Question

Mention major problems associated with urban waste disposal in India.

Answer 1

Solid waste refers to a variety of old and used articles, For example, stained small pieces of metals, broken glassware, plastic containers, polythene bags, ashes, floppies, CD’s, etc. dumped at different places. Environmental pollution by solid wastes has now got significance because of enormous growth in the number of wastes generated from various sources. The huge turn out of ashes and debris from industries, thermal power houses and building constructions or demolitions have posed problems of serious consequences. Solid wastes cause health hazards through the creation of obnoxious smells and harbouring of flies and rodents, which act as carriers of diseases like typhoid, diphtheria, diarrhoea, malaria and cholera, etc.

These wastes cause a frequent nuisance as and when these are carelessly handled, spread by wind and splattered through rainwater. The concentration of industrial units in and around urban centres gives rise to the disposal of industrial wastes. The dumping of industrial waste into rivers leads to water pollution. River pollution from city-based industries and untreated sewage leads to serious health problems downstream. 50 per cent of the waste generated are left uncollected which accumulate on streets, in open spaces between houses and in wastelands leading to serious health hazards. Untreated wastes ferment slowly and release toxic biogas to the atmosphere, including methane. The land is limited in urban centres so looking for landfills to dump the waste generated in urban centres is a major problem.