A study was initiated by CPCB on assessment of health status of conservancy staff and other community associated with handling of solid waste management. The study was taken-up at Kolkata through Chittaranjan Cancer Research Institute and at Chennai with the association with Sri Ramchandra Medical College. The objective of the study is to assess health status of each target group involved in handling of municipal solid waste (MSW).

Health assessment studies at Kolkata included clinical examination of 732 individuals of which, 376 were conservancy workers, 151 regpickers and 205 controls. After detailed examination, the findings of the study are summarized below :

Improper disposal of waste through landfilling may cause several environmental problems. The emission of gaseous decomposition products as well as organic compounds may also affect the health of surrounding population. It is becoming essential to monitor landfill gaseous emissions (LFG) for establishing appropriate analytical methodology and to evolve strategy for their control. Monitoring of LFG has significance from the point of view of environmental impact, energy capture, etc. CPCB, in association with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Delhi took-up a study on assessing levels of methane generation from landfill sites located at Delhi and Nagpur. Among the different methods available in the literature, flux box method was found suitable for monitoring from practical point of view and is simple to operate. From the results of monitoring data, it was concluded that flux box method is appropriate for estimation of landfill gas emission. Application of flux box method for monitoring landfill gas emission reveals that the rate of LFG emission for Bhandewadi disposal site is in the range of 27.3 to 165.9 mg/m²/sec. Validation of established methodology at disposal site at Amravati reveals that rate of LFG emission is in the range of 2.1 to 877.8 mg/m²/sec. Detailed investigations are required to observe net LFG emission i.e. LFG production potential, surface production of methane and its dispersion.

No relevance is observed between estimated biogas production potential and biogas emission. Though the degradation in the samples collected from bottom layer is more, complete stabilization takes years together. Further, the results of surface analysis does not differentiate between the zone of LFG emission and the stabilization zone.

Periodic/regular updating of inventorization including assessment of status of solid waste management (SWM) is an important activity. Such assessment are becoming essential particularly with reference to ascertaining compliance by the urban local bodies (ULBs) to Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. With this background, CPCB in association with NEERI, Nagpur has initiated a comprehensive survey for assessing status of solid waste management in the country. The survey includes following objectives;

• Assessment of quantity of wastes
• Assessment of characteristics of wastes
• Assessment of existing status of collection, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal activities.
• Studies on financial and institutional aspects
• Review of the situation in the perspective of existing legislation

So far, out of 59 cities/towns targeted during the first phase, 28 cities have already been intensively surveyed. After completion of survey and detailed analysis of system followed by ULBs for management of MSW, attempts will be made to suggest an indicative action plan for the benefit of municipalities.

To demonstrate implementation of all the provisions of MSW rules, CPCB undertook pilot projects at North Dum-Dum and New Barrackpore municipalities in West Bengal and at Chandigarh. The purpose of this project is to undertake collection, segregation, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of waste in accordance with MSW rules. The demo-projects are on cost sharing basis where the respective local bodies have agreed to share 50% of the total cost of the project.

• The North Dum-Dum Municipality submitted formal NOC application to the Airport Authority Kolkata. The NOC Committee of the Kolkata Airport Authority reviewed the application and had already sent it to the Delhi Airport Authority with their recommendations for the clearance.

• The New Barrackpore Municipality has received all the equipments for collection storage and transportation of solid wastes and North Dum-Dum Municipality has received 75% of the same.

• West Bengal Pollution Control Board has received the modified project report of NPC for landfill site from the KMDA. However, the project report of KCDC for the Compost Plant is under finalisation.

• Both the municipalities have done the awareness campaign several times in their areas involving the school students, NGOs, Ward Committees, Bazar Committees. They have also prepared the documentary film, showing the awareness programme, door-to-door collection, transportation and storage of the municipal solid wastes using the new equipments procured under the project.

• Entire supply of 100 No. Garbage container of 6.5 Cubic M. Capacity has been received.

• Out of 200 Large/small cycle carts each, a total no. of 30 (large) and 67 (small) cycle carts have been received

• One number of mechanical Road sweeper has been procured and performance is being assessed.

• The work regarding preparation of Detailed Design, Cost estimates etc. for the remediation of existing landfill site was allotted to M/S.Eco Designs, the Consultant appointed by the Municipal Corporation. Report has been prepared for implementation.

• The work order in respect of 30 numbers of SSKs has been placed and out of this 12 SSKs are completed.