Waste Segregation in Kolkata: The Pressing Priority

Waste segregation or waste sorting is a process in which waste is separated into various segments depending on the type of waste. Mainly dividing waste into dry and wet. The immense population and the immense amount of waste being generated in turn have been causing immense trouble not only for the human society who is the cause of generating the waste but also for the environment and its ecosystem. This waste segregation problem can only be solved when a like-minded group of people is formed who would care about Mother Earth and its sustainability. 

Waste is separated into dry and wet. The dry waste consists of cans, aluminium foils, plastics, wood, glass and paper whereas leftover foods, vegetables, peels and scrapings etc. After collecting the waste, it is grouped into different categories depending on the type and quality of the waste. The waste management(managing waste from collection to disposal) techniques India is using after Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is way more effective. The first thing which was done was to generate awareness and bring a change in attitude regarding waste segregation and its manual management. Waste is segregated as:

 1) Biodegradable or organic waste or kitchen waste – These include kitchen waste, fruits and vegetables, leaves and flowers and even dead bodies of street dogs and cats. 

 2) Non-biodegradable waste – These can be further divided into: 

• Recyclable waste – Metal, plastic, glass, paper etc. 
• Toxic Waste and Domestic hazardous waste – Expired medicines, chemicals, paints, mosquito repellents, diapers, napkins, batteries, polish 
• Soiled waste – Hospital waste which includes clothes and containers soiled with blood and other bodily fluids and even hotel wastes. 

The waste bins are also colour-coded, Green – Organic, Yellow–Glass, White–Paper, Grey – Metal, Blue – Plastic and Red–Hazard. The everyday waste picker or rag pickers are hired by the municipality or by start-up companies who work on creating substances out of waste like some quality plastic waste are used to make slippers. The Newtown Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) had set up a ‘zero waste shop’ where people could dispose of their clothes, mobile phones and other items which will be converted into innovative products that can be bought by the public. The waste segregation of household waste in Kolkata is improving as more like-minded people are getting aware of the situation, waste is creating on the environment. Emerging countries throughout the world are seeing a burgeoning economy, soaring urban populations, rising living standards, and rising consumption levels. Similarly, in India, rising purchasing power parity has resulted in increased affordability, resource accessibility, and significant growth in trash quantities.

Failing to segregate waste properly will result in the waste being mixed in landfills, food waste, paper and liquid waste can get mixed up and eventually decompose which would release harmful gases into the atmosphere. To start from the household level, The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to roll out ‘segregation at source’ across the city, which means that households will have two waste bins at their homes one designated for wet waste which will be colour coded as blue and the other for dry waste which will be colour-coded as green. The waste bins would be provided by the KMC itself. Waste segregation is being practised at 27 out of 144 wards only, so bringing a change in the mindset of the people will be a big challenge for the Municipal Corporation.

 If they succeed, the benefits of proper waste segregation would include:-

• Effective waste segregation will go a long way, the lesser the waste goes to landfill, the cheaper it becomes for the municipality to dispose of the waste as there will be minimal manual or mechanical sorting of the mixed waste and also better for the people and the environment
• Hazardous waste, if not disposed of properly will cause long term health problems not only to the household and the environment but also to the workers. 
• Items suitable for recycling are not thrown away with general waste, thanks to the waste segregation methods and a team that understands the value of separating waste thus increasing the recycling rate. 
• Reduce landfill impact to a considerable amount. 
• Makes the people aware of the impact of not only waste segregation but also ecological sustainability and the overall environmental health. 

The solid wastes generated are a significant contributor to Greenhouse Gas(GHG) emissions and especially the disposal of waste in landfills generates methane(CH4) that has high global warming potential. Waste is a huge problem for ecological sustainability and environmental health. Crude dumping or sanitary landfills depletes the environmental health as it contaminates the surface and groundwater or soils by leakage, also causes air pollution by burning waste and spread of diseases by different vectors. The goal of minimizing the production of waste is primarily a national government responsibility and can be pursued through production and consumption practices that reduce the inputs of materials, make more efficient use of these inputs, and increase close-loop recycling. Whether or not consumers, industries and institutions contribute to these goals depends on their assessment of the cost and benefits involved, as well as their levels of awareness. Waste prevention should also be practised which may also result in a number of economic as well as health and environmental benefits, it would reduce the cost associated with waste management, costs like expenditure on raw materials, waste handling and storage, transportation and disposal, training, management overhead and emergency response. Pollution prevention techniques can also lower the likelihood of paying large future environmental expenses, such as remediation activities. The positive health benefits would include, reduced usage of hazardous materials which would reduce the number of toxic substances released into the environment as a result of spills, leaks and air emissions, all of which are harmful to human health and the ecosystem. The maximization of waste reuse, recycling and waste segregation can be carried out at the primary level – within households, firms and institutions – or at the secondary level, i.e after the waste has entered the municipal waste stream. The contribution to sustainable development lies in the reduction of the volume of waste to be disposed of, and the reduction in the use of virgin materials.