Q.How municipal solid waste can be managed to reduce environmental pollution?

Effective municipal solid waste management combines segregation, composting, recycling and safe disposal to minimise pollution from the huge volumes of waste generated by cities.

Uncontrolled municipal solid waste is a major source of soil, water and air pollution. It can be managed more sustainably through several integrated measures: (1) Segregation at source — separating waste into biodegradable (organic/kitchen waste) and non-biodegradable (plastic, metal, glass) categories right at the household level makes downstream processing far more effective. (2) Composting/vermicomposting — the biodegradable organic fraction can be converted by microbial (or earthworm-assisted) decomposition into nutrient-rich compost, which can be used as manure instead of being dumped, also generating less methane than a landfill. (3) Recycling and reuse — non-biodegradable materials such as plastics, paper, metal and glass can be collected and recycled into new products, reducing the volume of waste requiring disposal and conserving raw materials. (4) Safe scientific disposal — the residual, non-recyclable waste that remains should be disposed of through …