Waste Management

Beyond the Household Bin

Solid waste is not limited to household garbage — it also includes medical, agricultural, industrial and mining waste. Improper disposal of all these waste streams is one of the leading causes of environmental degradation, which makes proper waste management essential.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission)

The Government of India's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan runs two complementary programmes:

• Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM–U) — aims to make urban India free of open defecation and achieve 100% scientific solid-waste management.
• Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin (SBM–G) — targets improved quality of life in rural areas by promoting cleanliness and hygiene and eliminating open defecation, working toward universal sanitation coverage.

Collection and Disposal Process

1. Domestic waste is collected in small household bins and transferred to community bins by private or municipal workers.
2. From community bins, waste is carried to a disposal site, where it is sorted into biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials.
3. Non-biodegradable materials (plastic, glass, metal scraps) are sent for recycling.
4. Biodegradable waste is deposited in landfills and converted into compost.

Consequences of Poor Collection …