of Rs.1.28 Cr/year and Rs.12.8 Cr. along the life of machine. This results in 24% ROI and 4 years payback period. If there is decentralized waste processing and 100% diversion of all 62 million tons waste which is generated in India, local bodies will save more than Rs.20000 Cr. annually.

The patent composter from XAPER does not require any additional land for waste processing or dumping as well. XAPER is installed at existing Dhallosand produces 100% output diversion from land fill for energy recovery. This would save 66 thousand hectors of land required for additional Landfills and the land, presently being used for dumping, can also be recovered.

Not only this, if the current 62 million tones annual generation of MSW continues to be dumped without treatment, it will need 3,40,000 cubic meter of landfill space everyday (1240 hectare per year). Considering the projected waste generation of 165 million tones by 2031, the requirement of land for setting up landfill for 20 years (considering 10 meters high waste pile) could be as high as 66 thousand hectares of precious land, which our country cannot afford to waste. XAPER can help in the process of vacating this land to make it fit for other important activities. Along with these perks, XAPER is also a huge step towards employment generation. It offers hygienic and socially dignified working conditions to under-privileged. After each XAPER installation, 8 people get direct employment and thus, it helps in the realignment of unorganized sector. By replicating the Kasturba Drain model to process 10000 tons of waste generated in Delhi, XAPER also offers direct employment to 8000 downtrodden people.

Replication of the Kasturba Drain model will not only generate large employment, but it will also save huge financial resources which are currently being spent on health and medical services. Open waste heaps are breeding ground for vectors, flies, rats, dogs etc. Mismanagement of waste can lead to a global pandemic more dangerous than COVID-19. As per WHO, 22 types of diseases can be prevented by improving the MSW management system. These problems can be easily resolved by switching to XAPER’S effective waste management strategies.

With a vision of “Waste to Wealth”, XAPER works for the betterment of environment. By introducing brilliant technology and machinery, XAPER aims at achieving a healthier and greener present, and a sustainable future for the people of India.

1. Segregate mixed waste into wet/biodegradable/food waste and dry/non-biodegradable/plastic waste.
2. Decomposes the wet/food waste to bio-dried compostable by accelerated aerobic decomposition(AAD) in the same system no additional inoculum, or external heat or forced aeration is required and it reduces wet waste by more than 80% by evaporating moisture and decomposition of organic matter.
3. Designed for decentralized locations near residential area by replacing existing filthy garbage transfer points into hygienic waste processing sites which eliminates the threat to public health.
4. Low Capital cost.
5. Least land requirement when compared with other processing technologies i.e. bio-methanation, waste to energy, windrow composting etc.
6. No methane emission and lechate generation
7. 70-80% Mass and Volumetric reduction in waste after processing.
8. 100% diversion of waste from Landfills.
9. 75% Savings in secondary waste collection, transportation and disposal cost for municipal corporations.
10. Hygienic and efficient recovery of recyclables that makes the un-organized workforce of waste-pickers socially dignified
11. Realignment of unorganized sector: Each XAPER installation create 10 direct employment/jobs.
12. Outputs obtained after processing : (a) Compostable Material: The organic/wet/food component in the mixed waste is converted into compostable material which after the maturation of 3 weeks and screening gets converted into mature compost as prescribed by FCO standards.

(b) Recyclable material: To recover Recyclables in hygienic conditions and to separate SRF from waste air classifier and disc separator are provided along with sorting belt to sort out recyclables prior to feeding in XAPER any residual recyclables or SRF emerges at far end of the AAD and can be picked up on the conveyor provided at the rear end of the system very conveniently.

(c) SRF or RDF that is Combustible is compacted hydraulically for usage at cement plants, waste to energy or waste to oil pyrolysis plants.